Heal's (who have just launched the largest, most sensible, and
entertaining kitchen show London has seen since the war), are as far as I can tell, the only store with a `kitchen' buyer enterprising enough to stock a workmanlike little machine-for churning ice-cream. Called the Arpi (and imported from France by the same firm who bring Le Creuset into this country) it consists of a feather- weight aluminium box with two electrically driven paddles set into the lid. The box containing the ice-cream mixture is placed in the freezing• compartment of the refrigerator and its lead, which comes out through the hinge of the door,
plugs into the electric point which powers the refrigerator. As soon as the ice-cream is thick enough the machine automatically switches itself off. .
Electric gadgets from abroad are, understand- ably, treated with suspicion in this country (though Mouli have earned themselves a sound reputation for reliability) because of the compli- cations of servicing. But the Arpi is so simple and sturdy in construction that there is verplittle that could go wrong. Over the last twelve months it has given this family a great deal of excellent home-made ices (water and cream) and absolutely no trouble at all. Its only drawbacks are the price (£9 15s.) and the rather scrappy instructions. The former is not likely to change, but the im- porters have promised to improve the literature.
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