FOR a marmalade sandwich, good enough for Paddington to stick in his hat, Mandurah residents should pay a visit to the Peel Farmers Market.
Waroona-based company Victor’s Gourmet Delights won a silver award at the seventh annual World’s Original Marmalade Awards in the UK.
Owner Victor Thompson entered his orange marmalade into the artisan category for a commercial business.
The jam scored high marks for its appearance, colour, consistency, aroma and flavour.
Mr Thompson has operated Victor’s Gourmet Delights for three years.
In the past two-and-a-half years, he has won two major trophies and 50 awards at local shows and the Perth Royal Show.
A judge at the Perth Royal Show was so impressed by Mr Thompson’s jam that he suggested he enter the marmalade awards.
Mr Thompson said his enthusiasm for cooking came from watching his grandmother make preserves.
“It was a friend’s mum who said I should enter the Waroona Show and I won second prize and she won first,” he said.
The year after, Mr Thompson took first prize at the Waroona Show.
This inspired a passion for cuisine and Mr Thompson trained as a chef and has worked in restaurants.
At the marmalade awards, Mr Thompson also received silver and two bronze awards in the homemade category.
More than 1700 marmalade makers from around the world entered their marmalades in the competition.
Entries were judged from across the globe, from Singapore, the British Virgin Islands and a team of Australians.
In a special contest at the festival, the Australian team retained the MarmalAshes with their jam, despite celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall acting as captain of the British team.
Victor’s Gourmet Delights products are available at the Visitors Centre Waroona, the Harvey Cheese Factory, Pantryman Mandurah Forum and at the Peel Farmers Market every Sunday Morning at Dolphin Quays, Mandurah.