Mother’s Day, Mugs & News from the Trade Show

In recent years the Indx Show has replaced the Spring Fair at the NEC, now been deserted by 90% of our suppliers. The upside is that we can do it in one day. The downside is that I don’t get to stay in a swanky hotel for a few nights.
A hygiene stop (a coffee and a sticky bun), notwithstanding  we were there by 10.30. 

Joseph Joseph was our first port of call and the ever elegant and helpful Sonya (our account manager) showed us around. Stuff to note, was a good sized and handy grater with a box built in to catch your gratings.  Good because the blades are etched, therefore lethally sharp, dramatically reducing the effort required to grate anything, particularly for cheese or cabbage for a salad say.  Also good because there are three, giving you a choice of fine medium or coarse. 
And then there was a bucket and mop that I thought was just brilliant designed. When it arrives in April, I'll tell you all about it. My enthusiasm for this product was mocked and I was pilloried by my two companions, who, thought I was a bit of sad git for waxing lyrical about such an item. 

Kuhn Rikon the Swiss manufacturer was next. We get the superb Culinary 5 Ply from them.  Edward and Paul had a number of new things with which to tempt us. A cleverly designed Cool Handled gripper for safely picking up pans that are hot. And an Induction plate for about £30 that enables you to use your old NON Induction pans on an induction hob. I remained conflicted. Admirable from a sustainability view, slightly frustrating from a performance one. A bit like reheating chips. Possible, but never quite the same.

Dexam was next. They are one of the oldest companies that we deal with. From our first rep with them who gloried in the name Richard Burton, to our current “rep" in the form of their managing director Bryony Dyer, they have all been a delight to deal with. They had cellulose sponges, that honestly I could do without, but are apparently very good and recyclable. And some quite nice (damned by faint praise) Christmas designs that VERY sensibly are double sided...so a table runner (whatever that is) with a Christmas design on one side, Summer on the other. Bril.

To Product
After last week’s apology for talking about Le Creuset incessantly, you’re going to feel that it was hollow when you see what’s coming. It’s Mother’s day on the quite near horizon and my wretched chums at Le Creuset have come up with yet more stuff that suits these important but horribly commercial occasions. So, as with some of Le Creuset’s more opportunistic products, I shall try to be honest in my appraisal of them.

So, I’m going to be a bit muted, brief and reasonable in my assessment of the range of La Jardin.  The colours make a charming combination and I can see many Mothers being more than happy receiving a piece from La Collection Jardin, but all together it’s a limited range and I suspect many of you don’t have space for tableware that’s really suitable for a rather narrow purpose and personally, I find the addition of the foliage, although done well, to be a little ‘busy’.

My offer this week is that if you buy 2 or more pieces you'll receive a 20% discount.  Use code LCJ20 if shopping online or tell us who you are if coming into Cobham or Reigate.