Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness arrived at Castle Buildings during yet another crucial week for the North with a Derry delicacy (if that's not a contradiction in terms) - treacle-bread. He presented it to the amazingly patient talks chairman George Mitchell. Obviously it eased the way for a bit more smooth talking.
Peter Mandelson had some also and, word has it, "loved it". So the bread's soothing properties worked on him too.