Being French, Isabelle has always been passionate about food and cooking has always been more than something to do for an hour in the evening. For “fun” she undertook the prestigious and challenging City and Guilds Certificate in Professional Cookery and went to win both a regional and national award!!
In 2007 Isabelle started making jams and chutneys for dinner party gifts and Christmas presents and the fantastic feedback encouraged her to start making more! As part of her heritage fresh local ingredients are essential. Recipes are researched, taken apart and put back together, rarely ending up just the way they started. Isabelle is always looking for a twist that makes her products that little bit special, adding that “je ne sais quoi”.
Isabelle is back with her old favorites such as her intriguing but delicious Balsamic Strawberry Jam with Black Pepper, Indian Spiced Chutney, Chili Jam with Ginger and Lemongrass and Caramelized Red Onion Marmalade. Alongside these some new and exciting recipes like Plum, Lime and Coriander, Beetroot and Horseradish , Raspberry chutney with red onions and Ginger , Liberation Ale Chutney and her ‘Hot Bitch!” (relish or dipping sauce!), Sweet Thai tomato ketchup !.
Isabelle is an enthusiastic supporter of local producers and sources local ingredients wherever possible. Raspberries, Strawberries from Jo Freire, Tomatoes & Chilies, from Homefield Growers, as well as from friends and families’ crops – Handpicked wild blackberries and elderflowers from local hedgerows. Isabelle is very selective about the ingredients used – red onions for their sweetness, tender pink forced rhubarb for a beautiful color, ripe fruits and vegetables bursting with flavor together with quality vinegars like cider, red wine and balsamic. A good chutney is about creating something totally delicious from entirely natural ingredients and finding the right balance of spices and sugar for color and texture and most important to give it time to mature.
All her preserves are hand made in small batches to keep the fresh flavors of the ingredients and are free from artificial sweeteners and additives.
With research and imagination, the best can be brought out of each of the seasons.
This year Isabelle is working on new recipes! Her Seville orange marmalade with Ginger or Whiskey is back alonside her early pink rhubarb jam with ginger, a crazy horseradish relish, Jersey black butter, her popular Ginger and Lemongrass Cordial, Old Fashion Lemonade and much much more…! So look out for the Frog before you Buy!!!!
In addition to buying direct, Izzy’s Kitchen preserves are available from local markets in St Aubin and the Weighbridge, local food events, craft markets, Durrell and Cooper’ Coffee shop in Halkett Place..
For any enquiries or if you wish to discuss a special one-off present or corporate gift ideas please contact Isabelle directly on either 630905 or 07797 726405 or alternatively e-mail izzyskitchen@jerseymail.co.uk
