Food & Drink notes

A plum job; down to a tea; market force; bowled over

A plum job

It doesn't do to be rude about cordial - so much posher adding water (especially sparkling) to this than to squash for a properly fruity drink with nothing nasty added. Belvoir Fruit Farms (pronounced beaver, don't you know) has cordials so exclusive that some flavours are available only during the fruit's natural harvest. Plum and damson will be around from now until November in Waitrose, selected Morrisons and independent stores at £2.99 for a 37.5cl bottle.

Down to a tea

While the National Trust serves 150,000 cream teas this weekend, make plans for your own genteel tea in the park with a Bettys by Post box of treats. Every Thursday morning, the bakers at Yorkshire-based Bettys make scones for overnight delivery, packed with a box of their own tea bags, strawberry preserve, and lemon and lime cake, for £20 including post. Just add clotted cream or butter for a slap-up tea. Order on the Monday to arrive the following Friday from 0845 3453636.

Market force

Put these on your shopping list: gingerbread, venison, buffalo-milk cheese, real ale, fresh river trout, Cumberland sausages, duck eggs and ewe's-milk ice cream. Then get along to the country's top farmers' market at Orton in Cumbria on the second Saturday of every month to buy them all from the people responsible for producing them. And if you can't remember when the market's on, first find your free copy of 'The Country Life Guide to Farmers' Markets' which tells you when and where 240 markets take place. Pick up the guide at Tourist Information Centres nationwide or send a self-addressed envelope with 62p of stamps to: 'The Country Life Guide to Farmers' Markets', PO Box 49, London SW19 5AT.

Bowled over

Salad bowl showing its age after doing sterling service all summer? It's never too late to buy a new one and you could never accuse Guzzini's Vintage bowls of looking dated even though the two-tone collection is based on its 1954 design. The Italian company's functional moulded acrylic tableware looks more expensive than it is. Now in lime and orange, the bowls start at £10.50 for the 20cm size, up to £20.50 for the 30cm, with matching salad servers for £7. Stockists 020-8646 9655.