MY IDEA of heaven is a food shop - a butcher, a baker, a deli - it doesn't really matter, as long as it sells food.

Understandably, therefore, in the culinary heaven that is the Lake District, the dilemma is not only being spoiled for choice, but also having the time to get around everyone, every week.

Nothing will beat shopping for food in person - it's a real feast for the senses - but when I'm battling the clock I shall in future be happy to settle for the next best thing which is 'visiting' some of my favourite local food shops in one on-line high street.

What Tesco and Asda can do, beelocal can do better because, as the name implies, this service is a real shot in the arm for our local independent retailers and food producers. And that's why, along with our regular Checkout contributors - some of whom have signed up for the new beelocal website - we will be giving you a regular taste of what this new on-line shopping facility has to offer.

So, for example, if you can't get to Kirkby Lonsdale to buy a lovely Reg Johnson Goosnargh free range chicken from Mark Duckworth at Dales Traditional Butchers, you can order it on-line at www.beelocal.co.uk for the same price (£2.25 per 500g) and either have it delivered (there's a special half-price delivery promotion at the moment), or collect it yourself from beelocal in Kendal.

I recently featured a new local producer in these columns - Kendal Cordials - who also have a 'shop' on beelocal. Checkout the strawberry and crushed black pepper, and the ginger cordials, both £2.50 for 330mls.

Meanwhile, if all goes according to plan, we will also be adding Witherslack Community Shop to Checkout. Continuing the 'good glug' theme, the shop is selling hand-pressed pure pear juice (from a tree at Lindale, and one at Yealand Conyers) at £1.96 for 75cls. That's also the price of the shop's local apple juice, which is produced as part of the village's orchard regeneration project.

More sweet treats from Burton in Lonsdale village stores which every Saturday sells shop manager Gail Lister's freshly baked cakes including coffee cake, cherry and almond bakewell, chocolate cake, and apple pie.

Lucy's of Ambleside recommends Frank's luxury marshmallow oaties (300g pack/£1.85), a chewy cookie with big soft gooey bits; while The Honeypot has Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding company's new sticky toffee chocolates (120g/£3.45) and Christmas pudding (1lb/£5.45); and Country Harvest at Ingleton is now selling Steenbergs organic and Fairtrade cinnamon sugar and rose sugar (both £2.10 for 90g), gorgeous on pancakes and baked fruit.

Finally, on a savoury note, Furness Fish & Game at Flookburgh (open Tues-Fri) is selling stuffed boneless oven-ready pheasant at £6 each; Sillfield Farm Shop at Endmoor has various gastro-sausages including pheasant and venison with red wine, and wild boar with chianti and shallots; and Aireys butchers at Ayside has some of Prince Charles's favourite ... mutton. This own-farmed meat needs slow cooking to bring out its amazing flavour - various cuts, from £1.50 per 500g.