Massive savings on Proscenic air fryers

Proscenic T22 Air Fryer with 13 Presets & Shake Reminder, Oil Free Air Fryer 5L, Low-Noise, Compatible with APP & Alexa, 100+ Online Recipes, LED Touch Screen, Non-Stick Basket, 1700W from Amazon

Summer Sale 38% OFF - RRP £95 – NOW £59

With the aid of the TurboAir Technology which is seven times more effective than regular air circulation technology, Proscenic T22 reduces 90% of fats contained in foods. 

The air fryer offers a 360° Steric Air Circulation that heats food evenly, increasing the cooking efficiency by 30% while the nutrients are well retained. As a result, the foods are given a friable, brown colouring, making them look mouth-watering. 

Using the Proscenic APP, you can easily control your air fryer, schedule and monitor the cooking process; You can also create and share your own recipes via the app.

The Intelligent SuperDenoise Technology will reduce the common noise by 20% and maintain a low noise level of 48 dB while working. Working in the kitchen is pleasant rather than being annoying.

It has 13 cooking functions, including 11 presets, Preheat and Keep Warm. The 11 one-touch presets can satisfy your needs: Fries, Chicken, Steak, Vegetable, Fish, Shrimp, Pizza, Bacon, Onion Rings, Cake, Toast. 

The T22 can even perform multiple functions at the same time. It can preheat and keep warm before starting working. The T22 air fryer basket is made from food-safe materials that are BPA and PFOA free. As it is coated in non-stick Teflon, you can clean it directly in the dishwasher.

Proscenic T21 Smart WiFi Air Fryer 5.8 QT for Home, Multi-Functions Digital Touchscreen 1700W Electric Airfryer Oilless Cooker, Works with Alexa & Google Assistant   –from Amazon

Summer Sale -  40% OFF - RRP £99 – NOW £59

Wifi Connectivity: Control air fryer with Proscenic Home APP, find your menu, schedule the cooking, adjust and monitor the cooking process, and customize your own recipes, which is very easy and convenient to operate. The App provides tens of preset which allows you to customise your own recipes and save the corresponding program on the dedicated app.

Engineered with three combination functions - Schedule + menu + keep Warm, you can opt for any one, or two, or three of them. The detachable basket is made using aluminium with two layers of Teflon coatings, this makes the basket non-stick and very simple to clean. The detachable parts are dishwasher safe.

The air fryer adopts new technology, rapid hot air technology to cook, the heat is transferred with very high intensity and distributed over the food from all sides and can penetrate through a thick pile of food particles.

Proscenic T31 Air Fryer Oven, 15L Digital Air Fryer Oven with Rapid Air Circulation, LED Touchscreen & APP/ ALEXA Control, 12 Preset Programs – from Amazon

Summer Sale – 45% OFF - RRP £179 – NOW £99 using code:PROSCENICT31

The Proscenic T31 air fryer oven has a massive 15L capacity meaning it can cook from a single serving to a 5-person family meal and even roast a whole chicken. With TurboAir technology, which is 7 times more effective than normal air circulation technology, Proscenic T31 reduces 85% of fat contained in food. 

The air fryer also offers 360° air circulation that heats food evenly, makes food tender on the inside and crisp on the outside, increasing cooking efficiency by 30% while keeping nutrients well.

With the 12 preset programmes, you can easily cook Chips, chicken, vegetables, etc. In addition, the combined functions allow you to use: Preheat + Pre-select + Keep warm. You can choose one, two or three; It all depends on your needs, you can also finely adjust the timer and temperature setting using the rotary knob.

Using the Proscenic APP, you can easily control the air fryer. Any cooking including preheating and heat insulation in up to 3 steps; At the same time, it offers 100+ recipes online, as well as being able to upload your own recipes and consult the original recipes provided by other Proscenic users.

The oven basket is made of food-safe materials, free of BPA and PFOA. As it is covered with non-stick Teflon, it is also very easy to clean and can even be put in the dishwasher.

You can order it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Z6WWMCB?maas=maas_adg_5D375635B608D4EF7DB8ECF98D43CBC7_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

https://www.proscenic.com

Timothy Taylor's Brewery Partners With Thornbridge Brewery for First Ever Collaboration Beer in Their 165-Year History

Famed brewery Timothy Taylor's has chosen to work with the Thornbridge brewery for the first collaboration beer in their 165-year history to create Artesian, a stunningly refreshing Elderflower and Gooseberry Pale Ale, which is utterly perfect for summer refreshment.

The two breweries have long admired each other's approach to cask and craft beers respectively, with Landlord and Jaipur both being widely regarded as the pioneers within their respective categories, and both having won more awards than any other beers.

The brewers' mutual knowledge and passion led them to brew a style of beer that could be showcased in the more traditional cask format for pubs, but also enjoyed in keg format for bars and restaurants and from cans for at home consumption. 

The Artesian collaboration with Thornbridge comes just five months after Timothy Taylor's Hopical Storm became its first beer to be launched in cans.

Said Rob Lovatt, Head Brewer at Thornbridge: “We're incredibly proud to be the first brewery to work alongside Timothy Taylor's for a collaboration.

“Almost everyone at Thornbridge regularly drinks Landlord, so to create a modern pale ale with them is a really exciting idea for the whole team!”

Andy Leman, Timothy Taylor's Head Brewer, went on to say: “It's been a real, genuine pleasure to work alongside Rob Lovatt and the entire brewing team at Thornbridge to produce Artesian Elderflower and Gooseberry Pale Ale. They have a great reputation for their partnerships, and share our uncompromising passion for quality and consistency, so were a natural choice for brewing our first collaboration ale

“Artesian is a fresh pale ale that just screams summer and was brewed using Crystal, Chinook and Amarillo hops, Pale Ale malt and wheat. It's packed with aroma and flavour from the addition of elderflowers and gooseberries, and we're eager to hear how our customers enjoy it over the next few several weeks.”

At 4.2%, Artesian is a light, quaffable pale ale, which is brewed for easy enjoyment with bountiful elderflowers and zingy gooseberries added to create a really vibrant mix of summery flavours. For beer lovers who are keen on the concept of food pairing, it's a good match for goat cheese and fig crostini.

Artesian will be launching at the Thornbridge's Peakender Festival in the heart of the Peak District over the weekend of 18-20 August, and it will be available to trade and consumers from 21 August for a limited time only, so do watch out for it!

https://www.peakender.co.uk

https://thornbridgebrewery.co.uk

https://www.timothytaylor.co.uk

Love fish and chips? So where are the best options for you?

If you’re a lover of fish and chips then you’re in for a treat, because a new study has unveiled which UK cities have the most mouth-watering fish and chip menu items, with Birmingham boasting the widest range of options.

It’s not a secret that fish and chips reign as one of the UK's best known delicacies, but new research by the team at Betway has revealed which cities come out on top for their fish and chips offerings.

Taking a seedlist of some of the most populated cities, as well as some of the most popular staycation destination spots in the UK, the team set out to learn which cities reign supreme as the best spots to enjoy a classic fish and chips to help hungry Brits plan their next trip around their favourite cuisine.

Whether you’re someone who always goes for a classic cod and chips when ordering your chippy tea, or maybe you're keen to push the boat out and order something different every time you visit, having an extensive menu to choose from is never something to complain about.

As part of the report, the team looked at the highest-rated chippy in each city and compared how many menu items they have on offer.

Birmingham claims the top spot for having the most menu items at their highest-rated chippy (Gabriel's), which boasts a total of 113 menu options to choose from. 

Coming in at a close second is Nottingham whose highest-rated chippy (Fish Xpress) has an impressive 110 menu items, followed by Exeter in third place with 102 mouth-watering menu items available at their highest-rated chippy (Smart Fish Bar).

Making up the top five is Leicester in fourth place with their highest-rated chippy, Billy's Fish Bar, boasting 87 menu items, and Bristol claiming fifth position with 83 options from Mario's Fish Bar.

See how the top 10 cities ranked overall in the report: 

City

Number of menu options

1

Birmingham

113

2

Nottingham

110

3

Exeter

102

4

Leicester

87

5

Bristol

83

6

Leeds

75

7

Newquay

73

8

Edinburgh

72

9

Bath

66

10

York

65

To learn more please visit https://blog.betway.com/casino/uk-chippy-capitals.

Why not plant fruit trees in your garden?

King's Seeds have a wide range of fruit trees available for sale.

These include Peach Peregrine Fruit Tree - 4.5Ltr Pot.

Apricot Flavorcot® Fruit Tree - 4.5ltr Pot.

Plum Opal Fruit Tree - 4.5ltr Pot.

A spokesman from King's Seeds said: "We have 3 new patio fruit trees, on offer for three weeks only."

They are ready for despatch, but you must order them by 9am on Thursday 31st August.

Each fruit tree costs £32.

To learn more and to place your orders please visit https://www.kingsseeds.com.

These would make ideal presents for the home gardeners in your life, but please do establish beforehand to make sure they have enough garden space and the right type of soil for the fruit trees concerned.

Kellogg UK Commits to Supporting Veterans and their Families with Armed Forces Covenant Pledge

Top UK breakfast cereal maker, Kellogg UK has made a special commitment to veterans, reservists, and their families by signing up for the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant is a voluntary pledge which acknowledges by the organisation that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect.

Kellogg’s has a K-Vets and Supporters network at its HQ in MediaCity which is committed to incorporating top tier veteran talent into all levels of the organisation.

The cereal and snacks company actively supports the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in its recruitment and selection process.

Chris Silcock, who is Kellogg UK MD said: “At Kellogg’s we believe everyone should have a place at the table. By signing the Armed Forces Covenant we hope to become a career destination for military veterans. We'll continue to actively support the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process.”

The company has a strong KVets programme in the USA which supports the 490 ex-military personnel working in Kellogg North America via its Battle Buddies and Military Mentorship Programme.

Chris Silcock was joined by Commander Judith Barnes Royal Navy Reserve, Air Employer Engagement Regional Officer and Colonel Darren Doherty yesterday at Kellogg’s MediaCity HQ to officially sign the Covenant.

Colonel Darren Doherty, Commander Army North West Region commented: “I'm delighted to witness a huge global company like Kelloggs, and one with roots that are firmly in the North West, publicly pledging their continued support to the Armed Forces community: serving regular, reserves, veterans and their families, by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. I look forward to supporting Kellogg’s in their next steps towards achieving award status as part of the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.”

Kellogg’s donated 19,000 servings of food over the past year to charities across the UK who state their primary audience as being military personnel, veterans or their families. This includes residential settings, training centres, drop in and day centres.

Andrew Western MP said: “I’m delighted Kellogg’s has signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge. Our Armed Forces community obviously deserves to be treated with fairness, respect, and compassion; not just when serving, but as they transition back into civilian life.

Kellogg’s employs hundreds of people across its head office in Media City and its factory in Trafford Park, so I have no doubt that the service people and veterans living within my constituency of Stretford and Urmston will benefit from this.”

Kellogg’s also recently removed the requirement for job applicants to the company to have a degree as part of its drive to become a more inclusive employer.

https://www.kelloggs.co.uk/en_GB/home.html

(Image courtesy scan5353 and Pixabay)

That's Books and Entertainment: Aardvark Books the bookshop and café near the Wels...

That's Books and Entertainment: Aardvark Books the bookshop and café near the Wels...: Aardvark Books is a unique bookshop and café which is situated in the Shropshire village of Brampton Bryan, which is near Bucknell.  It'...

That's Christmas: Plan ahead for Christmas and save money!

That's Christmas: Plan ahead for Christmas and save money!: It's often difficult buying what you need for Christmas, the food and drink, presents, decorations, etc. However, with the current econo...

Violife the cheese alternative and more, besides

I'm neither a vegan or even a vegetarian, but I cannot eat dairy cheese for health reasons. 

Whilst we were discussing what to give up for Lent, my wife encouraged me to give up dairy cheese for Lent, which, to her -and my!- surprise I was able to do so.

Within weeks we noticed that my skin was now perfect, my hair stopped being greasy and my hair started to grow back, after years of receding. 

As a result cheese is now a very rare item in my diet. But I admit that after a lifetime of eating (too much?) cheese I am still missing it. Especially cream cheese for some reason!

Whilst browsing through the Morrison's "free from section" I found a tub of Violife spread. I added it to my shopping trolley and took it home.

It was the Creamy Original type and was nicely creamy and absolutely delicious. If someone had spread some on a cracker and handed it to me, I really do not think I could have told that it wasn't dairy cheese.

Next time I'm off to the shops I'll look out for Violife Creamy Garlic and Herbs and also Creamy Cheddar Flavour.

Violife also has a wide range of other vegan-friendly products including spread, blocks, sliced, grated and Vioblock which is designed for baking, cooking, etc. 

https://www.violife.com

Tesco announces major change to cut bills in its Tesco Express stores

Tesco has recently today an important and major overhaul to the range of products it stocks in its Express stores, as it reinforces its position as the UK’s best value convenience store chain.

The overhaul will see over 50 key everyday products replaced with even more keenly-priced alternatives, many of which are from its own-brand range, with some items less than one third of the price of the products they are replacing.

Across the in excess of 50 products included in the change, shoppers will find the own-brand alternatives are, on average, over 40% cheaper than the products they're to replace.

This move comes in response to the supermarket’s internal shopping data, which shows price-conscious customers are increasingly turning to own-brand products to get better value, whilst not compromising on quality. 

Among the own brand lines that are to be introduced are Tesco penne pasta (85p) and Tesco smooth peanut butter (£1.65), both of which will cost 50% of the price of the previous branded products that were stocked.

Bags of Tesco frozen garden peas (£1.65), being stocked in Express store freezers as part of the change, will be nearly 40% cheaper than the branded product they are to replace. Tesco basmati rice pouches (75p) will fill the space on the shelves left by a branded equivalent which costed 30% more.

Some branded lines, including toothpaste, are being replaced by a cheaper branded alternative at less than a third of the price. And to provide better value for parents, Tesco is reducing the price of some packs of branded nappies in Express stores by as much as 40%.

Tesco Convenience MD Sarah Lawler said: “We know customers are watching every penny at the moment, so it's our hope these helpful product swaps will bring down average food bills for even more families."

She went on to say: “Our Express stores offer unbeatable value on everything from essentials to fresh produce, thus making healthy food more accessible for the 2,000 communities we serve across the UK. And while our convenience stores don’t have the shelf space to carry the full range of our larger shops, by swapping these products, we’ve been able to make way for even more of our great-value own brand ranges.”

The new products will be delivered to stores over the coming couple of weeks, with the change-over complete by the end of the month, August.

A spokesman concluded: "This latest change is just another way Tesco is delivering great value for its Express customers, with Tesco Clubcard holders being able to take advantage of the supermarket’s Clubcard Prices discounts in Express stores too."

www.tesco.com

No cook chilled porridge

No cook chilled porridge is a dish I invented myself many years ago.

Very late one evening I was pouring some cold milk into a bowl of porridge oats. I realised that I wasn't hungry after all, so I placed the bowl in the fridge and went to bed.

The next morning I remembered the bowl of oats and I took it out and took a mouthful. The result was better than anything I had ever expected. 

The oats had perfectly melded with the milk and I had inadvertently created a bowl of utterly delicious cold porridge.

The recipe is simplicity in itself.

Take one bowl of porridge oats. 

Fill to the brim with the chilled milk of your choice, dairy or non-dairy.

You can add brown sugar, honey, etc to add sweetness if you wish.

Stirring in cinnamon or mixed spice with dried mixed fruit is a good idea, but do make certain any spices you add are properly mixed throughout. The dried mixed fruits will absorb the moisture from the milk and will plump up very nicely.

You can also add sliced or ground nuts.

When the bowl of porridge is ready, place it in your fridge and leave it overnight or throughout the day until it is ready for you to eat.

Actually, you could try oat alternatives if you want to give that a try. 

You can garnish with freshly cut fruits including bananas, strawberries, etc.

(Image courtesy of  Pictavio from Pixabay)

Sainsbury’s opens brand-new store in Ketley, Telford

Sainsbury’s has launched its newest store this week with the opening of Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Road Local in Telford, Shropshire.

 Now open from 7am to 11pm seven days a week, the new store has created new jobs for local people and supporting regeneration in the neighbourhood, whilst providing more convenience and shopping choice for residents. 

Customers will now have the opportunity to enjoy Sainsbury’s latest convenience range, from fresh fruit and veg, healthy snacks and food-to-go to sweet, savoury and frozen staples. 

They'll also be able to choose from a delicious selection of freshly baked breads and pastries daily, as well as picking up Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing products ordered online via the in-store Click and Collect service.

Conveniently based on Holyhead Road, the new store was built on the site of The White Lion pub. Sainsbury’s was originally due to lease the building from the owner of the former public house, but subsequently stepped in to purchase the site and build a new store following serious complications during the previous owner’s conversion. 

The new convenience store was sensitively designed in conjunction with the local planning authority, to reflect the look and feel of The White Lion and remain in keeping with the local area.

The colleagues that comprise the new store team will play an active role in the local community whilst also participating in Sainsbury’s national charitable schemes and programmes and initiatives. EG, through Sainsbury’s partnership with Neighbourly, the new Local store will work with local food donation partners including Telford Crisis Support to help ensure all surplus foods from the store will go to those who need it the most. 

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Local to our estate this week. We really pulled out all the stops to build the best store we could, working with the Council to agree on and incorporate various nods to the appearance of the original building. We’re delighted with the result and we think our customers will be too.” 

Adrian Harris, Sainsbury’s Ketley Holyhead Road Local Store Manager, said: “It was a privilege to join members of my new store team to cut the ribbon and declare our new Sainsbury’s Local open for the community. We know our neighbours have been looking forward to our arrival and we were really pleased to be able to welcome them for the first time today.”  

(EDITOR: It's interesting to recall that the original building dated back to at least the 16th century, it bore a plaque dated 1661, so the building was at least 362 years old.

This is what the White Lion looked like before it was demolished, the image is attributed to Gordon Cragg / The White Lion, Ketley / CC BY-SA 2.0.)

Authentic Mexican street food eatery Barburrito launches exciting new menu. The twist? It's inspired by loyal customers

Ultra-authentic Mexican street food eatery Barburrito has launched an exciting and innovative new menu which is influenced by some of South America’s most popular dishes.  

Earlier this year they gathered thousands of pieces of feedback from their customers and the results inspired the creation of the new menu dishes and innovations. 

Barburrito’s talented chefs have worked very hard and tirelessly to create a selection of new mouthwatering dishes which are designed to transport your taste buds right over to Mexico. 

The menu features the introduction of Tortas, Tacos, a brand-new range of salsas as well as lots of recipe improvements and tweaks including their cheese sauce, guacamole, pink onions and many more. 

Introducing the first new dish, the Torta. It's a light, sweet bun which is filled with all your favourites (think Barbacoa Beef, Smoky Chipotle salsa, cheese, slaw, jalapeños and sour cream. Yum!) as you always choose the fillings at Barburrito. 

Another new exciting addition to the menu is Tacos, crafted with love and bursting with authentic flavours. You can create your own tacos by opting what goes inside but think of tender Pork Carnitas nestled in warm, soft tortillas, loaded with cheese, lettuce, pink onions and a new Mango & Habanero salsa. Each bite is a fine fiesta of flavours as the chefs have carefully selected the freshest ingredients and traditional spices to create a truly unforgettable experience. 

Whether you're a fan of classic favourites such as Barburrito’s Grilled Chicken or adventurous enough to try their vegan This™ Isn’t Chicken, so they’ve got something for everyone. 

Sophie Green, who has the enviable position as Barburrito's Marketing Manager of , said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new and exciting authentic menu. In May, we gathered thousands of insights from our loyal customer base to form our revamped menu, which is a celebration of the vibrant and rich culinary heritage of Mexico. 

"We’d like to thank our amigos for their help and say there'll be a lot more exciting plans for the brand coming up in each of our local stores. Join us to check out the new menu and experience a fiesta of taste sensations like never before!”  

To celebrate the launch Barburrito will be giving away free samples of nachos with their new cheese sauce and salsas and doing free food drops to local offices. They are also running a £5 new menu items offer (Tortas, Tacos, Loaded Nachos with a filling) if you have the app downloaded. 

Customers can download the app by searching ‘Barburrito Rewards’ on the app store, where they will get exclusive access to the loyalty stamp cards. Getting three stamps just for downloading, then you can earn rewards such as a free side or dessert after four stamps, free burrito after nine stamps, a free burrito on your birthday and more. Students do not get the stamp cards but get 20 per cent off every visit instead. 

Barburrito has 17 stores across the UK, from London to Aberdeen, operating dine-in, grab-and-go and delivery services. In 2005 the UK’s first burrito bar landed with Barburrito opening in Manchester Piccadilly gardens, taking inspiration from Mexico’s spirited culture, fresh ingredients, and irresistibly flavoursome food.  

They are known as well-established pioneers of the burrito game but never stop perfecting the hand made to order burrito and developing ranges of protein packed, superfood filled naked bowls. Each Barburrito store is unique, offering delicious food and incredible service with customer loyalty that just can’t be bought. 

https://www.barburrito.co.uk

Flapjackery's New Cappuccino Shards for Coffee Lovers

Delicious chocolate shards infused with freshly roasted coffee are new super tasty additions  to the Flapjackery's range of confectionary.

Flapjackery, which renowned for its tasty, decadent, luxurious gluten free flapjacks that are handmade at their Tavistock HQ, is joining in a fantastic collaboration with Ivybridge-based Owens Coffee to create the Cappuccino Shards that are perfect as an after dinner palette cleanser or to get a hit of coffee at any time of day.

Available in their shops, located across the Westcountry in Tavistock, Plymouth, Fowey, St Ives, Minehead, Bath and Wells, with a pop up shop in Dartmouth, these delicious thin slivers of chocolate are lovingly made with dark chocolate, giving it a slightly bitter taste, with veins of white chocolate running throughout. 

The distinctive flavouring is derived from smooth and chocolatey  Bantham wholebeans,  a medium roasted blend of Arabica organic and Fairtrade coffee beans from South America and Indonesia.

This popular, award-winning espresso blend is from the Cajamarca region of Peru and the Batak region of Sumatra which has been gently roasted to bring out notes of chocolate and wine.

Also available in Flapjackery's new 'shards' range are whole nut shards and beanie shards.

http://www.flapjackery.co.uk

https://owenscoffee.com

That's Food and Drink Video channel launches

The first video is up, as you can see. However, the sound quality will be addressed, as will the possibility of broadcasting livestream programming in the very near future. 

This is all new to me and very exciting, obviously!

 

That's Christmas: Waitrose launches its Christmas range for 2023, wi...

That's Christmas: Waitrose launches its Christmas range for 2023, wi...: Savvy, wise shoppers are planning ahead as searches for ‘Christmas dinner ideas’ on Waitrose.com  has risen 51% compared to the same period ...

Waitrose launches first British cheese washed in English sparkling wine

Their Leckford Wash cheese is lovingly made by Nettlebed Creamery, a family run, organic farm in Henley-on-Thames, owned by Rose Grimond - which is on the family-run farm her great-grandfather bought in 1901. Their herd of cows produce organic milk which is used to create this delicious, creamy cheese.

Waitrose Leckford Sparkling Brut is added to a brine solution and each cheese is individually and carefully washed by hand. This process is repeated twice weekly to build the depth of flavour, texture and colour, creating a delicious rind which encases the creamy, semi-soft cheese. 

Sarah Miness, Cheese Buyer at Waitrose, said: “We’ve been selling our own label French cheese rind-washed in alcohol since 2013 when we launched Saint Vernier, washed in white wine followed by Berthaut's Epoisses AOP, washed in Marc de Bourgogne. 

"Being big supporters of British produce, we wanted to create a British rind-washed cheese, to offer our customers variety for their cheese boards and what better to wash the cheese in than our very own Leckford Sparkling Brut?”

Will Torrent, who is the Senior Development Chef at Waitrose, said: “We had fun with the team at Nettlebed experimenting with cheese and different flavour combinations. Wine and cheese is obviously always a winning combination and once we had tried with our fizz we were so excited with the finished product, obviously we wanted our customers to try it, too!

“This cheese takes a total of three weeks to make and everything is all done by hand, so you can be sure your cheese has been made with time, care and a little bit of love.  For the best results, customers should let the cheese soften up at room temperature, so the flavours and texture can develop and enjoy by itself, or for a real treat, eat it with a glass of Leckford to enhance the flavours even further.”

The tradition of washing cheeses originated back in the 16th century when French monks used the method to preserve their cheese, preventing bad rinds from developing.

Wine-washing is also common in Northern Italy, the lack of olive oil inspired cheesemakers to preserve wheels in wine instead, with Ubriaco al Prosecco being a traditional ‘drunken’ cheese in Italy. Rind-washing encourages the growth of desired, good bacteria and leads to a strong aroma and flavoursome cheese. 

English wine is still a relatively youthful industry compared to the rest of the world but others are also starting to experiment with the ingredient in their food with Waddesdon Wines putting English sparkling wine into their jam. Top chefs including James Martin have also made a classic dessert a bit more grown-up by adding it to jelly.

Waitrose has their own vineyard, at the Leckford Estate in Hampshire, which produces a Brut and a Blanc de Blanc from vines planted in 2009.  

They increased the vineyard at Leckford by 50% in 2017 to cope with increased demand, and it’s one of the ways they are firmly committed to investing in the future of English wines. 

They grow three grape varieties on their 4.7-hectare vineyard; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. The grapes are turned into Leckford Estate Brut by the award-winning winemakers at the Ridgeview Wine Estate which is based in Sussex. The stunning Leckford Estate Brut has aromas of toasted brioche and hazelnuts, which give way to a creamy palate with apple and peach flavours.

Waitrose No.1 Leckford Wash Cheese (£6.50/150g) - available to buy in 281 shops and online from 26th July

Theyhold over a 40% market share in English wine and have the largest supermarket range of English and Welsh wines available to buy on Waitrose.com and Waitrose Cellar.

Nettlebed Creamery also produce Bix and Highmoor cheese which are available to buy at Waitrose as part of their No.1 range.

That's Food and Drink believe this cheese and wine will make excellent combinations for your Christmas cheeseboards.

www.waitrose.com

Finding alcohol free options is even easier at Waitrose

Demand for low alcohol and alcohol-free drinks is growing at such a rapid rate that  the Waitrose company is working with Diageo to introduce bold, dedicated areas in 253 of its shops across the UK to make it even easier for Waitrose shoppers to find Waitrose’s full range of over 70 low and alcohol-free drinks from beer and cider, to wines and also spirits.

Over the past year sales of low alcohol and alcohol-free drinks have grown by 20% at Waitrose, with sales of beer continuing to grow the fastest. The introduction of specialist, dedicated areas means 60% more space will be given to low and alcohol-free drinks across their shops.

Research commissioned for Diageo learned that seven in ten UK adults want to be able to find low alcohol and alcohol-free drinks more easily.

Kantar data found 99% of UK shoppers have bought both low and alcohol-free drinks and alcohol over the past year. 

Separate Kantar research found almost half of UK adults (47%) are switching between alcohol and low and alcohol-free drinks at the same occasion, and two-fifths (40%) of adults say they feel a desire and need to moderate their alcohol consumption. 

Pierpaolo Petrassi, who is the Master of Wine, and Head of Beers, Wines and Spirits at Waitrose said: “Demand for low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks is growing at a phenomenal rate. It’s now the norm for customers to be buying both.  We expect this year to be the biggest year to date for sales and we are preparing for a strong demand at Christmastime.

“We belief this growth is due to our customers feeling a need to moderate their alcohol consumption, but is also heavily driven by the creation of new, great quality drinks like Guinness 0.0, Tanqueray 0.0 and Gordon's Pink 0.0. We’ve also added 10 new low and alcohol-free products this year and will launch more before the Christmas period.”

Nuno Teles, MD at Diageo GB, said: “We know UK drinkers are becoming more sophisticated and thinking more about how much they drink, the alcohol-free and low-alcohol categories play a critical , vital role in providing quality choices for those looking to moderate, without compromising on experience.

“However, barriers still exist when it comes to finding and understanding the options that are available. We are proud to partner with Waitrose to make it easier for consumers to know where to find alcohol-free and low alcohol options in store. 

"Diageo has a long-standing commitment to promote responsible drinking and this partnership demonstrates what is possible when brands and retailers work together to enable greater consumer choice and experience.”

Neil O'Brien MP, who is the Minister for Primary Care and Public Health welcomed the initiative saying: “The government wants to create a supportive environment to help individuals who want to reduce their alcohol consumption, including through encouraging substitution of alcoholic drinks with no and low alcohol alternatives.

“We welcome this initiative to increase the availability and to improve signposting of no and low alcohol alternatives in stores.”

 You can check out Waitrose here https://www.waitrose.com

Water charity Hope Spring marks International Cat Day

Hope Spring eCards, the charity fundraising platform that (innovatively!) raises money exclusively for water poverty alleviation, marked International Cat Day with a series of free cat-themed greeting cards. The Hereford-based charity announced the free ecard offer on their blog, just in time for International Cat Day. The International Cat Day, organised by a cat care charity, is held on August 8 each year.

International Cat Day was created to promote awareness of cats, how to treat them with care and compassion, and how to care for them. The event has been going on for many years and tends to attract the support of cat owners and non-cat owners. The vast majority of organisations which participate in the event tend to be professionals that work in animal health and welfare, such as vets, animal rescues, and animal hospitals.

According to cat owner and Hope Spring trustee Temi Odurinde "You do not have to own a cat to participate in International Cat Day, but for those of us who do, it is a day for us to look at our feeling friends in a new light and learn how to take care of them even better than we do already" He added that "Hope Spring eCards decided to mark International Cat Day this year by putting a dozen new cat-themed ecards online. You can send any of our cat ecards free of charge by WhatsApp or email".

Hope Spring eCard is expecting many of their platform users to send the new cat eCard range to celebrate International Cat Day. To make the range even more popular and widely sent, non-Hope Spring eCard users are also able to send it free of charge. You can find out more about this free ecard offer by visiting Hope Spring website and social media pages.

http://www.hopespring.org.uk

(Image courtesy of bess.hamiti@gmail.com from Pixabay)

Swiss Butter's Secret Sauce - The Case Against Franchising

CEO and Founder Eddy Massaad

Swiss Butter's philosophy brings a fresh perspective to an industry where the pursuit of profits often overshadows the customer experience.

Because Swiss Butter Embraces Authenticity and Long-Term Brand Value, Rejects Franchising Model

In the fiercely competitive restaurant industry, franchising has traditionally been considered a surefire strategy for rapid expansion and enhanced visibility of brands. But Swiss Butter, a rising star in the culinary world, is defying conventional norms and is striding ahead, forging its own distinctive and unique pathway.

Rather than choosing the franchising option, Swiss Butter is clearly dedicated to establishing a genuine connection with its customers while upholding its core values.

Under the leadership of CEO and Founder Eddy Massaad, Swiss Butter is committed to delivering the true Swiss Butter experience to every single patron. Massaad states: "Our brand ethos is deeply rooted in providing the Swiss Butter experience, which is an experience that places customer happiness above all else."

This unconventional approach sets Swiss Butter apart from all its competitors and drives its decision to forgo the allure of rapid expansion through franchising.

Franchising, while seemingly enticing for swift growth, can inadvertently dilute a brand's vital essence. 

Massaad explains his thinking on this: "Franchising, while appealing for rapid expansion, comes with its fair share of pitfalls and problems. One significant issue is the potential dilution of brand quality and standards due to decreased overall control.”

He added: “Discrepancies across outlets can begin to surface, tarnishing the brand that the owners worked so hard to create. Another challenge is franchisees often tend to prioritise short-term profits over the brand owner's long-term vision, which could lead to cost-cutting measures which would tend further compromise the customer experience.”

“Moreover, disputes at the franchisee level can significantly damage the brand’s reputation, eroding customer trust and happiness. Whilst franchising might seem an attractive proposition on the surface, it doesn't always serve the best interests of the brand, aka the customers."

Swiss Butter's decision to forgo franchising reflects a broader shift in focus from immediate profits to the cultivation of long-term brand value. Massaad emphasises, "Whilst the prospect of quick profits and rapid expansion is obviously very tempting, we chose to prioritise the long-term value and authenticity of our brand, as we consider ourselves the guardians of our brand. We don't merely operate; we nurture, protect, and preserve the Swiss Butter experience."

However, Swiss Butter's stance doesn't indicate resistance to growth. Rather, their expansion strategy revolves around controlled, sustainable growth.

Massaad reveals, "Instead of franchising, we occasionally partner at the local level. We handpick partners who align with our brand values and who fully understand our Swiss Butter ethos.”

In an industry where many brands prioritise profits over the customer experience, Swiss Butter stands out with its unwavering commitment to its brand and customers. "As we continue to grow, we promise to remain true to our roots and the beloved Swiss Butter experience our customers know and also cherish."

Swiss Butter's philosophy brings a fresh perspective to an industry where the pursuit of profits often overshadows customer experience.

As Massaad aptly states, "We aren't  sprinters; we are marathon runners. We are dedicated to preserving the Swiss Butter experience for the long haul." By eschewing franchising in favour of authenticity and long-term brand value, Swiss Butter is forging its own pathway to success in the restaurant industry.

https://swissbutter.com/

What is Swiss Butter? "Your friendly neighbourhood steakhouse."

Food shopping made simpler and easier as Asda displays daily fuel prices online

Food shoppers looking to fill their car boots with groceries at the same time as they fill their car with fuel, will appreciate the latest idea from Asda, as Asda's become the first supermarket in the UK to publish local fuel prices online, thus empowering and enabling motorists to check the price of petrol or diesel before they even get in their car.

Asda's confirmed fuel prices at each Asda filling station will be available alongside other key information on the Asda Store Locator pages https://storelocator.asda.com.

The latest fuel prices will be available on the store locator page from 10.30am every morning and will show the previous day’s closing price, too.

Asda is continuing to develop a system to display real-time pricing and it expects that this will be working in the coming months.

Asda is also continuing to work collaboratively with the Government as they develop an industry-wide fuel finder scheme.

A spokesman for Asda said: “We at Asda are very proud to be the price leader in fuel costs and by sharing our prices online, customers will be able to find the best value at the pumps before they get in the car.”

www.asda.com

Celebrate National Prosecco Day with a Witt pizza

Why not raise a glass to National Prosecco Day this Sunday 13th August with the perfect pairing, delicious authentic Italian homemade pizza and bubbly Prosecco?

Pop open a bottle of fizz, gather your friends and family members, and host a Prosecco filled pizza party with the help of Witt pizza curators of the impressive pizza oven range which is taking the UK by storm this throughout this summer.  

Says Geoff Johnson Witt Sales Director, and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland: “The crisp, aromatic flavours of Prosecco makes it a suburb partner with even the more traditional types of pizzas. 

The sparkling fruit nuances and light balance of Prosecco really create a wonderful contrast to the denser tones of cheese and sliced meats, and its clean, refreshing punch partners especially well with seafood toppings such as prawns and shellfish.”

https://www.wittpizza.com/

(Image courtesy of Nicole_80 from Pixabay)

Great news from Aldi. Over 30 products have reduced prices

Even though Aldi is already the UK’s cheapest supermarket, it's cut the price of over 30 household grocery staples.

From now on, Aldi shoppers will pay even less for fresh produce items including apples, oranges and peaches.

Essential items covered include butter, spread, canned food, personal hygiene products and pet treats are also included in the latest price drop, which has seen items fall by an average of some 7%.

The move is the latest of over 130 prices Aldi has reduced over the past two months across its entire range.

Consumer group Which? has named Aldi as the UK’s cheapest supermarket in July for the 14th consecutive month. On a basket of goods, Aldi was the cheapest at £71.22, £8.37 cheaper than Tesco and £16.02 lower than Waitrose. On average, shoppers save 12% on a basket goods by shopping at Aldi compared with the traditional Big Four.

Julie Ashfield, who is MD of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “Our promise is that we will always offer the lowest grocery prices and we’re doing everything we can to pass savings on to our customers. As Britain’s cheapest supermarket, shoppers are switching to Aldi from every other supermarket.”

www.aldi.co.uk

Tesco’s 'ambitious' net zero targets validated

Tesco has outlined an 'ambitious' plan for emissions reduction across its own operations and value chain as it becomes one of the first retailers globally to have its net-zero science-based targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the official body that validates climate targets.

Tesco’s targets include stretching interim commitments to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its own operations by 85% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline year, absolute Scope 3 emissions from energy and industrial sources by 55% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline year, and absolute Scope 3 emissions from FLAG emissions by 39% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline year. 

Tesco is also one of the first companies globally to have specific, SBTi-validated targets focused on greenhouse gas emissions originating from ‘forests, land and agriculture’.

The validated targets will see Tesco working towards its commitment to become carbon neutral across its own operations by 2035, and value chain by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C. 

The retailer has set out its emissions reduction priorities through its Planet agenda. Activity will be grouped across six areas: Improve Products; Decarbonise Transport; Reduce Store Emissions; Support Sustainable Consumption; Eliminate Waste; and Protect Nature. 

Activity are to include the scaling up of deforestation-free feed sources; further roll-out of agricultural innovations such as low carbon fertiliser; and the continued decarbonisation of Tesco’s store estate and transport networks. 

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO said: “With the effects of climate change upon us, we’re committed to achieving our target of net zero by 2050. It will require us to transform the way we operate our business, from how we produce our products in partnership with suppliers, how we run our stores and transport network, and how we encourage our customers to make healthy and sustainable choices. 

“We’ve led the way on action on climate change, from adopting 100% renewable electricity across the whole Tesco group, to scaling innovations in our supply chains. We must work even harder, in collaboration with suppliers and business partners, to achieve our goals. These ambitious targets, validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative, now provide us with a clear roadmap of action over the next ten years and beyond.”   

Tesco has led the way on tackling climate change, becoming the first business globally to set a net zero target in 2009, and in 2017, the first FTSE 100 company to set science-based targets for both its own operations and its supply chain.

That's Christmas: Cosy Autumn and Winter Bliss Awaits you and your f...

That's Christmas: Cosy Autumn and Winter Bliss Awaits you and your f...: Dreaming of an Autumn or Winter staycation full of country strolls, roaring fires and hearty pub lunches? Then you need look no further than...

Nurishh offers tasty plant-based alternatives this summer

This summer it’s time to transport your tastebuds to the Med with the latest addition to the Nurishh range of plant-based alternatives to cheese; Plant-Based Greek Style Cubes. Packed with flavour and a delightfully delicious salty kick, the tasty cubes make it easy to say “OPA!” to plant-based dining! 

With the Mediterranean diet hitting headlines and Mediterranean food long synonymous with summer sharing and al fresco dining, it’s no surprise we Brits love a taste of the Med, with TikTok views for the diet coming in at over 25m.

Conveniently pre-cubed, the Nurishh Plant-Based Greek Style Cubes are ideal for mezze boards or sprinkling onto salads. They deliver a mouth-watering flavour whilst also being dairy and lactose free.

What’s more, if you are curious to try more plant-based options, there’s never been a better time to give Nurishh a go, as its “Try Me Free” offer is running until 13st August. Allowing shoppers who purchase Nurishh from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado or Co-Op to claim their money back by visiting www.nurishh-trymefree.com. The offer includes the new Greek Style Cubes plus Gran Vegiano, Garlic & Herbs Spread, Cheddar Flavour Slices and Plant-Based Alternative to Camembert. And with 81% of customers who try it[ii] loving it, the entire Nurishh range is the ideal accompaniment for coming together with family and friends to enjoy flavourful food this summer!

“Try Me Free” Terms & Conditions

UK 18+ only. Purchase of promotional pack AND Internet access required. RETAIN RECEIPT. Purchase between: 00:01 15/5/23 – 23:59 13/8/23. To participate: Purchase Nurishh product with promotional sticker, access www.nurishh-trymefree.com , submit copy receipt, name, email, and postal address – must submit claim by end 27/8/23. Max. 1 refund (by BACS) per qualifying purchase, max 5 claims per household. Full terms: www.nurishh-trymefree.com

(EDITOR: I must admit that my wife and I are now fans of Nurishh plant-based cheese alternatives. They taste excellent and because they are dairy and lactose free suit our health requirements. Not everyone who has to avoid cheese does so because they are vegans, some do so on health grounds.)

Everersfield Organic launches new restaurant

Eversfield Organic, which is one of the UK's leading organic grocery stores, is absolutely thrilled to  be able to announce the opening of a new restaurant, The Farm Kitchen at its Totnes Farm Shop, Deli, and Cafe. 

The new restaurant offers an immersive dining experience, focusing on sharing the joy of eating great food with great companions.

Located above the farm shop and café at its premises on The Plains, Totnes (TQ9 5DR for your satnav!), The Farm Kitchen is a restaurant which brings communal feasting to South Devon with carefully curated sharing boards, steaks, and fondue as the highlights of its menu inspired by traditional Swiss Alpine offerings and produce from its adjacent organic farm.

With Eversfield Organic's mantra of 'enjoy food, enjoy life,' this is a fantastic dining experience which does precisely that, bringing people together who love good food and great, enjoyable conversations. It's a place to embrace the colder months with a gathering of friends and refuel with delicious, satisfying foods.

Grass fed beef that's succulent and absolutely filled with flavour will be cooked to perfection by the guests themselves on a dedicated hot stone; and there will also be bountiful grazing boards - meat, cheese and charcuterie and a veg boards, which are packed with seasonal and organic veggies, with marinades to be poured on. 

If guests opt for a fondue, a cauldron of delicious, melted cheese will be kept warm for dipping various offerings, swirling them into the cheese to create food that's incredibly, utterly delicious.

Mark Bury, who is the MD of Eversfield Organic, expressed his excitement about the new venture, saying, "Tucking into sharing plates which are as beautiful as they are tasty, cooking our organic beef on hot stones, and sharing mouth-watering fondue is a truly wonderful way to truly appreciate incredible food that is full of the flavours and tastes of the Westcountry. The boards are simply stunning. They're absolute works of art that make you really appreciate the food that's laid before you."

He further emphasised the philosophy behind The Farm Kitchen, "It's about slowing down, cooking, dipping, savouring, and relishing beautiful food that's been consciously reared and grown."

The compact menus at The Farm Kitchen feature steak and fondue for two, complemented by sharing boards of salads, sides, and desserts that reflect the changing seasons,  with delicious organic wines available to compliment the equally delicious food. These wines are made from organically grown grapes with minimal or reduced amounts of added sulphites.

Eversfield Organic was founded in 2004 by Mark Bury, starting as a local organic grocery service. It has since grown to offer nationwide deliveries. Alongside its online presence, Eversfield Organic operates various farm shops, organic inns, and cafes. Notably, the company runs the butcher's and fishmongers in Selfridges Food Hall, London. 

www.eversfieldorganic.co.uk

(EDITOR: Thinking ahead, this could well make a very good venue for dining over the Christmas period.)

Food Rebels: Taste the Sharp Rebellion!

Introducing Food Rebels, a brand-new podcast and radio show which is solely dedicated to celebrating food challenger brands, food founders, and spotlighting personalities who dare to do things a bit differently.

The exciting 30-minute show, which launches with a listenership of over 30,000 thanks to its radio partners, will be packed with intriguing interviews and thought-provoking discussions from the exciting world of challenger brands.

The Host

Food Rebels is hosted by AJ Sharp, former co-host and presenter of The FoodTalk Show.  AJ is an experienced radio presenter, food expert, entrepreneur, broadcaster and food awards judge. She will bring her knowledge of food, entrepreneurialism, and friendly style to every episode, alongside a host of expert guest presenters.

Guest Presenters

The first four episodes kick off with ITV's Lorraine cake club winner, demo chef and food expert Suzy Pelta in the Guest Presenter's hot seat. After that, AJ's going to be joined by Colin Mordi, who founded Food Sauce, an agency dedicated to helping black and ethnic minority food founders to succeed. 

Next up, the Food Rebels team are excited to welcome the owner of award-winning Tempus Charcuterie and MasterChef 2010 winner, Dhruv Baker to the Guest Presenter's chair during October.

Guests and Scheduling

The schedule is already jammed-packed with brand founders, celebrities, and future stars, as well as experts you will recognise from TV and radio.

Food Rebels airs every Wednesday at 5pm, live through radio stations all over the UK as well as all the podcasting apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Says AJ Sharp, host and presenter of Food Rebels: “Please join us on a journey behind the scenes, where secrets are shared, wisdom is imparted, live tastings, and a feast of food and drink entertainment for our listeners across the UK and beyond.”

The first episode of Food Rebels aired on 2nd of August, and you can listen again on www.foodrebels.co.uk.

Production Team and Guest Booker is Beshley Clague

hello@foodrebels.co.uk

Please see criteria for guest requests: https://www.foodrebels.co.uk/faqs

New Caramelised Apple Yoghurt from Bonne Maman

As part of the That's Food and Drink series of features on deserts, we bring you special news from Bonne Maman of their new caramelised apple yoghurt.

They are introducing a sensational new flavour to the Bonne Maman Fruit Yoghurt range, Caramelised Apple. Containing generous servings of the tastiest of proper caramelised apples, which have been gently cooked to perfection, swirled throughout an undeniably luscious yoghurt, the unique flavour combination offers a balance of sweetness and creaminess that's utterly irresistible. 

Presented in large 450g pots, Bonne Maman Large Pot Yoghurts are specially designed for sharing. The perfect treat for a night in, or a little after dinner indulgence, without the calories of ice-cream, this tempting new flavour joins three other equally delicious yoghurts: Strawberries and the tangiest rhubarb; Raspberry and the juiciest blackberries; Violet Fig with the figgiest of figs and Morello Cherry with the plumpest cherries.

Sumptuous and intensely fruity, each Bonne Maman fruit yoghurt pot contains lots of deliciously ripe and fragrant fruit pieces, simply mixed with a thick and smooth, creamy yoghurt.

Bonne Maman Yoghurts are always made with the finest quality natural ingredients and contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. First available from Waitrose and Partners stores nationwide at £2.80 per 450g pot.

Cornwall's Clotted Cream Sales Soar as Visitors Flock to the Region

Cornwall's Trewithen Dairy is witnessing a 'remarkable' surge in clotted cream sales, which is great news for the dairy and farming industry in the county of Cornwall.

Despite July being one of the dampest in recent years, visitors are still flocking to the region. According to Visit Cornwall, over five million people visit the county every year during the annual summer holidays. 

This is a welcome boost and a veritable boon for the region's producers as the demand for food in the region skyrockets. 

At the heart of this lies a love for a traditional cream tea. Freshly baked scones adorned with jam and rich clotted cream are a must-have treat and at Trewithen Dairy sales are soaring.

During the peak summer months between May and September, Trewithen Dairy plans to produce an amazing 55.77 tonnes of their renowned clotted cream in various formats, including 56g, 114g, 200g, and 400g pots. 

This volume alone would equate to almost 100,000 cream teas with an estimated 10 million more cream teas expected to be consumed through Trewithen's business providing clotted cream into other retailers.

That's an enormous number of people consuming authentic Trewithen Dairy Cornish clotted cream that bears the all important and vital PDO stamp. This stands for Protected Designation of Origin and means that it is produced, processed and prepared in Cornwall using recognised methods or skills. It's genuine, delicious Cornish clotted cream made with milk from cows which are raised and grazed by farmers who are very passionate about their health and welfare. High quality, Cornish milk creates the very best tasting clotted cream.

One of Trewithen Dairy's partners, farmer Matt Rowe of Tredinnick Farm, plays a vital role in helping meet the demand. During the peak holiday season milk production at his farm increases by 20% with more milk sold in August and September than any other time of the year. 

Matt said: “Everybody loves a cream tea and its brilliant. We aim our profile to fit a 20% increase during the summer to cope with the demand in Cornwall. We try and maximise our returns so at this time of year we do produce more milk for the tourists.

“We're lucky to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world, with clotted cream made from cows all raised and grazed in Cornwall, a delicious reminder of our county.”

Francis Clarke, a director of Trewithen Dairy, said: “It's always lovely to see so many people coming to Cornwall for their holidays, and it's wonderful to know our clotted cream holds a very special place in the hearts of those who visit us. 

"Even after they return home, people want to enjoy the taste of Cornwall, and that's great news for our business and Cornwall's dairy farmers, who work hard to provide the finest milk for our cherished products.”

As the demand for clotted cream hits its peak, Trewithen Dairy is very proud to showcase the versatility of this indulgent treat. Beyond the classic cream tea, clotted cream enhances a wide range of summer recipes, from sweet to savoury. 

And as Cornwall continues to flourish as a top holiday destination, Trewithen Dairy's clotted cream will continue to provide a delicious reminder of a region that is loved by so many. And when the holiday season is over, Trewithen Dairy sales of clotted cream continue to remain robust through its online shop with people buying their cream teas online reminding them of sublime days in Cornwall, all year round.

Please check out the dairy here https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk.

That's Christmas: Celebrate the Christmas Magic With Luscombe's 'Ope...

That's Christmas: Celebrate the Christmas Magic With Luscombe's 'Ope...: Whether  you're looking to host a festive gathering, toasting with loved ones or simply unwinding after a long fun-filled day at Christm...

Summers Under the Tamarind Tree - Recipes & Memories from Pakistan

Summers Under the Tamarind Tree - Recipes & Memories from Pakistan - by Sumayya Usmani, published by White Lion Publishing.

In this new edition of her award-winning memoir-cookbook, Sumayya Usmani celebrates the varied, exciting and all-too-often  overlooked cuisine of her beautiful birthplace, honouring the heritage and traditions of her home country through over 100 family recipes and evocative food memories.

Said Sumayya: “When people think of Pakistan, they probably picture a simple land which is plagued by troubles. But having grown up in Karachi, my memories of my childhood in Pakistan are filled with exciting scents, sounds and rich flavours. Food is the spirit of Pakistani people and the cuisine has been hundreds of years in the making.

When I moved to the UK, I was struck by the fact that despite a large Pakistani diaspora, our cuisine has never found its individual voice. My patriotic spirit and passion for the food I grew up cooking and eating sowed the seeds for this book. 

"I hope that the flavour of my heritage comes through in each recipe I share. This book is for my mother, grandmothers and daughter – the women who have always inspired me – and for my homeland, which is full of passion, promise and authentic flavour.”

What do people say about the book?

“Sumayya's words bring to life the aromas of her exquisite recipes, as well as the story of a little-known culinary heritage. It's wonderful to discover the world of Pakistani food and andaza (sensory cooking) in this perfect cookbook.” OLIA HERCULES 

“This book is a treasure.  Charm, information and what Sumayya calls 'the flavour of my Pakistani heritage' permeates every single recipe.” MADHUR JAFFREY

“My favourite sort of cookbook: personal, beautiful and full of things I want to eat.” MEERA SODHA

 £20 hardback, published in September.

 

Bone Appetit! Aldi's sell-out doggy ice cream is back at just £2.99!

Back by popular demand, Aldi’s Doggy Ice Cream hits stores nationwide from today, 8th August. 

It's available in two delicious flavours of Pea & Vanilla and Carrot & Apple.

Dogs across the country will be training their owners to go fetch, as Aldi has announced the return of its sell-out Dog Ice Cream just in time for the expected warmer weather.

Last year, the popular treat sold out in record time with nearly 30 tubs every minute zooming out of the freezer when it launched in June 2022.. And now, Aldi's popular canine treat is back and will be sure to get tongues licking and tails wagging when it hits the shelves.

Priced at just £2.99 (pack of 4, 110ml each) your furry friends can get involved in the ice cream action with a choice of the two delicious flavours: Pea & Vanilla and Carrot & Apple. The Doggy Ice Cream is 100% plant based and boasts real fruit and vegetables to offer a nutritious snack whilst also keeping pets cool during the warm weather.

With summer finally here and searches of #dogicecream hitting 31.8M on TikTok alone, Aldi’s Doggy Ice Cream couldn't have returned at a better time!

Julie Ashfield, the MD of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “Last year we became the first UK supermarket to launch a doggy-friendly ice cream, and it was a huge hit with our pet owners. We’re delighted to bring back a product that's both nutritious and cooling for dogs, just as the sunshine returns!”

Aldi’s Langham’s Doggy Ice Cream will be available in the freezer aisle and can be found in stores nationwide from today. Pet owners will need to run and fetch quickly though, because as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

www.aldi.co.uk.

A Lidl bit of good news for tea lovers!

Lidl's revealed all its own-brand tea bags will become fully compostable, helping tea lovers across the whole  country make more sustainable shopping choices.

This means customers can enjoy their favourite cuppa knowing they'll be able to dispose of the tea bags in food or green waste bins. 

The transition to fully compostable tea bags is expected to divert up to 800 million per year from traditional waste bins, and subsequently, landfill.

The material - a special plant-based plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) - not only ensures the composability of the tea bags but also maintains the exceptional quality and flavour that Lidl customers expect. 

From its Deluxe Fairtrade Assam Tea (£1.09) to its Knightsbridge Gold Blend Tea (£1.19) or Knightsbridge Red Label Tea (£2.39) – the change will be made across all of Lidl GB’s own-brand tea range.

In line with its wider commitment to improving the recyclability of all its products, the move follows a recent announcement from Lidl to transition its milk range to clear tops. These combined efforts mean Lidl shoppers can savour every cup of tea knowing they’re helping cut the amount of single-use plastic that are destined for landfill.

Said Shyam Unarket, who is Head of Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade at Lidl GB “Those buying tea bags from Lidl are supporting our efforts to reduce single-use plastic going to landfill. We understand even a few relatively minor changes to our products can benefit our customers, whilst also helping us improve our impact on the planet, one cup at a time.”

Lidl’s new compostable tea bags will turn in store over the coming months, while existing stock gradually sells through. Today’s announcement comes as part of Lidl’s ongoing efforts to reduce its own-label plastic packaging by 40% by the end of 2025.

Other recent initiatives include becoming the first UK supermarket to incorporate Prevented Ocean Plastic™ into its water bottles and announcing plans to introduce new vacuum-packed, recyclable packaging across its beef mince range, resulting in a plastic reduction of almost two thirds (63%).

Tesco’s move to highlight marked down food bargains now expands to 300 stores

A move by Tesco to help customers find marked-down yellow sticker food items more easily has proved so popular Tesco has decided to expand to 300 stores all over the UK.

For the revamp the supermarket has made bold, new signage for its mark-down section in stores to help shoppers find food bargains and at the same time help reduce food waste.

The new signage which states, ‘reduced in price, just as nice’, is now up in just under 300 stores and plans are currently being discussed to roll it out even further across all Tesco branches.

The mark down areas feature a wide range of products from fresh produce like salads, meat, bread and sweet treats which are near to their expiry date, so they're ideal for tonight’s supper or for popping in the freezer for another day, to end of season as well as discontinued grocery and non-food products, also.

Tesco Group Quality, Technical and Sustainability Director Claire Lorains said: “At Tesco we have no time for food waste and we are doing everything we can to reduce this.

“Our customers are always on the lookout for great value food, and our rebranded ‘reduced in price, just as nice’ signage makes it easier than ever before to spot a short-dated and top-quality bargain.” 

The initial move last October was made after a survey revealed shoppers would pick up more yellow sticker food items if the marked down area where they are placed would look nicer.

Tesco’s Hatfield Extra store in Hertfordshire was the first to feature the revamp last October.

Hatfield store manager Ravi Aloysius said: “The new signage has had an immediate effect and we are seeing more people wishing to buy from our reductions area, particularly on fresh food, meaning there are far fewer items left at the end of an evening.” 

Tesco has already achieved a 45 per cent reduction in food waste across own operations since 2016/17. However, it knows there is still more to do despite just 0.35 per cent of food it handled, last year, ending up as waste.  

Tesco closely follows the food waste hierarchy to ensure that no food goes to landfill. Where possible surplus food is given to humans through Fareshare.  

Pizza-free cooking in pizza ovens from Witt?

Award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been impressing customers and publications like BBC Good Food, Ideal Home, and Independent since its launch earlier this year. 

With its stylish design and ultra-fast heating technology, the Etna Fermo Pizza Oven does more than render perfect pizzas. It does so much more, besides!

Geoff Johnson Sales Director and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland said: "The Etna Fermo Pizza Oven is fast heating and has a large cooking space meaning that not only can it produce perfect pizzas, it’s also great for roasting or searing meats, fish, vegetables as well as baking bread or delicious desserts.” 

“Firstly, I really recommend that you invest in a good quality cast-iron skillet, it can handle intense heat and will work perfectly for many dishes. But you should never food directly onto your pizza stone, or it could become saturated with meat fats and also smaller foods like vegetables need to be contained during the cooking process.”

Geoff’s favourite things to cook in a pizza oven other than pizzas?

Roast Chicken with Lemon, Garlic, and Herb Butter 

“My go-to for roast chicken is always lemon, garlic and herb butter - spatchcocking is a great way to reduce cooking time, and it’ll fit on a cast-iron pan in your Witt pizza oven.” 

Focaccia 

“Using pizza dough, garlic, Rosemary, salt, pepper and plenty of olive oil, you will have delicious homemade Focaccia in 30 minutes.”

Vegetables

“Even delicate vegetables such as tender stem broccoli can be cooked in your pizza oven. Most vegetables will benefit from a light coating of oil, salt, and pepper before you add them to the hot skillet. Keep an eye on them and make sure to turn them regularly. They really don't take too long to cook.”

(EDITOR: I feel turkey (perhaps breasts or wings?) and Christmas dinner vegetables would cook up nicely in a Witt pizza oven.)

https://www.wittpizza.com

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witt-Etna-Fermo-Pizza-Rotating/dp/B0BJW8Q2PZ

Sharpham Cremet Cheese earns Top Rating in World's Largest Food and Drink Awards

Soft-cheese specialists, Devon's Sharpham Cheese, was recently awarded the heralded 3-stars in the Great Taste Awards, putting them in the top 2% of the largest and most trusted food and drink awards on the planet. 

Revealed on Tuesday 1st August, their Cremet, handcrafted from goat's milk and cow's double cream, achieved 'exquisite' and 'extraordinary' in the judges' blind taste tests. Out of 14,195 entrants, only 248 received the coveted rating of 3-stars. 

The top rated products, which includes Sharpham Cremet, will now go on to be judged in the prestigious Great Taste Golden Forks awards. The Golden Forks and Supreme Champion will be announced at the ceremony and tasting on the 11th September.

Sharpham Cremet is a wonderful soft mould ripened cheese, made with goat's milk with added double cow's milk cream. There is nothing else like it produced in whole of the UK. 

Cremet has a creamy, mousse like texture when it's younger, but it deepens to a full, rich flavour with earthy undertones when it ripens.

This spectacular cheese, produced by the UKs  first B Corp cheesemakers, has already won a number of important and significant awards, including, Best Cheese Award and British Product of the Year, at the Great British Food Awards. 

The cheese category was judged by acclaimed chef Marcus Wareing who chose Sharpham Cremet as the winner. All winning products went on to be judged by a panel of tasters at Partridges. Partridges selected Cremet as the overall product of the year.

In 2023 alone, Cremet has also won a Gold Taste of the West Award, Gold at the Artisan Cheese Awards and Gold at Devon County Show.

Judges notes:

This is so rich and creamy, it feels ridiculously indulgent - but who doesn't need a bit of indulgence! This is a clever, expertly made soft cheese, in which you can really taste the goats cheese and the rich cream. The mould is minerally and flavourful, and the paste is so creamy that it melts in the mouth. One special aspect of this cheese is the peppery notes that come through right on the finish. This may be unique to this producer - congratulations on a very special cheese. 

This is a wonderful cheese. We loved the appearance - the enticing rind and pure white paste, the clean yet luscious creamy texture, the combination of dairy creaminess with the fresh lemon element from the goats cheese and the soft rind. Beautifully balanced and cleverly crafted.

A very well-constructed cheese. From the subtle hint of goat on the nose to the very well balanced length of flavour on the palate, it is really well done. Not a hint of ammonia to be found. The balance of goat and cow delivers an amazing creaminess. Silky smooth. Absolutely delicious. 

It's certainly an innovative and pleasing cheese. 

Said a 'delighted' Greg Parsons, who is co-owner of Sharpham Cheese: “Britain is renowned world-wide for producing some of the highest standard cheeses, so we're really very thrilled to see Cremet recognised as one of the nation's favourites."

He went on to add: "The awards are testament to the hard work that goes into our high quality products, from the farmers who supply our milk to the drivers who deliver it and everyone else in between. 

"Great Taste Awards are revered for their experienced and knowledgeable judges, so the award with such complimentary feedback is high praise indeed.”

Nicky Parsons, co-owner of Sharpham Cheese said: “Although originally created by Debbie Mumford, Peter Haworth and the cheese making team have not only continued the high quality standards but they've excelled to bring Sharpham their first ever Great Taste 3-stars.” 

This year, judging took place over 89 days in Dorset and London, with a panel of in excess of 500 judges putting the products to the test. The line-up saw food and drink products submitted from an extraordinary 109 different countries across the world. 

The Great Taste 3-star Sharpham Cremet costs £14.85 for 480g and is available from www.sharphamcheese.co.uk

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