Food and drink news for the discerning consumer
Wednesday, 21 October 2026
That's Christmas 365: The 12 Flavours of Christmas: Steenbergs’ Little I...
That's Christmas 365: The 12 Flavours of Christmas: Steenbergs’ Little I...: Christmas cooking is full of big moments, but sometimes it’s the smallest ingredients that make them memorable. A pinch of spice in a biscu...
New Kent Sparkling Wine 'Figgy's Fizz' Launches With a Powerful Story of Hope
Rather than allowing Chris's story to end there, his family transformed their grief into something positive, creating a wine that celebrates life, community and connection while encouraging more open conversations around mental health and suicide.
In support of The Listening Place, a donation of 50p from every bottle sold will be made by Figgis Family Vineyard to The Listening Place (Registered Charity No. 1164739). The Listening Place provides free face-to-face support for people struggling with suicidal feelings.
Made exclusively from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in Figgy's Field on the Mount Ephraim Estate, Figgy's Fizz is a sparkling white wine, made using the Charmat method, with a 12.5% ABV and an RRP of £25. 4,000 bottles of the 2025 vintage will be available from September through selected fine food retailers across Kent and the Figgis Family Vineyard website.
Figgy's Fizz 2025
Tasting Notes: A bright, lightly sparkling wine for any occasion. Crafted from Pinot Noir & Chardonnay grapes grown at our vineyard near Faversham, Kent, and made using the Charmat method, it is fresh, fruit-forward and wonderfully refreshing.
Serving suggestion: Enjoy well chilled as an aperitif or alongside light dishes.
ABV: 12.5%
RRP: £25
Link to Buy: https://www.figgisfamilyvineyard.com/shop
Other stockists: Macknade, Perry Court Farm Shop, Myatts of Mockbeggar, Gibson's Farm Shop, Wingham Country Market and Monks Granary Wine and Cheese.
If you are feeling depressed these resources are helpful:-
Tuesday, 20 October 2026
That's Christmas 365: And Tonight We’re Going to Party Like It’s 1929
That's Christmas 365: And Tonight We’re Going to Party Like It’s 1929: Christmas has always been a wonderful excuse to dress up, put on some music and make an evening feel special. This year, Trevethan Gin invi...
What's the Matcha With You? Move Over Matcha: Tom Parker Creamery’s Golden Milk Brings a Tasty, Cosy Glow
Tom Parker Creamery is adding a golden touch to the milk aisle with Golden Milk, a gently spiced whole milk drink inspired by haldi doodh, the traditional Indian drink made with milk and turmeric.
Made with free-range British whole milk, turmeric, cinnamon, honey and black pepper, Golden Milk has a naturally golden colour and a creamy, gently spiced flavour.
It’s designed to be enjoyed cold straight from the fridge or warmed up for a soothing, caffeine-free alternative to an evening coffee.
What about trying it on your cereals for a wonderfully warming breakfast?
The new 500ml glass bottle launches in Waitrose and Ocado from 21 October 2026, with a recommended price of £1.80. There’s no need to measure out spices or wash a saucepan afterwards: just give the bottle a shake, pour, and enjoy.
Golden Milk takes inspiration from a drink with a much longer history than the modern café golden latte. Known as haldi doodh in India, turmeric milk is part of South Asian food culture, with families often making their own versions using spices such as cinnamon, black pepper or nutmeg. Tom Parker Creamery’s ready-to-drink version brings together familiar ingredients in a handy everyday format.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy it. Warm it gently and froth until silky, then finish with a little cinnamon. For a more indulgent mug, add grated dark chocolate or chocolate curls. On warmer days, pour it over ice, or spoon frothy cold milk over an iced glass for a refreshing golden latte.
It can also bring a gentle hint of spice to breakfast. Try it poured over granola or use it to make overnight oats. It’s an easy way to add variety to a balanced diet, with whole milk and traditional spices in one convenient drink.
Rob Yates, CEO of Tom Parker Creamery, described it to That's Food and Drink as “a hug in a mug” when warmed and frothed. That sounds especially appealing on a chilly evening, when a familiar mug and a comforting drink can make home feel just a little cosier.
Golden Milk joins the creamery’s range of added-value whole milks, including Vitamin-Enriched Whole Milk and Bedtime Milk. Like the wider range, it is made with British whole milk and comes in a glass bottle with a recyclable paper label.
Whether you enjoy it cold, warm or over ice, this golden newcomer offers a simple, gently spiced moment of comfort.
That's Business: Bunta Beer founder shortlisted for Entrepreneur of...
That's Business: Bunta Beer founder shortlisted for Entrepreneur of...: Gunikka Ahuja, founder of Bunta Beer, has been shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2026 Women in Beer Awards. The nomination rec...
Poppadoms, Pints and Plenty of Spice: SimplyCook Launches Limited-Edition Pale Ale
The two have created SimplyJuicy, a limited-edition pale ale designed to go with SimplyCook’s new Curry House Collection. The idea is simple: bring together a table full of curry-house-inspired food, a cold beer and the pleasure of sharing it with family or friends.
SimplyCook says more than eight in ten people in Britain are making “fakeaways” at home, with one in five recreating Indian food. Its new collection aims to make those home-cooked curry nights easier, without requiring a cupboard full of spices.
The Curry House Collection includes four recipe kits: Bombay Biryani, Jalfrezi, Moghul Korma and Saag Curry. Each contains pre-portioned, expertly blended flavour ingredients to help cooks create a range of dishes, from rich and creamy to hot and punchy, using their own fresh ingredients.
SimplyJuicy is a 4.6% ABV pale ale, brewed by Amity with Motueka, Mosaic and Simcoe hops. It promises bright lime and tropical fruit flavours, including papaya and pineapple, balanced by a refreshing bitterness. That crisp finish is intended to cut through richer sauces while sitting comfortably alongside warming spices.
Amity head brewer Tom Summerscales said the beer was created to complement the layered flavours of an Indian feast, rather than overpower them. He suggests it works with everything from creamy kormas to hotter curries.
SimplyCook’s Head of Marketing, Vicki Christie, said the partnership brings together the food and drink for an easy night in that feels a little more special than an ordinary midweek meal.
The Curry House Collection costs £15, currently reduced to £12. The first 100 eligible customers to order the one-off box will receive a digital link to redeem two limited-edition SimplyJuicy pale ales. Customers will also receive 15% off beers in Amity’s range.
Beer must be redeemed through Amity’s website using the link sent after purchase. Delivery costs £6.99 on orders under £50 and is free on orders over £50. Check the offer terms and delivery details before ordering.
So, whether you fancy a gentle korma or a curry with a bit more kick, this could be a tasty excuse to pass the poppadoms and pour something new.
Friday, 16 October 2026
Will Your Roast Dinner Be Ruined By a Blunt Knife?
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It not only makes carving, chopping and filleting harder and messier but potentially unsafe as well with 23% admitting they have injured themselves using a less than sharp knife.
A survey of 2,000 adults found 24% of UK households sit down to a Sunday roast every week but blunt blades are turning the traditional meal into a recipe for disaster.
Swedish knife sharpening specialists, Tormek, conducted the study as part of their Sharpen Up Your Sunday campaign. It found 29% have never sharpened their knives.
Samuel Stenhem, CEO of Tormek told That’s Food and Drink: “With Sharpen Up Your Sunday, we're encouraging home cooks to make knife sharpening part of their weekly routine.
"Blunt knives can be more dangerous than sharp ones, as they require greater force and are more likely to slip, turning simple kitchen tasks into a potential recipe for injury. Instead, a truly sharp knife makes chopping, slicing and cooking an absolute joy.”
Richard Bertinet, chef, author and baking expert, added: “At the Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School, we use knives every day, so we know just how important it is to keep them sharp.
Whether you’re learning the basics or working at a professional level, every chef will tell you that a sharp knife gives you greater control and helps you get the most out of your cooking. If you’ve invested in good knives,it makes sense to keep them sharp.”
Established over 50 years ago in 1973, Sweden’s Tormek designs, engineers and builds world-class sharpening machines for professional carpenters, wood turners, hunters, professional chefs, restaurants and industrial kitchens as well as the professional sharpening businesses.
Tracklement's GOLD award winner at International Cheese & Dairy Awards 2026
As the season of cosy evenings, festive entertaining and indulgent cheeseboards approaches, Britain's champion of condiments, Tracklements, is introducing a delicious new addition to its award-winning range.
Made with succulent pears and delicately spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger for warmth and depth, this sweet, tart and intensely fruity preserve has a firm texture that's designed to be enjoyed alongside cheese.
The gentle sweetness of pear perfectly complements rich, buttery cheeses such as Brie and Camembert, while its subtle spice and bright acidity provide a delicious contrast to punchy blue cheeses, from Stilton to Gorgonzola.
Whether served as part of an elegant cheeseboard, gifted to a food-loving friend or enjoyed with crackers and a glass of wine by the fire, Tracklements Spiced Pear Fruit Cheese brings a sophisticated twist to every cheese occasion.
As with every Tracklements product, it's crafted with exceptional ingredients and an uncompromising commitment to flavour, making it an easy way to elevate seasonal entertaining.
NEW Tracklements Spiced Pear Fruit Cheese, RRP £4.70 for 120g, is available from fine food delis and farm shops nationwide and online at www.tracklements.co.uk.
That's Christmas 365: VQ Launches Laura Ashley Digital Air Fryer in Icon...
That's Christmas 365: VQ Launches Laura Ashley Digital Air Fryer in Icon...: Are you thinking of buying something different, elegant and highly functional for the home chef in your life this Christmas? That's Chri...
Thursday, 15 October 2026
Dead Flies and Disappointment: When a Smart Café Bar Gets the Basics Disgustingly Wrong
They say first impressions count. Unfortunately, a recent visit to a café bar with my wife proved that even the smartest-looking establishment can make a thoroughly disgusting first impression.
We were looking forward to enjoying something to eat and drink when we entered a café bar that, at first glance, appeared to have everything going for it.
The building itself was smart and attractive. The interior décor was tasteful, the furniture was good quality, and the whole establishment appeared to have been designed to provide customers with a pleasant, comfortable experience.
So far, so good.
We selected a table beside a window, expecting to settle down, examine the menu and enjoy our visit.
Then we looked at the windowsill.
There, immediately beside our chosen table, was a thoroughly disgusting collection of dead flies.
Not just one unfortunate insect that had somehow found its way indoors and expired. There were numerous dead flies littering the windowsill.
It was an appalling sight, particularly in premises where customers are expected to sit, eat and drink.
My wife and I looked at the flies, looked at each other, and reached the same conclusion.
We were leaving.
In fact, we had been inside the establishment for less than a minute before deciding to take our custom elsewhere.
And that is precisely what we did. We found somewhere else to eat.
All Style, But What About Substance?
What made the experience particularly disappointing was the obvious effort that had gone into the appearance of the café bar.
Someone had invested money in attractive furnishings, tasteful decoration and creating an inviting environment.
Yet something as elementary as cleaning a windowsill had apparently been overlooked.
It raises an obvious question: if such a visible area, right beside a customer table, could be left in that condition, what attention was being paid to the less visible parts of the premises?
To be absolutely fair, we didn't inspect the kitchen, food preparation areas or other facilities, so we cannot comment on their condition.
However, the sight of numerous dead flies was quite sufficient to destroy our confidence in the establishment's standards of cleanliness.
Cleanliness Should Never Be Optional
Anyone running a café, bar, pub or restaurant should understand that customers judge an establishment on considerably more than its appearance, menu or prices.
Cleanliness is fundamental.
Customers shouldn't have to examine their surroundings for evidence of poor housekeeping before deciding whether it is safe or pleasant to eat.
Of course, flies can enter even the cleanest establishments, particularly when doors and windows are open. That is understandable.
But allowing dead insects to accumulate on a windowsill beside a dining table is another matter entirely.
A simple, regular inspection of customer areas should prevent such an unpleasant spectacle.
A Customer Lost in Under 60 Seconds
There is also an important business lesson here.
The café bar didn't just lose the money we might have spent on that particular visit. It also lost the possibility of our returning and becoming regular customers.
And, of course, disappointing experiences have a habit of being remembered and discussed.
We have deliberately chosen not to identify the establishment. Our purpose isn't to embarrass a particular business but to highlight something that every hospitality operator should take seriously.
You can spend thousands of pounds creating beautiful premises, but a few minutes of neglected cleaning can undo all that investment.
Our experience is a reminder that good hospitality starts with the basics.
Attractive surroundings are lovely. Comfortable furniture is appreciated. A tempting menu is important.
But none of those things compensates for a lack of basic cleanliness.
And as my wife and I discovered, sometimes it takes less than a minute to decide that an establishment simply isn't somewhere you want to eat.
Have you ever walked out of a café, pub or restaurant because of something unpleasant you spotted?
We'd love to hear your experiences in the comments on That's Food and Drink.
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