‘Ruth’s Kitchen’
I first discovered ‘Ruth’s Kitchen’ chilli jam in a baguette I bought in my local deli ‘Docky’s’ in Midsomer Norton. I promptly bought a jar to take home, and subsequently met ‘Ruth’ herself at a tasting session in the deli.
I was amazed to find out that Ruth makes all her chutney’s and jams by hand in her own kitchen…hence the name! and decided to find out about her story…
Ruth lives in Frome in Somerset and has always been a keen cook. For many years she made christmas puddings for her friends and family who told her that they were so good that she should start selling them. This gave her the idea and confidence that her hobby could actually pay for itself. She decided to start making chutney’s and jams, and she organised a pitch at a local farmer’s market.
She soon realised that if people tasted her products, they just had to buy some!
She now concentrates on attending local food shows and also supplies two local delicatessen’s….’Docky’s’ in Midsomer Norton and ‘Mes Amis’ in Beckington, Somerset.
She also came up with the idea of ‘Pickle Parties’,where she takes along her pickles with cheese and nibbles and sells direct to groups of people at home. These have proved popular especially in the lead up to Christmas.
Her most popular products include, my favourite - the chilli jam, onion marmalade and fiery Bengal chutney. She also makes a range of jams, which vary depending on what is in season at her local farm shop. The gooseberry jam takes some beating……
I’m certain Ruth could turn her ‘business from home’ into a much larger and lucrative concern, but she feels strongly that that would go against why she started in the first place. She buys local fruit and vegetables, makes each batch of chutney herself by hand in her own kitchen and then sells it to local people…..
It was great to meet someone who is clearly so passionate about good food and the importance of us all buying local produce…….clearly a shared passion that farmshopper.net is also aiming to promote!
If you’d like to try some of Ruth’s delicious pickles and jams for yourself, why not pop into the deli’s mentioned above or look out for her at various food shows in Somerset this summer.
If you are interested in hosting your own Pickle Party, or want to purchase directly from Ruth, please email her: ruthsalmon@blueyonder.co.uk
