The new taste of summer: Mindful Chef pairs England’s most exciting wines with seasonal, feel-good cooking

A truly joyful celebration of English wine and the magic of flavour pairing, bringing the best of British soil to your table.

Curated by wine expert Jane Rakison, showcasing standout producers from vineyard to city winery

Available exclusively from 20th – 28th June 2026

his summer is shaping up to be a true celebration of what’s on our doorstep. As more people embrace slower travel and stay closer to home, there’s never been a better moment to discover the depth of quality, craft and flavour coming from British producers, especially in the world of English wine.

To mark English Wine Week (20th – 28th June 2026) Mindful Chef, the UK’s highest-rated recipe box, has partnered with wine expert Jane Rakison to showcase the magic that happens when great food meets the right wine. The collaboration brings together fresh, seasonal recipes with carefully selected bottles from vineyards across England.

Rooted in a shared passion for championing local producers, the menu celebrates the very best of British soil, from responsibly sourced ingredients to world-class wines. By bringing together food and wine grown and made closer to home, each dish offers a more connected experience, linking the people at the table with the producers behind every element.

Designed to be shared and savoured, each dish encourages long, relaxed meals, where great conversation sits alongside a deeper appreciation of the craft and provenance behind every bite.

English wine is having a moment. With production rising sharply and over 1,000 vineyards now across the UK, producers are crafting bottles that are not only distinctive but globally competitive. England’s cool climate continues to create wines with bright acidity and freshness, ideal for pairing with vibrant, seasonal dishes.

This limited-edition menu captures that energy and diversity, showcasing wines from some of England’s most exciting regions. From crisp coastal whites to elegant sparkling wines from Dorset and West Sussex, and lighter-style reds from an innovative urban winery in London, each bottle has been chosen to complement and enhance Mindful Chef’s dishes, proving just how versatile and food-friendly English wine can be.

Highlights include Langham’s Corallian Classic Cuvée NV, an elegant sparkling from Dorset, and Nyetimber’s limited-edition English Summer Rosé, which reflects the flavours of English wild strawberries and raspberries. The menu also spotlights boundary-pushing producers such as Black Book in London, whose lighter English reds offer a fresh take on classic pairings.

Each recipe has been created by Leiths-trained Head Chef Jesse Kempner, using a selection of seasonal ingredients and Mindful Chef’s signature approach to balanced, nourishing cooking. The result is a menu designed not just to taste great, but to feel good too, with dishes that are fresh, flavour-packed and perfectly matched to their wine counterparts.

Standout pairings include samphire-baked salmon with herby potato salad, elevated by a crisp English sparkling that enhances fresh herb notes while cutting through the richness of the fish. Meanwhile, Somerset pork meatball fusilli with sundried tomato sauce and rocket pesto is paired with a lighter English red - a combination that brings out the depth and complexity of both dish and wine.

At its heart, the menu is about rediscovering joy in the kitchen by removing the guesswork from pairing and helping home cooks confidently create meals where every bite and every sip work in harmony.

Jane Rakison, wine expert, told That's Food and Drink: “English wine is incredibly exciting right now, not just because of its quality, but because of how well the various styles work with food. 

"What we’ve created here is all about unlocking those flavour combinations. From elegant sparkling wines that lift fresh, herb-led dishes, to lighter reds that pair beautifully with comforting classics, these wines really come into their own at the table. 

"With more people staying closer to home this summer, it’s the perfect time to explore just how versatile and world-class English wine can be.”

Jesse Kempner, Head Chef at Mindful Chef, told us: “This menu is all about showing how great ingredients with the right pairings can completely transform a meal. We’ve focused on creating dishes centred around  fresh, seasonal produce, and have matched them with English wines to elevate the flavours, and balance the different elements on the plate. 

"It’s about creating an accessible and easy restaurant-quality experience at home, while celebrating the incredible producers we have here in the UK.”

Dishes on the Mindful Chef wine pairing menu are available from 20–28 June 2026.

Mindful Chef’s wine pairing menu:

Langham Corallian Classic Cuvee NV (Dorset) with Samphire Baked Salmon & Herby Potato Salad

Nyetimber English Summer Rosé (West Sussex) with Roasted Vegetable Gnocchi with Sundried Tomato & Walnut Pesto

Lyme Bay Shoreline (Devon)with Nicoise-style Anchovy Salad 

Stopham Estate Pinot Gris 2023 (West Sussex)with Honeyed Chorizo & Sweetcorn Salad with Caramelised Onions

Black Book Drums Space 2022 (London) with Pork Meatball Fusilli with Sundried Tomato Sauce & Rocket Pesto.

How it works

Choose from 28 meals for 1, 2 or 4 people.

Select delivery day and frequency: skip a week, cancel anytime, or change deliveries.

Ingredients arrive pre-portioned, reducing prep time, waste and stress.

Recipes are easy to follow and can be cooked in as little as 20 minutes.

Pricing and delivery

One-person meals from £11.85 per portion

Two-person meals from £6.90 per portion

Family meals from £4.50 per portion

New customers receive 30% off their first four boxes plus free delivery on their first box. Delivery is an additional £5.99, available 7 days a week across mainland UK, with Wednesday delivery to the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland.

mindfulchef.com 

Want to give your Dad one of the best Father's Day gifts he has ever had? Present him with a Father's Day easy celebration at home would be great to include Mindful Chef's new wine pairing menu. The menu runs from 20th - 28th June so is perfect for Father's Day dinners at home for a delicious home-cooked treat away from set restaurant menus. You can even send him a gift card so he can create his own special menu. https://www.mindfulchef.com/gift-cards 

Ideal For Father's Day. Beers With All The Taste, But None of the Headaches!

Mash Gang – RRP from £8.99 

Unlike many other alcohol-free beers, Mash Gang doesn’t dealcoholise the beer, but instead brews it with precision to 0.5%, allowing the drink to keep all the flavour that is held by a full-strength beer.

It also means consumers can still enjoy alcohol-free without compromising their drinking experience!

Lesser Evil | 0.5% Cherry Chocolate Stout 

Creamy, Rich, Exquisite. A decadent 0.5% chocolate stout with vanilla and creamy oats, spiked with a rather extravagant amount of sweet and sour cherry juice. Despite its supernaturally creamy taste it contains no dairy products and is entirely vegan. It was named 2025 International Non-Alcoholic Competition ‘Porter Beer of the Year’

Chug | 0.5% Hazy IPA  

Mash Gang's flagship IPA. Fluffy and full-bodied, with that signature bite of bitterness on a clean, pale base. A modern approach to a classic combination of hops. Citra and El Dorado create a tropical torrent providing your palate with a perfect, unparalleled drinking experience. Heroic in haze, full flavoured and never brewed by halves. It won Gold at 2025 International Non-Alcoholic Competition

Journey Juice | 0.5% Fruited Hazy IPA  

This is one to try, even if for someone who might  think they don't like beer... the perfect 'beer and juice in one'.  

A fruited IPA cranked with magnificent mango and supreme Sabro hops, perfect for the adventure, no matter what journey you're on. This is fruity, bitter, salty, spicy and sweet on a juicy pale ale base. 2025 International Non-Alcoholic Competition Bronze

Glug | 0.5% Cerveza Lager 

Since day one Mash Gang has been asked 'can you make a lager?' and now it's finally here...an Alcohol-Free twist on a full flavoured golden Cerveza Lager. A classic style, complex and crisp. Boasting notes of masa, candied lime, and a refreshing gooseberry finish. 2025 International Non-Alcoholic Competition Bronze.

To learn more about Mash Gang and to source some for your Dad, visit https://mashgang.com

The Hunger Hub. It's an Ideal Father's Day Gift. In a Bucket

What, exactly is, Hunger Hub? It's an easy to assemble kitchen in a bucket for outdoor cooking. And all for £199!

It’s a great alternative Father’s Day gift if the family club together! Especially if your Dad is a foodie and likes to cook.

As well as being a fantastic garden party/picnic/festival/camping friend, The Hunger Hub is all about promoting positive masculinity and encouraging families to get together round a campfire or in a lovely space to reconnect and switch off. Plus some of the profits go to charity. What’s not to love?

Learn more at https://thehungerhub.com

Your Dad's The Icing On The Cake. Time You Showed Him This On Father's Day

Since dads are often notoriously hard to shop for, why not stick to sweet treats this Father’s Day and give your dad, father figure or grandad something he can tuck into on his special day?

Whether they prefer a large cake centrepiece, individual cakes or rich chocolate brownies, Sponge, the online bakery retailer, has something for everyone to indulge in this Father’s Day including gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. Many of Sponge’s wide selection of tasty gifts can also be delivered straight through the letterbox for the ultimate convenient gift.

Sponge Cake Cards

A heartfelt card is a great way to show your dad or father figure how much he means, but why not add two slices of his favourite cake. 

Simply choose your card design, either write a personalised message or record a video message that’s printed as a QR code for the recipient, then leave the rest to Sponge.

Flavours include Carrot Slice, Chocolate Caramel Fudge, Lemon Cake, Red Velvet Cake and a classic Victoria Sponge.

Available to purchase on www.sponge.co.uk from £9.99

The Legends Brownie Box

A box full of treats inspired by nostalgic and beloved chocolate bars, Sponge’s Legends Brownie Box features eight delicious gooey and rich brownies topped with Daim, Kinder, Fudge Bar and Cadbury’s Chocolate.

Sponge’s brownie recipe ensures the popular traybakes remain moist and rich yet with a slightly crispy top and their special packaging means they can be posted directly through the letter box, ready for 21st June. 

The Father’s Day brownies are also available in a gluten free version, which are handmade in Sponge’s alternative bakery that’s accredited by the Coeliac Society.

Available to purchase on www.sponge.co.uk from £18.99

Traditional Baby Sponge Cakes

Have you got a dad that likes to try a small bite of everything? Then Sponge’s Baby Sponge Selection Box will be the icing on the cake this Father’s Day.

Discover eight flavours of cake inside one special gift box, which includes a classic Victoria, zingy Lemon, rich Chocolate, nutty Coffee, as well as Carrot, Chocolate Orange, Sticky Toffee and Red Velvet.

For coeliacs and those intolerant to wheat, gluten free baby sponge cakes (Chocolate, Victoria, Carrot and Apple Crumble) are made in a separate bakery, with a vegan box (Victoria, Chocolate, Carrot and Caramel) available too.

Available to purchase on www.sponge.co.uk from £20.99

Super Sharing Cake

Cake preferences are very personal and for groups of loved ones celebrating Father's Day, why not spoil everyone and cater to all tastes with Sponge’s showstopping Super Sharing Cake.

It features 14 individually sliced flavours, including classics like chocolate, zingy lemon drizzle and Red Velvet, or why not try something a little different including Sticky Toffee, Millionaires and Apple Crumble?

Purchase from £43.99 via the Sponge website: www.sponge.co.uk/cakes/sharing-cakes/super-sharing-cake

Sponge began life in a café in Holt, Norfolk, 15 years ago. Since then  it's grown up to become a nationwide cake sensation. 

With a focus on old-school standards and proper ingredients, its handcrafted cakes have proved mouth-wateringly popular across the entire country.  

Sponge’s cakes are available for next-day delivery and can also be found in quality cafés, restaurants, attractions, and retailers across the country. 

Its range has expanded to include Brownies, Baby Sponges, Super Sharing cakes, and Cake Cards, with a variety of flavours and dietary-friendly options, including its latest certification from Coeliac UK and the Vegan Society. 

Sponge is still proudly based in Holt and works tirelessly to bake something delicious for anyone looking for a classic treat, a dietary-friendly delight, or a thoughtful gift. 

Organising a BBQ for Dad on Father's Day? Then You Need Big Nath's Help!

BIG NATH'S BBQ is a multi-award winning BBQ business that dominated the street food world for the last five years, and has made waves across the country thanks to a cult following on social media, a series of coveted award, wins and regular TV, radio and Foodie Fest Appearances.  

Founded and created by Pitmaster and BBQ Influencer Big Nath, Big Nath's food showcases Texan style craftsmanship, with a Big Nath twist.

Their multi award- winning artisan sauces and rubs are lovingly made in Bristol, and sold globally via their online store https://www.bignathsbbqshop.co.uk.

What's available?

Big Nath’s BBQ Sauce - £6.50

Big Nath’s very own, award winning, signature BBQ sauce recipe bottled up for you! Handmade, sweet and smoky BBQ sauce. Use it to marinade, dip or glaze. Once tried, never forgotten! 

And it's both Vegan and gluten free, so is perfectly good for Dad, if he's a vegan, or any relatives who now tick the "no meat, please!" box. And also safe for any coeliacs in the family.

BIG NATHS BBQ RUB - £4.00

Use it to cover your meat, best for pork or chicken, and get things smoking.

Makes the perfect partner with our BBQ sauce.

Big Nath’s Brisket Rub - £4.00

Big Nath’s brisket rub. Simple, classic and effective.

This is the combination uses for smoking all of their brisket.

Let the meat do the talking!

Big Nath’s Hot Sauce - £6.00

A mild hot sauce!

Mild enough for your grandma, sassy enough for her to raise an eyebrow.

To learn more about Big Nath's BBQ business, his sauces his rubs and his BBQ Skool, where you can learn how to become a BBQ master, please visit https://www.bignathsbbq.co.uk

Nath will even teach you how to Gozney like a pro! 

And you can gift your father a Skool gift card https://www.bignathsbbq.co.uk/gift-card

Does Your Dad Have a Sweet Tooth? Then We Have The Perfect Father's Day Gifts For Him!

If your Dad has ever told you all about the sweets he used to enjoy as a boy, he might like to learn that the sweets he enjoyed as a boy are still available today.

How so? Because the Swizzels' Sweet Shop Favourites range of delicious and delightful sweets are still available today!

Within the range are included Love Hearts (he probably exchanged those with his first girlfriend!) Fizzers, Parma Violets, Refreshers, Double Lollies and Drumstick Lollies.

And there are no nasty artificial things in them, too!

To find out what you can order for your dad for Father's Day visit Swizzels and put your order in as soon as you can.

https://swizzels.com/sweets/sweet-shop-favourites

Or for next day delivery visit our online shop which is powered by Amazon https://amzn.to/3S4cQkB

Do You Have A DILF in Your Life? Curious Minds At That's Food and Drink Would Like to Know!

This is the absolute ultimate ‘DILF’ (Dad I’d Like to Feed) Father’s Day Gift Guide!

New data from Google Trends reveals a massive 9,800% spike in searches for ‘Father’s Day gifts’ over the past month. 

Our friends at The Cornish Company, believe that the solution is simplicity in itself. 

The way to a man’s heart is firmly through his stomach. 

Leaning into that age-old wisdom, they’ve curated the ultimate gift guide for the ‘DILF’ (Dad I’d Like to Feed). (EDITOR: Oh! So that's what DILF means! They had us worried for a minute or two!)

Available now, the Father’s Day collection from the Cornish Company features a lineup of locally-made, deliciously fresh Cornish delicacies designed to satisfy every craving. 

From the show-stopping Giant ‘DAD’ Steak Pasty and savoury sausage rolls to refreshing Cornish Ales and Ciders, the "pasty and a pint" combo, they’ve got it all. 

And for Dads with a sweet tooth, the collection also includes the signature Cornish cream teas and "coffee & cake" hampers, ensuring every father figure gets a taste of Cornwall delivered straight to his door. 

Tom Woodley, Managing Director & Co-founder at The Cornish Company, told That's Food and Drink: “Let’s face it, most Dads would trade a pair of novelty socks for a giant steak pasty and a cold beer in a heartbeat. 

"At The Cornish Company, we’ve always believed you don't need to over-complicate the ‘perfect’ gift; the most authentic way to show appreciation is through great food.

"Our Father’s Day range is about stripping away the usual clichés and gifting guesswork. We’ve focused on things we know actually hit the spot, like our signature steak pasties and locally brewed ales. 

"Whether he’s into a traditional cream tea or a crisp Cornish cider, our goal is to ensure every father figure feels well-fed and properly celebrated. It’s about giving Dad a genuine moment to put his feet up and enjoy a quality experience delivered straight to his door.”

As far as That's Food and Drink is concerned a proper Cornish pasty with a pint of delicious Cornish ale or cider followed by a Cornish cream tea is a genuine "proper job!" (As my wife's West Country family members would put it!)

The Father’s Day "Feed" Lineup:

The Dad Pasty & Cream Tea Hamper

Dad’s Coffee & Cake Treat Hamper

Cheers To Dad Hamper

Pasty & Cider Father’s Day Treat

“Dad’s Little Luxuries” Rum Hamper

So this year, skip the generic gift aisles (how many "Best Dad Ever" mugs can one man really need?) and give Dad a gift he’ll actually love this year. 

For a present that genuinely hits the spot, shop The Cornish Company’s Father’s Day collection and take advantage of next-day delivery to ensure every treat arrives fresh and ready to enjoy. Beat the rush and secure a ‘proper job’ surprise today. 

https://thecornishcompany.com

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Mermaid Spiced Rum For Father's Day? "Yes, Please!" Say Dads, Everywhere!

Did you know that the Isle of Wight is the home to one of the world's most iconic and utterly beguiling rums, Mermaid Spiced Rum?

Mermaid Spiced Rum is carefully and beautifully crafted using only specially selected blends of genuine sugar cane and molasses and is infused on the Isle of Wight with the addition of carefully chosen fragrant rock samphire, plus the addition of honey from the island’s own beehives and black salt from the flood tides, this bottle is the perfect gift for any rum-loving Dad this Father’s Day. 

It will cost £41.50 a bottle from John Lewis and also from Amazon at the lower price of £36.95, available for next day delivery with Amazon Prime. You can purchase it at our Amazon-powered shop at this link https://amzn.to/4vMRJSo

And here is a very tasty Mermaid Spiced Rum & Ginger recipe

Ingredients:

50ml Mermaid Spiced Rum 

A splash of Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer 

Garnish: 

A sprig of fresh mint and maraschino cherry 

Method:

Build into an ice-filled glass with a splash of either Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale to taste.

Mermaid Spiced Rum is only one of the incredible and carefully crafted spirit drinks distilled by the Isle of Wight Distillery. They produce a range of gins and vodkas as well as their spiced rum.

https://isleofwightdistillery.com

Cake! Everyone Loves Cake! Especially a Cake Box Photo Cake For Father's Day

Cake Box Cakes are utterly delicious and what would be better for Father's Day than a Cake Box Father’s Day Photo Cakes, specially personalised with a favourite family photo, making them a fun and thoughtful option for dads, grandads and father figures in your life. 

Customers can also add their own message, whether it’s a heartfelt note, an inside joke or even a cute drawing from the kids.

All cakes are 100% egg-free, freshly made in store and available for click-and-collect in as little as one hour nationwide, making them a really easy option for families looking for something personal without the stress.

Father’s Day Photo Cakes are available now from Cake Box here: https://www.cakebox.com/celebration-cakes/by-occasion/fathers-day/fathers-day-photo-cakes

We can confirm that Cake Box cakes are utterly delicious, as we buy cakes from our nearest Cake Box Branch.