Treat Your Dad to a Father's Day Gift from Salcombe Brewery Co.

Salcombe Brewery Co. has a range of fantastic presents for beer-loving Dads this Father's Day. Our favourites include a Brewery Tour Voucher (£20), a Pub in a Box (£19.99) and a Gift Pack of 6 Beers (£12), all available to order online from www.salcombebrewery.com for delivery to Dad's door.

Brewery Tour Vouchers (£20.00 from salcombebrewery.com) 

The ideal gift for anyone who would enjoy a behind the scenes tour of an award-winning brewery and an extended tasting session. The ninety minute brewery tour starts with a welcome drink in the taproom. This is followed by a tour of the brewhouse and the chance to grill the experts on any beer-related topics. The tour ends in the taproom, where visitors enjoy a flight of Salcombe beers. Brewery tour vouchers cost £20* and can be bought online at www.salcombebrewery.com.

Salcombe Brewery Co. Pub in a Box (£19.99 from salcombebrewery.com)

A Salcombe Brewery Co. 'Pub in a Box' is the perfect gift for any beer fan and includes everything they need for a quiet night in. There are three different options in the range, including a gluten-free set, and each contains some of Salcombe Brewery Co.'s fabulous beer, tasty snacks from the west country, branded glasses, beer mats and bar towels.

Six Beer Gift Pack (£12.00 from salcombebrewery.com) 

You can mix and match six cans of beer from Salcombe Brewery Co.'s Discovery range to create your own very special gift pack for Dad. The Discovery range includes Salcombe Pilsner, Salcombe Pale Ale, Breeze and Island Street Porter so there is something to suit all tastes.

Salcombe Brewery's range of beer gifts and merchandise is available from www.salcombebrewery.com and the on site brewery shop. For further information on Salcombe Brewery Co. please visit www.salcombebrewery.com follow Salcombe Brewery Co. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

* Brewery tour vouchers are valid for one year and can be used to book tours within that period. All brewery tours must be booked in advance.

 

Sandford Orchards' Father's Day Gifts

Sandford Orchards has a wonderful and fantastic range of gifts ready to be delivered to your dad this Father's Day. 

Devon Red Mini Keg & Glass Set (£23.00 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk)

Perfect for parties and sharing with his friends, the Devon Red Mini-Keg gives Dad the chance to practise his pint pouring skills at home. This kit contains a 5 litre Devon Red Mini-Keg and a Sandford Orchards branded pint glass.

Pub in a Box  (£22.00 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk)

Treat Dad to Sandford Orchards' Pub in a Box, which is filled with Devon cider and snacks. This hamper contains: a 500ml bottle of Devon Mist, Shaky Bridge and Fanny's Bramble plus a 440ml can of Devon Red, a packet of Burts Crisps and Burts Popcorn, Pork Scratchings, a Sandford Orchards pint glass, some beer mats and either a bottle opener or sunglasses.

For their full gift range and for further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Dads Deserve Melt-in-Your-Mouth Flapjacks This Father's Day

Genuinely melt in your mouth flapjacks delivered straight to your door are a delicious treat for all dads this Father's Day. 

Made in Devon by Flapjackery using the finest British ingredients, these syrupy chunks of gluten-free flapjacks are a delicious treat, whether they're packed into a rucksack in readiness for  snack time during an outdoor adventure, or they're enjoyed with a cup of fine English tea at breakfast time -  even better if they're slightly warmed and smothered in Devon clotted cream!

Order a box of six chunky treats for just £22.50 or 12 for £45.00. With different flavours like golden salted caramel fudge, milk chocolate orange, cherry bakewell and lemon drizzle they're as moorish as they sound and as dads tuck into the sumptuous flavours they'll be feeling a whole lot of home baked love.  

Order online and have Flapjackery's delicious Father's Day flapjack boxes, all in recyclable cardboard, delivered straight to your dad's door.

All flapjacks are suitable for home freezing and have a varying shelf life, depending upon the ingredients, with the shortest shelf life two weeks.

www.flapjackery.co.uk

6 Box for Father's Day £22.50

Millionaire Flapjack

Caramel Latte Flapjack

Chocolate Fudge Flapjack

Milk Chocolate Orange Flapjack

Golden Caramel Flapjack

Raspberry & White Chocolate Flapjack

12 piece box  £45.00

Millionaire Flapjack

Caramel Latte Flapjack

Cherry Bakewell Flapjack

Chocolate Fudge Flapjack

Clotted Cream Fudge Flapjack

Milk Chocolate Orange Flapjack

Golden Caramel Flapjack

Lemon Drizzle Flapjack

Peanut Butter Brownie Flapjack

Raspberry & White Chocolate Flapjack

Salted Caramel Fudge Flapjack

Rocky Road Flapjack

www.flapjackery.co.uk

You won't go pasta these! New! nSriracha Chilli, Original Mac N'cheese, from Kabuto at Tesco

This will be a fantastic find for your pantry! Brand new Kabuto Mac n'Cheese pasta pots. Bursting onto the shelves at Tesco, there's a sizzlingly hot Sriracha Chilli and creamy, oozy Original variations to tantalise the tastebuds and take you on a fun, fusion flavour journey. Available at Tesco stores now. 

These are  the first ever pasta meals from Kabuto, (normally known for its and they're the 'posh pot noodles') are easy peasy cheesy pots of goodness, perfect for Mac n'Cheese obsessed and for those busy souls who need a quick, decent meal packed to the brim with taste. 

It's the ultimate in comfort food heaven and is only ever four four minutes away! Stun your colleagues and make them go spinach pasta green with envy when you whip out this perfect pot at lunchtime, or look forward to a #macncheesemonday when you get home if you just haven't got the energy or time to cook.

After successful roll outs at Ocado and Sainsbury's, this will be Kabuto's third retail listing for their pasta pots. 

Kabuto has modernised this universally acclaimed and beloved dish and made it easier than ever to get your cheesy fix. What specialist items and tools do you required? Nothing more complicated that some cold water and a microwave. 

So, what does this mean, exactly? No more crunchy mac, just proper, soft, squishy tubes of pasta mixed with the creamiest of creamy sauces.

With a market beating 12g of protein too, this is a filling fix that will banish grumbling tummies. No more feeling hangry! 

And there are no additives, preservatives or artificial colours and stuffed full of ,quality ingredients, all Kabuto products are now 100% Vegetarian to cater for Veggie and flexitarian lifestyles too.

And when you're done, pop the whole thing into your recycling, because all of Kabuto's product packaging is100% recyclable and the UK business is carbon neutral, too.

Kabuto Founder Crispin Busk says:- “A Tesco listing for our new Mac N'Cheese is the dream. For far too long the instant mac and cheese at the supermarkets has meant crunchy pasta, bland sauces and no real taste at all, we knew it was time to revitalise and reinvent this delicious dish. 

"We've nailed noodles and it was time to perfect pot pasta, and we think we've smashed it with our new range. We can't wait for the nation's pasta fans, busy families and possibly even the odd hungover foodie to enjoy our latest range of deliciousness. Sales of convenience food is booming and consumers are looking for adventurous meals that don't break the bank."

Available at Sainsburys, Ocado and now Tesco, RRP £1.50 for 85g.

Check out where Mac n'Cheese lives for recipe ideas, hacks, fun and more: https://www.tiktok.com/@kabutonoodles 

Nutritional Values

Original

Fat 2g per 100g

Fat of wich saturates 1.1g per 100g

Salt 0.6g per 100g

Protein 4.6g per 100g

Calories 128 per 100g

Siracha

Fat 2g per 100g

Fat of which saturates 1g per 100g

Salt 0.7g per 100g

Protein 4.6g per 100g

Calories 127 per 100g

 

New Sainsbury's Local now open as part of Coventry Station Masterplan

Passengers travelling to and through Coventry’s busy railway station, plus local residents and shoppers, have been trying out a new Sainsbury’s Local that's now open as part of the recently upgraded station buildings.

Now serving a specially selected range of Sainsbury’s convenience products, including freshly cut sandwiches and the retailer’s delicious food-to-go range, the new store is open to customers from 6am to 11pm every day of the week. 

Sainsbury’s Coventry Station Local also features a healthy selection of fruit and veg as well as a host of delicious branded and Sainsbury’s own brand staples from salads to savoury snacks and sweets. It also has a general merchandise offer that includes a collection point for picking up products from Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing when customers order them online.

Fresh bread, rolls and pastries are baked in the store every day and there's also a Costa Coffee machine and in-store juicer for busy commuters and customers on the go to pick up a refreshing drink.

Customers can choose to check out using Mobile Pay or SmartShop, Sainsbury’s scan, pay and go technology, which allows them to pay for products using their smartphones, making the process quicker and more convenient. Using SmartShop in conjunction with a Nectar account also allows customers to benefit from ‘Your Nectar Prices’, personalised discounts in the Nectar app that are based on the things people buy the most.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said: “We’re really pleased to have opened a fresh, modern store as part of the redevelopment of Coventry Station and Coventry's iconic Friargate. Our station Local stores consistently prove a hit with customers, who appreciate being able to pop into Sainsbury’s whenever they are passing through, and I look forward to seeing our new Coventry Station store flourish.”

Liam Roberts, Coventry Station Local Store Manager, said: “It’s great to now be open for business in Coventry Station, serving and helping customers as they try out their brand new Sainsbury’s store.

“I’m really thrilled with the response we’ve had from people so far. I’d like to thank everyone for being so welcoming, as well as my team who are doing a fantastic job and enabling us to get off to a flying start.”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “I’m really happy to see this new store open, it will be a great asset for commuters and for local people. The new extension to the station has really made its mark and now there is good reason for everyone, not just train passengers, to pop in. I’m looking forward to the rest of the units being occupied to help give a warm Coventry welcome to everyone who is arriving by rail.”

Maria McCarron, Station Manager for Avanti West Coast at Coventry station said: “Our customers are really starting to see the benefit of the new station. Easier access, improved, better facilities and now the start of the retail transformation with the arrival of Sainsbury’s, and more shops to follow later this year.

“We’re also just about to open our new Courtyard area on platform 1, offering our customers a place to relax whilst they wait for their trains.”

Sainsbury’s Coventry Station Local is the latest addition to the retailer’s extensive portfolio of stores that can be found in train stations throughout the UK. Prior to its Coventry Station store, Sainsbury’s recently opened a new Local in London Waterloo Station earlier this year.

Not going out: Nation embraces hosting at home as millions make the most of staying in

As a nation we are dusting off its hosting skills as millions are staying in instead of going out in a bid to save money, according to new research from Tesco - with the supermarket also encouraging customers to try a ‘Use Up Night In’ to make the most of the ingredients wet already have in our kitchen.

This is an effective way to cut food waste and spending, as according to Tesco, implementing a Use Up Day each week could save households an average of £260 per year.

Data shows that over the last year, 68% of UK adults have reduced spending less on going out, with many preferring to play host to friends or family instead.

Almost half (47%) of those who said they're spending less on eating and drinking out or going out to socialise are recreating a night out in the comfort of their homes, using ingredients from supermarkets.

Return of ‘potluck’ dinners

As the country switches nights out for nights in, the research indicates 48% UK adults who are spending more time at home instead of going out, are having friends and family over for meals. And while bringing a bottle is still deemed a helpful contribution by some hosts (48%), one in ten (11%) hosts prefer a contribution to the meal in the form of a dish or ingredient – with 37% of those saying they would like to receive a dessert and 18% appreciating a contribution of snacks and nibbles.

BYO takes on a new meaning for under-35s

Tesco analysis found 1 in 4 under-35s (26%) are likely to ask dinner party guests to come bearing a dish or ingredient, compared with only 13% of 55+.

A Use Up Night In to help your pocket and our planet

To support our nation’s hosting habits and help reduce the amount of food wasted in homes, Tesco has created a ‘Use Up Night In’ guide containing recipes, smart ways to use up leftovers and even how to host a potluck party where each guest is encouraged to bring their own ingredients.

It forms the next phase of Tesco’s Use Up Day campaign, which encourages people to cook a meal once a week using food they already have at home, helping customers to spend less and stop good food from going to waste.

Jamie Oliver, renowned chef and Tesco Good Food ambassador, said: “Having a dedicated night of the week to use up the food you already have is such a brilliant idea. Not only does it mean less food going in the bin, which can only be a good thing for the planet, it also means you’re not spending as much. This is where flexible recipes, the ones where you can easily swap ingredients in and out, are your best friends. I love Tesco’s ‘Use Up Night In’ campaign for encouraging everyone to have a go at doing this, because it really can make a difference.”

Tony McElroy, Head of Campaigns at Tesco, said: “Since creating Use Up Day in 2021, Tesco has helped thousands of customers make the most of their food shop and reduce waste. Cutting the amount of food that’s thrown away in homes is win-win, saving money and limiting harmful emissions."

“Adapting Use Up Day to cater at home for friends or family is a great way of making food go further; whether that’s reinventing your own leftovers or combining the contents of your kitchens.”

Tesco works with the local sharing app Olio to further reduce waste. Tessa Clarke, co-founder of Olio, said: "Food waste is hard to stomach at the best of times — but even more so in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Tesco’s new guide couldn’t be more timely, full of brilliant ideas that make it easy to turn spare food into delicious meals. And, of course, any ingredients that you don’t use can be easily passed on to local people using Olio, meaning not a single piece of good food need go to waste."

Bee Better for the Environment on World Bee Day With Avallen's Buzzing Bar Campaign!

On this next World Bee Day (20th May) Avallen, the calvados brand which is on a mission to be the world's most planet positive spirit, is launching a campaign in bars and venues across the country in order to raise awareness of the plight of these perfect pollinators, or very own bees.

A fresh approach to traditional calvados, Avallen is unusual in that it's climate positive, this is due to the spirit being made with nothing but apples, water, and time. Each bottle of Avallen removes 2.82kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

Given that bees are a key part of the pollination process required to grow the juicy apples Avallen is made from, there's no better time for Avallen to launch an awareness campaign than World Bee Day.

The activation will highlight just how vital these fuzzy little winged warriors are; without bees, there would be no cocktails, no pizza, the coffee industry would collapse, and beyond that life would be very difficult indeed. 

So to do this, Avallen is engaging bars and hospitality venues up and down the country to serve a special cocktail for World Bee Day. For every cocktail sold, £1 will be donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust by Avallen, to champion the protection of the mighty bumblebee, help restore their habitats, and ban harmful neonicotinoids.

Avallen will also provide one bottle of stock, menu design and printing support, and sustainability training for bar teams, as well as promotion across their own channels.

It's an overlooked fact the humble bumblebee is vital to the pollination of many plants which only release pollen to the exact vibration of a bumblebee. If bumblebees die out due to agricultural intensification, then many spirits would also disappear.  There would be no potatoes for vodka, grapes for brandy or botanicals for gin. And that's before we even mention the demise of the fruit mixers.

Avallen have suggested a number of cocktails set to tantalise customers, featuring twists on classic drinks like the Forbidden Fruit Martini which is a riff on the popular Pornstar Martini and the Avallen Espresso. There's even a spritz option to serve in sunny, alfresco spaces. Bar teams are also being encouraged to get creative themselves and design their own Avallen calvados based cocktails.

On top of raising awareness on behalf of the bees, the campaign will introduce consumers to a more conscious way of drinking. By choosing to drink Avallen, consumers aren't just saving the bees, they're also improving the planet's biodiversity and battling climate change. Quite an achievement for merely sipping a cocktail.

Tim Etherington Judge said of the campaign: “World Bee Day is an exceptional opportunity for us to raise awareness of why wild bees are so important and how spirits that support biodiversity need to be the future of drinks. 

"What better way to do that than to let people taste Avallen and understand that great tasting products can still be planet positive and do a bit of good. Every person can help increase wild bee populations by simply dead heading flowers to encourage more blooms or getting involved in No Mow May. Small steps like this can make a huge difference- as well of course as drinking sustainable, bee friendly spirits.”

To find out how to get involved get in touch with tim@avallenspirits.com or keep your eyes peeled for the activations taking place in venues nationwide from Saturday 20th May.

What venues are already booked to participate?

Participating venues to date (more being added every day):

Filthy XIII Bristol, Amolfini Bristol, Tom Thumb Newquay, Scarlett's Hotel Newquay, STERLING Bar Manchester, Ugly Butterfly St.Ives, Cornwall, Eve Bar London, The Longstore Truro, Cornwall, The Library, Bristol, Hoot the Redeemer Edinburgh, Hey Palu Edinburgh, Gleneagles Townhouse Edinburgh, Common's Club, Virgin Hotel Edinburgh, The Walcot Bath, Henrock Windermere, Bartender's Lounge Aberdeen, Lab 22 Cardiff. 

Avallen Spirits is a Climate Positive company with the environment at its core. Made from nothing but apples, water and time, Avallen calvados is completely natural with no additives or added sugar. Avallen's liquid is fresh, fruity, and proudly apple forward in its flavour profile which is aged in French oak barrels for 2 years. Avallen is now also available in a paper bottle – one of the first spirits to take this bold, sustainable move.  Far more robust than glass and six times lighter, weighing in at just 82 grams, this bottle significantly reduces the brand's carbon footprint, with each bottle being no less than six times lower in its carbon footprint than the average glass alternative.

www.avallenspirits.com

Kaytea Leads the Charge When It Comes to Tasty, Headturning Coldbrew Teas

For tea enthusiasts with inquisitive taste buds your immersion into coldbrew tea is long overdue as this is a buoyant healthier living category that is forecast to be worth £285m in 2024. 

Iced tea has had to wait its turn behind an Iced Coffee pace setter that appeals to a younger audience looking for a more flavoursome caffeine hit than any sugar saturated energy drink can offer. And also those of us older foodies who are always on the lookout for a new taste sensation.

Coldbrew teas are as the name indicates a flavoursome brews where a top-quality white, green or black tea having been deliberately steeped in cold water and refrigerated is then used as the perfect foundation block for all manner of intriguing flavour marriages to prosper.

Kaytea took the time and trouble to make visits to in excess of 250 or the world's top tea estates to track down the perfect foundation block ingredients!

Kaytea for anyone not already in the know, is a rapidly growing and emerging iced tea hero that is slowly building an impressive head of steam (Abel & Cole, Partridges, M&S, Sainsbury's, Zapp, Dean & Deluca, WeWork, Deliveroo, Spinneys, to name only several.)

Once again, we're talking about a slow brewing idea that made its move during Lockdown when City high flyer, Kevin Tang decided that now was the perfect moment to nudge a deep-rooted love of tea in all its guises into a stylish soft drink alternative. 

Says Kevin, "Whilst I fully appreciate the move that feel-good kombuchas made into discerning chiller fixtures, I just couldn't help feeling a trick was still being missed with regards an all-natural soft drink that positioned itself somewhere between the bland mass market sugary pop that continues to overpower our taste buds and a new generation of overtly attention-seeking functional drinks.  

"Yes, we could have quite easily mixed in some lab created vitamins and minerals to claim some arbitrary health declarations but that seemed counter-intuitive to our commitment to organic, all-natural and ultimately free-trade ingredients."

"We felt that it was important to us to create iced teas that effortlessly paired with one's food as opposed to any cloying, sugary brews that hijack one's taste buds. This is the reason we're listed in both Sainsbury's and M&S stores where sushi is on offer!"

Kaytea, with its distinctive koala in sunglasses brand icon, is all sublime flavour marriages, mixing everyday fruit & botanical heroes (peach, mint, grapefruit and lemons) with some more exotic bedfellas (yazu, pink guava and jasmine)

"Contrary to urban myths there are no Australian ties to our brands, the koala is merely an internal gag around quality sounds like koala tea." 

He went on to say: "The moment for credible, health-conscious alternatives to lazy everyday offerings which is why we wanted to provide head-turning refreshment in conjunction with all-natural, low calorie recipes with only the lightest smidgeon of sweetness.

"Spring 2023 is the moment the last of Kaytea's lines make the inevitable transition from glass to slim aluminium cans, building upon learnings from 'wise owl' buyers and Department of Trade export initiatives (Gulfood) which suggested this range of ambitious British brewed soft drinks was missing out on countless foodservice, vending, hotel & hospitality, festival and airline opportunities, too.

"This means a striking new livery for Kaytea's meticulously balanced Sparking Rosay that was inspired by the unique flavour profile of a well-balanced Rosay, using a fragrant rose tea foundation in tandem with pink guava juice with natural cherry, apple, sweet potato and radish concentrates.  We know it sounds a little left field but quite honestly tasting is believing!"

Kaytea.co.uk

OHSO Good Chocolate. That's really oh so good for you

OHSO Good Chocolate is very, very good for you.

Not only does it taste very good it's also very good for you. It's made with top quality Belgian chocolate but it's suitable for vegans as it doesn't contain any milk. (Although they do point out that it may contain milk due to cross contamination.)

There are no added sugars which as a Type 2 Diabetic, I find very helpful. It contains maltitol instead of sugar.

But the main point that caught my attention is that Ohso good chocolate comes to you complete with some live cultures. These are in the form of probiotic cultures.

OHSO has over a billion live cultures (commonly known as probiotics), Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in each bar.

These live cultures are micro-encapsulated within the chocolate, using a specially patented process.

As a result, this delivers live cultures to the gut three times more effectively than probiotic yoghurts, which I find interesting and very helpful, too.

The chocolate also contain dietary fibres, too.

But what's the taste like? 

The 70% Dark Chocolate is utterly delicious! It tastes like the finest milk chocolate you might have previously tried, but without the dairy produce, so it's a perfectly good for the vegans and dairy allergic people in your life.

The 60% Dark Orange Chocolate is every bit as good as as the 70% Dark Chocolate but with a deliciously citrussy tang of genuine Brazilian orange oil, too.

To learn more about OHSO Chocolates please visit https://ohso.com. 

Check out their special gift boxes (with personalisation options) too.

Gliding to Glory: Highlights from Head of the Dart 2023, with sponsorship from Salcombe Gin

On Saturday 29th April, the Head of The Dart event returned to the waters in Dartmouth with 240 stand up paddle boarders taking part, bringing excitement and energy to the town. 

The largest paddle board event in the UK, participants started in Dartmouth and paddled 12 km to the finish in Totnes, with over half the fleet taking part for the first time. 

Participant ages ranged from 18 to early 70's. The event featured races for all skill levels, from novice to elite, and showcased the beauty and athleticism of SUP boarding.

For the first time in seven years, the annual event was able to run the full course (previous events were altered due to inclement weather) and with the sun out, it made for a fantastic day.  The event saw people travelling from all around the country to take part, with paddlers coming from as far as Cumbria, Northumberland and Jersey.

Participant, Alasdair Conn commented: “It's the first time I've paddled that part of the Dart and I'm looking forward to going back and taking my time to explore, it is a beautiful estuary and river.”

This year saw Starboard SUP UK team rider Hector Jessel, 19 years old, win the '14' Men's race fleet' improving on his third place from last year, with local Will Keetley coming in second.  

Ginnie Betts, who has raced across Europe, took home first place in the '14' Women's race' having not taken part since 2019.  

The Head of the Dart event is not only a great day out for participants and spectators, but also provides a boost to the local economy, with over 60 per cent of participants coming from outside Devon.

Howard Davies, Co-Founder and Director of sponsor, Salcombe Gin said: "It is brilliant to sponsor such a fantastic event year on year, we are always blown away by the amazing support that is shown by those taking part and those coming to watch. The Head of the Dart is a fantastic event that brings people together from all over the country to enjoy the beauty of the River Dart and the excitement of competitive paddle boarding."

John Hibbard, CEO of sponsor, Red Paddle Co added: “It was fantastic to see so many seasoned paddlers and new SUPers out in force for this year's Head of the Dart event.

“It was a perfect day with a vast number of people having the absolute best day out, with the sun shining and an incredibly positive atmosphere. It's great to be able to welcome so many paddle boarders to Red's home turf and experience South Devon in its prime. The Head of the Dart is a very special event with paddlers from all walks of life and experience levels all coming together, encouraging each other to complete the challenge."

For more information visit the event's website at headofthedart.wordpress.com.

How to Throw the Perfect Eurovision Party With Flävar

The BEST excuse to throw a party with friends, drink to toast your favourite performers and enjoy the bants of Graham Norton. Don those sequins, grab your dancing queens, and get that ABBA jumpsuit down from the loft….all you need now is the perfect shots for your drinking games to accompany a night of fun. 

Read on for how to make sure there are a lorra lorra laughs at your Eurosoiree with delicious and indulgent shots from a brand new Swedish vodka schnapps, mixed up by one of Manchester's most experienced and talented mixologists.

Flävar breaks the ice and brings the party: need something unique and delicious for your guests? No more dragging out that old bottle of schnapps at the back of the cupboard when there's a lull in festivities- it is time to make schnapps the star of the show. Revellers all over the UK are loving the retro refresh of this glamorous liquid.

Made with some of the freshest water in the world, expertly crafted on the shores of beautiful Lake Boren in Southern Sweden, this is a seriously smooth and stylish liquid encased in vivid designs and with a bottleneck proudly emblazoned with the Swedish flag. The secret to the great taste is award-winning vodka mixed with deliciously indulgent flavours: this is a clear, crisp mouth-watering schnapps -  made for good times, for those with good taste, and lovers of delicious desserts too. 

Flävar Blueberry & Lemon (25% abv)  is the newest addition to the range, which has been shaking up the shot market all over the country in pubs and bars, a shot to be savoured and enjoyed, inspired by popular Swedish desserts and sweet treats. The combination of citrus and sweet is a delectable combination which works equally well as a post-dinner drink too. 

Flävar Strawberry & Lime (25% abv) Did you know that Sweden has some of the most succulent strawberries in the world? Candy-sweet and full of flavour, mixing the berries with zesty lime takes this liquid to a whole new level of Flävar.

Flävar Salted Caramel (25% abv)

The beloved classic: the smooth, moreish, sweet and salty sensation that shouldn't work, but it really does! Perfect for Winter gatherings, this mouth-watering favourite is a treat, and the ultimate cocktail ingredient in Christmas Martinis**. It even tastes delicious poured into a hot chocolate - yum!

Flavar has worked with tip top Mancunian Mixologist Cameron Fielding aka Smartblend, a cocktail connoisseur that's worked with amazing bars such as Sushi Samba on some epic cocktail shots.*

Founder Rolf Munding says, “Anyone brought up in Scandinavia and Germany will know Schnapps as it was a huge part of our drinking culture. I have very fond memories of the Schnapps drinking songs we used to sing back in the early '70s! The unique flavour of Schnapps makes me think of some great times,  as I am sure it does for many other people too, and Flävar is inspired by this retro drinking experience mixed with the UK's thirst for dessert-style flavours.”

Originality, individuality and a little bit of indulgence is at the heart of every bottle: this is a schnapps to show off. So long Granny's Cocktail Cabinet, it's time for Schnapps to shine!  Skål! (Swedish for cheers)

***Consumers can buy directly  from https://flavarspirit.com. RRP £19.99 for 70cl, 25% ABV***

Get involved in the Schnappschat and follow for exciting news on new Flävars coming in 2023: https://www.instagram.com/flavarspirit/ 

Founded by industry stalwart Rolf Munding, Owner of the workshop in Borensberg Sweden that launched award-winning Swedish vodka and Gin: Truth and JÜST. Rolf has over 20 years of owning and running successful hospitality venues, including Market Taverns pub group in London.

What about the flavours?

Flävar Blueberry & Lemon (25% abv)  is the newest addition to the range, which has been shaking up the shot market all over the country in pubs and bars, a shot to be savoured and enjoyed, inspired by popular Swedish desserts and sweet treats. The combination of citrus and sweet is a delectable combination which works equally well as a post-dinner drink too. 

Flävar Strawberry & Lime (25% abv) Did you know that Sweden has some of the most succulent strawberries in the world? Candy-sweet and full of flavour, mixing the berries with zesty lime takes this liquid to a whole new level of Flävar.

Flävar Salted Caramel (25% abv)

The beloved classic: the smooth, moreish, sweet and salty sensation that shouldn't work, but it really does! Perfect for Winter gatherings, this mouth-watering favourite is a treat, and the ultimate cocktail ingredient in Christmas Martinis**. It even tastes delicious poured into a hot chocolate - yum!

Flävar Raspberry & Liquorice (25% abv)

Liquorice is Sweden's favourite warming treat. Mixed with sweet, juicy raspberry and you've got yourself a taste explosion. 

*SHOT RECIPES

SWEDEN FLAG SHOT

Whether its to celebrate Eurovision or you're throwing an ABBA party. The Swedish flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like an actual blueberry muffin!

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Blueberry and Lemon

5ml Lemon Juice

20ml Blue Curacao

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the Blue Curacao into a shooter glass.

 In a separate glass mix the flavar and lemon juice then layer on top slowly over the back of a spoon

Below are a few recommended products that'll really help your layering. The bar spoon I've recommended comes with a flat head on it. Use that side to layer the liquid.

The speed pourers will help you control the flow of the pour and the deep shot glasses are perfect for layering.

ITALY FLAG SHOT

Whether it is to celebrate Eurovision, You have an Italian party planned, or you just want to have a little fun. This Italian flag shot is perfect. The colours are stunning and it tastes like salted caramel, chocolate, and mint!

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Salted Caramel

5ml Creme de Cacao

10ml Grenadine

10ml Creme de menthe

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the grenadine into a shooter glass.

In a separate glass mix the Flävar and Creme de Cacao then layer on top. (if you pour a little bit of milk in, it'll make the colour more white)

 Then use the back of a spoon to layer over the crème de menthe

FRANCE FLAG SHOT

Whether it is to celebrate Eurovision or any French-themed gathering, the French Flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like Raspberries, Liquorice, Orange AND chocolate.

Ingredients

5ml Flävar Raspberry and Liquorice

5ml Creme de Cacao

10ml Grenadine

10ml Blue Curacao

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the grenadine into a shooter glass.

 In a separate glass mix the flavar and Creme de Cacao then layer on top. (if you pour a little bit of milk in, it'll make the colour more white)

 Then use the back of a spoon to layer over the Blue Curacao

FINLAND FLAG SHOT

Whether its to celebrate Eurovision or any party. The Finland flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like an actual slice of Lemon Pie!

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Lemon Pie

5ml Cream

20ml Blue Curacao

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the Blue Curacao into a shooter glass.

 In a separate glass mix the flavar and cream then layer on top slowly over the back of a spoon

IRELAND FLAG SHOT

Whether its to celebrate Eurovision, St. Patricks day, an Irish themed party or event. The Irish flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like strawberries, lime, mint, and cream.

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Strawberry and Lime

5ml Orange Juice

10ml Irish cream

10ml Creme de menthe

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the crème de menthe into a shooter glass.

Then use the back of a spoon to layer over the Irish cream liqueur.

In a separate glass mix the flavar and Orange juice then layer on top.

This all looks like a whole heap of fun!

Celebrate the Royal Coronation with a real Cornish Cream Tea

As the nation gears up to celebrate the King's Coronation, there's really no better way to mark the occasion than with the quintessential British tradition of cream teas with authentic Cornish clotted cream. Accept no imitations - always look for PDO status on the label (protected designation of origin) as the only way to ensure every part of producing the cream happened in Cornwall.

Cornish clotted cream was granted PDO in 1998 to ensure each pot is of the highest quality, produced by traditional methods in Cornwall using exceptionally delicious Cornish milk, has a unique taste and is made according to strict guidelines. 

Trewithen Dairy uses only milk from Cornish herds to make their award-winning crusted clotted cream. It is gently heated and left to cool slowly, allowing the cream to rise to the surface to form the famous thick golden crust. 

The long weekend of celebrating is the perfect time to share little luxuries and indulgent treats with friends and family. A dozen scones, whether homemade or shop-bought, adorned with jam and cream complete the British spread - with its red and white colours reminiscent of St George's flag.

“There are countless ways to enjoy a cream tea and while we love reimagining the toppings, there's something satisfying and quintessentially British about a freshly baked scone with lashings of jam followed by Cornish clotted cream,” says Francis Clarke, director at Trewithen Dairy. 

“As we celebrate the King's Coronation, we encourage everyone to experience a true taste of the Cornwall with scones and a pot of traditional Cornish clotted cream. It's the ideal treat to share at street parties, garden gatherings and to enjoy while watching this significant event.”

The tradition of afternoon tea has barely evolved since the 11th century when the Duchess of Bedford purportedly requested a delicate afternoon snack to keep her going until dinner. It quickly became the perfect opportunity to impress through dainty sandwiches, miniature cakes, pretty china and scones. The West Country developed their own take on afternoon tea, splitting freshly baked scones before adding jam and rich clotted cream.

Whether you decide to mark the occasion with a traditional cream tea, or perhaps add your own modern twist with an array of different delicious toppings – one thing we can all agree on is that it's got to have Cornish clotted cream!

For our range of authentic Cornish cream tea hampers, order from www.trewithendairy.co.uk or look for Cornish clotted cream from your local supermarket.

Trewithen Dairy's coronation recipes are available https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk/recipes

Lemon meringue clotted cream cake

Coronation spinach, broad bean and clotted cream quiche

Summer fruit clotted cream tart

Coronation chicken skewers with mango dipping sauce

Celebrate World Gin Day With Top three Gin Cocktails from Salcombe Gin

Join in the celebrations and raise a glass with a Salcombe Gin cocktail

I either didn't know or had forgotten that World Gin Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in June every year, meaning that this year's festivities take place on the 10th June. 

Ever since 2009, it's been the perfect opportunity to experience and discover the amazing distillers around the globe who are producing world-class gin. 

Salcombe Distilling Co. expertly crafts exceptional gins at its stunning waterside distillery in South Devon, one of the world's only distilleries directly accessible by boat. Every drop of their gin in its multi-award winning range is distilled with unrivalled passion, care and attention. For every 50cl and 70cl bottle of Salcombe Gin sold in the UK, SDCo. donates 1% of the revenue to the Marine Conservation Society's ocean recovery projects. 

There's a way for everyone to enjoy World Gin Day with Salcombe Distilling Co., whether you want to enrol in Salcombe Gin School for the day, find out more about the multi-award winning Salcombe Gin range of spirits, or simply want to celebrate the best day of the year with a Salcombe Gin cocktail.  

Here's Salcombe Gin's top three World Gin Day cocktails.

THE ST CLAIR

Named after one of the famous Salcombe Fruit Schooners, the 'St Clair' is the perfect aperitif for a celebratory moment using  Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

INGREDIENTS

25ml Salcombe Gin 'Start Point' 

25ml St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur 

20ml Freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice 

70ml Chilled soda water 

Red grapefruit peel for decorative garnish 

METHOD

Fill a Boston shaker with ice

Add the red grapefruit juice, St. Germain and Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

Shake vigorously

Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a flute glass

Add the chilled soda water

Slice a thin piece of grapefruit peel and add to the rim of the glass for a decorative garnish

ROSÉ NEGRONI

A balancing act of three parts. This fruity, nutty and sweet cocktail, showcases Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie'

INGREDIENTS

25ml Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie'

25ml Londinio Rosé Vermouth 

25ml Londinio Aperitivo

Lemon peel

METHOD

Combine the gin, Vermouth and Aperitivo in a mixing glass with plenty of ice and stir gently

Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass

Garnish with a twist of lemon peel on the side of the glass

LADY ALICE

Lady Alice is an award-winning cocktail featuring Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'. Named after a Salcombe Fruit Schooner which sank off the coast at Start Point in Devon, this is a modern take on a perfect style Martini. 

INGREDIENTS

50ml Salcombe Gin 'Start Point' 

10ml Fino sherry

10ml Knightor Rosé Vermouth

5ml Red grapefruit and gorse flower oleo-sacharrum* (easier to make than it might sound!)

'Seamist' liquid garnish for 'Start Point'

Red grapefruit peel

METHOD

To recreate at home, simply stir all the ingredients together in a mixing glass

Strain the liquid into a chilled Nick & Nora glass

Finish with 2-3 sprays of 'Seamist' and garnish with a twist of red grapefruit peel

*To make the red grapefruit and gorse flower oleo-sacharrum, just muddle the peel of 3 red grapefruits and 50g of gorse flowers. Add 300g of sugar combined with the juice of 1 ½ red grapefruits and stir. Leave in the fridge overnight. Strain before use.

For further information on Salcombe Distilling Co., visit www.salcombedistilling.com, follow SalcombeGin on Instagram and Facebook, and SalcombeDCo on Twitter.

Re-Energised Bolle Returns to the London Wine Fair With an Improved Low/no Wine Offer

Buoyed up by positive initial expert and consumer reactions NEW, improved Bolle will be hitting the alcohol free wine marketplace this Spring.  

Roberto Vanin, who is the founder of Bolle is again shifting the goalposts when it comes to revolutionising best-in-class, alcohol-free wines.  

After extensive trialling, (including buyer reviews, event tastings and awards panels) the Bolle team are convinced this new, improved offering will meet and even exceed the demanding taste aspirations of an increasingly influential low/no movement.

 For the most part, the UK's leading alcohol-free wines are produced via de-alcoholisation, a somewhat heavy-handed process which unwittingly and unfortunately removes not only the alcohol but also all of the volatile components that shape a wine's unique personality.   The result is a one-dimensional proposition devoid of depth and engaging taste, because incumbent low/no wine providers fill the resulting 'flavour void' with lazy juices, sugar and flavourings. 

Bolle's unique pathway opts instead to leverage game-changing Zero GradiTM technology to re-ferment the de-alcoholised wine, revitalising complex flavour and aroma profiles without alcohol.   

Bolle is a stylish sparkling wine with none of the taste compromises historically associated with the UK's low/no wine movement.  Bolle is committed to taking low/no wine in a new pure pleasure direction and was recently shortlisted at The World Innovation Awards.

To learn more visit Visit bolledrinks.com.

 

Srsly Low Carb Launches the Last Word in Light-to-Bite, Heavily Seeded Artisan Loaves

An indulgent, artisanal seeded loaf is the latest, possibly proudest, NEW arrival to SRSLY Low Carb's burgeoning portfolio of magnificently tasty bready goods that already includes: a low carb sliced white loaf, plump low carb rolls, a fruit loaf, seeded rolls, ready-to-eat pizza bases, not cross buns and fantastically foldy wraps.

SRSLY Low Carb was born when keto enthusiast Andy Welch discovered he was not able to square his commitment to a non-bloaty low carb diet with his deep-rooted appreciation of amazing, tasty bread. 

After giving the matter careful consideration, Andy became convinced the lack of a credible low carb bread offer was central to oodles of enthusiastic keto disciples falling off their low carb wagons. 

Having spent the last two years establishing SRSLY as Amazon's leading retailer of high protein/low carb bread, Hemel's pioneering keto-centric bread provider is raising funds to take the major mults and foodservice by storm.

SRSLY's NEW ARTISANAL SEEDED LOAF

Unable to find anything to curb those niggling cravings for buttery toasted doorsteps, the ultimate soup sponge and the best ham & cheese toastie, SRSLY set about creating the last word in low carb artisanal loaves.

Each prodigiously plump (320g) seeded loaf offers only a miserly fraction of the carbs generated by everyday breads (45/55g of carbs per 100g). SRSLY's new seeded loaf has a glowing Sugarwise endorsement and delivers just 5.9g of net carbs per 100g which means a new dawn of guilt-free bready joy.

Srslylowcarb.com

You should expect to pay an RSP of £3.89 a loaf.

I am Döner launches The Coronation Chicken Kebab

Fans of real doner kebabs who are also looking forward to the Coronation of King Charles III will be thrilled with this news: To commemorate the King’s Coronation I am Döner is introducing a special fit for a king.  The coronation chicken Berlin doner. 

Fit for a king, the coronation chicken berlin doner. This big bite has marinated grilled chicken shawarma, served with coronation mayonnaise, sultanas, dried mango, tomato, feta, red onion, grated carrot, fresh coriander, pickled red cabbage, crispy fried vegetables all wrapped up in a freshly made flat bread.

Inspired by the dish "Poulet Reine Elizabeth" now widely known as Coronation Chicken that was created by Le Cordon Bleu London to be served at the Coronation Luncheon of the Queen in 1953.

Paul Baron (former top chef at Whites Café Bar) who is the founder and owner of I am Döner says “We always send a voucher to the royal family for their special occasions. After seeing in the press that the King said it is all ‘in the sauce’ for kebabs I couldn’t miss the opportunity to make a special kebabs for the occasion!’

The Coronation chicken special will also be available as a rice box, salad box or street cart fries and will be available in all stores throughout May.

To learn more and to place your order please visit https://www.iamdoner.co.uk.

Ramsbury Single Estate Spirits Launch New Gin and Vodka Gift Sets – Perfect to Celebrate the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla

Ramsbury Single Estate Gin and Vodka Gift Sets – perfect to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty, The King, and Her Majesty, The Queen Consort)

The experts at Ramsbury Single Estate Spirits have launched new Gin and Vodka Gift Sets, ideal for those people aiming to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty, The King, and Her Majesty, The Queen Consort, on Saturday 6th May 2023.

Those of us who are looking to make the Coronation celebrations even extra special can choose from either the Single Estate Gin or Vodka Gift Set, both of which contain a 700ml spirit, 500ml Fever-Tree Indian Tonic, associated gin truffles or raspberry vodka truffles, plus a Ramsbury Bar Spoon designed with a long handle, a perfect, ideal gift for those hosting a Coronation party, or for creating a delicious serve. Both gift sets are priced at £49.50 and are available on ramsbury.com.

What, exactly does Single Estate mean? It simply means that the complete process from field to bottle takes place on the Ramsbury Estate in the Wiltshire countryside. Ramsbury sows, grows, and distils the primary ingredients itself, monitoring each step from planting and growing, to harvesting and distilling. They know what they make, so you will know what you drink.

Ramsbury Single Estate Gin Gift Set

This is the perfect gift for gin lovers, with an extra little sweet treat featuring 100g of Coco Chemistry Gin Truffles, award-winning handmade chocolate from the heart of Wiltshire. The truffles are made using Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, combined with smooth milk chocolate ganache.

The set features a Ramsbury bartenders’ bar tool, a ram-topped stainless steel bar spoon, featuring a long handle to reach the bottom of the tallest jug or class, to mix ingredients thoroughly.

Ramsbury Single Estate Gin is a modern twist on a classic London dry gin. The spirit is distilled in a copper still using winter wheat, grown on the estate grounds, before the spirit is distilled again with fourteen botanicals, including classic juniper infused with the floral tones of fresh quince grown in the grounds of the distillery, with the addition of coriander, angelica root, orris root, cardamom, hops, bitter almond, liquorice, cinnamon, grains of paradise, orange, lemon, and grapefruit. The result is an exquisite London Dry Gin with a modern twist. It’s perfect when paired with a classic Indian tonic, a slice of apple and lime, and plenty of ice.

Containing:

1 x Ramsbury Single Estate Gin (700ml, 40% ABV)

1x Fever-Tree Indian Tonic (500ml)

1 x Bag of Coco Chemistry Gin Truffles (100g)

1x Ramsbury Bar Spoon

Price: £49.50

Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka Gift Set

Featuring 100g of delicious Raspberry Vodka Caramels from Coco Chemistry, using Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka. The caramels are finely balanced to make the most spectacular-tasting raspberry vodka liquid flavour, enrobed in a rich dark chocolate shell.

A smooth and rich vodka, crafted from the finest winter wheat grown on the Ramsbury Estate. Each bottle can be traced back to the very field in which the wheat originated. Elegant, medium-bodied with a creamy texture, tones of dried fruit, cocoa, and layers of caramel are followed by dark chocolate richness. It is both distinctive and enigmatic, with a unique and memorable character. 

The set also includes a Ramsbury Bar Spoon and a Fever-Tree Indian Tonic for the perfect serve.

Containing:

1 x Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka (700ml, 43% ABV)

1x Fever-Tree Indian Tonic (500ml)

1 x Bag of Coco Chemistry Raspberry Vodka Caramels (100g)

1x Ramsbury Bar Spoon

Price: £49.50

Ramsbury Single Estate serves to celebrate the Coronation:

Ingredients - to serve 10 people

500ml Ramsbury Single Estate Gin

250ml Elderflower liqueur

200ml Lemon juice

10 Cucumber strips

20 Mint leaves

Soda water

Garnish: Cucumber strips and mint leaves.

Glassware: Highball

Method:

Add all ingredients plus cubed ice to a jug.

Top up with soda water.

Ramsbury Spring Garden

Ingredients - to serve 10 people

500ml Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka

250ml Lime juice

250ml Simple syrup

600ml Apple juice

250ml Soda top

Garnish: Apple slice and mint leaves.

Glassware: Highball

Method:

Add all ingredients plus cubed ice to a jug.

Top up with apple juice and soda water.

Grapefruit Garden Punch

Ingredients - to serve 10 people

500ml Ramsbury Single Estate Gin

250ml Grapefruit juice

250ml Simple syrup

750ml English sparkling wine

500ml Soda

Garnish: Basil leaves and grapefruit slices

Glassware: Punch bowl and tumblers.

Method:

Add all ingredients plus cubed ice to a punch bowl.

Top with English sparkling wine and soda water.

Rams-berry Spritz 

Ingredients - to serve 10 people

500ml Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka

350ml Grenadine

100ml Lime juice

100ml Lemon juice

150ml Sugar syrup

Lemonade top

Garnish: Mixed berries

Glassware: Highball.

Method:

Add all ingredients plus cubed ice to a punch bowl or jug.

Top with lemonade.

Where is The Ramsbury Estate? It spans in excess of19,000 acres in the heart of the Kennet Valley; there it produces its award-winning Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, Vodka, and Craft beer. Operating a true grain-to-glass approach utilising produce grown on the Estate. Through the combination of tradition and innovative thinking, the result is a perfect product, which delivers inimitable English taste.

Ramsbury Single Estate Spirits

Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, RSP £29.50 (70cl, 40% ABV)

Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka, RSP £29.50 (70cl, 43% ABV)

Both Ramsbury Single Estate Gin and Vodka are available on www.ramsbury.com and Waitrose stores nationwide.

It's not just about food and blood sugar levels. Clothes for young women with Type 1 diabetes could come from Coventry University researcher's work

A clothing range specially designed and  made for young women who have Type 1 diabetes could be the final result of work being led by a dedicated Coventry University researcher. 

Rachael Hughson-Gill is hoping that she will be able to help to “empower” women who are aged 18 to 25 who have the condition, whilst giving them something “that works with their everyday needs”.

Besides getting fashion design students at the prestigious Warwickshire-based Coventry University involved in the project, it is Rachael’s aim is to create a ‘toolkit’ which can be used by clothing companies in the future to create more empathetic and inclusive clothing designs. 

Rachael, who is studying for her PhD at the university’s Research Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, said: “It began as a co-design project and the driving principle was that it is led by young women with diabetes and what they want and need. The path we’ve taken has found unfortunately that there isn’t very much out there for them.” 

The process began by bringing together a group of around 12 women with Type 1 diabetes to learn what challenges they faced on a daily basis. Body image emerged as a primary issue. 

“We were exploring the challenges they faced living with and managing Type 1 diabetes and body image was said to be something they struggled with as the need to manage the condition can lead to an increased connection, relationship and awareness of body and body image.

"Our co-design group went on to explore how wearable technology, bruising and weight fluctuations can change how their bodies look and the clothes they choose to wear, when at times they want to look, feel and be treated just like everyone else.” 

The next step within the process was for the group to co-design ideas for products, systems and services that could support body image. 

Rachael, 25, who is originally from Glasgow but now lives and works in Coventry, says the group came up with incredible ideas including clothes that can continuously monitor glucose levels and possibly change colour to signal any changes, wedding dresses with places to hold insulin pumps and clothes that make giving insulin injections in public easier and safer. 

She said the research project is about young women being proud of who they are: “The main strand of this is to empower young women so they can celebrate their diabetes as a part of who they are with clothing that could reflect that. And on the flip side allow individuals to choose when, where, how and if they show their condition knowing that body confidence and relationship with the condition is a personal journey.” 

Having hosted a number of workshops, the next stage will see Rachael design a toolkit which can be employed by fashion designers. 

She said: “I really want this project to have an impact. The idea is it will be a set of recommendations and a toolkit that designers can take on board to create clothes that really are supportive of body image and fit a wide range of bodies. 

“For people with Type 1 diabetes, solutions are often just given to them, but this project allowed them to have the influence and power to say what they want and need.” 

Louise Moody, Professor of Health Design and Human Factors, said: “This project, supported by our collaborator Devices for Dignity - has applied creative methods to understand and share the daily challenges presented by Type 1 Diabetes. Rachael and her team of co-designers have produced some valuable insights and innovative solutions to improve understanding of how design can enhance body image and help people better manage this serious condition.”   

To learn more please visit then at:-

https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/centre-for-arts-memory-and-communities/

Get ready to Party for the Coronation with Beanies Flavoured Coffees

With the king's coronation just around the corner, we're busy preparing for street parties and celebrations whilst trying out many of the coronation-inspired foods hitting supermarket shelves around the UK.

Beanies aren't messing around, and they're paying a very special tribute to the memorable occasion with strictly limited edition King Charles' Coronation-inspired flavoured coffee.

Following previous success with their popular Jubilee Cake flavour, these exclusive coffee flavours really are the crowning glory for any royal rendezvous while also carrying zero calories and being vegan friendly, too!

Coronation Cake – offers a delicious combo of strawberry jam, sweet vanilla sponge and a freshly whipped cream filling. Wow! 

Royal Mint Chocolate – the cool and creamy pairing of mint and chocolate, a coffee with a zing that's fit for a king!

Buckingham Biscuit – well, who needs a biscuit with their coffee when you can enjoy Buckingham biscuit-flavoured coffee without the guilt of an added biscuit? It features a delicious smooth, buttery taste with a hint of tasty gingery spice, so it's three cheers for the King!

 

      Price: £2.75, £8.00.

Please be aware that these special Royal Coronation Beanies coffee flavours are only available via the Beanies website and not from your normal supplier such as your supermarket, etc.

Not only that, but they are strictly limited in numbers, with just 500 available of each flavour!

Visit their shop as soon as you can at https://beaniesflavourco.co.uk/

New Tracklements Special Edition Wild Garlic Sauce Vegetarian and gluten free

It's all very well families up and down the country crafting great Coronation parties and feasts, with wonderous pies, fresh sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards, but what are you going to serve them with? Fortunately the fine folks at Tracklements have come up with something very special, indeed.

 New Tracklements Special Edition Wild Garlic Sauce Vegetarian and gluten free, RRP £3.75 for 170g from fine food delis.

Best picked young before the delicate white flowers appear, the vibrant broad green leaves of wild garlic can be found in abundance across the UK from March to May. It’s an extremely versatile little plant, but for those of us not up to foraging in damp woodlands and hedgerows, you’ll be pleased to learn of Tracklements latest Special Edition - NEW vegetarian and gluten free Wild Garlic Sauce.

Wild garlic has quite a different flavour to the bulb and is less pungent than you might expect given its garlicky, yet pleasing, aroma.

Tracklements Special Edition Wild Garlic Sauce is a careful balance of delicate wild garlic, hand-picked in the beautiful Wiltshire woodlands, honey and mustard. While the perfect partner for pork tenderloin, hot smoked trout or pan-fried Pollock, this little jar has a lot more to give.

Drizzle Wild Garlic Sauce over steak, chicken, roasted vegetables, omelettes, scrambled eggs and tortillas or stir into a potato salad. It’s also rather good mixed through mayonnaise or crème fraiche for a dip, or salted butter for a tasty little surprise on toast to accompany a bowl of soup.

And this lively jar just keeps on giving; use as a dressing for salads (thicken with Greek yogurt if you fancy), dress an insalata tricolore, or even use as a marinade.

Back in 1970, William Tullberg made the first British wholegrain mustard. 50 years on William’s son, Guy, carries on his legacy. However, that one mustard has matured into eight varieties and over 40 award-winning chutneys, relishes and sauces.

A store cupboard hero for both celebrity chefs and home cooks, the range is still handmade in the green heart of Wiltshire, abiding to traditional recipes, with an underpinning principle to buy the best quality ingredients sourced locally wherever possible to ensure the products taste as good as, if not better than, homemade.

B Corp accredited Tracklements believe in business as a force for good, protecting the environment as they go. They’re committed to make the most planet-friendly condiments you can buy minimising their environmental footprint through using recyclable packaging, their own water treatment facility, and over 10,000 square feet of solar panels, supplemented by 100% renewable electricity generated by wind and/or hydro assets. And they don’t shy away from wonky veg either!

Tracklements Special Edition Wild Garlic Sauce RRP £3.75 for 170g, is available from fine food delis and farm shops nationwide and online at www.tracklements.co.uk.

Actually, going out for walks with my wife is a great pleasure. And part of that pleasure derives, in season, with the evocative aroma of wild garlic.

CAMPARI cocktails fit for a King – celebrate the Coronation with the Royal Negroni Sbagliato, Coronation Negroni, and the CAMPARI Coronation Spritz

With the Coronation of King Charles III soon upon us, CAMPARI – Italy’s iconic red aperitivo, is sharing three cocktail recipes that are fit for a King to help celebrate his majesty over the bank holiday weekend.

From the viral Royal Negroni Sbagliato, to the refreshing CAMPARI Coronation Spritz, to the iconic Coronation Negroni, there really is something for everyone this Spring. Here are the recipes for those looking to make the Royal serves at home:

CAMPARI Royal Negroni Sbagliato

The three-ingredient cocktail, which rose to fame late last year, has a rich history dating back to 1972 at Bar Basso in Milano.

Inspired by the classic Negroni Sbagliato, the CAMPARI Royal Negroni Sbagliato is elevated by substituting Prosecco for Champagne. The cocktail boasts a perfect 50/50 balance of sweet and dry vermouth alongside a touch of gold shimmer, honouring the Royal Coronation and the King himself.

Ingredients:

·        30ml CAMPARI

·        15ml 1757 Vermouth di Torino G.I. Rosso

·        15ml 1757 Vermouth di Torino G.I. Extra Dry

·        75ml Champagne Lallier R.018

·        Edible Gold Shimmer Powder

Method:

·        Stir the CAMPARI and two vermouths over ice and strain into a Champagne flute

·        Top with 75ml of ice-cold Champagne and serve with a touch of gold shimmer

Coronation Negroni

CAMPARI’s long and powerful reign in the aperitivo and cocktail drinks category depicts its dedication to storytelling, passion, and innovation since its creation in 1860. And no other cocktail is as fit for royalty as the world’s best-selling classic cocktail – the Negroni.

Simple and balanced, yet complex in taste, the Negroni is one of the most famous cocktails in the world. Invented in 1919 by Count Negroni – who, in honour of his trip to London, asked to add a touch of gin rather than soda to his usual Americano. The iconic Negroni was born and has been enjoyed around the world ever since. Long live the Negroni!

Ingredients:

·        30ml CAMPARI

·        25ml Gin

·        25ml Vermouth

·        1 orange slice garnish

·        1 lemon peel

Method:

·        Pour the CAMPARI, Gin, and Vermouth into the glass with ice, stir, add the garnishes and enjoy!

CAMPARI Coronation Spritz

Using a 3:2:1 recipe, the CAMPARI Coronation Spritz brings together English Sparkling Wine (75ml) – in place of the usual Italian Prosecco – CAMPARI (50ml), and soda water (25ml) to create a perfectly balanced, complex, sparkling drink for a stylish, sophisticated spritz celebration, perfect for bank holiday get togethers. 

Easy to create, deceptively subtle in taste, with a deeply photogenic, iconic red hue, the ruby red CAMPARI Coronation Spritz is crown jewel ready.  

Ingredients:

75ml English Sparkling Wine

50ml CAMPARI

A splash soda water (c. 25ml)

1 orange slice and orange zest for garnish

Method:

Take a large wine glass. Fill with ice.

First pour 75ml of English sparkling wine.

Add 50ml CAMPARI.

Top with 25ml of soda.

Stir gently to combine.

Garnish with a slice of orange.

Enjoy with friends.

The Groovy Food Company Coconut and Cashew Scones and a Victoria sponge Cake

There's something very British about scones and Victoria sponge cakes. And these are two fantastic recipes!

The Groovy Food Company Coconut and Cashew Scones

Prep time – 30 minutes

Cook time – 15 minutes

Freeze time - 30

Serves - 8

Ingredients:

2 Large Eggs, Beaten

2 tbsp. Tahini

2 tbsp. Almond Milk

2 tbsp. The Groovy Food Company organic virgin coconut oil, melted

2 tbsp. The Groovy Food Company organic agave nectar, light amber & mild

2 tsp. Baking Powder

40g The Groovy Food Company organic coconut flour

85g Cashew Butter

70g Desiccated Coconut (Plus Extra 10g for Dusting, when Shaping)

50g Raisins

Tahini cream:

3. tbsp. Tahini

tbsp. The Groovy Food Company organic agave nectar, light amber & mild

1 tbsp. Water

2 Pinches Sea Salt

Serving Suggestion:

Sugar Free Jam

Method:

Preheat the oven to 400°F, gas mark 6, 200°C (180°C fan-assisted).

Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone-baking mat.

In a mixing bowl beat the eggs; add the tahini, almond milk, coconut oil, agave nectar and baking powder and mix until smooth and baking powder has dissolved.

Add the coconut flour, cashew butter and desiccated coconut, the mixture should be a thick consistency, to enable you to form a ball. Add the raisins into the mixture and then refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes.

Sprinkle your worktop with the extra, desiccated coconut. Shape the dough into a round ball with your hands and place it on surface with the desiccated coconut. Using your hands lightly flatten out the dough, take great care not to flatten the dough any thinner than 1 inch (2.5 cm) – this is the secret of well-risen scones, measure it if you're not sure.

Use a 2 inch (5 cm) round cutter to cut out the scones – place the cutter on the dough and give it a sharp tap – don't twist it, just lift it up and push the dough out.

Carry on until you are left with the trimmings, then bring these together and flatten out again until you can cut out the last scone.

Place the scones on the prepared baking tray and bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes, until they are golden brown, and then remove them to a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

To make the tahini cream in a bowl, add the tahini paste, agave nectar and water and stir until smooth. You might need a touch more water depending on the thickness of the tahini. Once you have the correct consistency you can add two pinches of salt.

Serve with the scones with the tahini cream and sugar free jam.

The Groovy Food Company Showstopper Victoria Sponge Cake

Ingredients:

For the cake:

4 eggs

3 tbsp The Groovy Food Company Virgin Coconut Oil (melted and then cooled)

350g natural yoghurt

320g spelt flour

1 tbsp baking powder

Optional: powdered sugar for dusting

For the filling:

300g natural yoghurt

100g raspberry jam

For the garnish:

Handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries and strawberries

Finish with a dusting of icing sugar

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180° C.

Mix the eggs, melted coconut oil, yoghurt in a bowl until creamy.

Add the spelt flour and baking powder. Continue to mix until it forms a batter.

Prepare two springform tins of the same size: line them with baking paper. Spread the batter evenly between both tins

Bake the cakes for about 20 minutes. Allow to cool fully.

Cover one of the cakes with jam. Spread the yoghurt cream on top. Set the other cake on top.

Decorate with fresh fruit and dust with icing sugar, if desired. Slice and serve.

https://www.groovyfood.co.uk/products/light-amber-mild-agave-nectar

Fit for the King! Holland's Pies Create Coronation Pie

Hear, hear – Holland’s Pies has created a pie to commemorate King Charles III’s coronation and it’s already dubbed the ‘Crown Jewel’ of pastry creations.

The recipe for this one-off Coronation Pie was inspired by the classic chicken dishes created for previous Royal celebrations, begging as far back as King George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935.

The original Coronation Chicken recipe consisted of chicken dressed in mayonnaise and curry powder, before it was replaced by a now traditional Coronation Chicken recipe,  specially created for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 by Rosemary Hume of Le Cordon Bleu London.

The recipe that the nation has come to love featured a quite remarkable set of ingredients at the time, with many only just becoming available as parts of the UK were still under post-war rationing.

Holland’s special pie features an updated list of ingredients to reflect the tastes of the nation and its new monarch. 

Taking advice from a former Royal Chef to the King, Holland’s Pies has followed a similar pattern but with the addition of ingredients inspired by His Majesty’s palate. Alongside chicken, apricots, raisins, and the tasty blend of herbs and spices included within the traditional recipe, the Coronation Pie also includes dried prunes – a nod to King Charles III favourite fruit, plums – and brings all the flavours together in a unique Korma-style curry sauce, said to be the UK’s new favourite curry.

This special creation will be made in Holland’s well-loved Family Pie, perfect for four to share. But with only six pies being cooked up in time for the coronation, pastry fans in the North West are being invited to enter a competition to win one to enjoy whilst watching the King’s coronation on May 6!

To enter, all pie lovers need to do is head to Holland’s Pies’ Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and follow the instructions. The competition is live until 28th April 2023, with the freshly-baked Coronation Pies being delivered in time to give the lucky winners the ultimate street party bragging rights.

Leanne Holcroft, Brand Manager for Holland’s Pies, said: “Everyone knows Brits love an occasion to get together and share a delicious pie, so we’re excited to be giving our fans the chance to enjoy a creation fit for King Charles himself on the coronation weekend.

“King Charles III is our new monarch, and we are sure our special Coronation Pie will more than measure up to even the most discerning of pastry lover!”

Holland’s Pies is the one of the North West’s best-loved brands, with its range of proper tasty pies and puddings including bestselling flavours Potato & Meat, Steak & Kidney Puddings, Minced Beef & Onion and Vegetarian Society approved, Mature Cheddar Cheese & Onion in both chilled and frozen. To find your nearest stockist, visit it’s Pie Finder at: www.hollandspies.co.uk/PieFinder/.