PAMELA Cunningham has certainly taken the food miles message to heart.

So determined is she to show customers at her new A Taste of Lakeland tea room, in Ambleside, that food hasn't had to travel far in order to reach the plate, that she's put a huge map on the wall pinpointing the exact origins of everything on the menu.

"People want to know where the food is from," said Pamela, who says she opened the tea room in response to public demand. Now people can enjoy a taste of Lakeland' before visiting the shop of the same name next door to take some of that delicious taste back home with them.

"We take great pride in promoting products sourced locally in Cumbria and the surrounding regions," said Pamela, who opened the A Taste of Lakeland shop three years ago. "The map in the new tea room is a very important aspect of promoting small producers."

Managing the tea room is Hilary Roberts, ably assisted by Tristan Fryer, and part-time front-of-house Doreen Dixon.

All the furniture as in the shop has been made by Out of the Woods, at Staveley.

Proving especially popular with tea room customers are the tray bakes made by Diane Halliday, from Country Fayre, at Mallerstang; gateaux from Dot Benson, of Blencathra Bakery; and Jeremy's Soups, made by Jeremy Kent, at Appleby. The quiches, which come courtesy of Pamela herself, are made on the premises. And you can't get closer to home than that!

May 22, 2003 10:30