Food & Drink notes

It must be glove; Britain-née spears!; plug and play; sundae, sundae

It must be glove

It must be glove

Amy Willcock, the cookery writer and demonstrator who works with Aga, being an evangelist for the cult ovens, likes to bring a bit of rockbroker-belt glamour to Home Counties kitchens. As a self-styled 'vivacious scrummy mummy' she gives butcher's stripes the thumbs down and has brought out her own range, Amy's Chic Kit, for chicks (and kids) who cook: aprons (kids' ones £9.50, adults' from £12.50), oven gloves (£8.95), bags (£18.50) and tea towels (£4.50) in snazzy red or aqua patterns. To find your nearest stockist call 01603 488019.

Britain-née spears!

Asparagus by post beats a bunch of Interflora flowers any day. Until the middle of June, when the season ends, you can share the secret of the best British asparagus, as served at The Ivy and other top restaurants. Call 01483 520500 or visit www.secretts.co.uk to have the spears sent anywhere in the UK. £9.99 for 450g (enough for four people), £16.99 for 900g, including delivery - a small price to pay for such a select present.

Plug and play

Guzzini makes great funky-looking kitchen basics. Salad spinning, weighing, measuring, mixing, serving - the Italian company had almost everything except electrical equipment covered. Now it's got that, too. The G-plus range - toaster, £59.95; blender £29.95; grater, £59.95 - brings it's recognisable style to labour-saving. You can find them all in the Guzzini section within Selfridges, or call 020- 8646 9655 for stockists elsewhere.

Sundae, sundae

You don't have to be beside the seaside to get stuck into a sundae in a traditional Italian ice-cream parlour. Morelli's Gelato of Broadstairs in Kent has come inland to Harrods. The Morelli family has been making ice-cream in the UK for five generations, and the seafront parlour has hardly changed over the years. Morelli's in Harrods serves the same stunning sundaes (25 in all), sorbets (from green tea, to passion fruit) and 60 flavours of ice-cream made with only natural ingredients, including marron glacé, apple pie, blood orange and Turkish delight. Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1 (020-7730 1234).