Culinary creative, Alice Talbot, owner of ART’s-Craft Kitchen, is no stranger to bespoke commissions and taste challenges posed by her customers. However, the young entrepreneur has begun 2022 with absolute proof of her determination to build upon her growing reputation for producing top-quality flavours preserved in jars, cooked in small batches for niche markets.
A fellow member of Southwold choir asked Alice after practice on Monday 10 January if she sold Tayberry jam. She had to admit that she didn’t, but when she heard that it was the gentleman’s wife’s favourite, Alice was inspired to see what she could do.
Tayberries are the large, sweet fruits of a shrub patented in 1979 as a cross between a blackberry and a red raspberry and named after the River Tay in Scotland.
Alice travelled to Scotland, overnight on Tuesday, sourced berries from a specialist fruit farm on Wednesday and, having journeyed back home on Thursday, cooked the jam on Friday. At the following choir practice, on Monday 17 January, Alice was able to present jars of fresh Tayberry Jam – much to the surprise and delight of all concerned.
Alice admits: “The timing was perfect. I was scheduled to make the journey with my family anyway, to take my sister back to university in St. Andrews.
“However, I was determined not to let the opportunity pass. I visited a specialist fruit farm I know in Fife to see if they had frozen any of last year’s crop of Tayberries and they had. It has been my intention to incorporate Scottish fruits into my recipes for a Scottish Specialities Range for a while, but I was anticipating it would be a project to coincide with harvest time.
“However, this initiative has started the process earlier than planned and I am extremely pleased with the results. Berries freeze very well, and these were superb examples; big and tangy!”
Alice, who has lots of exciting new ventures expected for 2022, will be working hard on developing her Scottish Specialities Range, so keep an eye on her website for news and updates.
