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Following
its outstanding success last year, 2008 will see the return of
Felbrigg Hall's Chilli Fiesta and summer fete, in what is hotting up
to be the highlight event for the property this summer.
Whether
you're a hardened chilli-head or a newcomer to the world of the
chilli, this is your chance to join in the chilli madness! Felbrigg
Hall's Chilli Fiesta will be held on Wednesday 6 August and visitors
will find a whole host of chilli paraphernalia waiting for them to
try and take home, not to mention a wealth of local delights to
choose from.
Following its
success last year, interest has been sparked in the local food
community and this year will see more than double the number of
stalls. From seeds to plants, pickles and preserves, chutneys and
cheeses, hot sauces and award winning pepper jellies - Felbrigg will
have it all this August!
Companies
from around East Anglia and the Home Counties have booked their
pitches, including Chilli's Galore, Completely Chilli, Edible
Ornamentals, Munchy Seeds, Jazz It Up Foods, Horned Fox, Gourmet Med,
Ferndale Norfolk Cheeses, Norfolk Rustic Crafts, Groveland Fruit
Farm, Bray's Cottage Pork Pies, Fayre Maiden Wines, Mushroom Moments,
and Bhajiman. Not forgetting Jules and Sharpie with their award
winning preserves and Essence Foods, who one best retail product at
last year's EDP Norfolk Food Awards.
The chilli
pepper is proving to be very popular with modern society and today it
is one of the most widely cultivated crops. Tina Hammond, Head
Gardener at Felbrigg Hall has been growing chilli peppers at the
property for 8 years; "Chilli peppers will grow in similar
conditions to tomato plants, although often to get better results
they should be grown in higher temperatures and humidity. We grow
ours here at Felbrigg in the "Pit House" in the walled
garden, although it is possible to cultivate them outdoors in
sheltered areas that receive plenty of sunlight."
"The
best time to harvest your chilli peppers is when the pods feel firm
and look fairly glossy, if they are still soft to the touch then that
means that they are still immature. I would recommend that you keep
back a couple of ripe chillis, dry them off, collect their seeds and
store them in a dry cool dark place for next years crop. The best
time to sow is February, either indoors or under glass, sowing early
gets the plants off to a good start for earlier fruiting "
Tina reveals.
There are
hundreds of varieties of chilli plants and there heat level varies
dramatically. At Felbrigg, you will find jalapenos - nicely piquant,
the best all round culinary variety, plus a selection of extremely
hot and decorative fruits. Whatever there shape or size, chilli
peppers are thought to be really healthy for you. Green chillis are a
great example, high in vitamin A (a powerful antioxidant that boosts
the immune system); green chillis contain almost twice as much
vitamin C as citrus fruits.
So for the
chilli lovers amongst you, head on down to the National Trust's
Felbrigg Hall and explore the diverse world of the chilli and the
best of regional food this August - not to mention all of the fun of
a traditional fete, with its games of skill and chance.
Felbrigg
Hall's Summer Fete and Chilli Fiesta is on Wednesday 6 August (11am
to 5pm). The fete starts at 1pm. FREE EVENT! No booking necessary.
Stall holders interested in booking a pitch are asked to call the
property office on 01263 837444.
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