isle of wight :    a  foodie haven fit for a queen

A foodie haven

The Isle of Wight is not the only place in the UK to produce garlic but, by general consensus, it grows the best thanks largely to its long sunlight hours, high light intensity reflected from the sea and fertile soil. Isle of Wight garlic  is not only shipped to London’s top restaurants, but also to France and Italy. Visitors to the Garlic Farm shop  can buy all manner of pungent products, pickles, relishes and even garlic beer. Every August the island hosts a weekend long Garlic Festival attracting an average 25,000 visitors. 

not only garlic ...

It’s not all about garlic of course and besides the pungent, health giving bulbs, fat, succulent sweetcorn grows abundantly here as does tasty asparagus.
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Isle of Wight blue cheese is delicious  and a World Cheese Awards prize winner, while fans of seafood will enjoy tucking into a variety of delicious dishes.  The ice cream on the island is rather moreish too....

​fit for a queen

A main attraction on the island is Osborne House much loved by Queen Victoria. Largely unchanged since the monarch died there in 1901, its rooms still bursting with clutter and colour, it provides an intriguing  glimpse into the private life of Victoria, Albert and their children. The Queen used Osborne for more than 50 years, mainly as a holiday home but also as a place to entertain foreign royalty and visiting ministers.  A fifteen minute walk through woodland leads to the beach once used solely by the royals. Queen Victoria’s bathing machine is still in pride of place.  Facing the sea, an alcove seat decorated with blue Minton tiles was where Victoria sketched or wrote in her journal.
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More on the Isle of Wight here​
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