On 28 Sep 2013 at 10:06am huw wrote:
This Sunday is the awesome Southease Chilli Fest from 1pm-5pm.
Unfortunately for me, I can't make it but unless you have a valid excuse you should all get down there tomorrow.
There's a whole range of chillies, from the ludicrously hot to the timidly mild. All grown in the village. As well as various chilli jams.
Look out for the Lemon Drop chillis, they are wonderful and really do taste of lemon.
There's also music, BBQ, Padron chilli and the infamous Southease Sizzler chilli and most importantly a bar (as you wouldn't want to suffer the heat of some of the products without having a pint or two to cool your tongue).
On 28 Sep 2013 at 10:54am Tobnac wrote:
Top tunes too.
On 29 Sep 2013 at 10:49pm Belladonna wrote:
Sorry, but I was really disappointed in this so-called festival. There was one table selling aurora chilli plants, a table selling chilli jam and a few hot chillis scattered about. The bar and two food stalls did a roaring trade and a decent dj, but seriously, this way over promoted. I'm very concious that this is one persons passion and tThe village green was heaving, but for a keen gardener like myself the point is surely the chillis and the chilli plants, both of which were in very short supply!
Sorry Southease but its West Dean for me next year.
On 29 Sep 2013 at 10:54pm TDA wrote:
You can please some of the people etc...
On 30 Sep 2013 at 8:06am Hello Trevor wrote:
Cor blimey love, it really not your cup of tea is it!
On 30 Sep 2013 at 11:51am David Wilson wrote:
Well 'Belladonna', I'm the organiser. And once again I find myself defending the Chill Day from the amazing negativity the Lewes Forum seems to so enjoy. "so-called festival"? I never called it a 'festival', not once, not anywhere, It's Southease Chilli Day, it's a charity event run by a handful of volunteers. So sorry you won't be coming again next year, I wish the people of West Dean the best of luck with your attendance.
On 30 Sep 2013 at 12:17pm Ouch wrote:
I had a brilliant time, thankyou again to the lovely people of Southease. But I wish I hadn't eaten the Sizzler. Ouch
On 30 Sep 2013 at 1:11pm belladonna wrote:
David. I appreciate you say it's not a festival, I appreciate your hard work. And I made a donation to the charity and bought food. But there's an awful lot of hoo-ha about this event (not least from Viva Lewes), which has led me over a few years to believe that it's a lot more than what it actually is. I was really disappointed, others will have enjoyed it. I don't see anything wrong with expressing that disappointment. I was interested in seeing lots of different chillis. I saw one type of plant and a few paper bowls with about five different strength chilli fruits. Whether you call it a chilli day or chilli festival (the OP calls it a fest), it was hardly a celebration of all things chilli. You would get more chillis in Sainsburys.
On 30 Sep 2013 at 3:09pm Still Sizzling wrote:
Belladonna I think you're totally missing the point. The 'hoo ha' about this event from Viva is based on the fact it's not JUST about Chilli, it's about community, meeting people, sharing things and having a good time. It's a totally unique event and a labour of love from a very small community. So what if the Chilli plants sold out? The Southease chilli growers deserve high praise and all the help they can get. Yes, please stick to Sainsburys.
On 30 Sep 2013 at 3:17pm A person wrote:
We arrived at about 2.45, and I was amazed at the numbers of people there. I think that was the main problem really: the number of visitors far outstripped the expectations of the organisers and all the stalls were struggling. It took 20 minutes to get to the front of the queues, and there weren't any chilli plants left either. I got the impression that with about half the number of people it would have been a delightful quirky afternoon out.
On 30 Sep 2013 at 4:20pm Earl of De Montfort wrote:
Was still getting over the Brighton *actual* promoted-correctly-as-a-festival Chilli Festival the other weekend but would love to go to this to meet growers and fanatics alike next year.
On 30 Sep 2013 at 4:42pm belladonna wrote:
Earl - don't expect to meet any growers. There was only one stall selling one type of chilli plant. I had seen publicity relating to this event promising many many different types of chilli - not in evidence.
'Still sizzling' - I didn't mention anything about chilli plants selling out - (although they had done within a couple of hours).
I wasn't the only one disappointed either - many of our friends were also puzzled and bemused by the event.
On 30 Sep 2013 at 5:32pm Dave wrote:
It was a fantastic event last year but it did seem to be a bit of a victim of its own success this time.
We arrived about 3pm and after getting into both queues I found out the Harveys lorry had run out of Harveys and the Chili stand had run out of chili!!
At least the chili guys had the manners to tell us before we got to the front of the line.
Maybe a little bad publicity now would dissuade so many people from turning up next year, perhaps Viva could keep quiet about it and then it could return to the lovely small local event it was. Otherwise I suppose the organisers could gear up and move to a bigger venue.
On 1 Oct 2013 at 3:24pm Hot stuff wrote:
Well I say hurrah for Southease Chilli Day, it was great fun and a wonderful success for a charity event run by a handful of volunteers as Dave Wilson says.
Instead of knocking it, more of us should be encouraged to join in, or yes, just stick to Sainsbury's.
Incidentally, plant growers amng us will know that Belladonna is another name for Deadly Nightshade, and is quite quite poisonous.
On 1 Oct 2013 at 7:09pm Belladonna wrote:
And the plant growers will also know its in the same family as.... Yes, chillis (as well as peppers, tomato, potatoes etc).
But why so few chillis at an event celebrating chillis ?
And seems its now a crime to express disappointment.
On 2 Oct 2013 at 8:26am Hot stuff wrote:
Not a crime at all, but lets not dwell on it.
On 2 Oct 2013 at 1:16pm Taff wrote:
Perhaps if you aimed your disappointment at the organisers Belladonna all would be seen as fair and constructive. Instead of just another whinger on the forum.