That's Christmas: Have a Gusto ethical and delicious Christmas

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Pull the Pin Rum

Before I start this review I must point out that my wife does not like rum. She especially doesn't like spiced rum

However when I opened a bottle of Pull the Pin Spiced Rum I, out of politeness, offered my wife a taste of Pull the Pin Spiced Rum, which she, somewhat reluctantly it has to be said, agreed to try.

The effect was nothing short of amazing. My wife broke into a beatific grin and said: "Wow! This is absolutely delicious! It's amazing!"

We experimented with different mixers (Cola, Cherry Cola, etc) but we both came to the conclusion that we prefer Pull the Pin Rum neat. Or as my wife put it, "uncontaminated with anything!"

What does it taste like? It's exceptionally smooth (perhaps dangerously so, it appears to evaporate when you are not looking!) and its taste? After much consideration I think that I would describe it as "Christmas in a bottle" or "smooth rum perfection in a bottle."

Why describe it as "Christmas in a bottle?" The inclusion of carefully balanced spices including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove and allspice is redolent of every high quality homemade Christmas minced pie you have ever indulged in, but there's more, there's also an underlying hint of toffee, too. It's warming and delicious.

This is not the only Pull the Pin spirit that is available, they also distil Passionfruit & Pineapple Silver Rum, Raspberry & Strawberry Pink Rum and Pull The Pin Gin. Actually, gin is my wife's favourite tipple, this is something else we will have to try.

At £36.00 a bottle it is reassuringly priced and you can purchase them at https://buy.pullthepinrum.com/ or from Amazon Prime at https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Pull+The+Pin/page/116A0778-F493-48B2-BFF6-9274EC48F29F?ref_=ast_bln.

You can also buy three bottles at the same time at the discounted price of £99.00.

In conclusion we feel you need these spirits in your Christmas and New Year drinks cabinet. 

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“I want to do for cakes what Halo Top did for ice creams”, said Ella Rauen-Prestes, nutritionist and founder of Fitbakes. 

“Cake is ingrained in our culture in the UK. In fact, cake is so important the government considers it to be  a food, so cakes are VAT free.

"However, their are health issues concerning eating cake and I have set out to offer cake lovers a healthier choice.”

Ella launched Fitbakes from her own kitchen in her Cotswolds home.

She had seen a massive market gap for treats that, although indulgent, are higher in protein but don't contain any sugar.

In order to get things moving and to get these healthier treats out to foodies, Ella has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign with Seedrs. This is aimed at helping  Fitbakes launch its next product which will be a first for the UK; a millionaire caramel cake.

Ella proudly proclaimed: “It’s our most indulgent and rich treat so far to date.

“We have worked hard to bring this about. It took a lot of time and effort because it was a real struggle to discover someone who could cook a sugar-free caramel that stood up to the job. 

After a great deal of searching we eventually tracked down a traditional French-based caramel manufacturer in France who were able to develop and make a version of caramel that was entirely sugar free.  

"Fortunately they were able create a caramel  without sugar which is not only delicious delicious but has the correct texture. There's a plus point, although it is without sugar it contain nothing artificial. They are only natural sweeteners."

Later in the year the cakes will be included in the Tesco meal deal offers and will also be found in Co-Op stores and Selfridges.

Ella grew up in Brazil, so she was familiar with finding natural alternatives to sugar. In fact several decades ago her family was using Stevia as a natural sugar alternative, to sugar so sugar free baking is second nature to her. 

To begin with. Ella started selling batches of cakes to friends and at the gym she attended, before  she took the plunge and launched an online shop.

The Fitbakes website was officially launched in February 2017 and a year later she had to hand her resignation in so that she focus on Fitbakes.

Ella went on to say: “The UK has the world's largest baking goods market, valued at a staggering £8bn. Until Fitbakes launched, there wasn’t really a healthy alternative. 

"In fact, we're the only indulgent cake company that is compliant to the new government HFSS policy, meaning that from April 2022, no other brand could advertise or promote in stores.

“Our cakes have 90% less sugar, 60% less calories and 200% more protein than leading cake brands, and have no artificial sweeteners, flavourings or colourings whatsoever. 

“To be listed in major multiple retailers and to be a prominent alternative in the snack and meal deal aisle not only makes business sense but it’s going to be beneficial for people who are seeking out those  healthier but tasty snack options.”

The crowdfunding campaign can be found at https://www.seedrs.com/fitbakes/coming-soon 

You can visit the Fitbakes online cake emporium at https://www.fitbakes.co.uk/

(Editor: As someone who has Type 2 Diabetes I am always keen to learn of tasty products that I can eat without having to worry too much about my blood sugar levels.)

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Now vegans can enjoy Scotch eggs

Yes, it's true! Now vegans can also enjoy Scotch eggs.

Because the very inventive chefs at Squeaky Bean have developed and introduced a new 100% vegan Scotch egg, which is available exclusively through Tesco supermarkets.

We have tried them and there's yummy golden breadcrumbs that coat a delicious non-meat sausage meat with a delicious egg-flavoured centre.

There's seasoned wheat and pea protein and it features Crackd, a fantastic new vegan product.

It's certainly the nearest thing to a meat Scotch egg that we have found and they go nicely with a salad or as a part of a buffet or a picnic.

But that's not all! They have also introduced a fantastic Tomato, Red Pepper and Veta Tart. Made with baby plum tomatoes, red peppers and a vegan feta-style cheese and spinach, encompassed in a delicious shortcrust pastry.

Actually, you could pass this as homemade it is so good.

Or what about their Creamy Coronation Tart? Featuring Squeaky Bean's justifiably famed Chicken Style Pieces, served with a creamy, oat-based filling, in that awesome shortcrust pastry. Seasoned with cumin, coriander, turmeric, fenugreek and cayenne pepper, it's equally as awesome.

Not a fan of savoury tarts? Why not try their Chargrilled Memphis Style BBQ Mini Fillets. They are marinated in a tasty Memphis-style BBQ seasoning. Not only are they tasty, they are also healthy as they are high in protein, low in saturated fat and are made from wheat and pea protein.

All of the above products can be eaten directly from the packet or heated up.

They all cost £3.00 each.

We heartily recommend these and other Squeaky Bean foods. 

Charlie Bigham meals. Home cooked by Charlie

 

Charlie Bigham and his dedicated staff have been providing home cooked quality foods for 25 years.

No matter what meal you have from Charlie Bigham, you will know that it is a great meal that is fit for your family or for you, if you are dining alone. (They have meals suitable for two or one.)

The ingredients are properly and carefully sourced and are always of superior quality. For example if a Charlie Bigham meal calls for chicken breast you can be certain that what will be in the meal will be a real piece of chicken breast, cooked to perfection. 

And if it calls for pieces of beef then they'll be pieces of real beef of the same quality that you would expect from your best local butcher. Even better, maybe? After all, Charlie and his team do have a quarter century of finding and buying the best ingredients that are available.

And the meals are always served in the appropriate cookware. Real pottery ramakins, for example are things that you will come to expect from Charlie Bigham.

Charlie's proud, and very justified claim is: "Prepared with pride in my kitchen, cooked in yours."

What meals are available?

Steak and ale pies (a favourite of mine) steak and blue cheese (my wife's favourite) fish pies, chicken and mushroom pies, chicken ham and leak pies and cottage pie and shepherd's pie.

At least seven delicious curries (Thai was a firm favourite, I have to say)  world grain recipes, fantastic vegetarian options, some traditional meal choices (though with Charlie these come with a "wow!" factor)  and there are some stunning pasta options. 

There is also a scrumptious range of deserts, cherry bakewell, chocolate fondant, sticky toffee pudding, sticky ginger pudding, bread and butter pudding and lemon drizzle pudding.

As you'd expect Charlie and his team are careful when they source their ingredients, so they look out for things like the Red Tractor scheme and the like so you don't have to.

Where can you obtain Charlie Bigham's range? Check with your supermarket as they are widely available. At present you will find them at Asda, Booths, Budgens, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose. (Incidentally, we have changed which supermarket we order our shopping from to one of the above who do stock Charlie Bigham's meals!)

If you are a buyer at a food retailer that doesn't stock Charlie Bigham's delicious foods, I really think you need to get in touch with them.

To learn more about their range, or check out job opportunities with them and the like, visit them at https://www.bighams.com/.

  

Skippy Peanut Butter. Now with chocolate chips

 I love peanut butter, especially Skippy (crunchy or smooth, depends on the mood I am in) and I also love chocolate.

So you will be able to imagine my pleasure and happiness when I learned recently that the peanut butter experts at Skippy had decided to have a bash at gilding the lily, i.e., attempting to perfect on perfection by introducing a new product to their range, Extra Smooth Skippy Choc Chip Swirl Peanut Butter.

I already expected to like this new addition to the Skippy range of products, but I wasn't perhaps quite prepared as to how much I would like it.

It's utterly delicious. I have to confess that I like to have Skippy Peanut Butter with chocolate spread that I add myself, but it can be a bit hit-and-miss as too much chocolate spread can overpower the more delicate taste of the peanut butter.

But this is not the case with Extra Smooth Skippy Choc Chip Swirl Peanut Butter. There is 10% chocolate drops and whilst you might think that's not much, it is the correct amount to provide a good balance between the delicate taste of the peanut butter and the sharp, yet sweet tang of the chocolate drops.

I can heartily recommend this product to anyone who likes peanut butter.

Also, please check out their recipes including Skippy Smooth Peanut Butter with Chocolate Pieces, which you will find at peanutbutter.uk.com.

It costs £2.65 for a 340g jar. And will be on our next Morrison's delivery order. Along with some non-chocolate Skippy Peanut Butter for my wife as she has an allergy to chocolate.

Mummy Meagz and her original Rocky Road

 

Have you heard of Mummy Meagz and her Original Rocky Road?

These are some utterly out of this world chocolate treats that you really must try.

What flavours are available?

Original Rocky Road

Sea Salt & Cinder Toffee Rocky Road

Orange Rocky Road

Minty Rocky Road

Mummy Meagz Orange Choccie Bar

The flavours and the textures of these bars is out of this world. They actually look and taste as if a confectioner has made them for you in your own kitchen. 

This is sort of what has happened, but they were actually made for you in the kitchen of the confectioner and chef, Meagan Boyle who, with her daughter Willow Boyle, launched Blondes Coffee Shop in the village of Cottingham, East Yorkshire, back in 2003.

When I had to opportunity to taste these bars I was feeling a bit low. COVID 19 will do that to a person!

However, I was lucky as it hadn't (thankfully!) taken away my sense of taste or smell. These bars are awesome and I believe they actually helped me get through the irritation of being under a total lockdown, not even able to go out on our usual 10k steps walks, my wife and I.

Crunchy and delicious biscuit pieces, perfectly tasty and soft vegan mallows and covered with some absolutely delicious Belgian chocolate and with some fruit, too, with some of the bars.

In the past I have had some Rocky Road bars that were a bit too rocky and a bit too road-like if you know what I mean, but these bars are smooth and utterly, utterly delicious.

They are 100% vegan friendly. I am not a vegan, but now I know that Holland and Barrett stock these wonderful treats, I know where I'll be going when my lockdown is over. My nearest Holland and Barrett branch!

To learn more (or to buy direct from Mummy Meagz) please visit them at https://mummymeagz.com/

And they produce a whole lot more, including the decadent Chuckie Egg, Sunnycomb Bars and seasonal treats.

The Engineer Shiraz Tempranillo from McGuigan

 

The Engineer Shiraz Tempranillo 2019 is a new wine from the McGuigan family of Australia.

They combine Tempranillo grapes and what they describe as "luscious blue and black berries from the Shiraz."

OK, so how does this 13% red wine work?

The scent is heavenly. Yes, I know wine experts call it the bouquet, but I am not a wine expert, but I do know what I like. And I like this wine very much indeed!

What is it like? It's a bold and strong wine, but the taste is exquisite and gentle on the palate.

There are tannin notes and definitely an underpinning of fresh hedgerow fruits, with a good fruity finish.

It pairs very well with a wide range of foods. We happened to try it with a roast chicken dinner and it worked remarkably well, together.

It's available in a range of stores, the Co-Op sell it at £10 a bottle, but I have seen reports of two quid being knocked off the price at the Co-op.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and we will be visiting our local Co-Op store to buy some more bottles of this really rather super wine.

You can learn more about McGuiguan's at https://www.mcguiganwines.co.uk/ or https://www.mcguiganwines.com.au/.

McGuigan Zero

Founded by Brian McGuigan, McGuigan's is a leading name in the Australian wine industry. 

In recent years their experts have worked on a range of alcohol free wines. 

One of these is McGuigan Zero, an alcohol free Chardonnay style wine.

It's an attractive wine with peachy notes, plus a hint of honey and melon on the finish.

It's very similar to McGuigan's Chardonnay. Is there something missing, without the alcohol? It would be wrong of me to say that there wasn't. There's the unmistakeable "tang" of the alcohol that is missing, but that's all that is missing. Many wine companies that make alcohol free wine seem to remove more than the alcohol, I.E., there's some of the taste that has gone missing, too.

But this is most certainly not the situation with McGuigan's Zero Chardonnay, as it is just a full of flavour as the other McGuigan wines. 

It will cost about £7.00 and is worth every penny.

Not drinking alcohol for reasons of health or religion or in order to stay sober for driving or for work reasons? Then McGuigan's alcohol free wines are ideal.  

Heineken 0.0. It's Dutch lager but kinder

Curses! Here I am with my regular winter bronchitis. It's bronchial asthma, so my old Doctor told me many years ago.

Dosing up with antibiotics to help cure a parasitic infection that always occurs I read the paperwork that came with it (hint: always read them!) and I noticed to my dismay that alcohol is not allowed to be consumed with these particular antibiotics.

But then I remembered that I actually had a four pack of some Heineken 0.0, which has no alcohol in it. So what better time to run a taste test?

What's it like? Colour-wise it's not distinguishable from other Heineken lagers and the scent on it is of a nicely hopped and nicely yeasted Dutch lager.

What does it taste like? It's got a reasonable mouthfeel to it. You can certainly taste the hops the malted barley. 

What difference does carefully removing the alcohol make to the flavour? I'd like to say no difference, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate, because I find that alcohol does add a little extra bite to the experience of consuming alcoholic drinks.

But! Having said that, if you are not able to drink alcohol, due to an allergy or religious reasons (for example) are on medications that preclude the consumption of alcohol or you have decided to get yourself fit, then Heineken 0.0 is an excellent option. It's available in bottles, in cans and on draught too, in some of our more enlightened establishments. 

What's my final opinion of Heineken 0.0? I like it and I'll definitely get some more on my next trip to the shops, at least as soon as my antibiotics have finished!

PS Do you run a pub or other establishment that sells beers, etc? If you want to sell Heineken 0.0 on draught you can get Heineken's funky bar top Blade dispenser by visiting https://www.heineken.co.uk/alcohol-free-beer-is-now-widely-available-on-draught/

Innerji. A unique revitalising drink

Innerji is a truly innovative and unique revitalising drink.

It's described as an "antioxidant revitaliser" drink and that's exactly what it is and what it does.

Unlike drinks billed as 'energ'y drinks, Innerji has no caffeine or taurine within in its structure.

Instead it contains a unique natural substance known as Jiaogulan which is called "the immortality herb" by the canny Chinese who have known about it for many a long year.

What are the ingredients? Lightly sparking water, fructose, citric and malic acids, sodium citrate, lemon and safflower, potassium sorbate, Jiagulan extract and vitamins B12 and Thiamine.

The taste is tropical lime and it guarantees that it is 100% taurine and 100% caffeine free. This is important to me, as a consumer, as many 'energy' drinks can trigger a migraine headache with me. 

But Innerji doesn't. Not only does it taste great and perfectly natural, it doesn't give you a "snap" of energy it actually gives you a good, slow release of energy that helps you to be able to perform at your best. And it also tastes great, unlike some "energy" drinks.

To learn more please visit https://innerjidrink.com/

Travellers will enjoy contactless food and retail ordering and delivery at airports

As travellers gear up to start flying again, airport e-commerce platform Grab and top in-airport food and retail delivery firm AtYourGate have combined forces to offer innovative contactless ordering and delivery for airline passengers whilst they are waiting for their flights at airports.

As a result, airports can benefit from being able to assist passengers to maintain safe social distancing by giving them the flexibility to order using their own personal devices, allowing them to have their food and other purchases delivered direct to their chosen airport gate where they will be awaiting their flight to depart. Of course, they'll be able to order across terminal and security lines, meaning they'll have a much wider choice of dining and retail options.

Jeff Livney, of Grab, said: “At this difficult time, our goal is to make the experience at airports less stressful for travellers who are worried about flying again.

"The way people dine and shop at airports is going through a period of change. I hope our platform will assist travellers who are nervous and help to calm their fears, as they take to the skies again.”

PJ Mastracchio, who is the founder and CEO of AtYourGate said: "The existence of new, safety-focused dining and retail options like contactless delivery services will be a major part vital of the expectations of travellers as they start to fly, again.

He added:"With this partnership we have combined the best available technology with world-class customer service and safety standards to provide safe, copnvenient alternatives to traditional shopping methods and dining normally available within airports."

At present this service will be limited to North American airports, though it is believed they have plans to expand into other markets in the future.

To learn more please visit www.getgrab.com  and www.atyourgate.com

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

What is your comfort food?

Comfort foods are as varied as there are people. And it depends on the time of year and the type of weather.

For example, I love stew in the winter months, but in the summer months my ideal comfort food would probably be ice cream, perhaps with strawberries.

Other comfort foods include sausages, cheese, baked beans on toast, cheese on toast, mashed potatoes and fish finger sandwiches (don't judge me!) macaroni cheese, rice pudding, fruit cake spread with butter, honey sandwiches, jam sandwiches, fried chicken and a good traditional roast dinner.

What is your comfort food?

 

Back and raring to go!

After a period of less than stellar activity on That's Food and Drink, we are now back and raring to go.

But a three year BA Honours degree course in one's early 60s is probably not the best idea I have ever had, but I now have BA (Hons) after my name (it's in Creative and Professional Writing, in case anyone wants to know) and I now have much more time to devote to my That's Food and Drink blog and my several other blogs, too.

We will be covering food and drink news, recipes and more besides.

The site will be given a bit of a dusting and possibly a touch up or two.

Please stay tuned!

Tea and coffee – how much do they affect your health?

Are you a coffee or tea addict? Do you struggle to get through your day without your caffeine fix?

If you can’t cope without a cuppa or two, could this have any effect on your health and, in particular, on your menopausal symptoms?

In the Winter 2019-20 issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter, registered dietitian Angie Jefferson explores the pros and cons of tea and coffee drinking. How much coffee should we be drinking – and what’s the best way to drink it? And is drinking tea any better for our health?

“Media reports can be very conflicting, so it’s hard to know how much our tea and coffee intake is affecting how we feel,” says Norma Goldman, founder and director of The Menopause Exchange.

“In her article, Angie Jefferson provides us with the facts and also takes a look at the impact of drinking coffee on hot flushes.”

The Menopause Exchange, established in 1999, is completely independent and isn't  sponsored by any companies. It provides impartial, easily understood information to women and healthcare professionals. The Menopause Exchange quarterly newsletter contains articles written by top medical experts, such as gynaecologists, GPs, consultants, specialist menopause nurses, complementary practitioners, pharmacists, dietitians etc.

Articles in the Winter 2019-20 issue of The Menopause Exchange quarterly newsletter include progesterone in HRT, CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) for the menopause and diabetes and the menopause, as well as news and Ask the Experts Q&As.

The Menopause Exchange has a number of members who are happy to talk to journalists about their menopause experiences. The members are based in different parts of the UK, which may be of interest to regional publications as well as national ones. Many of the case studies are willing to provide a name and photograph, if required.

The Menopause Exchange quarterly newsletter is available via email for free. Sign up on their website, www.menopause-exchange.co.uk. Find them on Facebook and Twitter (@MenopauseExch).

How Wild and Game is creating a post-Brexit UK game market

As the Duchess of Rutland recently said in an interview with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, pheasant deserves a bigger place on UK menus.

Speaking about her opposition to the opening of a McDonald’s in Rutland, she said she would feel better about the prospect if pheasant was on the menu there. Correcting Piers Morgan’s assumption that pheasant is expensive, she said: “A pheasant is the cheapest food of all. It’s clean food. We are desperately looking for a market for our game in this country – it’s a big issue.”

Food producer Wild and Game was founded with the aim of addressing this issue head-on. At present most of the game produced in the UK gets shipped abroad. Wild and Game’s founders Steven Frampton and Michael are creating a market for wild game in the UK by reimagining some of the UK’s favourite dishes with game as a key ingredient. They also sell ready-to-cook game and provide easy game recipes on their website.

Wild and Game’s products have already won awards, and their range is expanding regularly. Its most recent additions were its premium chicken, pheasant and mushroom pies and its premium steak, pheasant and ale pies.

The company’s aim is to make game a regular fixture in the UK’s supermarkets and it recently took a step in the right direction by getting its first products listed with Ocado. These are selling well, and the company aims to have more products listed soon.

Wild and Game founder Steven Frampton said: “We welcome the comments from the Duchess of Rutland. The underconsumption of game in the UK really is a big issue, and one that needs to be addressed. Game is plentiful in the UK.

"It’s sustainable, healthy and delicious, and following Brexit it’s just the type of home-produced food we should be championing. We’re delighted with the success we’ve had so far and have big plans for 2020, including the launch of some superb new products.”

Why not try this delicious recipe?

Easy, tender pot roast pheasant with mushrooms

Some people think pheasant can be a tough meat, but this pot roast recipe will ensure the meat is tender and juicy – and it’s beautifully simple, too.

Feeds 2-4

Ingredients

2 Wild and Game pheasants
3 rashers cooking pancetta or streaky bacon, chopped

Chopped shallot – 1 large or two small

6 tbsp double cream
1 tbsp honey
1 glass white wine
150g mushrooms, sliced
1 litre chicken stock
2 cloves garlic
1 pinch dried mixed herbs
1 tbsp olive oil
1 knob butter

Method

Pre-heat the oven to Gas 4/180 degrees centigrade

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large hob-to-oven casserole dish

2. Add the pheasants and cook for a few minutes until browned, then remove

3. Add the pancetta, shallot and mushroom and cook until softened

4. Add the herbs and garlic and cook for a few more minutes

5. Add the pheasants, stock and wine

6. Transfer to the oven and cook for 1.5 hours

7. Remove the pot from the oven, take out the pheasants and stir the cream and honey into the sauce.

8. Let the pheasants rest for about 10 minutes then serve with the sauce and vegetables of your choice.

The Wild and Game website is at www.wildandgame.co.uk

On Ocado Wild and Game’s pies are both priced at £3.79  https://www.ocado.com/search?entry=game%20pie

Image by Foto-Rabe www.pixabay.com.

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EU veggie ‘burger’ ban challenged across Europe

Campaign and petition launched by ProVeg International

The European Parliament’s "bizarre" proposal to ban the use of names such as ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ from being used to describe vegetarian and vegan products is being challenged across Europe, with food awareness organisation ProVeg International driving the campaign forward.

The agricultural committee of the European Parliament last month voted in favour of the proposal on grounds that the names are "misleading for consumers". If the proposal is passed into law, vegan and veggie burgers would ave to be re-named, as either ‘discs’ for burgers and sausages would be called ‘tubes’.

ProVeg International has today launched a campaign targeting the proposed ban with a petition calling on the soon-to-be-elected European Parliament to reject the proposal, which it describes as “unnecessary” and “irrational”.

Spokesman for ProVeg UK, Philip Mansbridge said: “There is no evidence to suggest consumers are confused or misled by the current labelling of vegetarian and vegan products.

"To suggest consumers don't understand the meaning of the term ‘veggie burger’ and other similar terms is an insult to their intelligence.

“The use of ‘burger’, ‘sausage’, and ‘milk’ wording on plant-based products actually serves an important function in communicating characteristics consumers are looking for when buying plant-based products, especially in terms of taste and texture. They’ve been used successfully for decades. Why confuse matters?

“The proposed restriction would also unnecessarily restrict manufacturers, producers, and the positive social and environmental changes created by the plant-based market, one of the fastest-growing and most innovative sectors in the food industry today.”

The petition will be delivered to the European Parliament ahead of the final vote. You can sign the petition here:- https://proveg.com/uk/stop-the-veggie-burger-ban-petition/

(EDITOR: That's Food and Drink is backing this campaign.)

(Image courtesy of Marta Cuesta https://bit.ly/2JihMOc www.pixabay.com)

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"Coconuts are pure poison?" "That's pure nuts!" says expert

Situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India and famed for its great beauty, Kerala has been called one of the ’10 paradises in the world’.

In Sanskrit it translates as ‘land of coconuts’ which is where Jacob Thundil, Founder and chief nut of Cocofina was born and raised and where his journey began.

Kerala is, of course, known for its coconuts trees and it was as a young boy he would watch a farmer come to his home and harvest the coconuts from the palms in his garden. Outside of Kerala and wherever he travelled he just could not find any good quality coconut products.

His lightbulb moment arrived in 2004 when he was sat on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro sipping coconut water straight from the nut.

He realised he could bottle the water and sell it and went on from there to become the first in 2005, to start selling coconut water in the UK. Fast forward to 2018 and Cocofina now has a range of 32 products and is sold in close to 30 countries.

Jacob says: “The title of the recent coconut oil news is very sensationalist and dramatic. If coconut oil were pure poison, everyone in Kerala including myself should be dead by now!

"A balanced diet is important and even within the sensationalist article it touches on the fact that there is not enough research to prove the merits of coconut oil since it’s a different kind of saturated fat called MCT. Coconut oil has a respectable place in your kitchen and vanity case. It has a high flash point, great taste and has proven to be a good moisturizer for hair and skin. Personally I use coconut oil, olive oil, rape seed oil & rice bran oil depending on what I am cooking.”

Prof Kay-Tee Khaw and Prof Nita Forouhi from the University of Cambridge along with the BBC, ran an experiment with 100 volunteers over 50 years of age to test the effects of coconut oil on LDL cholesterol. The results of the study although limited in scope was that coconut oil did not raise bad cholesterol, but it increases the levels of good cholesterol.

The proponents of Coconut oil claim that coconut oil is rich in MCTs, which are processed by body differently from other saturated fats. This study has been published in the British medical journal and we hope further studies will be done to throw light on this.

https://www.cocofina.com

That's Food and Drink is grateful for the assistance of Cocofina and Jacob Thundil in the preparation of this article.

Veganism is coming of age, with Vegan Events UK

It can truly be said that Veganism is coming of age!

For example, there's an absolutely stunning and thrilling line-up of Spring Festivals from the UK's acknowledged experts in all things Vegan, Vegan Events UK.

There is genuinely something for everyone at the up-and-coming Vegan Festivals from Vegan Events UK.

These highly popular events, which will be staged at venues all over the UK.

There will be a fantastic feast of delicious foods, masses of friendly, helpful stalls, caterers providing a range of food styles from all over the world, thrilling cookery demos (but all stuff you can try for yourself, at home!) inspirational talks, interactive workshops, yoga and stuff for the kids to do, too! So there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

You'll be able to try an amazing range of foods. There'll be vegan-friendly hot and cold dishes, including Asian, Mediterranean, Indian, Greek, Hotdogs, Burgers, Street Food, Raw Food and Gourmet Foods, too!

Enjoy a wonderful range of pies, cakes, chocolates, cookies, doughnuts, sandwiches and salads to take away, plus wonderful alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and lovely juices, smoothies, teas and coffees, too!

There will also be a superb selection of non food stalls at the events. They'll be retailing a wide range of vegan-friendly items including fashion, footwear, jewellery, beauty and skincare products, candles, crafts, clothing, footwear, homeware, gifts and charity merchandise, too!

As well as stalls to look at, you'll be treated to free food samples to tempt your taste buds, too, plus try, live music and much more, besides!

Vegan Events UK organises over 20 of the largest vegan festivals and events all over the UK.

This Spring, you'll find their events happening in Essex, Portsmouth, Shoreditch, Manchester, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Dorset.

Festival Organiser Victoria Bryceson said: “With the vegan lifestyle starting to go mainstream there’s a massive demand all over the UK for vegan-friendly events. Our festivals are set to be a fantastic day out whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or simply curious. The reasoning behind the festivals is to educate and inform everyone about the vegan lifestyle and offer support to anybody who would like it.”

Victoria’s life has been totally changed by her decision to go vegan, herself. She reports: “I’ve never felt happier and healthier!”

Victoria launched the festivals herself. She had a simple aim, to promote animal welfare and to help people learn more about living a healthier and more ethical lifestyle.

She adds: “There will be animal welfare charities raising awareness of their causes. It's an idea opportunity for those wanting to volunteer for such groups to learn more.”

The festivals operate in conjunction and partnership with animal welfare charities like Miracle's Mission.

“It’s about trying new things and opening your eye to new possibilities,” continues Victoria. “Cutting out meat and dairy is easier than you might presume, many people are searching for more healthy  and ethical lifestyles.

"People want to learn about new, innovative foods and recipes, but, of course,  they want to do it affordably. Our festivals will educate people on how to do all of this.”

The festivals this Spring (2018) will be held at:

• Essex Vegan Festival on Saturday 3rd March

• Portsmouth Vegan Festival on Sunday 4th March

• Shoreditch Viva! Vegan Festival on Saturday 17th March and Sunday 18th March

• Northern Vegan Festival (Manchester) on Saturday 7th April

• Glasgow Vegan Festival on Saturday 14th April and Sunday 15th April

• Leicester Vegan Festival on Saturday 21st April

• Liverpool Vegan Festival on Saturday 5th May

• Nottingham Viva! Vegan Festival on Saturday 12th May

• Dorset Vegan Festival on Sunday 20th May

Entry into each festival is £3 (under 16s are free) and this includes entry to all areas and activities. Standard tickets can be bought at the door on the day. VIP tickets, £15, which includes special fast track entry and a goody bag full of vegan products, samples, discounts and offers can be purchased in advance but please be aware, these are limited abd always sell out quickly. So order yours, now!

www.veganeventsuk.co.uk or www.facebook.com/VeganEventsUK

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LIberate your tastebuds with Liberation Nuts

No matter what your nut preference, Liberation Nuts have plenty of nuts for you, your family and your friends.

Every product in the range is produced to the same exacting standards and you can enjoy eating them with a clear conscience as all of their products are Fair Trade, too.

Cashew nuts, Brazil Nuts, Peanuts and much more besides.

You can buy them from Oxfam, Waitrose and other leading stockists of high quality foods.

For more details please visit them at http://chooseliberation.com/products-stockists/.