Fans of traditional British cuisine were dismayed to learn that Gentleman's Relish, the pungent anchovy spread created in 1828, has been discontinued by its manufacturer, AB World Foods, due to falling sales. However, the condiment lives on at London's historic Simpson's restaurant, where owner Jeremy King has instructed his chef to recreate the recipe.
King, who reopened Simpson's in the Strand last month, said the restaurant now makes its own version of the relish, which is served on toast for £6.50. 'We actually make our own, due to the difficulty in obtaining, so are able to continue to serve it,' he told the Guardian. The chef adapted a classic Victorian recipe for patum peperium, the relish's proper name.
The spread, a favourite of James Bond author Ian Fleming, was invented by English grocer John Osborn in 1828. Fortnum & Mason also continues to produce a version, priced at £14.95, packaged in a Tiffany blue pot. Celebrity cook Nigella Lawson, who once named it one of the 10 foods she could not live without, said she would now make her own homemade version.
AB World Foods stated: 'While we recognise that this Victorian relish has a niche and loyal following, it sadly does not have wider commercial appeal... With Gentleman's Relish no longer commercially viable and unable to secure a buyer for the brand, we regrettably stopped production earlier this year.'
