West Dean Chilli Festival 2010
The 2010 Chilli Fiesta at West Dean Gardens was the hottest yet and with over 19,000 visitors the fiery fiesta was a great success! All had the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful and vast collection of chillis (200 plus) grown in the magnificent restored Victorian Glasshouses, displayed in pristine rows in every shape and size ranging from the serene green through to red hot. And to whet the appetite even more, there were over 150 stall holders selling hot and spicy foods, chilli beer, chilli plants, plus chilli growing demos, salsa music and lots of dancing! "Vamos muchachos!" For those who wanted a saucy time at the fiesta, checked out Trees Can't Dance. TCD produces hot, tasty marinades and sauces from the world's most northerly chilli farm- in Northumberland! "The Chilli Fiesta at West Dean is the highlight of our year as far as consumer shows go," says Dan May, founder of TCD. "This year we will be highlighting our in-the-bag marinades (Spicy Cajun, Texas BBQ and Flaming Mango) as truly innovative products that take all the time out of creating great barbeque marinades!" And if you fancy something a little hotter then grab a bottle of Flaming Lips Hot Sauce. Ouch! A show favourite, Chilli Pepper Pete, launched a new range of three curry sauces this year, marketed as the world's hottest curry sauces and made from the naga chilli. And just in case you needed cooling off there was Pete's new Dragon's Blood ice-cream - new at this year's fiesta! A range of other Dragon's Blood products will also be on sale for the brave-hearted. "Every year we try to do something new for the fiesta," says Pete, "as it's the biggest and best show of the year. It usually takes a month to prepare so July is a very busy and creative month for us. See you at the show!" Also new for this year, Wine Sorted Ltd are holding a wine theatre, with wine tasting sessions over all three days of the show. Giving you the chance to discover which wines to savour with spicy food, and cool down with a glass of Chilean Errazuriz. West Dean's Chilli Fiesta is a great day out for all the family with food, drink, live music and dancing. This year, the entertainment had its own tent on the front lawn, next to a bigger and better beer tent to keep everyone cool and refreshed. Please note, only assistance dogs are allowed into events.
