Cream tea

Real clotted cream, that rich, crusty ooze that lies at the heart of the warm scone/fresh-strawberry-jam artery-clogging concoction, is a far cry from the stiff, ultra heat-treated paste you get in those glass jars in the supermarket.

It's not too difficult to make yourself, if you order a culture from G.E.M. Cultures, 30301 Sherwood Rd, Fort Bragg, CA 95437, 707 964 2922. Like making yogurt, you don't need any special equipment. You just mix the starter according to instructions into the room temperature dairy product, making the next batch from a scoop of the one before. Send a self-addressed envelope for a catalog.

The scones from Mancini, 1508 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, 703 838 3660, are widely considered among enthusiasts to be the best available in the Washington area. The cafe part of the bakery is a good 'destination' eatery  for anyone wanting a fine and imaginative Sunday brunch menu - or a detour for lunch on their way with visitors to Mount Vernon.

But a proper English scone should be light and fluffy, eaten warm from the oven. They're easy to make.

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