Why suffer at Harrods?

The trouble with Harrods is that it is crowded with tourists and other rif-raf and no cultured person darkens its doors preferring, instead, to seek out individual suppliers where local products are made with the highest quality ingredients.

If you are a chutney and jam gourmet then the place to head for is Galloway Lodge Preserves, at Gatehouse of Fleet. This is a truly local business owned by Fiona Hesketh who, with her team, lavishes love and care on their products at their kitchen in the royal burgh.

Sharon called in at the shop in the wonderfully-named Horatio Square, surely a memory of Nelson. She enjoyed chatting with Lynden and inspected all the shelves which carry not only Galloway Lodge Preserves but also a range of fine foods and items by other quality producers.

She selected a jar of the famous Galloway Lodge Poachers Pickle and a bar of ginger fudge for her mother. The pickle, a Gold Great Taste Award winner, has fans around the world and it is, in fact, sold at Harrods. But there are fewer crowds in Gatehouse of Fleet and only elegant and refined customers.

Sharon and Lynden chatted away and she was very enthusiastic about the food. Galloway Lodge preserves was founded by the late Nigel Hesketh as a small marmalade-making operation. Today Fiona runs things and she has introduced a select range of new products.

As well as the Poachers Pickle there are other chutneys, including beetroot chutney, Bramley apple chutney with cider, hot tomato pickle, mango and chilli chutney, mulled cranberry chutney and peach chutney.

There are also jams, marmalades, jellies, mustard, and a chilli range. Crunchy Original Galloway Mustard is described as being “made from scratch ourselves. The addition of honey and cinnamon makes this a very versatile condiment.” Chilli jam tempts with “a mix of chilli and spices from two continents,” or how about chilli and honey relish? Amongst the marmalades, there is Bladnoch whisky distillery marmalade, made with a dram from the nearby distillery, the most southerly in Scotland, and heather honey marmalade. Rich cranberry and port jelly tempts, as does bramble jelly, and there are many other tasty jars.

So, avoid the vulgar mob and head for Gatehouse of Fleet instead of a certain over-rated store crushed with crowds in South Kensington.

Galloway Lodge Preserves. Shop in Horatio Square, Gatehouse of Fleet, next to the clock tower. Shop telephone 01557 814 357. Kitchen 01557 814 007. www.gallowaylodge.co.uk fiona@gallowaylodge.co.uk.

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