You can usually find Fiona Cranston selling her much loved pickles at Oxford’s street festivals and food markets from the comfort of her infamous van Patsy or at a series of new supper clubs she launched recently.
But then along came coronavirus and spoiled everything, so Fiona has taken things into her own hands by introducing a new Cranston Pickles takeaway and delivery service from her Horspath home.
“We have had to change the way we operate entirely,” she tells me, “so we’ve organised a number of delivery services to continue to spread pickle joy!
“The most exciting is our new Pickled takeout service!! It is a more extensive version of our Pickled Street Food menus, for those missing our pickles, and those who want to brighten up their isolation.”
And with orders for the Scotch eggs and jars of pickles needed in by Wednesday midday (same as the takeout ordering) for Saturday delivery, now’s the time to order.
Fiona did fashion design at university up in Manchester, went travelling afterwards and fell in love with Japan, who coincidentally also have an obsession with pickles.
It was while she was working on Savile Row that she realised she was spending more time pickling (in the evenings and at weekends) and made the momentous decision to move back to Oxford to set up Cranston Pickles!
Her Pickle Kitchen makes a variety of pickles, chutneys and jams alongside a street food venture from her little Pickle Van and , more recently Pickled Supper clubs in a variety of locations around Oxford, most notably with Hamblin Bread and Tap Social to date.
However, the current climate means these have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, so Fiona has poured all her energy into Cranston’s new collect and delivery service instead.
Here is our Alternative Takeaway Guide: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/the-alternative-alphabetical-takeaway-directory-from-a-gourmet-meal-to-a-bacon-sarnie-change-the-way-you-eat-and-save-your-local-pubs-restaurants-and-cafes/
Here is Cranston’s current menu which changes each week:
“Everything is locally sourced, pickling what is in season and available locally,” Fiona explains. “We use local farms, markets and gardens to supply us with our fruit and vegetable produce and our eggs are from a lovely free-range farm in Oxfordshire.
“There is a no single-use plastic policy across the business, and all our packaging is sustainable, reusable or biodegradable. You can even return jars for the glass counterpart to be resterilized and re-used!
“Many people have been ordering surprise pickles for friends // relatives all over the place which has been just lovely,” she adds.
Cranston Pickles fare is all vegetarian, with some vegan options too. Delivery is on Friday Lunch (12-2pm) or Dinner (6pm-8pm) and orders can be placed between Monday and Wednesday Midday.
Delivery is to a 3 mile radius around the Pickle Kitchen in Horspath with a collect service for those outside of the area.
“We do make the odd exception though so please get in touch if you are outside the area or unable to collect and we will try and sort something out for you,” Fiona adds.
“Stay well and pickley.”
