Well the trees are budding, the lawn needs mowing and the inevitable annual cleaning of the barbecue is underway.Actually the weather was so warm and sunny here on the Essex Sunshine Coast in North East Essex that we had our first barbecue over Easter.

The kids loved it, and the grown ups had a pretty good time too!

Not quite time to break out the Pimms but a few lager shandies were enjoyed by all.

So its time to stock up on a few chutneys and relishes from Vineyard Fine Foods to spice up those barbecues and salads.

The wonderful Mango & Coriander Relish is the first one that every man should have to mask the smoky flavour of that ‘well cooked’ meat. Great with chicken and kebabs of all sorts, and keep a jar or two in the house to put out the curry! It also makes a fab sandwich dressing when mixed with mayo.

But now that the sun is with us we will all be healthy and happy and eat lots of salad(won’t we!), so Drayman’s Chutney or Ploughman’s Pickle is a must to serve with ploughman’s salads, cold pies and cold meat platters.

The delicious spicy flavours mixed with vegetables and a dark ale in the case of the Drayman’s chutney make a quintessentially English flavour that can only be enjoyed sitting out in the garden on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Calcott Hall Farm Shop is a wonderful farm shop based in Brentwood in Essex,and is a stockist of Vineyard Fine Foods’ products.

Voted best farm shop 2008/9 by the Essex Chronicle, the farm shop stocks an eclectic range of products from all over the world,including a superb range of locally sourced products from Essex and East Anglia.

In 2010 they introduced a butchery run by Neil S Ridson (tel;01277 239761), which specialises in locally sourced meat,as well as producing their own sausages and other delicacies.Neil has been a butcher for 11 years and believes that locally sourced meat well reared and expertly cut is what every customer deserves.

You will also find a huge range of wholefoods;nuts,seeds,and grains for adding to your cooking,or eating as a healthy snack.

On Friday and Saturday mornings visitors to Calcott Hall can enjoy fresh fish courtesy of Steve Hazel, and every day enjoy bread and bakery goods from Shepherds bakery and Bury Farm Bakery.

in the deli enjoy pies from the Real Pie Company, as well as locally sourced hams,cream and free range eggs among other essentials.

So whether you need a few special goodies or a larger shop,Calcott Hall offers a wide and carefully selected range of products sourced by a caring and skilled team who put the needs of their customers first.

I have named but a few of the delights on offer at Calcott Hall Farm Shop, but don’t take my word for it- pay them a visit- Calcott Hall Farm,Ongar Road,Brentwood,Essex, CM15 9HS tel; 01277 264164or visit their website