Let the Public Decide on St George’s Day!
21 Apr 2011
On Saturday 23 April - St George’s Day - visitors to Horsham are invited to decide for themselves whether they prefer English local produce or authentic Italian fare as these two specialist markets go head to head as part of the three-day Piazza Italia Easter festival in Horsham.
The Carfax Local Produce, Arts & Crafts Market
This unique, hybrid market is a well established feature of Horsham Town Centre. The market has grown over the years and regularly hosts the freshest of local produce and the most unique arts and crafts. The market showcases some of the best English producers and artists including free range eggs, locally caught fish, organic salads and vegetables, hand made preserves and jams, traditional sign writing services, Sussex cheeses, hand made jewellery and gifts, local plants, smoked fish and cheeses, sausages and a wide range of local crafts folk.
Some of the highlights of the market include hand-produced artisan bread from Slinden Bakery - a bakery that dates back to the mid sixteenth century; made-to-measure furniture from Richard Harman and his sons Carl and Adam who are sixth generation cabinet makers; handcrafted chocolates and confections from Lindsey of Wimblehurst Chocolates; and unique gifts and souvenirs from Freddie Upcycle, giving new life to a vast array of discarded materials such as Monopoly money, old maps, dominoes, comics and even music sheets.
Italia in Piazza, Fresh Italian Food Market
From across the Mediterranean comes the Italian market offering hot and cold foods to delight the senses, from famous cheeses, cured meats, Italian herbs & wide range of pastas, to virgin olive oils, specialty breads and seasonal biscuits. Some of the highlights of the Italian market includes the extra long black Squid Ink and Chilli Pepper spaghettoni; “Crostoli” - light hollow biscuits specially prepared for the Carnival in the “Friuli Venezia Giulia” area of Italy and mixed with a hint of Cognac to give the “Crostoli” its distinctive flavour; Arancini, a classic Sicilian specialty of rice balls with various fillings such as ragu, spinach & mozzarella or ham & mozzarella, handmade for the market; fresh Italian Sausages prepared on a griddle (The “Italian Hot Dog”!); and Torrone - the famous nougat cake first made on 25 Ocober 1441 in the village of Torrazzo, near Cremona, for a royal wedding reception. Since then this fantastic product has become famous all over the world and is now on offer in Horsham.
Whichever market the public favours at the end of the day everyone is ultimately a winner. England truly loves its markets and Horsham, after all, is a market town dating back to the thirteenth Century. Horsham District Council is working towards keeping this tradition alive and well for a long time yet.
Piazza Italia is organised by Horsham District Council on behalf of local businesses and the community. The entertainment on Easter Monday raises funds for Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.
Take a look at what happened at previous Piazza Italia events and what is proposed for 2011 at www.piazza-italia.co.uk, Tweet us at piazzaitaliaV or visit us on Facebook Piazza Italia.
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CONTACT: Sarah Hogben, Marketing and Events Manager, Horsham District Council
Leisure Services, Park North, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1RL
(01403) 215153. Email: leisure@horsham.gov.uk