Monday 28 February 2022

Birthday cake? So last year! This year, give them a Birthday Cheesecake!

Birthday cake? So last year! This year, give them a Birthday Cheesecake!

Everyone knows that when British people want to celebrate a momentous occasion, Christening, new job, retiring or a birthday no celebration is a real celebration without a nice cake.

However, cake lovers will be pleased to know that the  English Cheesecake Company has taken the classic birthday cake concept one level higher with the launch of their Funfetti Cheesecake. 

It combines layers of creamy vanilla cheesecake, tangy raspberry jam, vanilla cake sponge and jazzy sugar sprinkles on top of a crunchy digestive biscuit base.

The Funfetti cheesecake will be a breath-taking and mouth-watering centrepiece at any birthday party. Well, the centre piece of any party or celebration, really.

Your Funfetti Cheesecake (£39.50) will arrive frozen and is pre-portioned into 14 slices for your convenience. 

Just defrost  it before serving. And why not add whipped cream, ice cream and even more sprinkles? 

And do remember, all of the English Cheesecake Company's cheesecakes can be customised with a personalised chocolate disc, a gift card and luxury gift wrap, plus optional extras such as candles, sparklers and balloons to provide the perfect present delivered straight to the recipients' door. Free standard delivery is available.

For further information and to place your order please visit www.englishcheesecake.com.

Friday 25 February 2022

Cotswolds English Single Malt Whisky

With supplies running a little low, my wife suggested that on our next shopping mission to Tesco that we should buy a bottle of Single Malt Whisky.

And so it was, last Saturday, found us looking at the shelves of whiskies at our nearest large Tesco store. 

Suddenly my attention was drawn to a very attractive box that bore the name Cotswold Single Malt Whisky. 

I thought "That sounds very English?" It was then that I noticed it said "Product of England" on it and I realised that I was looking at a bottle of English whisky!

I bought a bottle and took it home to try my first bottle of English Whisky. 

First thing I noticed was that it's not as clear as some whiskies I have seen. It turns out that this is because it has a natural, golden colour, a result of the fact that it is non-chilled filtered.

It is made using 100% locally grown Cotswolds barley and is doubled distilled in proper copper pot stills, matured in premium sourced casks and blended and bottled in the distillery.

So, Okay, it looks good, but what does it taste like? It's fairly complex, rich and fruity? Yes! Fruity. But there's a little something else that comes through, also. Vanilla? Yeah, notes of vanilla and some spice there, too.

It's very different from other Single Malts that I have tried but in a very good way. 

I can heartily recommend Cotswolds Single Malt to everyone.

It's £39, but if you are a Tesco Clubcard member, you can get a few Pounds knocked off the price.

There are other spirits that are available from the Cotswolds Distillery, so I suggest you check them out here https://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com/.

As it's nearly my wife's birthday, I think the next purchase could well be a bottle of Cotswolds gin!


Lack of sense of smell can bring about malnutrition warn experts

Image courtesy Robin Higgins/Pixabay
A recently completed peer-reviewed research has brought attention to the worrying dietary complications for people experiencing altered smell and taste.

People who are experiencing a loss of their sense of smell are at a higher risk of suffering from serious diet and nutritional issues such as malnutrition, new independent research shows.

Extreme cases are linked to Parosmia. Parosmia can occur following an initial episode of anosmia (smell loss) although can follow different paths in some people. 

People with parosmia can experience a distorted sense of smell where previously neutral or even pleasant smells including everyday scents and food items can, instead, sell disgusting. 

For example items like onion, coffee and garlic scents are common triggers and can smell like raw sewage or vomit. 

Researchers reached the conclusion that “the ways in which ‘smell loss symptoms’ are currently framed in the literature don't accurately present the extent of potential dietary complications in terms of nutritional compromise, weight loss and weight gain...”

Dr Duika Burges Watson of Newcastle University is the lead author on the research. She said: “Some people struggle with malnutrition as a result and they are getting little understanding or support. We’ve been led to believe impacts of smell loss are mild, or a trivial inconvenience but this is far from the experience of those people who are experiencing malnutrition as a result of the loss of the sense of smell."

Chrissi Kelly, who is the founder, AbScent, said; “We have a concern for individuals who might  already already have acute nutritional issues for instance, pregnant women who are victims of morning sickness, people who have existing eating disorders, or those who need to follow certain specific diets such as following specific diets, for example vegans, or coeliacs), or people who are undergoing medical treatment and young people.”

The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal PloS One with AbScent’s Covid-19 Smell and Taste Loss moderated Facebook support group forum, which had 9,000 members at the time of research. Key findings in relation to nutrition include:

• Smell loss has a major impact on appetite, enjoyment, fullness and satiety. One person said, “All food tastes/smells too disgusting to eat. Only yoghurt is ok. So, I lose weight instead of gaining it.”

• Food became bland and unappetising resulting in a reduced desire to eat, cook or participate in food related activities.

• Parosmia and phantosmia had even more harrowing effects on food and eating

• People with parosmia tend to remove themselves from social and familial meal occasions. Where a partner cooks a meal, this can be revolting to a person who has parosmia. Likewise socialising with friends in pubs, cafes, restaurants or coffee bars can also, literally, make people feel physically sick

• Unpleasant smells are constant and can fluctuate, one person reports, “burning sort of taste and smell’ then, later that month, an ‘awful metallic taste’”

• Healthcare professionals often focus on the olfactory detection of immediate danger (e.g., smoke etc)

• Some people lose appetite, so are therefore unable to eat and undergo weight loss

• Some people may unexpectedly gain weight as they eat more as they attempt  to recapture lost food satisfaction

• People struggled with overwhelming and often pervasively unpleasant parosmic smells. ‘They were described with words that included: sewer, cat food, spicy, pungent, strong herbs, sickly metallic, dirty fish tank, off milk or yoghurt, sweet and grassy, dog food, curry, garlic, sickly sweet metallic, kippers, chemicals and fruity sewage.’

• People alter their cooking, for instance, “I’m trying to focus on other aspects of the ingesting experience like temperature and texture. I am relying a lot on the comforting aspect of soup, the surprising aspects of salads and crunchy snacks.”

• After a period of time people can make adjustments; “I’ve adjusted to foods I can eat and can’t eat now. Some things I just ploughed through and tried to get used to the adjusted taste. Some things still make me feel sick, like washing up liquid and perfume, but most things I find that I can cope with.”

Professor Barry Smith, who is the Director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London said; “When it comes to eating, it’s flavour first. We know what we should eat for better health and nutrition, but it’s how the food tastes that encourages us to eat it. 

"Foods lack flavour for those with anosmia, and for people with parosmia many familiar foods taste distorted and disgusting, which means the range of acceptable and nutritious food can be drastically reduced.”

AbScent is a charity registered in England and Wales since 2019 and has created an unrivalled resource of trusted information supported by a distinguished advisory board and working with the latest scientific and clinical evidence. AbScent advocates to increase understanding and raise awareness of the conditions and their impacts supporting research into smell conditions.

For help please visit AbScent’s website https://abscent.org

(NOTE: My wife caught COVID 19 a year ago and her sense of taste and smell has still not returned to normal.)

Thursday 24 February 2022

The Garden of Italy Selection' Delightful Springtime Sipping Exclusive to Wickhams

As part of our Virtual Wine and Beer Festival That's Food and Drink is pleased to be able to bring you news of exciting and exclusive offers from Wickhams

Independent online wine and spirit merchant, Wickhams, is offering customers old and new 'The Garden of Italy Selection'.  

Wickhams will bring you a taste of Italy which will be ideal for your al fresco lunches, laidback beach picnics and garden parties throughout the (hopefully!) long hot summer! 

'The Garden of Italy Selection' showcases six bottles from North Italian vineyard, Montaia including their delightful semi-sparkling Pignoletto DOC Vino Frizzante, their Cabernet Sauvignon IGP Rubicone, Sangiovese IGP Rubicone and their Chardonnay IGP Rubicone. 'The Garden of Italy Selection' is available from wickhamwine.co.uk, for a very reasonable £69.99.

Montaia is, to coin a phrase, 'the real deal.' In that it is a small, fully independent vineyard that cotinues to employ traditional winemaking techniques.

Where is Montaia? It's located in the Romagna Region of Northern Italy right in the Cesena foothills. It's just a few miles inland from the Adriatic sea, so the continual sea breeze helps to create an ideal microclimate for winegrowing. 

Exclusive to Wickhams, the enchanting case includes six 75cl bottles of Montaia, featuring their beautiful and utterly unique labels designed by famous poet and painter, Tonino Guerra. 

Montaia's superior semi-sparkling dry white Pignoletto DOC Vino Frizzante (ABV 12.5%) is produced using solely pignoletto grapes  that are grown in the Imola hills, a grape variety grown in the region since the times of the Roman Empire.  

Produced using the cryomaceration technique with a secondary fermentation using the 'Metodo Martinotti' or 'Charmat' method, Montaia's Pignoletto is sophisticated and has a bright straw colour with delicate initial fragrance of yellow fruits and citrus.  

With flavours of fresh pears and red apples, this elegant white is delightful served with all white meats, fish, risotto and cheeses. 

Wonderfully aromatic and smooth, Cabernet Sauvignon IGP Rubicone (ABV 13.5%), is fermented in inox tanks at controlled temperatures and matured in small oak casks.  A classic grape variety, Montaia's Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense ruby red appearance with a fragrance full of depth.  Look out for plenty of juicy cassis and blackberry, soft tannins and savoury notes with a lingering and persistent finish that hints sweet spices such as cinnamon. This is best opened and left to stand for 30 minutes before drinking, this Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with roast meats, casserole dishes and cheeses as well as pasta.

'The Garden of Italy Selection' contains two 75cl bottles of this great everyday drinking wine, Sangiovese IGP Rubicone (ABV 12.5%).  A DOC wine, Sangiovese is only produced in the provinces of Forli-Cesena, Ravenna and Rimini and in seven municipalities in the province of Bologna. Montaia's Sangiovese is fermented at a controlled temperature in steel tanks and matured in small oak casks. An elegant ruby red, the fragrance is of dark berry fruits, cherries and freshly picked strawberries. Tangy with a subtle edge of tannin, it's an extremely versatile wine and magnificent paired with red meats including salamis and prosciutto, hard and soft cheeses as well as light pasta dishes. Why not chill, to bring out its succulent fruitiness and sip during hot summer weather.

A classic, Montaia's Chardonnay IGP Rubicone (ABV 13%) is produced using purely Chardonnay grapes grown in the Cesena hills. Fermented at controlled temperatures using the cryomaceration technique, during which the crushed grapes are held at a low temperature before fermentation in order to allow the flavours to develop, it is then aged in steel casks.  An unoaked but complex Chardonnay, it is straw yellow in appearance with greenish hints while on the nose its fragrance is of citrus and yellow fruit. With a rounded buttery note and creamy texture, the flavours are of ripe orange and baked apple and are long and satisfying. A classic white which demands food, especially chicken, salmon or a rich parmesan risotto.  

Wickhams' 'The Garden of Italy Selection' contains one bottle each of Pignoletto DOC Vino Frizzante and Cabernet Sauvignon IGP Rubicone and two bottles each of Sangiovese IGP Rubicone and Chardonnay IGP Rubicone. Alternatively, the wines can be purchased separately; Pignoletto DOC Vino Frizzante, £13.50; Cabernet Sauvignon IGP Rubicone, £12.99; Sangiovese IGP Rubicone, £9.99 and  Chardonnay IGP Rubicone, £12.99 all from wickhamwine.co.uk.

Shortlisted in two categories at the Decanter Retailer Awards 2021, Wickhams source the finest Estate bottled wines from around the world and curate collections from the everyday to the classics, so there's something to suit all tastes. They passionately believe in stocking wines, spirits and gift sets at a range of price points to ensure their products are accessible to all. Delivery is available to mainland UK with all orders packed in 100% recyclable packaging.  Orders over £40 are shipped free of charge, orders under £40 incur a delivery charge of £6.


 

HelloFresh Signs Deal With UK's Top Supplier of Caribbean Food and Drink

Irie Eats, which is the brand new Caribbean street-food range from the UKs top provider of Caribbean food and drink products, has come to an arrangement with global meal-kit company HelloFresh to put 30,000 of its meal kits in HelloFresh boxes distributed to homes all over the UK.

The Jamaican-inspired Irie Eats authentic street-food range features five different traditional Caribbean meals, from Caribbean Curry to Spicy Jerk Wrap Kits with different degrees of spiciness, plus tasty side dish of Rice and Peas.

The meal kits are simple to make and can be cooked within 25 minutes. And the key thing is that the ingredients are all fully authentic ingredients, like the signature jerk seasoning which is only sourced from trusted Jamaican growers. They merely need the addition of some protein (which can be chicken or tofu) or vegetables so are ideal for vegetarians and vegans too.

The new street-food range was put together by Grace Foods UK, which is the top UK provider of Caribbean food and drink products.

You'll have already heard of Grace Foods and their established brands such as Grace Jerk Sauces, Seasonings and snacks, Grace tropical drinks, including Tropical Rhythms, coconut water and aloe drinks, the Encona range of hot pepper and sweet chilli sauces, Dunn's River seasonings, and sauces, and Nurishment, nutritionally enriched milk drinks.

30,000 Irie Eats Meal and Wrap Kits are being included in HelloFresh boxes, giving HelloFresh consumers the perfect chance to add some Caribbean tastes to their mealtimes.

Giuseppe Vello, who is the Brand Manager for Irie Eats, said: "We're thrilled and absolutely over the moon to have signed a distribution deal with HelloFresh. Their network is massive and Irie Eats complements their brands, because our meal kits are simple and quick to cook quick with a meal packed full of Caribbean flava served up "Irie Eats style" all within 25 minutes. 

"We think it's also the ideal way to introduce Irie Eats to the family market. What's more, the HelloFresh boxes will also include a £1 off coupon on all meal and wrap kits that can be redeemed at Tesco stores across the country or online at Tesco.com."

Irie Eats launched in Tesco stores last August and consumers have really taken them to their hearts, as well as their tummies!

The UK has one of the world's biggest Jamaican diasporas, recent research showed that nearly half of UK consumers who are seeking out a new world food category to try are keen to go for Caribbean food. Interestingly, this shows a large demand for Caribbean food among UK consumers even if they don't have a Caribbean heritage. 

Check them out at https://irieeats.co.uk/.

Wednesday 23 February 2022

One Planet Pizza on target

Pioneering Plant-based UK pizza outfit, One Planet Pizza, has raised in excess of £150,000 since it joined the  Seedrs crowdfunding site, which had its public launch at 10am on 23rd February. 

The project is well on its way to being totally funded, with founders, father and son duo Mike and Joe Hill, issuing invitations to both new and existing partners to invest in the business to help it become the planet's top frozen vegan pizza brand within three years.

One Planet Pizza launched the UK's first frozen plant-based pizza company in 2016 and it became the UK's first crowdfunding campaign for a 100% vegan company, gathering interest and financial investment from the UK and internationally, too. 

At present One Planet Pizza retails in 100s of outlets in excess of twelve countries, enjoying a core range covering 70% of Europe's best selling pizza flavours and is increasing production before its first major British retail listing.

Sales of One Planet Pizza were massively boosted when Mike and Joe Hill made an appearance on BBC2's Mary Berry “Love to Cook'' in November 2021.

They have produced several limited edition pizza flavours which have all sold out. Including VFC No Clucks Pizza, t​he Crustmas Feast ft. THIS™​ and Pizza Pockets featuring Violife, official Veganuary 2022 sponsor - the latter selling out online twice in under a day!

But One Planet does have an advantage over other frozen pizza bakers. They have the epically tasty family recipe tomato sauce and base which is at the heart of their success. Bringing to consumers the fantastically tasty tasting plant-based frozen pizza.

However, it's also worth noting that pizzas have a 47% lower carbon footprint to non vegan alternatives. One Planet Pizza is the world's first pizza brand to have on pack carbon ratings, certified by My Emissions, a food carbon footprint labelling company. 

On average, the plant-based pizzas from One Planet Pizza have a 47% lower carbon footprint than the non-vegan alternatives - and their hero Peppernomi pizza has a  stunning 54% lower footprint. 

The data is clear. Swap three of Peppernomi Pizzas for your usual meat and dairy Pepperoni pizzas and you'll save the same emissions as a trip to Paris from London on the Eurostar.

One Planet Pizza's Marketing Manager is now working with a team of experts to map out the route to becoming climate neutral.

Co-Founder of One Planet Pizza, Joe Hill, said: “It's exactly what we need to show our investors that vegan pizza is well on its way to becoming mainstream and that we are here to stay.”

In a recent survey of lockdown takeaway preferences, pizza was found to be the nation's favourite option, and Veganuary saw it's biggest year yet with 629,000 people from 228 countries taking part, and more businesses joined the movement than ever.

The One Planet Pizza range is HFSS compliant, lower in fat with an expanding range of popular flavours including Mac'n'Cheeze & Cheezeburger, and a range of gluten free options.

Co-Founder of One Planet Pizza, Mike Hill, added “We all know the future is plant based and the proof is in oue pizzas. Having grown our business 800% since our first campaign in 2016, One Planet Pizza is the 3rd most successful food business to have crowdfunded.

"We have really seen the market wake up to plant-based and are confident about the future of pizza for our planet.”

The vegetarian and plant-based food and drink market is currently worth more than £1bn in the UK. There are more than nine million flexitarians in the UK – people who still eat meat but are eating it less regularly, now.

Meat free products have almost doubled in the last six years and the UK accounts for 15% of plant milk sales in Europe.

More information on funding is available at Seedrs Seedrs | One Planet Pizza | Pre Registration or from oneplanetpizza.com.  

Big Drop Brews Up Alcohol-Free Multipacks

As part of the That's Food and Drink Wine and Beer Festival we look at the offering from the Big Drop brewery.

Leading alcohol-free brewer, Big Drop, is introducing a range of packaging solutions that are aimed at appealing to the wholesale, convenience and cash & carry markets.

Cases of 12 x 330ml cans of beers re being outer-wrapped in Big Drop's distinctive style of labelling and will contain either 4 or 12 packs of its most popular 0.5% abv SKUs Paradiso Citra IPA and Pine Trail Pale Ale. Pine Trail is the only alcohol-free beer to have twice won 'World's Best' at the World's Beer Awards, while Paradiso has not only won a World's Best but was also UK winner in a full-strength IPA category at the World Beer Awards, beating 6% abv beers into second and third place.

The new formats will also include the boldly-styled 'Big Explorer' and 'Big Hello' 8 can multi-packs that were trialled in Waitrose stores in 2021, aimed at catering for the growing number of 'sober-curious' consumers looking to try different styles of AF beers.

Big Drop currently has a large portion of the UK covered through a range of wholesalers such as Nectar, Eebria and Matthew Clarke. 

But it is very aware that it's underrepresented in the cash & carry and convenience trades and is obviously keen eager to address this situation by recruiting suitably skilled staff members like Tom Reilly, who recently joined Big Drop from Kopparberg as a National Account Manager.

According to IWSR, 2 in 5 UK Adults are now consuming low or no alcohol drinks, with beer and cider making up the largest category at 75% volume share. Beer sales increased by a respectable17% in 2001. The market is also forecast for healthy growth of over 10 times as quickly as regular alcoholic drinks. 

Rob Fink, who is the CEO and co-founder at Big Drop said: “Feedback from retailers and the trends we have observed in our own online shop gives a strong indication that consumers are increasingly confident to purchase Big Drop in larger formats, plus exploring the wider range of styles of beers that we offer."

He went on to say: "The no and low beer category has so far been led by multiple retailers in the UK, but cash and carry and convenience shops are now starting to pay attention to this trend.

"Our packaging certainly draws attention and will give stockists the opportunity to have bold, vibrant pallet displays in depots that will drive engagement with the retailers.”

To learn more or to receive samples, you can email to sales@bigdropbrew.com or visit www.bigdrop.com.

I have tried Big Drop ales and my favourite is Pine Trail Pale Ale and it is easy to see why it has won so many awards.

Tuesday 22 February 2022

Robinsons Brewery appoints first ever manager from its Apprentice Programme

Will at Robinsons’ Royal Ship

We continue the That's Food and Drink Virtual Wine and Beer Festival with this story from Robinsons Brewery.

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, Robinsons Brewery, which is a family-owned brewery  has emphasised the success of its first ever pub manager from their Apprenticeship Programme, Aspire, which they introduced back in January 2019.

Aspire is a learning and development programme which is centred around hospitality but which is enhanced with bespoke training.

William Bassett began as a team member five years back, when he was 26 years old. years ago at Robinsons’ Royal Ship pub. 

Will has now taken over as General Manager at the Wynnstay Arms in Ruabon, Wales, after gaining a great deal of experience and knowledge during his training programme. 

Will was in Robinsons’ first apprenticeship cohort, and after completing Level 3 Hospitality supervision he is now continuing on his apprenticeship programme qualifying for Level 4 Hospitality Management.

Susan Forbes, who is People Development & Compliance Manager, Robinsons Brewery, said: “Will returned after furlough and showed great determination and loyalty. He was well deservedly given promotion to Assistant Manager and has since worked in other of our pubs to gain more valuable experience as part of his development. He has begun his role as General Manager at the Wynnstay, we wish him the best of luck and know just how great he will be.”

Will said: “After five years with Robinsons I am really excited to be looking after such a beautiful pub as the Wynnstay Arms. The brewery has really supported me through my journey and every step of the way, they have delivered their promises to support my ambitions. As the next Aspire cohort launches, I am hoping to use this experience to show how rewarding a career in hospitality can be and how if you stick with Robinsons, they will stick with you! Now I’m just really excited to get stuck in!”

For more information on the Wynnstay Arms and to book a table or room, visit https://wynnstayarms.pub/.

Visit www.robinsonsbrewery.com to learn about the company.

Monday 21 February 2022

Eisberg Wine

First wines in the That's Food and Drink Virtual Wine Festival is Eisberg Alcohol Free Wines

At one time if you wanted the pleasure of drinking wine but without the alcohol, Eisberg was your only option.

Now Eisberg has been joined by many other alcohol free wine producers. But Eisberg is still there and is still the name most people associate with alcohol free wines.

Some would be tempted to rest on their laurels, but that's not the Eisberg way! Over the years Eisberg has updated and refined its offering to the wine drinking public who want the taste of wine but without the alcohol. Some people don't consume alcohol for religious reasons and other for health reasons. But everyone needs good, tasty wines.

Which is where Eisberg comes into its own.

There's their Sauvignon Blanc.  It is a light and delicate version of this wine type which has a nice bouquet and a good, fruity finish to it.

Next we look at their Chardonnay

It is a delicious and fresh Chardonnay. There are citrus notes and a touch of vanilla, too. The one thing that is missing? Just the alcohol, of course!

Sparkling Blanc

This is, I have to admit, my favourite wine in the range. It's light, crispy, fizzy, with a delicate citrusy edge and  it loves to be served chilled! 

Sparkling Rose is another firm favourite. It is juicy and ripe tasting and is filled to the last bubble with red fruit notes. 

Eisberg point out that you can use their wines to make cocktails and also in cooking, too. They taste so good that if you are going to use them in cooking I'd suggest buying at least two bottles one for cooking with and one for drinking!


To find out where you can buy Eisberg wines visit https://eisberg.co.uk/stockists/

On Amazon 6 bottles of Eisberg Sauvignon Blanc will cost £41.73, plus delivery. 6 bottles of Sparkling Rose will cost  £21.87.

The That's Food and Drink Virtual Wine and Beer Festival is on the way

After the continuing success of our Virtual Tea Festival, That's Food and Drink will be running a Virtual Wine and Beer Festival.

Our friends in the industry will be helping us to source wines and beers that you might not have heard of.

We will let you know what is available, where you can buy them and how much they will cost.

If you have wines or beers that we can help you to promote (for free. We don't charge!) please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com.


Sunday 20 February 2022

Tea India brings real tea from India

As part of the continuing That's Food and Drink Virtual Tea Festival we look at the offerings from Tea India.

"Tea India was established when its founder immigrated from India to the west back in 1981. He brought his own family's tea recipes and the  time-honoured traditions of chai. 

"Together with master tea blenders, who also hailed from India, he created a range of genuine and authentic tea blends inspired by their motherland. 

"From rich spiced chai to single estate regional teas to wellness blends infused with authentic Indian herbs, each blend offers something unique and indulgent.

"Tea India’s tea is sourced from some of the most established tea gardens in India, each of which sits in a unique region of the country, rich in natural beauty and culture. Single-estate teas benefit from the mix of soil and climate in their region, with the very best picked for your cup.

"Masala Chai is a traditional spiced chai taking the heat and sweetness of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and anise. Using his family recipe, Tea India’s master blender has taken these heart-warming spices and the finest quality Assam tea to create a truly authentically Indian chai experience. Inspired by aromatic Indian spices and flavours he has also created sweet cardamom chai, spicy ginger chai, warming turmeric chai, and indulgent coconut chai. Each Tea India chai honours the traditions that go along with a cup of tea: family, home, heritage, and comfort."

The above information was very kindly provided to us from Tea India, for which we are very grateful.

But what about the tastes of the teas?

I was introduced to the magical tastes of genuine chai by my wife whose family also hails from India so any teas that claim to be Indian have to pass her stern test.

We are tasting Masala Chai, Cardamom Chai and Coconut Chai.

I had not heard of Coconut Chai before and we found that it is a very tasty chai blend which tastes and smells of real coconuts. And is nicely creamy.

It's a great morning blend and really motivated me to get on with the day's work!

Cardamom Chai from Tea India has a real and genuine cardamom taste to it, which is aromatic and heart-warming. Ideal for a cold British winter!

Masala Chai from Tea India is certainly my favourite blend of tea from Tea India. Might this be because this was the blend of chai that my wife introduced me to? Possibly!

It's aromatic, warming and delightfully spiced and herbal.

What is available?

Tea India Masala Chai: A rich, warming blend of black tea, cinnamon, cloves and anise for a distinctive 'real' Chai experience. RRP £2.89 for 40 bags.

Tea India Turmeric Chai: A truly authentic Turmeric Chai using our Master blender’s family recipe of natural spices and Assam tea. RRP £2.89

Tea India Coconut Chai: A creamy blend of black tea, coconut and spices for a delicious cup of chai.

RRP £2.89

Tea India Ginger Chai: A warming blend of black tea with spicy ginger for a heart-warming cup of chai.

RRP £2.89

Tea India Assam Tea: This strong and malty single estate Assam tea hails from the Margherita tea gardens on the low-lying plains of the Brahmaputra River delta in northeastern India. Full-bodied in taste and rich in colour, this tea will take you to the temples and silk bazaars and peaceful river islands of Assam.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Darjeeling Tea: This deliciously citrusy and delicate, our Darjeeling tea is grown on the foothills of the Himalayas, sourced from the Badamtam tea garden. Savour this cuppa and let it take you on a journey to the Darjeeling hillscape.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Kashmiri Kahwa Tea: Kahwa, or sweetened green tea blended with herbs and spices, is the traditional tea from the Kashmir region. It will transport you to crystal-clear northern lakes, the beautiful city of Srinagar with its houseboats and gondolas, relaxing gardens, and bustling bazaars.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Nilgiri Tea: This deliciously dark and aromatic single estate Nilgiri tea hails from the Craigmore estate. Whilst you enjoy your cuppa, imagine a journey on the Nilgiri Mountain Train, boating down the backwaters to Kerala, sampling rich South Indian cuisine, and visiting cherished temples and old palaces. 

RRP £3.29

Available from: www.teaindia.co.uk, and other retailers.


Friday 18 February 2022

Journey's End Vineyards Launches Sustainable Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc

The award-winning Journey's End Vineyards, which is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is pleased  to announce the launch of its Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc 2021. 

This fresh and crispy, white wine is so named in honour the vineyard's latest green project, the planting of a spekboom thicket on the farm.

It will retail at £10 per bottle and should already be available at Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Since the Gabb family founded Journey's End in 1996 by the Gabb family, it has always beenat the forefront of ecological, sustainable and ethically wine production. 

It makes gorgeous wines for all occasions. And Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc is no exception to this rule. 

Made using 100% sustainably sourced Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the vine's location also influences the flavour profile of the wine. Typical of coastal wine growing regions, the vineyards benefit from the cleansing and cooling winds which help the grapes retain their fresh, clean and elegant fruit flavours.

Winemaker, Leon Esterhuizen, said: "The first thing you notice will be the intense aroma of the wine; winter melon, green apple and a lovely subtle citrus, there are also some herbal and green fig notes in the background. These flavours follow on the palate and are supported by a vibrant, fresh acidity and an elegant mouthfeel."

The wine's namesake, spekboom (Portulacaria afra and also known as 'Elephant Bush'), is a succulent native to South Africa, widely considered to be a 'wonder plant' due to its impressive abilities to absorb carbon dioxide relative to its low water consumption. One hectare of mature spekboom thicket can remove up to 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, about 7.5 times more than mature woodland.

Because natural seedlings are somewhat rare, restoration of thickets requires active replanting. As part of Journey's End Vineyard's continued promise to reduce overall carbon emissions, the company has planted over 6,000 spekboom in open areas of the farm since September 2021.

This green initiative contributed to the vineyard becoming carbon negative, as well as being recognised in The Drinks Business Green Awards 2021 as the winner of both the Ethical Company award and Water Management award. This was the second year running that Journey's End was named Ethical Company, after receiving the award at The Drinks Business Green Awards 2020, too.

Managing Director, Rollo Gabb, adds, "We're really pleased to be launching our Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc with Sainsbury's. As ever, our commitment to creating more sustainable projects on the farm continues – and we felt that the recent planting of 6,000 remarkable spekboom plants warranted a wine named in its honour. We hope you enjoy it!'

Wine Buyer for Sainsbury's, Georgina Haughton, says "We're thrilled to be introducing Spekboom into our range, offering our customers the opportunity to explore a unique South African Sauvignon Blanc, and one with great sustainability credentials. This Sauvignon Blanc from renowned Journey's End bolsters our already strong range from South Africa. Perfect as we near Spring, we're sure this new white is going to be a hit."

Thursday 17 February 2022

Honey Heaven Teas

Continuing with the That's Food and Drink virtual tea festival we take a look at the teas from Honey Heaven.

The herbs and spices used in the tea blends are all grown in Hungary (except for one, which I'll tell you about later) and guaranteed to be 100% organic and are made to a natural naturopath approved formulation.

We start with Refresh tea blend.

This blend contains peppermint, rosehip, hibiscus and lavender.

It is easy to make and also easy to drink. one or two teaspoons of tea, pour 250ml of water (that's about 8.8 fluid ounces) that should be 90 to 100c in temperature.

You should steep it for 10 minutes and then strain it and it is ready be drunk. You can sweeten it with honey or sugar, or drink it unsweetened. It's delicious either way, there's a good blend of flavours combing the peppermint, though the hibiscus rosehip and lavender also make themselves known.

It is designed as a tea to refresh the mind and calm the spirit and does this very well indeed.A particular favourite of my wife and myself is the Honey Heaven Oolong Detox.

It is a combination of oolong tea, ginger, cinnamon and gingko biloba.

You can definitely taste the oolong tea, but the ginger and the cinnamon spices really do give this particular blend of tea some spicy, warming oomph!  And the recommended three cups a day will help you to detox but in a natural way.

Preparations for this tea are exactly the same as for the Refresh blend. 

Now we look at the Honey Heaven Morning Time tea blend.

If you want a drink of tea to set you up for the day which doesn't contain a nerve shattering jolt of caffeine, then Morning Time tea blend is going to be your cup of tea. And quite literally, too.

It's ingredients are rosehip, hibiscus and calendula which combine together to deliver a cup of tea that is refreshing but with a fruity undertone to it, which makes for an extremely refreshing cup of tea.

Something that is a little different in the range is the Energise CBD Herbal Mate Tea. 

It contains Mate tea, orange peel, lemon peel, elderflower, rosemary and rose petal. Plus there is organic hemp which is harvested in Ireland.

Having drunk it it reminds me of an advert for a stout that was widely seen as a rival to Guinness. An older chap would say: "It looks good, it tastes good and by golly it does you good!" And that's pretty much my view of the Energise CBD Herbal Mate Tea. Obviously my judgement isn't scientific, but I know how it tastes and how I felt it made me feel better.

The instructions for preparing this tea are a little different to the other tea blends in the range. one to two teaspoons of the tea, but the water needs ideally to be a little bit cooler, between 70 to 80c. However, the steeping time and the amount of water used is about the same.

Obviously if you are making a cup for two or more people just double or triple the amount of tea and water that you use.

Other blends of tea are available and they also sell CBD oils, meads, honeys, Organic Hungarian Acacia Honeycomb, skincare products, etc.

To learn more please visit them at www.honeyheaven.co.uk

Wednesday 16 February 2022

A Little Cup Tea Company

As part of our virtual tea festival, That's Food and Drink would like to introduce our readers to the teas that are supplied by the A Little Cup Tea Company.

The first tea we tried from their range was their Lemon Grey. It is a classical tea, Earl Grey, but with an extra special twist.

As well as the more usual natural Bergamot flavouring this blend contains Sri Lankan Black Tea, Rose Petals, Lemon Thyme and Rosemary.

The water temperature should be at boiling point and the recommended brewing time is three minutes.

Although this blend is suitable for drinking with or without milk I, a confirmed milk in my cup of tea person, really enjoyed it without milk. Which surprised both myself and my wife!

It delivers a delightfully refreshing cup of tea with a floral hint from the rose petals and a herbal undertone from the rosemary, with a zippy hint of lemon from the lemon thyme. However confirmed Earl Grey aficionados will appreciate the underpinning of the bergamot. 

You'll also be pleased to know that the tea bag, the pouches and the clear bags are entirely free of plastic and completely biodegradable. 

The next tea we tried in their range is the jauntily named Easy Feeler. A jaunty name but a tea that is clearly designed to help you relax.

It's described as a Sleep Tea Blend and believe us, it does work! The ingredients of this tea are Chamomile, Linden Blossom (which is from Lime trees), Cardamom, Apple Pieces, Rosehip, Hibiscus, Rose Petals, Orange Peel, Lavender and Natural Flavouring.

Brewing instruction are as for their Lemon Grey Tea, but they do specify no milk when you serve it.

The taste is a nifty blend of essences of floral and fruity flavours with a hint of lavender peeping through. 

Does it help relax you? Yes, it does. And you'll note that there is naturally no caffeine in this recipe. 

On the other hand, what if you need a bit of a boost for your day, a pick-me-up? Then there Yes Mate! energising blend of tea will really fit the bill.

It contains Ginger, Yerba Mate Tea, Apple Pieces, Rosehip, Lemongrass, Liquorice, Lemon Peel, Mallow Flowers, Orange Peel and Natural Flavouring.

Every one of the individual ingredients plays together very well and provides a delightfully fruity ensemble tea that really does give you a nifty boost whenever you need it.

Another caffeine free tea from their range is their Coco Chilli Mint. They describe it as a Warming Tea Blend, which it certainly is.

It contains Rooibos Tea, Peppermint, Coco Shells, Black Peppercorns, Red Peppercorns and just enough Chilli to give it an interesting kick. Plus some Natural Flavouring, too. 

In all it is a cornucopia of flavours, you can taste the rooibos, the peppermint, the chocolate, the peppercorns and the hint of chilli is making my tongue sing!

Other blends are available, plus check them out for special offerings, etc.

Who is behind A Little Cup? Meet George, who is not only an artist, but is also an expert and very creative tea blender.

George tells the story of how he started blending his own teas whilst he was an art student at university and providing them to other people. 

He reveals that he was troubled by loneliness at that time, but found that inviting people round for a cuppa was a great way of combating loneliness by meeting new people over a drink of tea.

George is a passionate believer in the efficacy of tea in bringing people together by the medium of tea.

George is also organising workshops that bring together tea blending and art. You can check out amazing examples of artwork inspired by tea on his website.

To learn more about ordering the tea please visit www.alittlecup.com.  


Sunday 13 February 2022

Would you like to be featured on That's Food and Drink? It's easy!

Would you like to be featured on That's Food and Drink? It's easy!

If you produce or retail food and drink you need publicity. But you need the right kind of publicity.

Rather than shouting loudly, just quietly tell select people who will be interested in what you have to offer.

Readers of That's Food and Drink visit us because they want to learn about what food and drinks are available and they want new recipes to try out for themselves or with their family members and friends.

They also want to know about food supplements, too.

If you contact us, we'll be able to provide you with your own unique post on That's Food and Drink. Sometimes as part of a special feature or as an individual stand alone post. Whichever you prefer.

We don't charge for our services but if you can send us samples, these are always very gratefully received. 

To learn more please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com.




Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl

With Bioglan Superfoods you can give the one you love a Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl

And not only is it a tasty treat that they'll really appreciate, it has the added benefit of being chock full of tasty Superfoods, too!

One of Australia's greatest exports (in my opinion!) Bioglan Superfoods have been working very hard hard, harvesting the world's top quality ingredients, to make better tasting healthy products to ensure everyone can get the necessary vitamins, minerals and superfoods into their diets.

Bioglan Superfoods have also developed some tasty recipes that are quick and easy to make, all with added superfoods to give you an extra health benefit.

Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl. With Superberries

What could be better than presenting your Love with A porridge bowl filled with love and all good things? 

This Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl with Superberries was made by one of Bioglan Superfoods ambassadors, SpamellaB. It's a gorgeously pretty pink porridge with a fantastic topping of crunchy granola, berries, jam, and little white chocolate hearts.

Serves 1

10 Minutes

Ingredients

50g oats

3 tsp Bioglan Superfoods Superberries 

300ml milk of choice

2 tbsp maple syrup

Top with

Frozen berries

Reduced sugar jam

White chocolate hearts

Granola

Method

1. Cook the oats in a pan with the milk for 5 minutes until thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in the berries powder and maple syrup.

2. Spoon out into a bowl then add your toppings. Enjoy!

You can find a whole host of other recipe ideas at  https://bioglansuperfoods.co.uk/.

Range available at Holland & Barrett, Amazon, Boots and Ocado.

RRP Superfood Powders: £9.99 for 70g Superberries, Green Boost, Supergreens or the Cacao Boost. £12.99 for 100g Super Protein or Beauty Protein. £12.99 for 70g Digestive Boost.

RRP for the Superfood capsules: £14.99- £16.99 for 60 capsules.

That's Food and Drink would liker to thank Bioglan for asking us to share this recipe with our readers.

We'd also like to thank SpamellaB for creating this recipe and for allowing us to use their image to illustrate this blog post.

 


Friday 11 February 2022

The Sound of Tea set to infuse the UK this summer

Yorkshire-based arts organisation Manasamitra is returning to the stage this summer after a year of cancellations due to the pandemic. 

The Sound of Tea, which is a multi-sensory celebration of the tradition of tea across a range of different cultures and incorporates musical performance and digital technology, creating a unique performance each time.

The Sound of Tea, will be performed exclusively at York’s National Centre for Early Music on 17th June, incorporating live music mixes with specially designed lighting and soundscapes, participatory tea rituals and cutting-edge digital technology, which is employed to capture and reflect audience responses in real-time. 

Creator and musician Supriya Nagarajan uses her experience of the condition synaesthesia to examine and explore the interplay between sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 

The Sound of Tea will also feature a number of unique interactive digital tables, which have been designed and developed by Professor Mick Grierson from the University of Arts London (UAL). 

This technology will enable the audience to influence the performance, resulting in a bespoke performance each and every time. 

The Manasamitra team have developed the show with the assistance from tea consultant Beverley Wainwright, alongside actress and cultural educator Fenfen Huang who will undertake a demonstration of a tea ceremony as an integral part of the performance. 

The show premiered in London in early 2020, but due to the pandemic restrictions the remainder of the tour had to be postponed.

Clearly excited to get back on the stage, Supriya said: “Our team is incredibly happy to be able to bring The Sound of Tea to a live audience again after such a lengthy postponement. 

“The last year was incredibly difficult for musicians and performers so we are really excited to be able to return to the stage and interact with audiences in a live capacity. Despite the recent challenges, I'm immensely proud of the industry’s resilience and determination, it truly has shone through during the pandemic.

“While a lot can be achieved via online platforms, nothing will ever compare to the experience of attending or performing in a live show. The energy and atmosphere simply cannot be replicated online or  digitally.

“The whole team worked very hard to bring this project to life in a fully immersive way to capture the story of tea and its role in different cultures, as well as exploring the fascinating phenomenon of synaesthesia. 

“Individuals who experience synaesthesia may see sounds or hear colours, providing a multi-sensory experience. The Sound of Tea will embody that harmonious relationship between the senses, shared with a general audience.” 

Supriya will take centre stage for The Sound of Tea alongside Duncan Chapman on flugle horn, electronica and digital management, James Cave on piano, Marc Layton-Bennett on percussion and Fenfen Huang as dancer and tea celebrant.

Belgium-based flutist, Karin de Fleyt is unfortunately unable to join the team in person due to the continuing travel restrictions, but her music will still be incorporated into the performance.

Tickets are available now via the National Centre for Early Music: www.ncem.co.uk/events/sound-of-tea


Beware of online Valentine's Day Scams!

 That's Food and Drink has been publishing posts about the finer things of Valentine's Day. But there are some nasty people out there just itching to scam unsuspecting folks, especially on Valentine's Day.

So please do not fall victim to scammers.


This information has been supplied by KIS Bridging Loans and is used with their kind permission. 

https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/guide-to-fraud-prevention/

Women in Food Hamper

In celebration of International Women's Day, the folks at Macknade have put together a fantastic hamper designed to showcase some of the dedicated, hard-working, passionate women who create fantastic food and drink products.

It'll be a great gift for the strong and inspirational women in our own lives. It's available to order online and can be delivered nationwide.

The cost is £60.

Which women are included and what are their products included in the hamper?

Quinta da Mariposa, Dão Branco Wine - led by oenologist Lúcia Freitas

Choc Affair, Dark Chocolate - founded by Linda Barrie

Brindisa, Salted Marcona Almonds - from Founder & Owner, Monika Linton

Goupie, Ginger Vegan Chocolates - founded by Janet Simpson, with all recipes developed by her mother

Teastones Peace Mother Tea - led by Owner & Tea Connoisseur, Sev Michaels

Fudge Kitchen Rocksalt Peanut Brittle - led by Managing Director, Sian Holt

Benchmark Brewery, Pale Ale - from female Brewer, Amelia

Kent Crisps, Oyster & Vinegar - from Owner, Laura Bounds MBE

How can you order this gift hamper? Just click here:- 

https://macknade.com/products/women-in-food-hamper

Monday 7 February 2022

The Sound of Tea

The Manasamitra band, with FenFen Huang 
Manasamitra is a Yorkshire-based arts organisation, which has brought to fruition a truly stunning and fully immersive musical performance which is based around the themes of tea and of tea ceremonies.

It is called The Sound of Tea and it is a multi-sensory celebration of the varied traditions of tea across differing cultures.

It skilfully incorporates musical performances and digital technology, creating a unique performance each and every time.

The Sound of Tea incorporates live musical events that are combined with specially designed lighting and soundscapes, participatory tea rituals and cutting-edge digital technology, which is employed to capture and reflect the responses of the audience in real-time.

Supriya Nagarajan
Creator and musician Supriya Nagarajan uses her experience of synaesthesia to explore the interplay between sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 

The Sound of Tea also features a number of unique interactive digital tables, developed by Professor Mick Grierson from the University of Arts London (UAL). This technology will allow audience members to influence the performance. Of course, this means that each and every performance is totally unique resulting in a bespoke performance every time.

In more recent times the Manasamitra team has carefully adapted the show into a corporate experience day, which is an immersive, mindful experience for the corporate workplace.

A spokesperson said: "Teams and work colleagues have been physically separated for many months as a result of the pandemic and as we return to workspaces and new ways of working, it is vital team members and colleagues are able reconnect and rebuild."

They went on to point out: "Not only has the time apart altered the dynamic of many groups, but there may also be new staff members or elements of restructuring that will benefit from shared experiences.

"Team building is a vital component of any workplace, helping boost productivity and improve morale.

"After the turmoil of the couple of years, a focus on wellbeing is needed to help individuals readjust to group situations and make a smooth return to the workplace. And what better way than with tea and with The Sound of Tea?"

For details please visit https://www.manasamitra.com/our-work/the-sound-of-tea/the-sound-of-tea-corporate-experience-days/

The images used are courtesy of Duncan Lomax.

That's Food and Drink Tea Festival


That's Food and Drink is running a Tea Festival over the next several weeks.

There will be stories about tea and the myths and legends that have grown up around tea drinking all over the world.

Plus, of course, with the help and assistance of many of the friends of That's Food and Drink we will be tasting and sampling different teas and letting you know what our opinions are.

As far as tea types we will be looking at loose leaf teas, teas in paper bags, teas in special cloth bags, herbal teas and more besides.

So if you like tea, or need to buy some tea for a special gift for a confirmed tea lover in your life (a collection of different teas might make an unusual and romantic Valentine's Day gift, perhaps?) then please watch this space!


We offer our thanks to Viren Kumar and Pixabay for allowing us to use the video to illustrate this posting.


Thursday 3 February 2022

Bring Appleton Rum to Valentine's Day

When I mentioned, in passing, to a friend that I had a bottle of Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum, he a became quite animated. He said: "Wow! Jamaican rum has the reputation of producing some of the best Caribbean rum available. And Appleton Estate's Rum is the best of the best!"

And, of course, he was absolutely right!

The Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum is a special rum carefully crafted for a very special occasion, the 250th anniversary of the founding of Appleton Estate in 1749, created by Master Rum Blender Joy Spence. Interestingly Joy was the first woman to hold the title of Master Blender. In recognition the government of Jamaica bestowed on Joy the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer (OD) for her service to industry.

Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum is blended to include specially selected pot-still rum stocks from their inventory of aged rums.

This is not the strongest rum available, it's 43% alc/vol, but then this has been carefully crafted to provide a well-balanced and delicious rum, which is designed to provide a modicum of strength with a Zenith of taste.

The bouquet is inviting with a hint of cane sugar and the taste is deliciously warming and so very, very smooth.

By itself, or on the rocks, or with some high quality mixers. After all there's no point in skimping on mixers if you have a very high quality rum such as Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve, is there?

But what about cocktails? Here Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve really comes into its own. From simple cocktails using Cola, to more advanced cocktails, you will be in for a real treat.

My wife introduced me to a recipe that was a favourite of her brother. Rum and Cider.

The recipe calls for two thirds cider and one third rum, although, of course, you can adjust that to suit your own taste.

Obviously, only high quality cider should every be used and in this instance we used some Brothers Toffee Apple Cider which proved to be an admirable choice.

A 70cl bottle should cost about £25 to £30 or you can buy it in some restaurants, hotels and pubs. For example Wetherspoon pubs stock Appleton Estate's rum as part of their Rum Shack offering.

Or you can stay at home, create a Valentine's Day feast and finish the evening in style with Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum!

Wednesday 2 February 2022

Glebe Farm for truly oaty oat drinks

Rebecca & Phil Rayner
In the fields of rural Cambridgeshire brother and sister farming due Phil and Rebecca Rayner are not just championing good, high quality home grown British products, they are getting down to it in the fields of their family farm, Glebe Farm, and not only growing oat crops they are also milling the oats and also 'milking' them, too. 

And what's more, the oats they produce are gluten free, too. So they're ideal for people who are coeliacs.

Phil and Rebecca have turned their hands to producing a pair of utterly delicious and incredibly smooth oat drinks.

There's the Creamy and Enriched variety, which has added calcium and vitamins so is ideal for breakfast cereals, a nice cold drink, creating some awesome smoothies or replacing dairy milk in cooking and baking.

There's also the Barista blend which is carefully designed to be a super addition to your coffee (fresh or instant) for helping you produce top tasting cappuccinos and lattes. As a confirmed hot chocolate lover, I think that I'll be trying Glebe Farm Barista blend in my hot chocolate! Will it be good for tea? Let's find out together, OK?

They also sell oat granolas, too. Actually, Glebe Farm oat granola served with Glebe Farm Pure Oaty? That sounds like a real winner to me!

They also sell Soya, Almond and Coconut drinks, too.

Check out their website for some recipe ideas, too.

As an ageing hippy(!) I've long been interested in ecology and self-sufficiency since the early 1970s actually, so it was with considerable pleasure I found out that Phil and Rebecca are confirmed sustainable farmers and that Glebe Farm uses solar power and biomass boilers and only uses locally grown oats, thus helping keep food miles to a minimum.  

Where can you buy Glebe Farm products? On Amazon, from Central England Co-operative Stores, Booths Grocers and all Holland and Barret Stores.

And Glebe Farm’s gluten free bread and rolls can be found in all National Trust Cafes.

Or you can buy it directly from their online farm shop at https://www.glebefarmfoods.co.uk/shop/.

If you are interested in learning about stocking Glebe Farm Products, using them in your baked goods or in your café, restaurant or catering business you can visit them at https://www.glebefarmfoods.co.uk/trade/ or call them on +44 (0) 1487 773282 during office hours.

Bonne Maman ideal for your Valentine's Day repast

I absolutely love Bonne Maman jams and conserves. My all time favourite is their Strawberry & Wild Strawberry Conserve. And every year I would put together a hamper of Bonne Maman miniature jams and conserves for my late mother every Christmas, birthday and mother's day.

However, Bonne Maman are far more than jams and conserves. They also now produce a delectable hazelnut chocolate spread, too.

But Bonne Maman also have a range of products that are ideal for a desert for a Valentine's Day feast at home.

There's a stunning variety of chilled deserts, including Strawberry Mousse, Chocolate Mousse, Clementine Mousse, Black Currant Mousse, Rhubarb Mousse.

Also check out their Salted Caramel Crème, Coffee Crème, Dark Chocolate Crème with a touch of sea salt, Milk Chocolate Crème, Riz Au Lait, Baba an Rhum (with high quality, high strength rum. Delicious!) Crème Caramel, Crème Brûlée (which can be baked or eaten cold) Red fruit tarte and Tarte au Citron.

And take a look at their cakes, biscuits, yoghurts and compote deserts, too!

They even have some recipes to help you create some truly scrumptious Valentine's Day treats for your love. Just check them out here https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/recipes

Incidentally, what does Bonne Maman mean in English? Online translation sites get it only partially correct. It doesn't mean Good Mum, no matter what Google Translate tries to tell you!

Bonne Maman actually means "Grandmother" or "Granny" because as they have always done, they strive to make the kind of products that grandmother used to make.

Available in all good shops and from online retailers.

https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/.

The ideal gift for the one who has your heart. A Seggiano Olive Wood heart!

Imagine the look of love and admiration on the face of the one you love when on Valentine's Day,  you present them with a genuine Olive Wood heart-shaped board from leading Italian brand Seggiano?

My wife is absolutely enchanted and besotted with it and it now takes pride of place in our kitchen. She has stated "This is lovely! Thank you!"

She has also stated very firmly that I am not to ever place it in our dishwasher and that it is to be treated very well and only washed, very gently, by hand!

What is the size? The average width is 23cm. That's just over nine and a bit inches to those of us who still use the measurements of the olden days!

It should cost you £23.90 and you can buy it direct at https://seggiano.com/product/olive-wood-heart-board/ or you can find it in your favourite deli, some cookware shops and other major retailers up and down the country.

What can you use the board for? 

Seggiano have some really very helpful suggestions. Cheese, they imply (and I agree wholeheartedly!) is the way to your love's heart and what better way to serve up an array of quality matured cheeses than on this board?

The gorgeous board is beautifully crafted by the Marchini family and each one is carefully carved from wood that originates in the Tuscan hills, where the olive trees are pruned to keep them renewed and healthy. 

I did not realise that much of the wood is over 300 years old! Making it an ideal, temporary, resting place for your Pecorino, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or your cave matured cheddar!

You can also purchase a lovely Olive Wood handled cheese knife, Organic Spelt Digestive Biscuits, Parmesan Handmade Flatbreads and lots more besides.

Seggiano recommends equipping your board with your favourite cheeses, paired with one of their Baked Fig Balls, a handful of Puglian Rye Biscuits and a dollop of Calabrian Fig Jam, or better still a drizzle of Raw Chestnut Honey which goes particularly well with Pecorino.

I rather like the sound of the Raw Chestnut Honey.

And don't forget to buy yourself some good quality Italian wines to make for a very food Valentine's Day feast.