What's Your Ultimate British Sandwich?
Hovis have launched their Ultimate British Sandwich search to promote the launch of the new British Farmers Loaf and, given her background and relation to the Earl of Sandwich, it only seemed fitting to get Jodie Kidd on board and she was more than happy to oblige.
Jodie grew up in the country and now lives in Sussex. She feels it’s very important to buy great local, British produce and really support our country when you can. She loves a good sandwich and felt she couldn’t miss out on the search for the best of British sandwiches!
Female First – “Why do you feel it’s important to support British produce?”
Jodie – “Well I was born and bred in the country and I just think it’s very important to support British farmers and British produce. I’ve got a very good friend who’s an amazing butcher and they really suffer when the huge supermarkets come in and get all their meats from different countries. It really puts a lot of pressure on the local farmers and that’s why I’m a real advocate for trying to support them. I find it much better than other meats, vegetables and produce because it hasn’t had chemicals put on it to make the long journey and they taste different. For me it’s a win/win situation, you’re helping the countryside and you know what you’re putting in your body. Especially if you go to organic sources of farmers, you’re eating wonderful food and getting all the goodness from fruit and veg which you should have. I know that when products are travelling many, many miles they have to put stuff on them to keep them looking healthy and ripe but I wouldn’t think of any other way to do it than buy local. I’m very lucky to have an amazing farm shop called the Cowdray Farm Shop and so I’m very lucky to be able to support local farmers in that way. All the asparagus we’re getting is local, I literally know the farm they are from, all our eggs are from our next door neighbours, all the meat that we get is from the cows you see in the next field. It’s much more real than going to a supermarket and getting a big of plastic and a chicken breast. I think it’s what life is all about, knowing where your food is coming from, what you’re putting in your body and knowing that everything is locally sourced is very important for me and my family.”
FF – “Do you source all your food locally then?”
J – No, I mean I love things like manuka honey and of course there are bits and pieces you can’t get in England. I’m not on a strict English diet, but when it comes to the veg’s, in the summer I’ll grow my own. I get all the veg locally, all the realistic food and the meat is locally sourced but of course there are a huge number of things that I can’t get locally sourced. Especially in the winter when we don’t produce a certain veg at the time and you have to get them from another country but as long as you can support as much as you possibly can and eat organic, you can’t go wrong. Personally I think it is very important that we’re putting the least amount of chemicals in our body.
FF – “Why do you think some people are quiet reluctant to buy locally?”
J –“I think maybe the prices, I’m in a very lucky position that if something is going to be more expensive because it is locally sourced or organic I’m in a position where I can afford it but I totally understand that there are families that are shopping on budgets because they have large families to feed, so it’s a bit of a catch 22. But if you are able to have an allotment, grow your own veg, find a way of affording or sourcing affordable local produce then that would be wonderful.”
FF – “You’ve been working with Hovis in the search for the Ultimate British Sandwich, how has that been?”
J – “Oh it’s wonderful and what I’m loving is all the wheat is British grown and it’s supporting the countryside and all the British farmers. And then the competition, it’s just been great fun and I’ve really, really enjoyed it. It’s something that’s really close to my heart and something I really believe in. I’m very supportive of British farmers and I think what Hovis has done is brilliant and then with the added extra element of making the Ultimate British Sandwich and of course having my background of the family ties to inventing the sandwich, it’s been great fun. There have certainly been some interesting recipes.”
FF – “What was the oddest or most interesting that you’ve seen?”
J – “You’ll have to speak to Hovis about that one, there’s a whole list, some very interesting ones. But mine was very much British, locally sourced ham, Sussex brie. I was really trying to push local produce in my sandwich.
FF - “Were there any odd sandwich cravings you had when pregnant?”
J – “You know what, I was quiet boring. I didn’t want to eat coal or anything strange like that. I do spend a lot of time with my partner in South America and they have a lot of sandwiches there. They have the most beautiful hams, breads, cheeses, cured meat and beautifully cooked meat to go in the baguettes. Sandwiches are a staple part of the South America diet. I eat a lot of sandwiches anyway, also because of the Argentine connection and because grabbing a sandwich lunch is quite a normal thing to do in the country.”
FF – “What is your ultimate sandwich then?”
J – “Oh God, I had to try for hours and hours, but I just think a good old bog standard brie, ham, cheese, pickle, big bit of Hovis bread, that’s got to be one of my favourites. There’s so many though, avocado! You’ve got to have avocado, but yeah, just a good old traditional sandwich for me.”
The Ultimate British Sandwich competition is now in the voting stages so go and choose your winner at ultimatebritishsandwich.com. The winner will be crowned on the 18th of June!
Cara Mason
Tagged in Jodie Kidd