Food & Drink notes

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Good enough to eat

Almost too lovely looking to eat, flavours like star anise, rosemary, green peppercorns and juniper are cleverly suspended in these jars of refulgent fruit and berry jellies. Jewel-coloured and with scarcity value, they're made in small quantities by Ouse Valley Foods, in Sussex, and sold in selected shops including Bishops in Uckfield High Street, Seasons in Forest Row and Glyn Thomas in Lindfield in 190ml and 300ml jars for £2.10 to £2.95. For more stockists and information call 09802 426 707.

Howard's way

Castle Howard in Yorkshire is the latest stately home to become good hunting ground for great British produce. A butcher's counter serves game, lamb and organic Aberdeen Angus beef from the estate, and with counters laden with local cheeses, pâtés, bread, wine and beers, and heaps of fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, it brings together the most beautiful food from the surrounding area and further afield. For more information call 01653 648619 or visit www.castlehoward.co.uk.

Mash hit

So mashing spuds isn't up there glamour-wise with brûlée-ing the top on your crème. But for a mere £4.99 you can get your hands on some indispensible kitchen kit. Although it still relies on elbow grease, the way you roll and rotate the polypropylene propeller-shaped Simply Mash (instead of resorting to physical force to get the lumps out of your mash) makes it more of a breeze to use. From branches of Debenhams and Lakeland stores and mail order (01539 88100/www.lakelandlimited.co.uk).

You've got the Kitchen Aid mixer, surely. You know, the one Nigella looks naked in the kitchen without. Kitchen Aid's equipment is as American as mom's apple pie and as retro as Doris Day in a pinnie. Now they're importing the Artisan espresso machine and the Burr coffee grinder, made of die-cast metal in Imperial Red or Gunmetal Grey finishes. The espresso machine (£499) has got a second dry-steam boiler for cappuccino frothing, and can keep up to 6 espresso cups warm. Then all you need is the matching coffee grinder for £139. Stockists include John Lewis stores (08456 049 049) and Divertimenti (08701 295 027).