For the average British mainlander, Jersey has been associated with some great ingredients for a long time – most notably the famous Jersey Royal potatoes, unbelievably creamy milk from Jersey cows, fresh oysters and giant, sweet lobsters. But while it’s always been a popular holiday destination, it’s only recently that the small channel island tucked between England and France has become known as a place to go for food. It’s surprising this didn’t happen sooner; after all, there are plenty of beautiful, luxurious hotels, award-winning restaurants (four of which hold a Michelin star, an incredible number considering how tiny Jersey is) and brilliant markets, delis, butchers, fishmongers and grocers selling some of the freshest and highest quality produce I’ve ever come across. But people are starting to take notice of Jersey’s food scene, and with good reason. This year marked the first Eat Jersey Food Festival, created by Patrick Burke and the team at his luxury hotel, The Atlantic. He wanted to find a way to fly the flag for Jersey’s world-class produce and make it a place known for fantastic food around the world. His solution? Bring over acclaimed chefs from across the Channel Islands, mainland Britain and France (with a combined six Michelin stars between them) for a weekend to create special menus showcasing the very best of what Jersey has to offer. I was lucky enough to attend the first of these three dinners.
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Treasure island: Jersey’s fantastic food scene