If your Mother is into cocktails, make Devon Cove your go to!

The producer behind the multi award-winning and silky smooth Cove Vodka, Devon Cove, has expertly

curated a whole range of cocktail sets which make a unique and highly desirable gift for Mother's Day. 

These attractive gift boxes are wrapped in a colourful ribbon and include a handwritten gift tag with free nationwide delivery over £30.

Cove Passion Royale Cocktail and Salcombe Candle Gift Box £43.00

The gift box includes – Cove Passion Royale Cocktail Kit (20cl bottle of Cove Passion Liqueur, 2 x 20cl bottles of Prosecco, recipe) Salcombe Candle Company Hope Cove Seashells Candle and a personal gift tag. There's enough to make four cocktails. Cove Passion Fruit Liqueur is enchantingly exotic and silky smooth. Fresh passion fruits have been expertly combined with Cove Vodka to create a delicate, delicious liqueur.

Cove Hazelnut Liqueur, Hot Chocolate and Marshmallow Gift Box £36.90

A deliciously indulgent gift for all mums! The box includes - 20cl bottle of Cove Hazelnut Liqueur (made with Cove's award-winning Potato Vodka and caramelised hazelnuts, 150g luxury hot chocolate from Salcombe Dairy and 80g chocolate dipped marshmallows from the Grown-up Marshmallow Company. Cove Hazelnut Liqueur is gorgeous sipped or mixed with a hot chocolate, or you can enjoy it served over ice.

Cove Passion Fruit Martini & Macaron Gift Box £42.90

The Passion Fruit Martini is Cove's take on the ever popular Pornstar Martini. They've combined their luxuriously smooth Cove Vodka, Passion Liqueur, vanilla, pineapple and lime to create a deliciously fruity and tantalising cocktail. Combined with a box of delicious macarons it's a fabulous gift. 20cl bottle of award-winning Cove Vodka, 20cl Cove Passion Liqueur, 20cl Monin Vanilla Syrup, 20cl Pineapple Juice, Simple instructions, A box of 6 macarons from Pretty Little Pastries. Serves 4. All you need are glasses, ice, fresh lime and passion fruit (optional).

Founded in 2019 by Leanne Carr, Devon Cove creates exceptional vodka using King Edward potatoes lovingly grown on Leanne's family farm overlooking Hope Cove. Already the recipient of multiple high profile awards, Cove vodka is as pure and clean as the sea air around it and uniquely smooth to taste. Cove Vodka, Cove Cocktail Kits, Cove Coffee Liqueur, Cove Damson Liqueur, Cove Rum, Cove Hazelnut Liqueur, Cove Passion Liqueur and a wide range of gift boxes are all available to purchase from www.devoncove.co.uk with free nationwide delivery over £30.

To keep up to date with all of Devon Cove's news and for cocktail recipes and inspiration 'like' @Devon Cove Vodka on Facebook, 'follow' devoncovevodka on Instagram or @devoncovevodka on Twitter or visit www.devoncove.co.uk

Wickhams' Wines of the Month

Langham Rosé Brut NV, Dorset

£35.00 Single Bottle £31.50 Any 6 Mix

75cl ABV: 12%

This award-winning pink fizz has aromas of pink petals, pastry and strawberries which are followed by a bright, refreshing palette. There is a fine mousse with notes of strawberries & cream, sour cherry & pink lady apple with an integrated citrus acidity. This is a complex wine with a long finish. 85% of the grapes come from the legendary October 2018 vintage with the rest coming from reserve.

Piquepoul Rosé Foncalieu 2021, Languedoc

£13.33 Single Bottle £12.00 Any 6 Mix

75cl ABV: 13%

Produced by Les Vignobles Foncalieu in Vin de Pays d'Oc, Southern France, this medium bodied, dry rosé is produced using solely the rare Piquepoul Noir grape. An attractive pale pink in colour, Piquepoul Rosé Foncalieu has a delicate nose of cherry blossom, strawberries and peaches. The palate is wonderfully fresh with summer berry flavours and notes of crushed rose petals. These fruity notes are balanced perfectly with a lively, citrus acidity, leaving the palate refreshed.

Malbec World Day: Monday 17th April 2023

Allowing time to stock up for Malbec World Day, Wickhams has an online tasting event taking place on Thursday 16th March which focuses on Malbec. In its homeland of southern France, Malbec was deemed only useful to bulk out wines and add colour. It then found a new home in Argentina where the altitude allowed it to show its aromatic personality. It has since become one of the most popular grape varieties in the world. Dan Farrell-Wright and Pip Vanham (AIWS DipWSET) will present six Malbec wines from Argentina, France and Australia and this is their pick of the bunch:

Finca Sophenia 'Altosur' Malbec 2021, Mendoza

£15.50 Single Bottle £13.95 Any 6 Mix

75cl ABV: 14%

Awarded Best In Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2022. This wine has an attractive red colour with violet hues and aromas of intense ripe fruit, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and fresh plums, combined with spicy and floral hints. In the mouth the sweet and round tannins increase its fruit sensation and balance. A wine of good intensity, concentration and long aftertaste. When originally launched this wine was awarded the Decanter International Trophy for Best World Red. Quite some achievement for a new winery.

Wickhams is an award-winning independent online wine merchant founded by Dan Farrell-Wright. Sourcing the finest Estate bottled wines from around the world, as well as the UK, Wickhams curate collections from the everyday to the classics, so there's something to suit all tastes. They passionately believe in stocking wines, spirits and gift sets at a range of price points to ensure their products are accessible to all. 

A special focus is placed on finding producers who have strong stories and strong ethics, with sustainability and diversity at the forefront. Delivery is available to mainland UK with all orders packed in 100% recyclable packaging. Orders over £40 are shipped free of charge.

For more information about Wickhams' products visit www.wickhamwine.co.uk. You can also follow them on facebook and instagram @wickhamwine. 

Worth checking out what fine wines they have in stock for Mother's Day.

Make Mother's Day extra-special with the help of Devon Hampers

If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it's that a delicious cream tea tastes heavenly and that's why a Devon Hampers Luxury Cream Tea Hamper is the perfect gift on Mothering Sunday.

The hamper is full of delectable treats including four freshly baked scones, that are rich, light and sweet and the perfect size for a spoonful of the smoothest Devon clotted cream and a spoonful of strawberry jam that's filled with flavour. 

There are other suitable treats, too. Real fudge, tasty biscuits and a bottle of delicious Devon cider, or why not brew the perfect cup of Cornish Smuggler Tea for a quintessentially English treat on Mother's Day? 

Prosecco Devon Cream Tea For Two Hamper £30.50 including delivery

If your mum loves her afternoon tea treats, the Prosecco Devon Cream Tea For Two hamper is a wonderful luxury gift hamper to arrive on her doorstep. 

The hamper features freshly baked scones, the finest Devon clotted cream and strawberry jam, made in the same village as Devon Hampers,  all to be enjoyed with a cup of perfectly brewed Devonshire Tea, or a glass of the finest Prosecco.

Devon Hampers Celebration Cream Tea Hamper from £55 including delivery

The Devon Hampers Celebration Hamper will make your mum's day with a traditional cream tea the star of the show, but with some carefully chosen extras too. For the cream tea, there are two freshly baked scones, just the right amount of crumble, and the perfect amount of lightness, with the smoothest Devon clotted cream and richest  strawberry jam ready to be piled on top in big spoonfuls. 

Included in the hamper are other flavours and tastes of the Westcountry too, such as cheese, crackers, chutney, a fruit cake and a bottle of Prosecco, making this the ultimate hamper to celebrate Mothering Sunday.

Devon Hampers also has a GLUTEN FREE Cream Tea Hamper (from £24.50 including delivery)

And a VEGAN Cream Tea  (from £23.50 including delivery)

To place your orders please visit https://www.devonhampers.com/

Have a great day of Welsh feasting on St David's Day, courtesy of Asda

 Asda is here to help its customers celebrate one of the most colourful days of the year in Wales, St David’s Day. 

From pies to yoghurts to Welsh cakes and whisky and gin to wash it all down, you’ll find everything you need to celebrate the wondrous legend of St David. But be quick, offers are running in store and online over selected dates only.

For example:-

Popty Bakery Traditional Bara Brith Fruit Cake. Made using a traditional recipe by the third generation of the Williams family in the foothills of Snowdonia. £2.60 (WAS £3.00)

Popty Bakery Six Traditional Welsh Cakes. Rich, moist, fruited teatime treats. Eat as they are or warmed, spread thickly with butter and jam. Enjoy! £0.95 (WAS £1.10)

Welsh Brew 160 Tea Bags Their original premium tea. Blending teas for our wonderful Welsh water since 1989. Foil wrapped for freshness. 30 years of proper Welsh brews. £1.25 (WAS £2.20)

Penderyn Celt Single Malt Welsh Whisky 70cl Penderyn Celt is a Peated whisky which stems from the maturation of the light and fruity Penderyn spirit in the finest Kentucky ex-bourbon barrels first and then in richly peated Islay quarter casks. £23.00 (WAS £32.00)

Edwards of Conwy 6 Traditional Pork Sausages Their Traditional Pork Sausages are made using only the finest cuts of British Shoulder of Pork, delicately seasoned for a flavoursome and succulent sausage £2.50 (WAS £3.25)

Check out www.Asda.com for more Welsh goodies!

Have a loaf on us’ to celebrate One Stop’s 1000th store

Have a loaf on us’ to celebrate One Stop’s 1000th store.

As part of the celebrations One Stop is giving away free loaves of bread to customers.

Convenience retailer, One Stop, is celebrating the opening of its 1000th store by giving away free loaves of bread to its customers.

In addition, to mark the day, One Stop, a subsidiary of Tesco, is giving away £10,000 to up to ten local community groups in the Wolverhampton area.

As a community retailer, One Stop have always worked hard to give back to those who have supported their journey. So each community group will receive a donation of £1,000. For example, Promise Dreams will use the funding to continue their work of granting wishes for terminally ill children. Also, St Alban’s Church will use the grant to support their local food bank.

The 1000th store, which opened in Wolverhampton on Friday 17th February is particularly appropriate as One Stop started its journey in the same city, as a simple market stall, nearly half a century ago.

One Stop has been recognised with several industry awards including 2022 ‘Convenience Retailer of the Year’ at the Retail Industry Awards.

Sarah Lawler, One Stop's MD  said: “The opening of our 1000th store is a really exciting time for our 10,000 colleagues. It is great to look back at what we’ve achieved and we’re excited about the future.”

“We’d love to invite people into stores to have a ‘loaf on us’ in partnership with Warburtons to celebrate this milestone.”

“Part of this significant achievement is the growth of our franchise business, which, eight years ago didn’t exist. The franchise business continues to build the brand into a stronger entity within the convenience market. How we manage, learn and continue to grow the two businesses in parallel gives us a unique opportunity and I look forward to our next key milestone.”

“Thanks to the dedication of our colleagues and support of our customers, we are also incredibly proud to have donated £10 million to charity in the last ten years. We have always strived to give back to those who live in the communities we serve.”

One Stop supports three national charities and countless regional and community organisations and grassroots initiatives. One Stop has also donated 200,000 foodbank meals and has been working on key programmes to make food more readily available to others. This includes joining initiatives including ‘Too Good to Go’ (https://toogoodtogo.co.uk/en-gb and OLIO (https://olioex.com/get-involved/volunteer/food-waste-heroes/).

Further price cuts announced by Morrisons

Morrisons haslaunched a new wave of price cuts across 64 own brand products to continue its commitment in helping its customers' money go that little bit further.

Morrisons has invested £25 million to reduce prices by an average of 19% on products like: fresh produce like salad vegetables, carrots and potatoes and cupboard essentials including coffee and rice. Over the last 6 months Morrisons has invested £148 million to cut the prices on popular, essential and entry level products.

Special promotional offers will also help customers get more for their money, with deals like 2 for £2 on selected crisps, 3 for £2 on soft drinks and 2 for £1.80 on cereals. 

The investment from Morrisons is its latest move in cutting prices and follows price reductions to 1,000 products last month, plus 5p off fuel offers in both January and February, plus the introduction of My Morrisons Exclusives for My Morrisons members.

David Potts, Chief Executive, explained: “We're just seven weeks into 2023 and already this is our fifth significant price activity of the year. These latest price cuts follow hard on the heels of two notable in store price cuts involving well over 1,000 products, and two strong fuel promotions, demonstrating our determination and commitment to make a positive difference to our customers’ pockets.”

(I have actually noticed the latest bit of price reductions when I was shopping in Morrisons the other day.)

The Spirit Cupboard Launches Mobile App That Makes Buying Spirits Simple!

The eagerly-awaited app, The Spirit Cupboard, is a seamless, intuitive and effective mobile application that brings together a community of like-minded individuals to discover, share and shop all things spirits.

Share, rate, review and compare alcoholic spirits and purchase them with The Spirit Cupboard app, in one convenient location. Now available for both IOS and Android devices.

This UK-based company aims to “refill your cupboard, one spirit at a time”. This community- based mobile app immerses its users in all things spirits, from ingredients to origins. Totally free to use, this app gives access to an extensive database of gin, vodka, whiskey and rum, readily available at anyone’s fingertips. It’s a modern marketplace that empowers all members to purchase their favourite spirits from the comfort of home, or while on the go.

With over 10,000 spirits to choose from, The Spirit Cupboard offers in-app purchasing of every spirit through a user-friendly filtered search engine. It’s now easy to select, locate and purchase liquor, quicker. This is what the alcohol marketplace has been missing. The app’s consumer-focused application is a multi-faceted tool that allows users to rate and review spirits, along with a simplified fulfilment process that utilises a portfolio of trusted online retailers and specialised suppliers. The app personalises the user experience based on preferences, while the intuitive rating system makes reviewing easier than ever before.

The founders said: “The Spirit Cupboard allows you to collect your favourite spirits on a virtual shelf. The app offers a community of alcohol enthusiasts a bottle-full of knowledge with a simple way to purchase. The best part? It’s completely free to use. All that remains for us to say… Which spirit has your name on it?” 

Visit www.spiritcupboard.co.uk for more information about The Spirit Cupboard app, including videos and screenshots of the app in action. The Spirit Cupboard mobile app was developed by Fortnight, a web and mobile application company with offices in Manchester, London and Vienna.

A Box of Genuine, Handmade Flapjacks Is the Best Treat for Mums on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is very nearly upon us and it's time to spoil those motherly figures in our lives with fabulous, delectable gluten free flapjacks from Flapjackery.

You can spoil your mum in the comfort of her own home with a box of the most delicious treats. Hand made on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon using the very best British ingredients and presented in 100% recyclable packaging, these boxes of treats are the perfect accompaniment for a special afternoon tea.

The Happy Mother's Day Message Box (£35) is the perfect way to spoil your mum with delicious flapjacks that have just enough crunch and not too much crumble. The star of the box is a giant piece of Millionaires Flapjack with the message Happy Mother's Day hand written in white chocolate. Packed around it are eight half pieces of flapjack in the mouth watering flavours of Ruby Millionaire, Raspberry and White Chocolate, Ginger & Dark Chocolate, Cherry Bakewell, Golden Salted Caramel, Double chocolate Brownie, Lemon Drizzle and Clotted Cream.

Mother's Day Flapjack Box 6 half pieces £15.00

Flapjackery's Mother's Day selection box  has six of the best selling flavours in half-size pieces that are perfect for a luxurious afternoon tea.

The box contains pieces of Ruby Millionaire, Chocolate Fudge, Salted Caramel Brownie, Raspberry and White Chocolate, Praline, Cherry Bakewell fudge that are handmade using the very best British ingredients.

The Mother's Day 12 half pieces (£25.00) has the following flavours.

Ruby Millionaire, Chocolate Fudge, Salted Caramel Brownie, Raspberry and White Chocolate, Praline, Cherry Bakewell, Golden Salted Caramel, Clotted Cream Fudge, Peanut Butter Brownie, Double chocolate Brownie.

Order online at www.flapjackery.co.uk

Sandford Orchards Launch Limited Edition Coronation Devon Red Cider

Top, award-winning cider maker, Sandford Orchards, is thrilled to launch Limited Edition Coronation Devon Red Cider. It's a celebration of all things British and the perfect thirst-quencher for any coronation festivities.  It will be available from March in 500ml bottles RRP £2.30 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk as well as selected retail outlets, pubs and hospitality venues.

Barny Butterfield, who is Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards said: “Most of us are too young to remember the last coronation so we are eagerly anticipating some fantastic celebrations across the country. We wanted to mark the occasion with the launch of our Coronation Limited Edition Devon Red Cider, which is created from British apples grown and pressed in Devon, using traditional methods, at the oldest working cider mill in the UK. 

"No coronation parties will be complete without it! Why would you toast the new King's health with French champagne when you can raise a glass of 100% British cider?”

Limited Edition Coronation Devon Red Cider (ABV 4.5%) is a perfectly balanced, refreshing medium cider. It is a naturally tasty and utterly delicious fresh apple cider created from British apples grown in orchards rooted in the rich, red, fertile soil which surrounds Sandford Orchards.

Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. The area has long been known as one of the most fertile parishes in all of Britain, both for its grazing and ability to grow apples. Crediton sits in the lee of the moors, so receives the right amount of rain and the right units of heat in summer.

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, flavoured and fine ciders.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Springtime Detox? Opt for Mushrooms!

A diet that is designed to clean out toxins can boost your vitality and also help you lose weight. If you're planning a detox this spring, replacing your regular tea or coffee with a mushroom brew is a great place to start. 

Mushroom drinks can give you a boost, helping you feel relaxed and alert while also supporting your body as it flushes out toxins.

Adaptogenic mushrooms like chaga and reishi are prized for helping the body to detoxify, and they are key ingredients in Cheerful Buddha's range of superfood lattes. These creamy, dairy-free instant drinks are a healthy alternative to coffee. 

They contain mushrooms blended with other health-supporting ingredients such as adaptogenic ashwagandha to help your body cope with stress, and nutrient-rich antioxidants such as turmeric, cinnamon and lucuma. 

The lattes are designed to provide a natural lift, helping you to focus while supporting your body during your springtime cleanse.

The range includes:

Chaga latte £12.99 150g

Cacao Bliss hot chocolate (containing chaga and lion's mane mushrooms) £11.99 150g

Matcha Latte (containing reishi mushrooms) £14.99 150g

Lion's Mane Latte 12.99 150g

Shop the full range here https://cheerfulbuddha.co.uk/

Support Women All Over the World This International Women's Day With Double Dutch's Exploration Pack

To celebrate International Women's Day, award-winning female-founded tonic and mixer brand, Double Dutch, will be donating 30% of sales from its top-selling product to a charity raising vital funds for young women. 

For every exploration pack (£20.15) purchased via Double Dutch's website throughout March, 30% of the sale will be donated to the Change A Girl's Life campaign, which is run by The Prince's Trust Women Supporting Women community. 

The exploration pack features 10 of Double Dutch's most popular mixers and tonics, that are full of flavour, fun and no fuss, including unexpected dual-flavours such as Cucumber & Watermelon, Pomegranate & Basil, as well as Double Dutch's newest product, Pink Grapefruit Soda.

Female founders, Raissa and Joyce De Haas, who set up the Female Bartender Scholarship programme in 2021 to elevate and educate women in the hospitality industry, chose to support the Change A Girl's Life campaign after research showed that women were most impacted by the pandemic, with 78% losing jobs. 

The Change A Girl's Life campaign is raising funds to provide vital support to help nurture, empower and inspire young women to build their futures through employment, self-employment, education or training. 

Said Raissa de Haas, Co-Founder of Double Dutch: “As a female-founded brand, we feel very strongly about the development of female talent across all industries and unlocking career opportunities and progression, which The Change A Girl's Life campaign supports. 

“We know how difficult some industries are for women, for example, the hospitality industry is particularly tough as women are so underrepresented in senior and management positions. With this in mind, we wanted to do something to help women in the industry and encourage them to flourish and we hope that by donating a percentage of sales, we can join forces in making a difference to young women's and girls' lives.” 

You can double down on flavour with Double Dutch's full range of products available via the Double Dutch website, with some of the brand's mixers available at Waitrose, Ocado or Tesco, as well as being available to purchase via Amazon. 

For more details and to register your interest in the Female Bartending Scholarship Programme for 2023, please visit: https://doubledutchdrinks.com/pages/scholarship-application 

https://doubledutchdrinks.com/collections/our-drinks

A very special gin

A new and limited release, this gin was envisioned by cheffe Anne-Sophie Pic alongside her executive sommelière Paz Levinson, in special collaboration with Miko Abouaf, distiller at Audemus Spirits. 

It's an entirely unique recipe drawing its inspiration from the richly imaginative universe of the cheffe's cuisine.

The gin is boldly aromatic with a core body of bees wax, reinforced by top notes of unripe blackcurrant buds, juniper and lemon, underlined by rooibos and myrtle. The gin's freshness is balanced by earthy and honeyed notes, forming a light and intensely aromatic spirit, which maintains a delicate harmony between the different elements.

Reiko Kaneko, the London-based ceramist, designed, produced and hand-painted the bottles. This elegant, delicate, and unique creation is limited to 160 bottles.

This gin is ideal for a Dry Martini, a French 75 or a Gin & Tonic. It also reveals its aromatic strength when tasted neat, served chilled, in a tulip glass.

St Piran's Day 2023 five Recipes to Celebrate Cornwall's National Day

Every year on March 5th, the Cornish community celebrate St Piran, who is one of the patron saints of Cornwall. Proud manufacturers of Cornish clotted cream (with Protected Designation of Origin), Trewithen Dairy, reflect on the duchy's legendary ambassador and how the county still commemorates St Piran to this day.

About Saint Piran 

According to Cornish legend, St Piran was tied to a millstone and thrown into the Irish sea by orders of the king. Famed for washing up on the shores of Perranporth beach (which is named in his honour), it was said that St Piran lit a fire one night and in doing so discovered the precious metal, tin.

The design of the Cornish flag, originated from the flag of St Piran - The white cross on a black background is said to depict the discovery of tin. The 'white metal' flowing from the Cornish black rocks. 

How is St Piran celebrated? 

The week running up to 5th March is known as 'Perrentide' and sees towns and villages across the entire county celebrate with all things Cornish: pasties, cider and the all important cream tea with lashings of clotted cream spooned over a generous layer of jam. 

Francis Clarke, who is the director at Trewithen Dairy says: “We are immensely proud to be amongst the brilliant array of food and drink producers in our county and to champion our Cornish heritage whilst inspiring new ways to enjoy the classics. What better way to celebrate this tradition than with delicious Cornish clotted cream and butter flavoured with Cornish sea salt.”

The best Cornish recipes to celebrate St Piran's Day

Berries and Cream Cornish Pasty

It is said that the mighty Cornish pasty was traditionally made with one side meat, the other filled with jam to create a two-course meal. We've deep-filled pasties with berries and cream for a majestic sweet-treat. Perfect for packing on a picnic or enjoying on St Piran's Day.

Banoffee Cornish Fairings

With their tell-tale crackled top, golden syrup flavour and spicy ginger bite, Cornish fairings are a step up from your everyday ginger biscuit. They were once so popular at fairs that the name stuck and they've been known as the fairing ever since. Trewithen Dairy put a twist on this Cornish classic, with a banoffee inspired treat.

Stargazey Pie

This iconic Cornish dish is the perfect centrepiece for your dinner table to wow your guests. The fish are designed to 'gaze at the stars' and don't worry – you don't have to eat the heads. Legend has it this pie was created after a brave fisherman, Tom Bawcock, ventured out into stormy seas to fish when the townsfolk of Mousehole were facing starvation. He returned triumphantly with an abundance of seven types of fish, which were cooked up in a pie and served to the community.

Cornish Junket

A dish from the West Country, comforting junket has been enjoyed for generations. Traditionally finished with a scrape of nutmeg, we love ours flavoured with real vanilla, saffron or rum. Play around with toppings too – perhaps adding blood orange, salted caramel or caramelise some sugar for a crunchy crème brulee finish.

Scone Revolution - Dark Side of the Moon Scone

Reimagining the traditional cream tea, this chocolate, orange, clotted cream scone is the perfect twist on a classic. 

Francis Clarke says: “Scone Revolution is all about reimagining the cream scone.  We all love the classic, of course, but tear down the traditional boundaries and there is a whole new world of flavour sensations and stunning aesthetics to discover.  Our clotted cream is far niftier than you think!”  Francis continues: “We've had a lot of fun trying out new pairings and hope that we will inspire a new wave of cream tea lovers to create their own and share these with us here at Trewithen Dairy.”

The 'Scone Revolution' is all about adding some life to the traditional cream tea at the same time highlighting the many outstanding and versatile qualities of the award-winning Trewithen Dairy clotted cream.  Made in Cornwall, to a traditional Cornish recipe from milk produced in the county, Trewithen Dairy clotted cream has 'Protected Designation of Origin' status. Only by achieving all of these strict criteria can it be called Cornish clotted cream.

RRP £2.45

Trewithen Dairy's Cornish Clotted Cream is available in 200g and 400g sizes, available to buy direct from supermarkets across the South West or via Ocado.com. For more information, visit their website, www.trewithendairy.co.uk.

Introducing: Egg Royale

This has got to be the most indulgent ‘adult chocolate egg’ for Easter 2023.

Introducing the Egg Royale for Easter 2023, a chocolate egg like no other. Experience the most indulgent and rich chocolate alcoholic cream liqueur made from the finest cocoa and vanilla and blended with real cream nestling within a beautiful glass egg.

Developed over two years by Gravity Drinks, which is the team behind the cult favourite Christmas Globe Gin Liqueur and Sixpence Pud Gin Liqueur, Egg Royale is set to become another seasonal favourite.

It's perfect as a unique Easter gift for adults, the glass egg will be found sitting within a special art-deco style box with a beautiful foil printed handle.

Delicious served straight over ice, in a cocktail or even to add a boozy kick to your Easter chocolate cake!

It's available in stores from this month, February 2023.

700ml – 15% alc/vol and the RRP is £29.00.

You'll find it stocked at Harvey Nichols and is also available via Amazon.

"A love letter to India" The Colonel Saab story

Multi-award-winning, luxurious Indian restaurant, Colonel Saab was launched in the very heart of London by Roop Partap Choudhary, who meticulously crafted the menu and art-festooned destination as a “love letter” to his family and India. 

And in the past year Colonel Saab has been named one of the top Indian restaurants by Forbes, also won Newcomer of the Year at the Asian Curry Awards, Best Newcomer at British Curry Awards, Best Restaurant in Feed the Lion awards and was awarded Harden’s Certificate of Achievement. 

It welcomes regulars from Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai - who says “it is the only place which serves the authentic flavours from home” to pop stars, TV personalities sand presidents. 

The modern Indian restaurant the home of which is the grand, former Holborn Town Hall, is a homage to Choudhary's travels across India with his mother, Mrs Binny Choudhary and father, Colonel Manbeer, who was given the honorific name ‘Colonel Saab’ shared by the restaurant, while serving in the Indian Army. 

The postings across India enabled them to experience the continent's rich diversity of food from traditional local lunches in the tents of Rajasthan to British-inspired Indian breakfasts in the Officer’s Mess and banquets hosted by Indian nobility and Maharajas.

Choudhary spent a year retracing his father’s footsteps across India by train, bus and car with Indian food royalty, Karen Anand to curate contemporary twists on dishes passed down through the generations of people they were able to meet, with many regional specialities appearing for the first time on a London menu.

The exciting, all-day dining menu introduces diners to progressive takes on nostalgic dishes, from British and Indian fusion afternoon high tea, regional favourites rarely served in the UK, like the Cauliflower 65, signature dishes, like the Falahari Curry Kofta, their popular Gutti Vankaya - Andhra curry, baby aubergines in tangy tamarind gravy - and the restaurant’s outstanding desserts, including signatures like the Rasmalai Milk Cake in cardamom cream and Boondi Caviar or the Bengali, Mishti Doi Cheesecake in jaggery syrup.

Dining at Colonel Saab is also a feast for the eyes, with a treasure trove of eclectic Indian art and artefacts collected by his family on their travels, lovingly brought to the space under challenging conditions. 

Downstairs, a grand, pure silver door from a Gujarat temple greets you, while upstairs features a carved temple door from South India. The opulent dining room is bathed in light by a canopy of ornate chandeliers from Firozabad. A drinks bar made by Asprey for the Maharaja of Patiala takes pride of place in the private dining room, while 17th and 18th century Tanjore paintings and handwoven Persian silk carpets adorn the walls and precious decanters and crockery from the palace of the Maharaja of Faridkot shimmer in cabinets. 

The Colonel Saab staff bring the decadent surroundings to life, happily regaling diners with the rich stories and histories of the sumptuous artwork collected by the Choudhary family.

Every element of Colonel Saab has been lovingly and imaginatively crafted to create a multi-sensory experience of India, including the drinks. A Masala Dabba - or spice box - of artisanal gins, whiskies and rums based on Indian botanicals has been created with the Diageo mixology team, along with innovative cocktails by celebrated mixologist Antony Bertin, designed to complement the food and named after Choudhary's family members.

When Colonel Saab and his wife returned home, they channelled their unique experiences into serving the community, starting with a modest hotel and continuing their journey with boutique and palace hotels, which are now managed by their proud son Roop. He began his work life in their hotel kitchens as a young man and continues the proud legacy of hospitality that spans more than three decades, with Colonel Saab. 

Choudhary is on course to set a new benchmark in London, continuing the family tradition of celebrating the vibrant and diverse culture of India’s food and history with humility, elegance and originality.

To learn more visit www.colonelsaab.co.uk  or on social media @colonelsaab

Top tips for proper pancakes, vegan style from Fergus Smithers

 Fergus’ top tips for vegan pancakes are:-

Firstly, you should opt for American-style pancakes.

Why? Fergus Smithers who is a vegan chef and head of recipe development at plant-based recipe subscription box Grubby explains why : “American pancakes tend to work best when making vegan pancakes because the batter holds together better when it's cooking. 

"However it is still perfectly possible to make a traditional crepe style pancake, but you will have to be especially gentle when flipping them to avoid them tearing.” 

Don’t overmix 

“My secret to dairy-free pancakes is to make sure you don't overmix the batter. It might sound obvious, but if you overmix the batter it will make your pancakes dense and chewy rather than having them light and fluffy. 

"You'll also have to ensure that your pan is hot. A cold pan will result in a flat pancake, so always add your batter to a pre-heated pan with a little oil or vegan butter.” 

Avoid oat milk 

“I’d always recommend unsweetened plant-based milk for pancakes like soy or almond. You could use sweetened if you have a sweet tooth, but I find soy and almond make a delicious batter that’s not too sweet and works well for both sweet and savoury toppings. 

You can use oat milk, but it tends to give you a more stodgy pancake.” 

Allow the batter a bit of a rest 

“When mixing your batter, always use a whisk and slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients to make the batter as light and airy as possible and make sure you remove any lumps. You can also sift the flour from a height to get more air into the batter. 

"Finally, leave the batter to rest for about 5-10 minutes before you start cooking to help remove any clumps of flour for a more even cook when frying your pancakes."

Fergus’ fail-safe vegan pancake recipe:

Ingredients

150g     Plain flour

1tbsp    Baking powder

60ml     Crackd egg replacement 

2tsp      Sugar 

250ml   Plant-based milk

Method 

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl, and then add in the sugar and mix. 

Add the Crackd egg replacement and plant-based milk to a separate bowl, then slowly pour into the flour mix and whisk until it forms a smooth batter. 

Preheat a large frying pan with a little vegan butter. Pour in the batter to the pan and leave to cook on each side for 1-2 minutes, until air bubbles start to form on the top. Once the bottom side is golden brown, carefully flip the pancakes and cook for a further minute. 

Remove from the pan and eat whilst warm. 

“Smores” style pancake toppings

Digestive biscuits 

Vegan marshmallows 

Chocolate peanut butter

Break apart the biscuits

Toast the marshmallows 

Spoon over the chocolate peanut butter

Mango, banana and coconut

Mango

Banana 

Coconut yoghurt 

Desiccated coconut 

Strawberry 

Lime 

Dark chocolate 

Peel and dice the mango into a small bowl. Grate in the zest and juice of the lime and mix well.

Slice the banana. 

Toast the desiccated coconut in a frying pan until golden brown. 

Gently melt the dark chocolate, then drizzle over at the end. 

To learn more about Grubby please visit https://grubby.co.uk/about-us

Recas. A wine treat for the women in your life

Mum. Aunty. Grandma. Wife. No matter what you call her, Mother's Day is the one time of the year you show the strongest woman in your life your appreciation with gifts, a beautiful meal accompanied by a special bottle of Recas and a flick through a magazine.

At Cramele Recas, their Pasari Pinot Grigio's very special meaning behind its name makes this a special bottle to present to that special female presence in your life. 

Meaning birds in Romanian, the Pasari gather late February to build their nests in preparation for spring. Across Romania, people celebrate this joyous occasion dedicated to the appreciation of love and nature. RRP £8.75 available at Corney & Barrow.

Named after the embodiment of the Moon in Greek mythology, the elegant Selene is the bottle for you if you're after a beautifully unfiltered red. Ample, dry, optimally barricaded red wines (between 6 and 9 months) offer a special taste and olfactory experience to each taster. RRP £24.26 available at Vinero.

New Limited Edition Fudge Sauces from Artisan Confectioners Fudge Kitchen

The wonderful folks over at Fudge Kitchen have launched two very special new limited edition liquid fudge sauces in Sherbet Lemon and Butterscotch flavours.

The new fudge sauces are launching in time for Pancake Day and will be available for a limited time, but only while stocks last. The limited-edition flavours will sit alongside their current Sea Salted Caramel and Rich Chocolate Fudge Sauces.

Fudge Kitchen are known for their traditional artisan slab fudge, made in small batches in their shops. Their fudge sauce is a liquid version of the award-winning slab fudge that they are  justifiably famous for.

2023 marks Fudge Kitchen's 40th anniversary, and the business has gone from strength-to-strength in the last four decades. What started as a modest number of fudge shops has expanded into a strong e-commerce presence, flourishing wholesale business and shops in six of the UK's most visited cities.

Sherbet Lemon fudge sauce is a sweet, zingy lemon sauce that will take any pancake right up to the next level. Butterscotch fudge sauce is a decadent and creamy sauce that can be paired with ice cream, pancakes, or just about anything and can be served either hot or cold.

The latest flavours follow on from last year's successful limited-edition Raspberry Fudge Sauce. 

Priced from £4.60 the new fudge sauces can be found in Fudge Kitchen stores, and on their website. The confectionery producers have six shops in some of the UK's most historic cities, Canterbury, Windsor, Cambridge, York, Bath and Edinburgh.

Each of their high street shops offer fudge making experiences, where customers can get behind the scenes and make their own fudge 'loaf' before cutting it into slices and taking home a generous box of freshly made fudge.

The liquid fudge sauces were actually created by accident when their NPD team were experimenting with vacuum packing the original fudge. The confectioners pride themselves on their ability to innovate and trial new flavours and formats. 

The fudge menu changes seasonally to reflect national events and holidays, the next one being the King's Coronation in May. Fudge Kitchen are also launching Hot Cross Bun Caramels for Spring, enrobed in a thick layer of chocolate.

To find out more about Fudge Kitchen's fudge sauce range head to: https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/en/categories/liquid-fudge

Food Drink Devon Shines a Light on County's Food and Drink to a National Audience

(As a proud Plymothian, or Janner, my wife vigorously approves of this message!)

Championing quality, sustainability and provenance, Food Drink Devon is shining a light on the county's food and drink to a nationwide audience with events at the Houses of Parliament and the QEll Centre over the coming month. 

At these events, the ongoing innovation, drive and enterprise within the entire region of Devon will be showcased. There will be a selection of producers on display, such as Luscombe Drinks, Hattiers Rum, Salcombe Gin and Sharpham wines from Sandridge Barton, plus leading hospitality businesses, like Boringdon Hall, Saunton Sands Hotel, Winslade Manor and The View restaurant which is at the new Courtyard by Marriott Sandy Park Hotel. 

This incredibly active and vibrant organisation, which is going from strength-to-strength, has now reached a record 350 members and has grown its team with a new membership development manager, Kate Rippin.

It has a host of networking events, workshops and trade and consumer shows planned, plus its highly regarded awards which are currently open for entries. The recent The Source trade show, at which Food Drink Devon had an important presence, reflected the energy within the food and drink sector in the region. 

The forthcoming Toby's Garden Festival, 28th and 29th April, at Powderham Castle will have a tempting selection of local food and drink all provided by Food Drink Devon members. 

Greg Parsons, who is the proactive chair of Food Drink Devon, says: “It's exciting to be hosting a 'Taste of Devon' event with Anthony Mangnall MP in the House of Commons at the Palace of Westminster in March to showcase the best of Devon's food and drink industry to an influential audience. 

"In addition, Food Drink Devon will also be at the International Media Marketplace (IMM) at the QEII Centre where hundreds of travel journalists attend to see highlights from all over the world.  Last year Devon was named as one of the 'planet's most unmissable tourist destinations' in globally read Time magazine following the IMM."

Greg continues to say: “Devon is home to a flourishing food and drink sector with more than its fair share of award-winning producers and hospitality businesses.  Lush pasture, high moorland and miles of coast yield delicious meat and dairy, abundant seafood and Michelin stars, but Devon also has bright, new start-ups and exciting foodie entrepreneurs who merit a wider audience.” 

Other news is that Food Drink Devon has transferred to a Community Interest Company.  While always a not-for-profit organisation, this legal structure means the company can apply for additional funding and is built from the ground up to serve and benefit its community,  who are members of Food Drink Devon.  

Whereas before Food Drink Devon needed to operate like a business, it now has the freedom to operate in a more philanthropic way, working with service providers who better match its requirements and bringing more benefit to its members.  

Also, Food Drink Devon has changed its banking to Triodos. Which is an ethical bank committed to the future, Triodos is a world leader in sustainable banking so again matches the ethos behind the membership organisation. 

Food Drink Devon is committed to increasing the county's profile, both nationally and internationally and represents a membership of Devon's leading food and drink producers, retailers, hospitality venues and related businesses dedicated to serving up the best produce from the county.  With a focus on quality, sustainability and provenance, Food Drink Devon's aim is to support and promote their members and raise Devon's culinary profile as a whole.  Look out for the green heart logo which is carried by over 350 producers and businesses across Devon.  

For more information on Food Drink Devon visit www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk or follow @FoodDrinkDevon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Galentine's Day: Chocolate and Sweets Are the Most Wished for Gifts

Celebrating female friendship has become a phenomenon according to gifting website DrawNames which has seen a 55% growth in friendship gifting.

Galentine's Day will occur on Monday 13th February this year and was first made famous by the cult classic comedy show Parks and Recreation.

The premise is female friends getting together to celebrate friendship, unity and individuality through thoughtful, anonymous gifts.

The number of visitors to DrawNames over the February period has more than doubled in the last year with users picking names and making gift lifts for both Galentine's and Valentine's Day. The DrawNames Galentine's top most wished for gifts include:

Chocolate and sweets

Skincare

Yankee candles

The DrawNames data shows users' exchange on the 14th (61%) and 13th (16%) of February.

Emma Shaw from Leeds has been running a Galentine's event since 2020, she said: “The pandemic was the perfect reason to create an event to look forward to. We gathered our single friends to create a gift exchange but our female friends in a relationship wanted to get involved so we now have a mixture. 

“The thoughtful gifts we've exchanged include photo albums, handmade crafts and food at home. We used DrawNames to ensure everyone was completely anonymous which made the gift exchange so much more special.”

Arjan Kuiper, co-founder of DrawNames, said: “There is no better reason to give someone a gift than to celebrate friendship and unity. 

“Galentine's is growing in popularity and it's easy to see why! Using a gift exchange website means everyone involved can enjoy the surprise and enjoy the day." 

To find out more head to https://www.drawnames.co.uk/secret-valentine-generator.

Choose a Coffee With a Purpose This Fairtrade Fortnight, With Owens Coffee

Award-winning Owens Coffee is encouraging coffee lovers to wake up and smell Jabulani Coffee this Fairtrade Fortnight (27 February – 12 March 2023). 

It's a smooth and mellow coffee with sweet notes of cherry, hibiscus and vanilla, the organic and Fairtrade single-origin specialty coffee is ideal for espresso and filter use as whole beans, or as medium ground for cafetière and filter. 

It's also available as fine ground for espresso. Roasted and distributed by the South West based roastery, it's available from owenscoffee.com, 200g for £7.76 and 1kg for £27.00.

The beans used to craft Jabulani Coffee are grown in the Gakenke District of Rwanda and sourced from the Twongereka Coko Cooperative. This mountain community - made up of a group of 204 members, of which 169 are female - grow their coffee at unusually high levels (2,000m above sea level) so the beans are slowly ripened and full of flavour. 

This particular coffee is produced in partnership between Owens Coffee and Jabo Butera, resulting from a Diversity Business Incubator (DBI) project, which is a Business Hub for Minority Ethnicity entrepreneurs. 

Owens and Jabo have a direct relationship with the Twongereka Coko Cooperative, with sales of the beans supporting an initiative which connects ambassadors from the UK and Rwanda to exchange knowledge, nurture leadership and encourage positive global change. Following a trip to Rwanda in summer 2022, a film was created about how a remarkable spirit of togetherness inspires a nation and binds this coffee with a purpose. 

International Women's Day (8 March) also falls during Fairtrade Fortnight, giving yet more reason to celebrate the incredible women of the Twongerekawa Coko Cooperative and their brilliant coffee beans, which are in the top 10% of quality in the world and are therefore classed as 'speciality grade'. 

Since 2010, Owens Coffee has supported the aims of the Fairtrade Foundation and is proud that 100% of its coffee range is certified Fairtrade and organic.

“We source our coffee beans consciously. As one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, it's important for consumers also to make a conscious choice when purchasing coffee. Whether that be in a coffee shop, supermarket or from a local roastery like ours, Fairtrade coffee is widely available in the UK and, by choosing Fair Trade products, you will make a huge difference not just to the taste of your morning cuppa but to the growers and the planet.” says Managing Director of Owens Coffee, Lorraine Bridden.

To shop the full range or to find out more about Owens Coffee, please visit owenscoffee.com. Follow Owens Coffee on Instagram @owenscoffee_, like or follow @OwensCoffee on Facebook and follow @OwensCoffee on Twitter. 

To watch the documentary or to find out more please visit www.jabulanicoffee.com and to stay up-to-date, follow @jabulanicoffee on Instagram and Jabulani Coffee on Facebook.

Mandira's Kitchen Makes Celebrating Mother's Day Deliciously Different this Year

This year Mothering Sunday falls on 19 March 2023 and families are already planning how to spend this very special day with Mum to thank her for all she does for her family. 

And Mandira's Kitchen invites you to a sumptuous Afternoon Tea served on their delightful patio overlooking the Silent Pool or you can order a family feast  for 4 people that can be delivered to your door.

The Mother's Day Family Feast is available as classic or vegetarian options and includes some of their favourite Supper Club dishes; crispy samosas, Methi Chicken or Paneer, Jaipur Alu (baby potatoes simmered in spices) and Saffron Pulau, delightfully finished off with Gulab Jamun and Carrot Halwa.  Or choose the Biriyani and Bubbles feast.

For those who want to take Mum on a day out, why not book a slot (spaces are obviously limited) on either Saturday 18 or Sunday 19 March to have Afternoon Tea on the MK Patio, overlooking the Silent Pool.  

Set in the Surrey Hills the surrounding area is ideal for a family walk after an afternoon tea full of Indian street food treats such as :- A MK Cocktail on arrival; spinach and onion pakoras; lamb or vegetable sliders; Coronation Chicken mini pittas; Mini Papri Chaat; Khati Rolls; Spiced Cheese scones with tomato and date chutney; Rose Scones with Cardamon clotted cream; and more. 

Full details of the menus can be found on the Mandira's Kitchen website https://www.mandiraskitchen.com/collections/mothers-day.

In addition to the Mother's Day food you will also find a wide range of gifts and tableware including Chutney sets with serving dishes, Chai tea pot and glasses and many more dishes and tableware to make the perfect gifts.  

MK also has a range of vouchers for cookery lessons, spice tours and general spending on their website.

Mandira Sarkar, owner and founder of Mandira's Kitchen says: “This Mother's Day we want people to travel with us to a bygone era, my childhood amongst emerald tea bushes and blazing bougainvillea for the most amazing afternoon tea with an Indian twist. The menu reflects a gentler time and an unhurried pace,in this menu are a few of my favourites which I hope will also become yours and help you celebrate with your mum.”

Of course, Mandira's Kitchen will cater for any dietary restrictions and you can discuss your individual needs by emailing orders@mandiraskitchen.com.

All items can be ordered online from www.mandiraskitchen.com and either collected from Mandira's Kitchen at The Silent Pool Guildford or delivered to any UK Mainland address by Wednesday 15 March ready to eat over the weekend.  

All food arrives frozen at your door and can be kept in the fridge for 48 hours or in the freezer for up to 6 months.  Dishes can be heated in the microwave in 4 minutes, or in the oven.  Full details https://www.mandiraskitchen.com/collections/mothers-day.

Oggs for Eggs

We owe an apology to those wonderful folks over at Oggs. The publication of this post was delayed by the dreaded COVID.

If you are lucky, you have an eggs free cake shop within easy reach of you. Their cakes are really delicious and great for people who are allergic to eggs or who are vegans.

However, egg free cakes made at home haven't always been as tasty or as "good" as cakes made with eggs.

But! Now with the introduction of the real alternatives to eggs, Oggs, you, too can also make egg free cakes that are just as good as the very best cakes.

Using soya-based alternatives isn't an option for us, as my wife has a soya allergy so the fact Oggs doesn't use soya is a real blessing for us.

The Oggs eggs alternative is  Aquafaba, which is chickpea water, and it works perfectly every time. It's ideal for vegan baking, all you need do is just whip and whisk it just like an egg in all of your favourite recipes.

Their 200ml carton is great for home bakers and shakers, and the 1L carton ideal for professional bakers, chefs and bartenders.

So if you own a bakery you too can start making vegan cakes and sweet and savoury treats just like the egg free cake bakeries!

And if you miss having scrambled eggs at breakfast, lunchtime, teatime or for supper, they have Scrambled Oggs which whop up to make a perfect and very tasty alternative to traditional scrambled eggs which are great by themselves, on toast or with vegan sausages, vegan bacon or vegan burgers or with vegan cheese grated on top.

They are available in Waitrose, Tesco, Co-Ops, Sainsbury branches and other retailers.

Not only do they produce the Aquafaba egg alternatives, they also bake delicious cakes and hot puddings, too!

Some restaurants and cocktail bars offer Aquafaba products, too. And you can use them in your own restaurant or premises.

To learn more please visit them here https://www.loveoggs.com.

Share the plant-based love with Moving Mountains

If you are going to cook up something tasty and filled with love this Valentine's Day for the love of your life, why not make your meal something special with the newly introduced Moving Mountains Plant Based No Chicken Burgers and/or Moving Mountains Plant Based No Chicken Nuggets?

The nuggets are both crunchy and tender and are absolutely delicious. And what's great is that there's no chicken in them, they are produced using soya and pea protein and are coated in breadcrumbs.

The burgers are equally tender yet crunchy and just as tasty and also have no chicken in them, but they do come with some absolutely delicious southern USA-style herbs and spices!

The point of Moving Mountains is that it is there intention to help make sustainability delicious by giving consumers the opportunity to make real, yet tasty changes in their diet and their lives.

You can fry them or oven bake them, the choice is entirely yours!

You can buy them from Booths, Ocado, Waitrose and Partners, Sainsbury's, Côte Brasserie, Odeon, Hard Rock Café. 

https://movingmountainsfoods.com

And remember Moving Mountains delicious plant based foods aren't just for Valentine's Day, 

Share Your Love This Valentine's Day With Devon Hampers

For those you love and cherish, or even if you need a little self-love treat, for this Valentine's Day order a hamper from Devon Hampers filled with food and drink, lovingly produced in the West Country. 

There are so many to choose from, so we've picked two of our favourites.

Valentine's Day Feast Hamper from £59.50 including delivery.

Enjoy the taste of the West Country this Valentine's Day with the extraordinary Valentine's Day Feast Hamper  from Devon Hampers that's packed full of delicious sweet and savoury treats carefully sourced from the finest artisan makers.

For those you cherish, or even if you, as we say, need a little self-love, this wonderful hamper will satisfy every appetite and is the perfect feast on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Cheese and Wine Hamper from £42.50 including delivery

If your loved one has a penchant for cheese and wine, spoil them with the Cheese and Wine Hamper from Devon Hampers.  This gorgeous and thoughtful gift includes a heart shaped cheese board set and some other extra tasty treats to enjoy alongside a bottle of Sepa Moya Merlot.

https://www.devonhampers.com

Valentine's Day: A Love Story That's Incomplete Without the Perfect Glass of Cava by Your Side

February is the month that slowly chases away the winter blues as delicate shades of Spring rise through the frost covered grass and the winter chill makes way for a soft spring breeze.

As you draw towards the middle of the month, couples and romantic hopefuls look forward to spoiling their other halves with luxurious gifts, delicious food and drink.

Codorniu has the perfect selection to suit any mood for this loved up occasion. Celebrate in pink with Anna de Codorniu rosé. An elegant cava that combines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producing an intensely fragrant, glamourous glass of wine. Perfect with some chocolate dipped strawberries.

Go even further and mark the occasion with Codorniu's most exclusive edition of Anna- the Anna de Codorniu brut reserve limited edition. A combination of Macabeo, Xarel Io and Parellada grape is mixed with the Chardonnay variety making this a truly unique glass of bubbles.

Fancy drinking au natural? The classic Brut Nature is the bottle for you and your love. With no added sugar, this cava is both well balanced and versatile and will pair perfectly with that home-cooked meal you are planning for your beloved. It's as classic as you can get.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you include a bottle of Codorniu for the upcoming Valentines festivities. Anna de Codorniu and Codorniu Rosado is available at Waitrose. 

Two Unique New Brown Rice Crackers from Clearspring

Japanese and organic fine foods specialist Clearspring has added two exciting new gluten free, authentic, vegan and organic Japanese Brown Rice Cracker flavours to its award-winning snacks range: Black Pepper & Tamari and Green Nori & Tamari.

The new Organic Japanese Brown Rice Crackers are made using only the finest quality organic wholefood ingredients. The Organic Black Pepper & Tamari is perfectly balanced with tamari and a hint of black sesame seeds. The Organic Green Nori & Tamari is enhanced with the umami found in tamari, the unique taste of green nori, one of the most popular sea vegetables, and an added hint of black sesame seeds.

Maria Dawson, Director at Clearspring said about the new additions: “The majority of Japanese and Asian rice crackers are made using white rice and usually contain fish stock, added sugar and MSG. It took over a year to perfect these two new and unique recipes, which deliver on wholegrain crunch and taste whilst being minimally processed using organic wholefood ingredients.

“Our Organic Brown Rice Crackers offer consumers a delicious way to enjoy the benefits of organic wholegrain brown rice and are a wholesome plant-based food perfect for any occasion.”

Clearspring's Organic Japanese Brown Rice Crackers are made by third-generation family producers in Japan's Hyogo prefecture, where they have been perfecting the art of rice cracker production since 1952. They are truly artisanal in their approach, employing only traditional methods and expertise to ensure each batch is perfectly baked.

Alongside the two new flavour additions, Clearspring's Organic Japanese Brown Rice Cracker range includes two original flavours: award-winning Organic Black Sesame and Organic Whole Sesame.

All four Clearspring's Organic Japanese Brown Rice Crackers are:

Organic

Vegan

Gluten Free

A source of Fibre

MSG-free

Non-GMO

Made in Japan

Available in 40g pack size

Room for rum lovers on Valentine's Day with Hattiers Rum

B Corp certified Hattiers Rum is offering the ideal perfect gifts for rum lovers this Valentine's Day. With exceptional International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) winning Eminence Blended Aged White Rum, Egremont Premium Reserve Rum or Resolute Navy Strength Rum, they have the absolutely perfect present for lovers of fine spirits.

Eminence Blended Aged White Rum

With light and attractive soft fruit notes and a vanilla pod, creamy fudge and ripe pineapple aroma, Eminence has been carefully carbon filtered to remove the colour while maintaining the impact of the barrel.  This smooth, light-medium bodied, dry blended aged white rum has a great depth of flavour and character.  

With a taste that's nicely fruity but not sweet, it enjoys a gentle nutty pineapple aftertaste and long creamy finish.  

It's ideal enjoyed either neat, with a mixer or in cocktails like a Daiquiri or Mojito.  Eminence has twice been awarded accolades at the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).  £37.50, 42% ABV, 70cl.

Egremont Premium Reserve Rum

A delightful premium sipping rum, Egremont is a blend of four cask aged rums hand picked from across the Caribbean and Central America and gently paired with pure soft spring water from the Dartmoor hills.  

Filtered by layer upon layer of ancient granite, Dartmoor spring water balances the alcoholic strength of the base rums to a more accessible level, giving Hattiers Rums' a long and creamy finish.  A fragrant, medium bodied rum that's complex yet accessible, Egremont is superb enjoyed neat, over ice or used in cocktails such as Breakfast Old Fashioned.  £42.00, 40% ABV, 70 cl.

Resolute Navy Strength Rum

A blended aged navy strength rum, made using rums from Barbados, Australia, Guyana and Jamaica,  Hattiers' Resolute Navy Strength Rum has a toasted brown sugar and charred oak aroma followed by warm banana.  On the palate it has an intensity of fruit with pineapple, apple, banana, mango and a buttery pastry taste with darker notes of liquorice which linger.  Wafts of coal smoke drift in on the finish, with a dominance of banana cream.  £56.00, 54.5% ABV, 70cl.

Eminence, Egremont and Resolute are all available from hattiers.com as well as Waitrose & Partners, Harvey Nichols, Master of Malt, Fortnum & Mason, The Whisky Exchange, Enotria & Coe and Drink Finder.

http://hattiers.com

Matthew Cotswold Flour Celebrates Real Bread Week 18th - 26th February 2023

Matthews Cotswold Flour, Britain's leading speciality producer of quality flours, is eagerly looking forward to Real Bread Week (18th-26th February 2023) and is hoping to share the love for real bread with an even wider audience than ever before. Here are some things that you should try this Real Bread Week.

Test out the theory that baking is a great form of relaxation and mindfulness

Get the whole family, including kids of all ages, involved in making bread

Compare the ingredients in your home-baked loaf to those listed on your shop bought loaf (and see how healthy and cost-effective your home-baking is by comparison)

Try adding grains or swapping in a speciality flour to add new flavours and extra nutritional value to your bread

Pick up a loaf from your local artisan baker and appreciate their expert craftsmanship

Try a new recipe such as this one for a delicious Cotswold Crunch Bloomer

Join an online baking community like the Cotswold Flour Baking Club for inspiration, recipes, discounts, competitions and baking support

Bertie Matthews, MD of Matthews Cotswold Flour explains: “Real Bread Week is the annual, international celebration of additive-free loaves and the people who bake them. 

"Real bread is bread made using just the four key ingredients of flour, water, yeast and salt. This is a great opportunity to celebrate these natural ingredients, the fantastic bread that can be made using them and the artisans and home bakers creating amazing loaves all over the country."

Bertie goes on to say: “Making Real Bread is really such a very rewarding activity. It's an incredibly positive and creative experience, which many find extremely relaxing and therapeutic. It can also be a fun-filled challenge for the entire family, including kids of any age. It's a really wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn what actually goes into making bread and a cost-effective way of avoiding the cocktail of additives that turn up in industrial loaf products. By experimenting with healthier grains, you can add exciting flavours and improve the nutritional value of your loaf, too.”

He finishes: “Over the past few years we've worked very closely with our customers to respond to their needs and offer them the widest range of specialist flours on the market. 

"We provide the nation's artisan and home bakers with a huge range of unique grains and blends in an unparalleled choice of flours that produce a huge variety of fabulous tasting, nutritious bakes and we're keen to inspire and encourage the next generation of home bakers, too. Anyone interested in learning more about making bread really should join our Baking Club which is a fantastic site for gaining and sharing knowledge, ideas and recipes and throughout Real Bread Week we will be posting blogs and running competitions on this site.”

Matthews Cotswold Flour is a family business that's been trading grain and milling flour in the heart of the Cotswolds since the 1800s. Matthews Cotswold Flour is committed to supporting regenerative food sources, developing an unparalleled range of top quality, award-winning, products and inspiring, educating and partnering with the nation's artisan and home bakers. For more information visit www.cotswoldflour.com or follow @CotswoldFlour on Instagram or Facebook.

Inspirational Valentine's Day Cocktails

Salcombe Gin - 'Seabird'

This deliciously delightful 'Seabird' cocktail which features Salcombe Gin's multi-award winning flagship gin 'Start Point', is the perfect option for two.

Ingredients 

100ml Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

100ml fresh red grapefruit juice

25ml lime juice

25ml agave syrup

Garnish

Red grapefruit peel

'Seamist' liquid garnish

Method

Prepare your garnish before juicing the red grapefruit.

Add the gin, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave syrup to a Boston shaker filled with plenty of ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.

Double strain into two chilled Nick & Nora glasses.

Garnish with red grapefruit peel on the side of the glass and 5 sprays of 'Seamist' liquid garnish.

Luscombe - Devon Spritz

Ingredients

25ml Devon Cove Vodka

50ml Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly

Top with The Uncommon's Bubbly White Wine  

Garnish

Grapefruit slice

Suggested glass

Goblet or wine glass

Method

Combine a single shot of Devon Cove Vodka with a double of Luscombe's Damascene Rose Bubbly, into a wine or Champagne glass

Top with The Uncommon's Bubbly White Wine

Garnish with love (and a thin slice of grapefruit)

If you fancy being a little adventurous, squeeze a grapefruit peel over the top of the drink to express its natural oils and give this drink a delightful added citrus layer

https://www.salcombegin.com/

If your olive oil doesn't look right, don't worry! It's a bit cold, says Filippo Berio!

Filippo Berio, the UK's favourite and beloved olive oil brand for over 40 years, is reassuring any of it customers who are worried about the appearance of olive oil. Because it's just reacting to the current cold UK temperatures.

As the UK experiences colder weather, you may notice a change in the appearance of your olive oil. This is a natural occurrence and doesn't adversely impact on the quality, shelf life, or flavour of the oil in any way at all.

At temperatures below 7°C, olive oil may appear to be a bit cloudy, or perhaps even small white lumps may appear in the oil. Whilst it's easy to perhaps mistake this for mould, don't worry! It's just a reaction to the cold temperature and is totally normal. The oil may also become thicker in consistency.

Filippo Berio wants to reassure customers the olive oil will return to its normal appearance once it's warmed up to room temperature, and it is stored correctly away from heat and direct sunlight.

Filippo Berio UK managing director, Walter Zanré, says: “We want to reassure our customers the quality of your Filippo Berio olive oil has not been compromised, and it's safe to continue using it as normal. Enjoy your favourite dishes with the same great taste and health benefits as always.”

https://www.filippoberio.co.uk