ceramics
chickens
christmas
competition
composting
cookery
cooking
craft
design icons
gardening tips
garden show
gifts
glassware
jam
lewes
new items
poetry
pottery
preserving
print
rachel barker
Recipes
sale
seasonal
shopping
teatowels
textiles
vintage books
vintage boos
winners
End of an EraFebruary 18th, 2012 by adminLife presents all sorts of challenges as we go along and 2011 proved a bit of a watershed for me. One of the “sandwich generation” with the competing demands of teenagers taking exams and elderly parents needing more hands on support I was beginning to feel the business needed to be streamlined to accommodate everything else. Add to this the very difficult economic environment in which we are working and a decision was made. Sadly therefore I closed the Lewes shop at the end of January after four very happy and successful years biding farewell to my lovely shop and the friendly, supportive customers, many of whom have become good friends. For those of you for whom Lewes is a regular haunt there is good news though. Billie Whitehead, my lovely and very capable manager for the past 4 years has taken my lease and opened her own store “Leadbetter & Good ” crammed full of gorgeous things for the house and garden. My thanks to all of you who supported us in Lewes – do please come and see me in Tunbridge Wells or use our website which continues to showcase the super products we are known for. Gardener & Cook Is 5!June 16th, 2011 by admin
Read all about it and get details of how to win … March WinnerApril 8th, 2011 by admin
Don’t forget, by joining our mailing list you are automatically in with a chance to win vouchers. We have a strict privacy policy and will not divulge your details to any third party. A Touch of GlassApril 8th, 2011 by admin
Our favourite is this beautiful Swedish etched bonbon jar pictured left – priced at just £12.50 we think it make a great gift! February WinnerMarch 8th, 2011 by admin
Don’t forget, by joining our mailing list you are automatically in with a chance to win vouchers. We have a strict privacy policay and will not divulge your details to any third party. Rachel Barker CeramicsNovember 28th, 2010 by admin
If you’d like to find out more about her designs and products you can download her full brochure, or for a more personal view, read her fascinating blog. Living and working in the grounds of Walcott Hall in Shropshire (‘a stunning Georgian gem’), you can also read about her rural adventures, discoveries and inspirations behind her designs. They make incredibly special gifts, so browse our collection and treat yourself (or a friend) to a design classic and ‘make every day special’. Christmas with Gardener & CookNovember 20th, 2010 by admin
*NOTE* Lewes Late Night Christmas Shopping was cancelled and will now be held on the evening of Thursday 16th. We’ve got a couple of lovely events to look out for over the week or so … First up you can find us at the excellent annual Wealden Times Midwinter Fair which is being held this year on Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th December at Bedgebury Pinetum. This wonderful forest which is home to the most complete collection of temperate conifers in the world will be the perfect Christmassy backdrop for the shopping event of the season … with the temperature dropping rapidly it may even be sprinkled with a seasonal dusting of snow so we’ll be packing our thermals! You’ll be able to shop under the cover of a tented village to find everything you need to create the perfect Christmas: heated marquees filled with contemporary and vintage finds for home and garden, plus a fine selection of locally-produced food, gifts, fashion & jewellery. We’re proud to be among over 100 carefully selected designers, artisans and producers who will be exhibiting at the fair. Not sure that we’ll get time, but might sneak off for a delicious lunch in the food hall restaurant overlooking the Pinetum! Admission is £6.50 if you book in advance, or £7.50 on the gate (£3.50 for children). Next up is the Lewes Late Night Shopping Evening on Thursday 2nd December – we’ll be till 9pm to give you an extra chance to get your Christmas shopping organised. We love this event – there’s always a great atmosphere in the Cliffe and the High Street exudes goodwill, accompanied by the sounds of the brass band in the precinct, mince pies and some rather boozy fumes! No excuses now … come along and say hello! Gardening for VictoryApril 4th, 2010 by gerrywarner
I’m always fascinated by anything published during the Second World War and this one didn’t let me down – the wartime context is referred to directly and indirectly throughout, often through the titles which are comments on events and slogans of the time (‘Digging For Victory’, ‘Defeatist’, ‘Sanctuary’, ‘Battle Dress’, ‘Total War’ etc) but which also hide a double meaning – the war on the garden! There are a couple of intriguing poems which give a hint as to what was going on at the time – the first is ‘London Railings’, and I think it displays the spirit which we always relate to those times: London railings are taken down; Of course, many of the railings never were returned again and sadly it now seems that their removal was largely a propaganda exercise to make Londoners feel they’d contributed to the war effort (there’s an interesting article here.) Preserving – the River Cottage wayDecember 20th, 2009 by adminI always thought that to make jam successfully you had to own an Aga or be a card carrying member of the W.I. I have a not-so-latent baking gene but to be honest I was always a bit scared of making jam. It’s the big pans, the thermometers and the jar-sterilizing palaver that put me off. However 2 things helped to change my mind – a ‘make do & mend’ approach to Christmas presents this year, and the arrival in the shop of ‘Preserves: River Cottage Handbook No. 2′ by Pam Corbin.
It’s a neat little hard back that’s going to survive spine crunching and any splashes of hot sticky stuff. The second in a series of 5 handbooks on no-nonsense subjects such as bread, mushrooms and veg gardening, and at £14.99 a bargain to boot. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall hired Pam Corbin to organise River Cottage’s Preserving Days, and she’s done him proud with this book. She’s passionate about preserving and is keen to remind us that not so long ago it was something that most everyone did as a way of using up seasonal gluts and honouring the ebb and flow of the fruit and vegetable world. She’s meticulous on health and safety in a modern up-to-date way, including sterilising, filling and sealing tables – chutneys are treated slightly differently than marmalades etc. – which makes you feel in incredibly safe hands. And she includes three different tests for setting. The style is chatty and informative, the layout simple, with each recipe having its own page. There are lovely photographs too. Most recipes include suggestions for modifications if you have different ingredients or want to try something a little more adventurous. Armed with a preserving pan, thermometer, recycled jam jars and long wooden spoon I started with a glut of damsons and made jam using the Plum Jam recipe. It’s delicious – soft but not runny, fruity and not too sweet: the recipe uses more fruit than sugar, rather than the usual half and half. O.k, so I didn’t manage to skim off all the pips but I warned all recipients!
Next up came the more challenging Quince Cheese, aka Membrillo. This is delicious eaten with cheese, particularly Manchego, and also brilliant for giving a certain zing to stews and tagines or pork gravy. It’s also good after dinner with coffee. Chopping quinces is a trial, and stirring the molten lava that they turn into when they break down rather hairy, but once poured into the tray it is jewel like. It needs to mature in the fridge for a few weeks. I then cut it into small squares and rolled in a little caster sugar before putting into bags for Christmas presents – beautiful and delicious.
Lastly I made Melissa’s Chestnut Jam. I had been given a large bag of wild chestnuts collected in a forest in Shropshire. Peeling chestnuts is extraordinarily fiddly, especially wild chestnuts which are tiny. I now realize why they are so expensive! Once you’ve got this bit over the jam is straightforward to make and made a perfect present to give back to the chestnut giver! I used vanilla sugar rather than honey and rum instead of brandy but any combination would be good I’m sure. It’s rich but utterly delicious. I’m planning mini Mont Blancs for New Years eve dinner: meringues with cream, chestnut jam and a little melted dark chocolate. Now January beckons and hopefully there will be some seville oranges in the supermarket for my next preserving adventure: marmalade. But there’s lots of other things I want to try too: fruit leather, cordials, jellies, & ketchup. I’ll have Christmas presents for next year all sewn up by October! Gardener & Cook Winter FairsOctober 20th, 2009 by gerrywarnerChristmas may be a couple of months away still, but we’re getting prepared early at Gardener & Cook. Beat the last minute rush and join us for some relaxed Christmas shopping! We’re attending two very special Christmas fairs this year, both in glorious settings (Sissinghurst in Kent and Glyndebourne in East Sussex) plus our regular Lewes late night shopping evening, so don’t miss out.  Sissinghurst Wealden Times Midwinter FairThursday 3rd – Friday 4th December 2009 A great opportunity to buy your Christmas presents in the luxury of heated marquees surrounded by the renowned gardens of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson. The fair is held upstairs in the Restaurant and Oast Exhibition. You also get a chance to visit the Book Barn where writers including Sissinghurst residents Adam Nicolson, Juliet Nicolson and Sarah Raven will be talking about their work. Costs £5.00 booked in advance and £6.50 on the gate. Children under 5 are free and 5-12s pay £3.25. Book Barn is £2.00 (all talk proceeds go to charity). To book tickets call: 0800 294 9011 or book online. For more information go to The Wealden Times website.  Glyndebourne Glyndebourne Christmas FairTuesday 3rd November What better way to shop for your Christmas presents than in the beautiful and esteemed grounds of Glyndebourne? Enjoy a day in this stunning setting, courtesy of the Christie Family, and take lunch and light refreshments in the Mildmay Restaurant. The event will be held in a Marquee and is in aid of Lewes and District Group of East Sussex Disability Association. Entrance £3.  Gardener & Cook, Lewes Lewes Late Night ShoppingThursday 3rd December We are thrilled to say we’ll be open until 9pm for Lewes Late Night Shopping night. Traditionally this is a lively and atmospheric evening particularly in Cliffe High Street – brass bands and stalls add a sense of Christmas spirit to the occasion (as does the mulled wine flowing freely on the night!) Gardener & Cook Summer SaleJuly 23rd, 2009 by gerrywarner Neptune Montpellier Bench & Chair Our summer sale is now on – we kicked off with a ’10% off everything’ day in both our stores which saw those in the know rushing in to stock up on presents! Look out for discounts off large and small items, including 20% off all Neptune furniture orders. If you’d like to be kept informed of our future sales and special discount days (or any other Gardener & Cook news), why not sign up to receive our e-newsletter – you’ll kick yourself if you miss out on another sale! Homemade with loveJuly 3rd, 2009 by gerrywarner Homemade Craft Book Feeling crafty? We’ve got just the thing for you – a rather lovely book gracing our shelves at the moment to fulfill our creative urges. ‘Homemade: Gorgeous Things to Make With Love’ by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson is a collection of how to make things for the home and garden, including knitting and sewing projects, ‘restoring a garden table’, elderflower cordial, and (currently on my list of things to do), a rather lovely patchwork throw made from assorted pieces of denim, ticking and tea towels.  Gorgeous Homemade quilt The book is divided into seasons and starts with the words “in a world often said to be divided between those who spend money in order to save time and those who spend time in order to save money, our time is still seen as the ultimate luxury…” Well I’m definitely planning to spend a bit more of my time on that patchwork quilt! Decorative Living FairMay 6th, 2009 by gerrywarner Decorative Living Fair, Eridge Park Another week another show! After the fantastic weather and success of Firle, we’re hoping our luck will hold out with the weather and are gearing up for the Decorative Living Fair at Eridge near Tunbridge Wells next Tuesday 12th May. It’s another beautiful setting (we do pick ‘em), set in beautiful rolling Kent parkland. There’ll be a marquee full to bursting with coffee, lunch, tea and homemade locally produced food as an added incentive, so see you there. Entry is £6.50 with £1 from each ticket donated to St John’s Ambulance Society. Full details can be found here. Firle Place Garden ShowApril 22nd, 2009 by gerrywarner Firle Place We’re preparing for the Gardener & Cook stall at the beautiful Firle Place Garden Show this weekend (Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April) so drop by and see us. It’s a great event, beautiful surroundings and a lovely relaxed atmosphere, and if the weather continues like this we’ll be beaming! Directions can be found here . Simnel Cake RecipeMarch 21st, 2009 by gerrywarner Mother's Day Simnel Cake It’s Mother’s Day tomorrow (also known as Simnel Sunday – see post below), so we thought it would be timely to post a Simnel Cake recipe to save you the bother of searching for one! This one was found in one of the books on our shelves in the Lewes shop – Prue Leith’s Cookery Bible. Although the cake is now made more at Easter (the 11 balls of marzipan have come to represent the apostles, without Judas), it was originally associated with Mother’s Day. Sometimes the marzipan balls are made into egg shapes, the symbol of spring and rebirth. Happy cooking (and eating) … Mother’s Day – go a-mothering!March 19th, 2009 by gerrywarner Mother's Day bulbs It’s that time of year when we get to celebrate the person who gave it her all by bringing us into the world – our mums! The Gardener & Cook shops are looking especially gorgeous at the moment, a riot of bulbs and herbs and beautiful springlike gifts for that special lady. I’ve recently heard a few mutterings about Mother’s Day being a marketing rip-off (or invented by the Victorians), which may be the truth in other countries but certainly not here – Mothering Sunday in the UK has its roots in pagan worship (the mother earth), then a Roman religious festival (existent in Europe since approximately 250BC when the Romans honoured the mother goddess Cybele), and finally appropriated by Christianity (the mother church). During the 16th century people returned to their mother church to worship the day and were said to have gone “a-mothering”. The other names attributed to this festival include Simnel Sunday, Refreshment Sunday and Rose Sunday. Simnel Sunday is named after the practice of baking Simnel cakes to celebrate the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent. Because there is traditionally a lightening of Lenten vows on this particular Sunday in celebration of the fellowship of family and church, the lesser-used label of Refreshment Sunday is also used, although rarely today. Rose Sunday is sometimes used as an alternative title for Mothering Sunday as well. This title refers to the tradition of posies of flowers being collected and distributed at the service originally to all the mothers, but latterly to all women in the congregation. So if you’re buying flowers or plants, take heart in the fact that you’re continuing a tradition! A Guide to Good CompostingMarch 12th, 2009 by gerrywarner Kitchen Compost Bin A new order of our popular kitchen compost bins has arrived, an attractive (and hygenic) solution as to where to keep your kitchen waste before you compost! Composting has become a must in the garden again, with gardeners everywhere recognising the value in the rich dark waste matter which would only end up rotting in a landfill. But what makes up a good compost? What are the do’s and don’ts? Here’s a quick guide and a useful compost recipe to help you on your way … Ottolenghi … makes you look like a cooking god(dess)!March 5th, 2009 by gerrywarner Ottolenghi Cookbook We’ve just got the Ottolenghi cookbook in the shop (much to my joy) so I took one home just in time for the weekend. My prize for bringing it into the house? A wonderful Harissa-Marinated Chicken graciously cooked by my own private recipe-tester, Mr Warner. It was spectacularly good and our guests were visibly impressed, only marginally less so when he revealed that it’s incredibly easy to make. He accompanied the dish with Potato Dauphinoise (a deliciously creamy, slightly rustic version) and topped it all off with chocolate brownie and cream. He couldn’t find any nuts in the cupboard so he used pine nuts instead – strangely enough the combo worked and earned him the title of the Heston Blumenthal of Lewes! (although maybe not such a good thing to be at the moment). Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi started their first outlet in Notting Hill in 2002 and went from strength to strength with their blend of imaginative food, inspired by their respective childhoods in West and East Jerusalem. There are 140 original recipes in the book, all mouth-wateringly descriptive, but their beauty is in their simplicity … and apparently very easy to cook! The Life & Adventures of Peter WilkinsMarch 3rd, 2009 by gerrywarner Bawden frontispiece Getting into a bit of a lather about a beautiful book we’ve just got in the shop. ‘The Life & Adventures of Peter Wilkins’ is by Robert Paltock, an 18th century fantasy novelist which is fascinating in itself but, even better, this edition is the first book illustrated by none other than Edward Bawden. This is a 1st edition, published in 1928 and I feel privileged to handle it. The pictures are breath-taking, the colour pallette is restrained and well chosen … the odd bit of red or vivid blue placed carefully amongst black and white and stone. Bawden was such a gifted talent and much has been written about him by far more learned than me, so I won’t add to the wealth of information out there, suffice to say that the book is a treasure trove of stunning imagery and would be a joy to own. Robert Paltock on the other hand … didn’t know anything about him until now, but he’s piqued my interest, the subject of the book is pretty much out there. He was a novelist and attorney, posthumously admired by Walter Scott, Coleridge and Charles Lamb. His one and only book was published in 1750 when he was 53 – he wasn’t known in literary circles and the reception to his book seems confused … the only surviving critique from the time was a scathing one describing it dismissively as a cross between Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver’s Travels. The book was kept in print throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, possibly finding resonance with the Victorian audience who were reaping the empirical rewards of their adventurous ancestors. The story itself is supposedly related to the author by the titular character just before his death and tells of his adventures and travels around the world before eventually being shipwrecked on an island. There he finds and rescues a beautiful woman … who can fly! They marry and the rest of the story is about their lives together, their children, religious discussions, her civilisation and his anti-slavery stance (possibly a curious concept to the early Victorian audience). There are echoes of later science-fiction work here too which would eventually find a place in 20th century sci-fi works – in the theme of a flying race, and in the names such as the Doorpt Swangeantines and Brandleguarp, but I guess the time in which it was written was a wonderland of fascinating discoveries: new lands, flora and fauna, races, oceans, bizarre animals must have all been ‘alien’ concepts to Europeans at the time. So this lovely book combines two absorbing fields of interest, very much entrenched in the two periods in which this edition was originally written and then illustrated, and would please both Bawden and literary enthusiasts alike. Come in to the Lewes shop if you’re passing and see it before it goes!  Bawden illustration A Whole Allotment of LoveFebruary 26th, 2009 by gerrywarner using the plot Hooray! Dare I say it? Feels like Spring might be body slamming Winter … I know the old saying, ne’er cast a clout till May is out, but May’s still a couple of months away and I need some signs of growth NOW! The gardeners at Gardener & Cook are very excited about our new arrivals – a range of tools, books and soon-to-be-arriving seeds specifically with the allotment in mind. Paul Merrett’s book ‘Using the Plot’ is ‘part memoir part cookbook’ and recounts his and his family’s experience of reviving and living off of an abandoned allotment in West London for a year. The second half of the book is devoted to recipes using the end results which gives you something to aim for. This is particularly useful – I find myself daydreaming about all the exotic veg I’m going to grow without thinking about what I’ll really use on a day-to-day basis! Paul is a Michelin-starred chef restaurateur so he knows what he’s talking about. Another name to be trusted is Nutscene – going since 1922, they have been the gardener’s favourite product of choice ever since. An elderly lady came into the shop the other day and commented “I remember Nutscene twine, my father wouldn’t use anything else.” We stock an assortment of their twine, composting sacks, labels and beautiful smelling soaps … for the discerning gardener! Along with many other Lewesians my garden is rather small but a lovely neighbour has offered to share part of theirs with us so we’re planning wildly with the help of the Allotment Seasonal Planner & Cookbook. Feeling rather inspired by conversations with a buoyant wave of new generation allotment owners so I fancy my hand at it … Paul Merrett sums it up well when he says “The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that my grandparent’s generation enjoyed a relationship with food that I witnessed as a child but have conveniently forgotten as an adult.” Along with our ongoing stock of bird feeders, bird houses, tools, labels and twine, make sure you stop by on your way to the allotment … although allotments are in rather short supply at the moment, so have you thought about re-planning your garden?! Camper Van HeavenJanuary 30th, 2009 by gerrywarner
It was originally conceived in 1947 by Ben Pon, a Dutch VW importer who was inspired by the British army WWII ad-hoc transportation version of the VW Beetle. They were simple, cheap and incredibly practical … all desirous commodities in post-war Europe. Their main function was as a delivery vehicle – bakers, meat wagons, mobile grocers … even veterinary surgeons! It wasn’t long before their possibilities were realised and they started their invasion of the US in 1963. The bays replaced the splitties in 1967 and became more reliable and there was no stopping them. The camper van in its iconic form ceased production in 1979 and moved onto more practical (although less aesthetically pleasing) models, but their ancestors’ popularity has grown and grown. I think it’s the interior possibilities that fire up the imagination too – your own tiny, stylish, retro home on wheels. You can buy your own slice of design history for between £15 – £35,000, but if your bank balance doesn’t quite stretch to that, we’re celebrating the wonderful icon by introducing a range of tea-towels, mugs, oven gloves, tea cosies, and even cool shopping trollies by the British company Jam Tart. The range is inspired by classic designs and includes beach huts, vespers and 2CVs, and all made in good old blighty. Chick litDecember 12th, 2008 by gerrywarner
I think with the world financial crisis and the individual sense of loss of control, there is a nostalgia for a time when you could at least produce your own food, a satisfying sense of achievement in which there was no interference from a third party concerning the most basic of needs. The all-pervading lethargy and cynicism when it comes to politics or world affairs is translating itself into a need for control on a really fundamental level. Anyway, enough of the analysis, back to Francine … there’s a great Radio 4 interview with her in which she tells us that her chicken of choice nowadays is the Buff Orpington – I think the evocative names from a bygone era are part of the chicken fascination! If you’re thinking about keeping chickens, you might be interested to know we’re inviting Francine down to Lewes to give a talk in Spring 2009 so that she can spread the bird word and give encouragement to those considering the idea. Let us know if you’re interested and we’ll notify you of the date nearer the time. In the meantime, check out the poultry accommodation section of the Perfect Poultry website – how great would these look in your garden?! Richard Bawden et alDecember 12th, 2008 by gerrywarner
He studied painting, printmaking and graphic design at Chelsea, St Martin’s and the Royal College of Art, and is a painter, printmaker and designer working predominantly in lino, etching and watercolour So much for the facts, but it seems very little else about him exists (at least online) which leads me to suspect that he must be a rather private man. I did find a rather interesting (although short) online article from The Telegraph in 2005 which mentions the fact that he insists on keeping the prices of his work down and will not let anything go for above £800 – no doubt unpopular with dealers, but a true man of the people. Must ask Simon to keep an eye out for any second-hand books about him. In the meantime, if you’re a fan and not feeling that flush at the moment, you can buy your own piece of print in card form and frame it for a fraction of even his original prices! Lewes Late night shoppingDecember 12th, 2008 by gerrywarner
Particularly popular at the moment are our House Doctor Christmas glass votives which flew out of the door on the night (not literally obviously – we’d have to charge a lot more for those). Mulled wine and mince pies ensured that everyone left the shop with that glowing feeling! Countdown until next year’s event … only 358 days to go. |
Ah the humble camper van … originally conceived as a motorised alternative to the ox and cart, now a desired cult icon. What is it about the camper van that makes it so loved? Well for starters there’s the design – beautifully functional and yet there’s something so friendly and appealing about the shape.
With the success of our Francine Raymond books, it made me wonder what was going on out there in rural East Sussex … everyone’s going mad on keeping chickens! Francine reminds us that before the Second World War, most households (even in towns and cities) kept a couple of chickens for their eggs, and I can remember stories of my Mum’s family keeping a couple in their back yard … and this was Leyton in not exactly rural East London.
We’ve got some lovely cards in at the moment from a series called Winter Printmakers from Art Angel. They champion true craftsmen such as the ubiquitous Angie Lewin (the beautifully coloured Winter Spey) and some lesser known artists such as Richard Gillmor (see the Bryony Hare, left).
Richard Bawden is a firm favourite in the shop at the moment and I realised I know very little about him (other than he’s Edward Bawden’s son) so I’ve been doing a bit of research. Easier said than done, there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot written about him other than the facts: he was born in 1936 and, like his father, lives in East Anglia and is drawn to images of the Suffolk and Norfolk coastline.
The annual late night shopping event in Lewes last Thursday was a huge success! This year there were stalls which stretched down the Cliffe High Street which meant that people were enticed further down rather than just hanging around on the other side of the bridge. There was a lovely brass band playing and everyone was in good spirits.| 38 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN, T: 01892 525941 | 33a Cliffe High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AT, T: 01273 477049 |