Arrived at Kazutaro Shiraishi’s former house in Honai – the judging venue for the @yawatahama_marmalade_festival – early in the morning,with Michael Perry and a few of the organisers, a few hours before the other judges arrived. There’s always a moments of calm before all the intensity of tasting begins, when everything is set out and looking neat.
????
We drove out through the port along the seafront on a stocking day, temperature in the mid-20s with an utterly blue sky, it’s a great time to visit Ehime prefecture as it feels so fresh and inviting. The area where the house is, Honnai, was the silk and textile capital of Shikoku, so the upper house has pieces of early to mid 20th century fabrics and fashion on display, so you can begin to imagine the style fo the town.
????
Then around the back of the house is a vegetable garden, with big fennel plants thriving and a mass of broad beans and onions. Just in front is a lady selling organic pomelo and oranges, ripened to a firm juiciness on the tree. Utterly beautiful to see.
