Mad for marmalade
If you think you make really good marmalade, you could find yours on display here, in the "Marmalade Awards Temple" at Dalemain, a Georgian mansion in Penrith that is home to the World's Original Marmalade Awards, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year (judging takes place in mid-February). More than 2,000 jars of marmalade were sent from countries as far away as Australia, Japan, the US and South Korea for this year's competition and Bob Wheeler of Rathmullan House, an Ireland's Blue Book property in Donegal, won a bronze for his pink grapefruit marmalade and was commended for his Seville orange variety. Rathmullan marmalade also took the hotly contested best label award. Interesting flavours this year include marmalades with beer, chocolate, honey, mustard seeds and seaweed. The winner of the homemade category was 70-year-old Sarah Byrne from Kent, who used beer from her family brewery in her Seville orange marmalade, which will now go on sale at Fortnum & Mason. For recipes, and to enter next year, see marmaladeawards.com.
Really Zwilling
Zwilling JA Henckels, the kitchen equipment brand, has opened a shop at the Kildare Village outlet centre. As well as kitchen knives and cutlery, for which the brand is best known, you can also pick up items such as scissors, tweezers and manicure sets, also made by Zwilling. Kitchen equipment on offer at the Kildare Village shop also includes Staub cast iron cookware. There are savings of up to 60 per cent available across the range.
Free-from, but flavoursome
Gluten-free is now almost mainstream in terms of shopping for food, and products can be found on most supermarket shelves. But really good baked goods that are free from gluten are still more of a specialist venture, so if you want to try some of what's on offer, Gluten Free Ireland is staging a showcase event at the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle, Co Antrim next Saturday, April 5th (1pm-4pm), with international brands such as Riso Gallo and local manufacturers such as Dunola Sauces taking part. See glutenfreeireland.com for details.
Suits you, Maman
If you've still not picked up a Mother's Day gift, the "J'aime ma maman" tea towel from Basque firm Tissage Moutet is almost too pretty to use. It costs €14.50 at Terroirs in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, and you can also buy it online at terroirs.ie.
mcdigby@irishtimes.com
