Cumbria's Mr Marmalade...(ha!)

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The first time I ever made marmalade I bottled out (pardon the pun..) of entering it into the Marmalade competition at Dalemain last year. It just wasn't up to scratch, it tasted ok, but when your up against the worlds best, well lets just say I know when not to compete. This year's annual attempt hasn't fared much better, well at least not yet. Yes, my second attempt was an improvement, it looked superb, tasted ok, but I put far too much sugar in and it came out more like a syrup...hmmmm...maybe a little less ad hoc and a little more recipe following would be good, but still, I tend to learn fastest by making mistakes. I'm all geared up for my third and hopefully soon to be successful attempt to enter this years competition.

This year I am actively involved in the Marmalade Festival, organising the food part of the event. We will have 24 producers, each bringing a particular citrus twist with them and lots to taste too. Click here to see what I mean.

As the event is in its infancy getting involved has also meant taking a responsibility for promoting the event too. We have managed to generate lots and lots of press and magazine coverage both nationally and locally (click here to see what I mean). The latest has yet to be sprung on the great British public, aka Cumbria's Mr Marmalade appearing on UKTV's Food - Market Kitchen programme. And yes thats what they called me when I went to London for the filming. If you get a chance, watch it on January the 31st at 7pm, on the UKTV Food channel.

The Market Kitchen studio, a "copy" of Borough Market

To whet your appetite, here is a press release issued to further promote the event locally.!

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Dubbed “Cumbria’s Mr Marmalade” Martin Campbell, who runs Artisan-food.com, and Jane Maggs from Wild and Fruitful, will be starring in a special Marmalade feature on UKTV Food’s popular Market Kitchen programme, to promote the up-coming Marmalade Festival and competition at Dalemain House. On the show Martin Campbell, from Grasmere, had the chance to taste the World’s most expensive Marmalade along with presenters Diana Henry, Matt Tebbutt and top London chef Sanjay Dwivedi.

“I travelled to London for the filming, with a rucksack stuffed full of Cumbrian goodies specially produced for the Marmalade festival tastings,” says Martin, “I wanted viewers to be able to see what will be on offer in the Artisan food marquee at this fabulous event. In return the producers filled me up with expensive marmalade.”

Yes....cheese, bread, infused oil, pate, citrus apricots.......

The costly Marmalade from Duerrs is packed with amazing ingredients including gold, vintage champagne and some of the world’s most expensive whisky as well as the finest oranges. The commemorative 1kg jar, which will be on display at Dalemain House during the Marmalade Festival on February the 10th, contains £3,450 worth of Dalmore 62 whisky, £348 worth of vintage champagne and £120 of edible gold leaf, all encased in a specially designed hand-crafted jar valued at £1,100. Spread evenly it works out at £76 per slice of toast with each mouthful costing an eye watering £11. The rare Dalmore 62-year-old malt whisky used in the marmalade sells at £32,000 per bottle.

The expensive stuff is at the front....

The UKTV Food Market Kitchen studio is styled on Borough Market in London, where Cumbrian producers such as Peter Gott, Farmer Sharp and Furness Fish sell their produce every week. The same production company also produces Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word, the Great British Menu and Jamie Oliver’s The Naked chef. Part of the programme’s marmalade feature will include Cumbrian preserve expert Jane Maggs, who has produced a very special official Festival Marmalade from Seville oranges and locally grown quince, helping Market Kitchen produce their own entry for the Marmalade Competition at the Festival.

“It was fun”, says Jane Maggs, from Wild and Fruitful. “I helped advise Diana Henry, the Sunday Telegraph’s food writer, while she was making her marmalade. After we tasted it, Diana gave the jar to Martin to carry back to Dalemain as Market Kitchens entry into this years competition.”

Jane Maggs from Wild and Fruitful.

The competition to find the best marmalade is at the core of the Marmalade Festival. There are a number of categories, including one for children, one for the clergy as well as a category for politicians and ‘peers of the realm’. Last year the competition attracted over 350 entries from all around the UK and some from abroad. Entries close this year on February 3rd, and all competition details can be found on the festival website www.marmaladefestival.com.

The TV programme is scheduled for transmission on January the 31st at 7pm, on the UKTV Food channel.

Martins thoughts...

Cumbria's Mr Marmalade...(ha!)