Well, help is at hand, in the guise of a new range of locally produced relishes and chutneys. Not only are they produced locally , but also made with locally sourced produce where ever possible.
"So what?" I hear you cry. Go to your nearest supermarket and you will find the condiment aisle groaning under the weight of various pickles, relishes and chutneys. What makes these bad boys different?
Booze. That great Scottish stalwart. We are famed for our parsimony and our ability to drink the rest of the world under the table.
When I started down the chutney path, I was dealing with a large haul of apples from a friend, and running out of ideas to give them a bit of va va voom. Grabbing a bottle of Bells, I glugged in a few measures, and so my apple and whisky chutney was born.
And from there it was a small step to realising that a few snifters in the pot worked wonders, lifting flavours, both complementing and sharpening them, and creating pretty unique combinations that taste phenomenal.
Now, these canny condiments are retailing at a mere £2.50 for an 8oz jar, which, to my mind, is very reasonable, and with today's rising costs, they are a little bit of affordable luxury.
They won't make you ten years younger, or make you look good naked or even afford you that place in the sun, but they will brighten up an otherwise dull plate.
A list of suppliers will be available shortly, but I can be contacted directly for sales. See product list below.
- Apple and Whisky Chutney
- Rhubarb and Ginger Pickle
- Spiced Sweetcorn Relish
- Sweet Chilli Jam
- Yellow Pepper and Coriander Relish
- Sweet Onion and Chilli Relish
- Beetroot and Port Pickle