Lisa Higginson
Three top chefs took time out from their kitchen wizardry to embark on a jam butty battle at Harvey Nichols in Manchester. As part of the first ever National Jam Week (June 21 â 28) celebrations, the acclaimed cooks went head to head on Thursday to see who could make the longest jam sandwich in just two minutes.
Armed with bread, butter and jars of Clippyâs Apple Pie jam â whose founder Michelle McKenna started National Jam Week â David Gale (Hilton Deansgate), Andrew Nutter (Nutters) and Stuart Thomson (Harvey Nichols) launched into a two-minute jam sandwich-making frenzy that saw temperatures rise in the Second Floor Foodmarket. While Andrew took to spreading the butter with his fingers, David adopted a more precise approach and Stuart was certainly in a sweat by the time the whistle blew.
Michelle measured up and the results saw Stuartâs jam sandwich come in at 9.5 inches, Davidâs at 11 inches and Andrewâs at a whopping 16 inches. But as Davidâs impeccable jam sandwich tower was the only one still standing, the rules of the competition meant he was the outright winner.
It is hoped that National Jam Week will become an annual event in a bid to help put proper jam back on British plates and the chefs could be returning next year for a possible world record attempt.
Michelle, who established Sale-based Clippyâs Apples in her kitchen two years ago, said: âThis is the first ever National Jam Week and this is a great way to celebrate and get more people eating jam butties again! Jam reminds us of our childhoods, playing out in the sunshine with jam butties and mucky elbows. Iâm talking about âproperâ jam of course, not the cheap sugary stuff that is often found these days.â?
She added: âIt is my mission to make National Jam Week an annual event, which celebrates jam and the important role it plays in our culture. I am delighted that Harvey Nichols is supporting my campaign to make jam cool again!â?
Iain Mackenzie, general manager at Harvey Nichols, said: âHarvey Nichols has always been an ambassador for good quality British and regional produce and we are really excited to work with Clippyâs Apples as part of the first ever National Jam Week.â?
Clippyâs Apples now sells its preserves nationally and was announced as a finalist in the Food Northwest Awards 2009.
For more information visit www.jamweek.org and www.clippys.com