What's in the shops this week with the emphasis, where possible, on locally produced seasonal and speciality food.

A Taste of Lakeland, Ambleside: If you're in the mood for blue cheese try one of the following. Organic wheat-free biscuits with blue cheese from the village bakery. Blue Wensleydale cheese from Hawes dairy, 450g for £4.95. Cottage Delight mayonnaise with blue cheese, 240g for £2.25.

Kendal Foodhall, Kendal: Inglewhite, Lancashire goats cheese from Carron Lodge. Perfect as a desert. £1.56 per 100g.

Greenbanks, Kendal: Pembroke new potatoes. Serve with a sprig of mint. 29p per lb.

Kendal Fisheries: Grade a' whole Scottish Salmon. Each fish weighs around 2 to 2.5 kilos and cost £7.99.

Hutchinsons, Coniston: Take your pick from ginger and spring onion or garlic and black pepper pork sausages. £2.20 per lb.

Oddbins, Kendal: French Mosaique Merlot, Vin de pays d'oc. 2002. Brimming with red berry flavours, which would pair nicely with a rich, spicy sausage dish. £3.99.

Steadmans butchers, Sedbergh: This week is British BBQ week and Steadmans British award winning butchers 2003 are selling special BBQ deals including 6oz 100 per cent Aberdeen Angus beef burgers for 84 p each.

Cartmel Village Shop, Cartmel: Tarragon, honey and mustard dressing from Swayfen Herb Farm, Cambridge. Creamy dressing for chicken or green salad or as a dip with crme fresh. Other flavours available. £2.95 for 250ml bottle.

Plumgarths Farm Shop, Kendal: Local beef, rump steak from Low Foulshaw Farm. £9.99 for 3 lb.

Richardsons Butchers, Bowness: Shoulders of new season Lakeland spring lamb. Best slow roasted in the oven. Reduced to £2.25 per half kilo.

May 29, 2003 09:30