If you want crunch, Little Gem, treated with the trick I mentioned earlier, is much superior in m'humble. Morrisons in the UK are selling one called Sweet Gem which is even better. My own crop of Little Gem is nearly ready. The gold standard! The slugs love it too, but therein lies another tale...

I forgot to mention the other ingredient in "the ploughman's lunch," Branston Pickle. It's a matter of taste, of course, but I can't bear that stuff.