Young entrepreneur Alice Rebecca Talbot, from Kirkley in Suffolk, is stirring up new age interest in jams and chutneys.
She is the owner of ART’s – Craft Kitchen, a home-based artisan business she launched in April 2021, making small-batch preserves and conserves to her own secret and highly imaginative recipes. Inspired by seasonal produce and influenced by her knowledge of clever food and drinks pairings, Alice has been setting taste buds a-tingle throughout the summer. She has won commendation from experts in the food industry who are impressed with her maturity and creativity.
Her Allotment Chutney is deemed prize-winning and her Seaside Salsa, created specially to accompany fish and chips or barbequed fish, is superb; her Southwold Sandfire (yes, Sandfire, not samphire – see Alice’s website blog for background) was specially commissioned by a local retail outlet and is ideal for holiday makers and souvenir-buying tourists. Alice shares insight and inspiration, as well as recipes, on her website artscraftkitchen.co.uk.
Alice was a pupil at St Felix School, Southwold, throughout her schooling, and completed sixth form education during Covid 19 lockdown in 2020. Always drawn to the prospect of combining food with business, she set about formulating her enterprise during times of restriction. With a life-long insight into the subtleties of taste and the alchemy of flavours (gleaned from her father who works for Adnams in Southwold), Alice applies a fresh approach to the concept of conserves and preserves which seems to come naturally to her. She writes in her website profile: “As an artist combines colours on a palette to generate new hues, so I look at the relationship between flavours and combine them to create bespoke recipes.”
New flavours for autumn have just been launched, including Jim Jam, a “divine” banana jam, and Plum Bob, (“pure plum!”), with one or two treats for Christmas on their way, too. Her full product range is viewable on her website, but selected flavours can be purchased at premium outlets such as Slate (Cheese & Provisions) and Jakery Bakery, both in Southwold. Alice occasionally stands at Beccles’ farmers’ markets and regional food & craft fairs. She has also taken a stall at St Felix School Christmas Fayre on Saturday 4th December.
Alice is rooted to place, and her pride in being located on the most easterly coast of Britain is obvious. She supports local produce growers and producers wherever possible and encourages people to become an ART’s Chutney Chum, sharing news of new flavour releases, special offers and feedback. Alice is also able to accept special commissions for dietary needs, flavour preferences and bespoke or special occasion consignments, such as wedding favours, all by private arrangement.
Please see artscraftkitarts craft kitchenchen.co.uk or message Alice at info@artscraftkitchen.co.uk for further details.
