Vada Pow "Packs a Powerful Punch"

Yes, indeed, Vada Pow does pack a powerful punch. But it's not overly so, so they are enjoyable by all.

What is Vada Pow? It's an producer of award-winning Bombay Indian street food, but with an Irish twist. 

Naveen Bachani is a man on a mission. Well, several missions, it seems to me! He has brought traditional Indian street food snacks to Ireland the the rest of the British Isles and is working hard to make plant-based, nutritional meals available using all natural ingredients. And all with the backing of Enterprise Ireland.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to try Croquette Tika Masala and Spiced Potato Cakes. For which we offer our sincere thanks to Naveen.

The Croquette Tika Masalas are a delicious blend of traditional masala spice and special herbs and spices. Although it does contain some chilli it's not ridiculously hot so is, to my mind, more in keeping with what is really sold as Bombay (Mumbai) street foods and not what passes for ridiculously over hot "curry dishes" in the British Isles. they went very well with a scratch curry that I put together. It was my turn to cook tea that evening!

We also tried the potato cakes and really liked them a great deal. We found them ideal for serving with a nice salad, paneer or perhaps between bread rolls and being some proper street food! I appreciated the turmeric and the fresh herbs contained in these delicious spiced potato cakes.

Naveen tells us that he chose the name Vada Pow as it means "Patty in a Bun" in Bombay slang. "It's a hat tip to the veggie burger sandwich meal that's a quick grab-and-go mainstay of Bombay Street Food culture."

Interesting! Because I now more about my wife's family recipes passed down through the generations!

The meals can be microwaved or cooked in an oven, it really is up to you.

You can learn more at www.vadapow.com.   

How to buy? There's next day delivery in the Dublin area, please check for delivery and purchase options elsewhere. 

If you want to find out about retailing call them on +353(0)838085792 or email 

naveenbachani@vadapow.com.

 

Enjoy tea with a sparkle

Saicho, the prestigious single-origin sparkling tea brand, offers tea drinkers a refined, elegant selection of premium cold-brewed teas, all ideal for the warmer weather this summertime. 

With four exquisite flavours, Saicho brings a touch of elegance to any occasion. Perfect for pairing dinners, aperitifs or to celebrate with a toast on a sparkling note, Saicho is the creation of native Hong Kong person, Natalie, and her partner, Charlie Winkworth-Smith. 

The effervescent tea brand was first launched in the UK. The inspiration was Natalie's exposure to two well-established tea cultures, Saicho offers a unique, refreshing beverage ideal for those seeking to drink less alcohol while still enjoying the occasion and quality of a fine wine. 

Each tea has been selected from specific Asian regions, carefully harvested to create varying acidities, sweetness and mouthfeel that complement certain food types. 

The masterful process of each Saicho tea starts with brewing the tea leaves at a low temperature for 24 hours. This is to extract the delicate aromatics without over-extracting bitter and astringent compounds, which produces a clean, crisp and complex flavour profile. The drinks are then delicately sparkled to enhance the natural aromatics of the tea.

Boasting a collection of cold-brewed sparkling teas masterfully crafted to be as nuanced as the finest champagne wines, Saicho's creations are specifically made to share with loved ones. From weddings to graduations, birthdays and anniversaries, Saicho delivers bespoke quality and ceremony to elevate any celebration. 

Scented with jasmine blossoms, the delicate Saicho Jasmine has a bright floral aroma and notes of apple sherbert, lychee and vanilla, making it a refreshing aperitif. Cheers alongside brunch style egg dishes, summer salads or spicy sales, salty and crispy barbecued pork, spicy chicken wings or desserts. 

Saicho Darjeeling, called the Champagne of tea, is grown in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India, at nearly 6560 feet ASL.

Harvested in the summertime to develop its unique Darjeeling flavour, the tea has notes of wood spice, nectarine and muscatel and has a subtle astringency. Enjoy alongside full flavoured dishes including grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes, chocolate, or summer asparagus salads. For a picnic, a classic Quiche Lorraine or a refreshing Tomato pie pairs perfectly with this drink.

With a deep umami character and notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut and woody smoke, the complex and IWSC No/Low Gold Medal winning Saicho Hojicha boasts dry and woody tannins which deliver a memorable flavour. Originating in Kyoto in the 1920s as a way of utilising leftover leaves, stems, stalks and twigs, Hojicha is a roasted green tea from Japan. Hojicha is best enjoyed alongside complex flavours including sushi, smoked ricotta, barbecued vegetables, caviar, smoked fish, serrano ham, mushroom risotto or duck. 

Named after one of China's most well-known myths about the legendary Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Eight Immortals, the first of Saicho's Rare Tea Collection, is a rare Dan Cong tea cultivar from Guangdong province, China. With a subtle savouriness and lightly tannic finish, the Eight Immortals tea has notes of ginger, mango, tangerine and melon.

From birthdays to hen parties, weddings and celebratory drinks, Saicho offers the versatility and quality to make any special moment memorable in 200ml and 750ml bottles. Elegantly designed with exquisite 750ml bottle gift boxes, Saicho makes for an ideal gift to commemorate important milestones or to add a touch of luxury to your next gathering.

Where to enjoy Saicho Chances are if you live in London, Saicho is just stocked round the corner from you! With new stockists joining every month, Saicho strives to serve award-winning sparkling tea at all your favorite hotels, bars and restaurants. With hotter weather, longer days and brighter smiles, we want to highlight some popular spots to enjoy Saicho this summer!

Online Orders Per Flavour (Retail prices)

200ml bottle (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha) for £4.99 GBP

750ml bottle (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha) for £17.45 GBP

750ml bottle of Eight Immortals for £32.99 GBP

You can order them here https://www.saichodrinks.com/

Fit for Summer: Your Essential Vitamins and Supplements

The days are longer, the nights shorter, the weather warmer and travel, social gatherings and get togethers are back on. 

With the Great British Summer (and the occasional heatwave!) in operation, you really should stay on top of your wellbeing by ensuring you add these essential vitamins to your diet or routine. 

The Wicked Gummy Co has compiled a list of the top vitamins to keep you energised, healthy and happy during the warmer months - as an added bonus, we've created a cheat sheet which shares the best Wicked Gummy Co gummies to get your daily dose

The Vitamins you need this summer are:-

Vitamin C - Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant found in everything from oranges to leafy greens and even potatoes, too. It plays a direct role in collagen production, neurotransmitter function, and overall immune health. Summer brings with it many opportunities for social mingling, often leading to cases of the common cold or sinus infections. Vitamin C will help keep you fit and fighting throughout the balmy nights.  

Vitamin E - This is a fat-soluble vitamin found in foods such as eggs, meat, and tofu. It is also found in most fruits and vegetables, too. In the body, Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, helping the liver to clear free radicals and toxins. 

Free radicals, cells that contain too many electrons, can genetically damage your body and have been linked to many diseases as well as traditional signs of aging. Primarily, Vitamin E protects skin from the harmful effects of the sun. It may lessen the likelihood of skin damage severe enough to cause cancer. It can also help with faster recovery from sunburn - crucial when travelling to sunnier climes.

Vitamin A - Vitamin A is critically important in the human body; in fact, it forms the entire basis of vision in humans and most animals. Most people get plenty of Vitamin A from meats, fish, carrots, sweet potatoes, and green leafy vegetables. However, it is possible to be deficient either mildly or severely. Mild deficiencies often manifest as vision problems, including difficulty seeing at night and difficulty reading. Taking Vitamin A in summer may prevent vision damage from the sun, but it can also help you to see more clearly and brightly.

In addition B-Vitamins (for energy), potassium and magnesium (essential electrolytes) and Vitamin K (critical in the production of red blood cells) are good options to stay healthy, hydrated and revived. 

The Best Wicked Gummy Co gummies for summer. 

Hair, Skin & Nails - Say hello to shinier hair, glowing skin and stronger nails this summer! 60 beauty gummies containing a whopping dose of biotin as well as a potent vitamin and mineral blend for all round health and wellbeing. Biotin benefits the growth and strengthening of the hair, skin and nails, which can absorb some damage from direct sun exposure. Vitamin C helps with collagen formation. Vitamin E protects the cells from oxidative stress. Zinc works to protect the hair. Folate contributes to amino acid synthesis. Biotin benefits the growth and strengthening of the hair, skin and nails. 60 for £14.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/collections/beauty/products/hair-skin-nails 

Multivitamin - Stay strong this summer with Wicked Gummy Co's Multivitamin. Contains Vitamin A for healthy vision, Vitamin C & Selenium to bolster the immune system. Vitamin B6 fights tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin E to  protect the cells from oxidative stress. Biotin strengthens the hair, skin and nails. 60 at £14.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/collections/sleep/products/multivitamin 

Peaceful Zzzzz - more hours of sunlight might be cause for excitement, but the shorter nights (alongside the heat) can also lead to difficulty sleeping - and nothing impacts your energy levels as much as sleep. For a brighter, more energised summer, try Peaceful Zzzzz. Our unique blend of amino acids, vitamins and botanicals combine to produce serotonin, a chemical messenger that sends signals between your nerve cells. An increase in serotonin levels can fight against depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, weight gain and other health problems. 5-HTP promotes the production of serotonin which tells your body it's time to sleep. L-Theanine is an amino acid that promotes calmness. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in mood regulation. Botanicals help you to sleep. 60 gummies for £23.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/collections/sleep/products/peaceful-zzzzz 

CBD - 60 of the finest quality CBD gummies with a unique vitamin and mineral blend combining the natural anti-inflammatory benefits of cannabidiol (20mg per serving) with other ingredients to fight tiredness and fatigue, reduce stress and anxiety and bolster the immune system. Vitamins B6, B12 & C help to reduce tiredness and fatigue and bolster the immune system. Zinc is important for healthy hair, skin and nails. Vitamins C, E and Zinc contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Vitamins B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, biotin and vitamin C contribute to psychological function. Vitamin B6, B12, niacin, biotin and vitamin C contribute to a healthy nervous system. Vitamin D3 is integral to the optimal functioning of the immune system, as well as healthy bones and muscles. 60 gummies for £29.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/products/cbd-gummy 

This blog post was prepared by The Wicked Gummy Company and shared by That's Food and Drink with our readers.

 

Aimia Foods Mix Things Up With New Mixed Berry Moosebreak

Top UK food and drink experts, Aimia Foods, are pleased to announce they are adding a brand-new Moosebreak flavour to the mix – Mixed Berry.

Joining flavours Strawberry and Chocolate, Mixed Berry Moosebreak is a naturally sweet and fruity flavour which was carefully developed, planned and taste-tested by primary-school aged children.

It is a part of the Made Easy Range. And Mixed Berry Moosebreak has specifically developed for public sector environments, letting caterers offer a delicious yet simple dessert option as part of their menu, but at the same time providing puddings that contain all the nutritional goodness of fresh skimmed milk.

Once water is added to the Moosebreak mix, it can be whisked up to create a light and fluffy mousse in a matter of a few minutes.

Karen Green, who is the head of marketing at Aimia Foods, tells us how Mixed Berry Moosebreak can also be used to create a whole menu of desserts: “Not only does Moosebreak work ideally as a stand-alone mousse, it also lends itself well as an ingredient for creating a number of different dessert types: From tempting mixed berry cheesecakes to fruity trifles, the options are fruitful with Moosebreak!"

As with all products in the Made Easy Range, Mixed Berry Moosebreak contains no artificial colours, flavours, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated fats and has an exceptional low cost per serving.

For more information on Mixed Berry Moosebreak, or any other products supplied by Aimia Foods, please visit https://www.aimiafoods.com/

Felippo Berio introduces new fantastic vegan pesto range

Filippo Berio has been the UK's favourite olive oil brand for over four decades. It's now decided to expand its popular pesto sauce range with two new vegan varieties, Basil Vegan Pesto and Sundried Tomato Vegan Pesto. 

These pestos are produced with the finest available ingredients including Filippo Berio Olive Oil, fresh Lugurian Basil and the finest Sundried Tomatoes.

They are both dairy and gluten free, plus certified by the Vegan Society, so they don't compromise on flavour.

Benchmarking tests compared the Filippo Berio Basil Vegan Pesto against Sacla which showed that Filippo Berio was the clear favourite. When asked which they preferred, over three in four people chose Filippo Berio, many commenting their products had both a superior taste and texture.

Filippo Berio UK's MD, Walter Zanré, said: “These vegan pestos really tick all the boxes when it comes to flavour, so they're the perfect store cupboard essential for anyone who's vegan or looking to reduce their dairy intake. We spent a lot of time in our kitchen developing the recipe to get the taste just right - so anyone who already loves our Filippo Berio pesto can be confident it is equally delicious.”

According to the latest YouGov data, vegans account for 6% of the British population. Flexitarians, who are actively trying to reduce consumption of meat, form 13% of the UK's population.

The plant-based food category has seen huge growth in recent years, it's currently worth £1.2billion each year in the UK, with 6.6 million households buying vegan products beyond Veganuary.

Both the Basil Vegan Pesto and Sundried Tomato Vegan Pesto are priced at £2.75 for a 190g glass jar, and are available from www.FilippoBerio.co.uk.

Seggiano Launches New, All Natural, Vegan Panettone for Christmas

There's a growing demand for vegan products. And leading Italian food specialist has decided to step up to the (food) plate by launching an all-natural, artisan panettone which is totally vegan, enabling retailers to offer all of their customers a slice of traditional Italian cake this Christmas.

Last year Vegan Society research confirmed that in excess of 26% of Brits opted for vegan choices at Christmas. 

With vegan sales expectations even higher for this Christmas, the new Seggiano Vegan Panettone is perfect for diners and foodies who are seeking alternatives which can be enjoyed by everyone inclusively, at this important annual season of gatherings with friends and loved ones. 

They are delicious for vegans and non-vegans alike, Seggiano Vegan Panettone is baked in small batches by award-winning panettone master baker Beniamino in his small Italian family bakery. 

It's baked without industrial emulsifiers, stabilisers, binders or preservatives, thus setting it apart from almost every other vegan cake on the market. 

Beniamino has skilfully created this vegan panettone recipe using cocoa butter, candied fruit paste, natural vanilla, linseed flour and turmeric to add fragrance, moisture and colour to the dough, which is naturally leavened using the bakery's 33-year old mother yeast. 

The result is a  pleasingly delicious, light and aromatic authentic panettone absolutely perfect for plant-based diets - but without compromise on taste or the exceptional quality which Seggiano food lovers expect.

“We are incredibly excited to be able to offer a panettone that everyone can enjoy this Christmas,” says David Harrison, co-founder of Seggiano. “This is a delicious recipe that's lovingly made using the authentic artisan techniques and clean ingredients that are the hallmark of any product in the Seggiano portfolio. 

"Besides being free from industrial additives, preservatives and emulsifiers, the recipe features sulphite-free candied fruits and healthy high oleic oil to deliver a superior quality panettone with unrivalled taste in the vegan cake category.”

Italian Panettone has been a popular choice with UK consumers at Christmas, for many years not only as a wonderful addition to the Christmas table, but also as the perfect gourmet gift, offered at a price point that is accessible to most shoppers. 

The new Vegan Panettone will be available from https://seggiano.com this Christmas, RRP £16.75 for 500g. 

All gifts are available to pre-order direct from Seggiano.com for home delivery in the UK & NI from 1st October 2022, with deliveries running right up until Christmas Eve. Last orders for delivery before Christmas Day to be placed on 16th December 2022. 

Scottish Botanicals bringing the botanicals of Scotland to a glass near you!

Scottish Botanicals from Dunnett Bay Distillery bringing the botanicals of Scotland to a glass near you!

Their experts have developed a well-deserved reputation for blending and crafting some of the finest botanically-based distilled spirits that are available on the market, today.

Let's take a look at Holy Grass Scottish Vodka, first.

It has a clean aroma and the taste in the mouth is exquisite. There are some very exciting Scottish botanicals therein. Can I taste vanilla? I think I can and there's also various hints of herbs and spices, too.

Holy Grass that gives it's name is a plant that is unique to Scotland and it's that which gives the Holy Grass Vodka the distinct vanilla taste! 

There's also, to my mind, a distinct and delicious cinnamon apple after taste which makes this one of the most pleasant vodkas I have tasted in a long time.

It's 41.5% Alc Vol. - 700ml and a bottle costs £34.00.

https://www.dunnetbaydistillers.co.uk/

London Smoke & Cure Launches Limited Edition Products for Festive Feasting and Christmas Gifting

The fantastic artisanal geniuses at London Smoke & Cure have announced their product range for Christmas  2022 and they are promising some exciting new flavours as part of their offering.

This year, the team have been getting creative in their south London smokery and will be adding some festive spices to their award-winning bacon. There'll be a Limited Edition Spiced Orange Bacon, priced at £5.95 for a 170g pack and a Limited Edition Stilton and Walnut Salami, -priced at £4.95. 

The Spiced Orange bacon will take Christmas breakfast or brunch to a whole new level whilst the salami is the perfect addition to any festive cheese and charcuterie board.

London Smoke & Cure is also stocking a fantastic range of Christmas gift boxes, too!

The Festive Feast is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to try great quality British produce and includes Sashimi-Grade Smoked Salmon (200g), Air-Dried Lonza (50g), Air-Dried Coppa (50g), Air-Dried Saucisson (150g), Air-Dried Snack Salamis (100g) and Air-dried Bresaola, all presented in a stylish box and priced at £39.95

For the ultimate gift for lovers of the cured and smoked, the 'Christmas Gets Smokey' hamper contains items from across the London Smoke & Cure's award winning range. 'Christmas Gets Smokey' is available for £79.50.

London Smoke & Cure's ever popular British Cheese Selection box, features five different award-winning cheeses and crackers produced from small businesses and dairies. The box is priced at £39.50.

For a sense of luxury, London Smoke & Cure has brought together its Good Housekeeping Taste Test winning sashimi-grade smoked salmon with Besserat de Bellefon champagne. The gifts are priced at £75.00 for a 70cl bottle of Besserat de Bellefon Blue Brut NV champagne and half a side of salmon and £99.00 for a whole side of Salmon and 70cl bottle of Besserat de Bellefon Blue Brut NV champagne.

London Smoke & Cure sources the highest quality, highest welfare produce possible and takes big steps to manage the business sustainably. Its acclaimed range includes Great Taste Award-winning sashimi-grade smoked salmon, 28-dry aged bacon, coppa, chorizo and nduja and air-dried Bresaola - all are packed with big, natural flavours and crafted with expertise and passion.

Christmas orders must be made by Wednesday 16th December for delivery on 22nd December or collection on 23rd December but to avoid disappointment, please order as early as possible.

Gift vouchers from £20 are also available and more details on all the products can be found on the website and are available for nationwide delivery https://www.londonsmokeandcure.co.uk.

(Editor: This looks very good. Though the cheese selection box is more my kind of thing, though the Spiced Orange Bacon sounds delicious, too!)

Superzeros Breakfast cereal. The way healthy way forward

Most of us eat breakfast cereals. We try to convince ourselves that they are OK and good for us. But they usually aren't. They are often heavy on carbs and heavy on sugar, but low on protein.  

If only there was a make of breakfast cereal that was light on carbs, light on sugar and high on protein. Wouldn't you be wanting to try them for you and your family?

Those fantastically healthy breakfast cereals are here in the form of Superzeros! 

The vast majority of traditional breakfast cereals are heavy on the carbs, heavy on the sugar and have a minimal amount of protein.

But Superzeros are the exact opposite. They have a nominal amount of sugar and 10g of protein and per serving, Superzeros are looking good for those of us who want to fuel ourselves for the day ahead.

They are nut free, gluten free, high in fibre and come in some fun and delightful flavours. I love the Choco chocolate flavour but really go for the apple and cinnamon flavour which is even more delicious.

They are shaped into delightfully crunchy small balls they go really well with whatever milk you prefer, including oat, almond, dairy, goat, soya, etc. 

They looks set to be an appealing option for those that of us who are looking to better fuel themselves in the morning.

Ideal for those of us who want to cut down on the risk of gluten (though they point out they are made in a bakery that does use gluten in some other products) and also need to increase carb intake and cut back on the carbs.

To learn more please visit https://super-zeros.com/.

Two boxes will cost £12.99, three cost £18.99 and four £23.99. Though if you subscribe you can save money.

Some summer sips with Santa Ana Gin cocktails

As we move slowly through our British summer months and with some hotter weather expected soon, Santa Ana Gin has some perfect cocktail ideas to help you cool off.

A fantastic beach BBQ? Something major in your back garden suggestions for your seasonal celebrations. Whatever the opportunity, Santa Ana's ideal for your cocktails.

Here are some summer Cocktail suggestions from Santa Ana:

The French 75

Originally known as the 75, this Harry McElhone classic first appeared around World War I in Paris at the New York Bar. The combination of ingredients was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun, giving this cocktail its famed name.

Ingredients

45ml Santa Ana Gin

25ml Lemon Juice

20ml Simple Syrup

Champagne

The Gin & Tonic

As the band warms up, slide into the mood with the signature Santa Ana Gin &  Tonic. Tall, crisp, and refreshing, this classic combination perfectly highlights the Philippine floral and citrus notes of Santa Ana Gin.

Ingredients

30ml Santa Ana Gin

Fentiman's Naturally Light Tonic Water

Santa Ana is available to buy at Master of Malt RRP - £29.90.

Have a fine foodie summer with Produced in Kent

You can celebrate summertime by making the most of the great Kentish summer produce. 

The quintessential Kentish fruit, cherries, can be found across the county right now. Why not try an irresistible cruffin filled with crème patisserie topped with a rich cherry compote from Gilda Bakery which is near Canterbury? 

Or fill your home with a glorious rainbow of seasonal and sustainable flowers from Blooming Green, open every Saturday for Pick Your Own until the end of October.

Produced in Kent have curated a collection of easy, tasty recipes from local producers using the best of the season.  Here are a few that will bring a taste of the Kentish summer to your table:

Summer Salads

In this recipe from The Corner House the sweet flavours of the colourful tomatoes are paired in a dish with a light and creamy goat's curd, while the dressing elevates the flavours to new heights.

Recipe: Heritage Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

Serves 4

400g Heritage tomatoes, assorted colours, shapes and sizes – Macknade have a vast range at this time of year

2 banana shallots, finely diced

3 sprigs tarragon, picked and chopped

50ml rapeseed oil – try locally made Kentish Oils

Squeeze of lemon juice

250g goat's curd or soft goat's cheese from Cheesemakers of Canterbury

Pinch of caster sugar

Handful of small salad leaves such as frisée or pea shoots

Salt and pepper

Method:

Slice your tomatoes in creative ways to make the plate look pretty and interesting

Place the tomatoes in a mixing bowl and add the shallots, tarragon, rapeseed oil, a pinch of salt and pepper and a pinch of caster sugar

Mix gently and taste. Arrange on a plate.

Toss and coat a few salad leaves with the leftover dressing in the bowl, scatter over the tomatoes and place a dessert spoon of goat's curd on top

Firing up the BBQ

Summer is BBQ season and Karimix are raising the 'sausage in a bun' bar to new levels with some Argentinian flavour inspiration. In South America foodies go nuts for 'Choripan', literally combining Chorizo Sausage 'Chori' and 'Pan'... Spanish for bread.

Recipe: Argentinian Choripan Recipe from Karimix

Ingredients:

Serves 3-4

1 x Pack Spicy Cooking Chorizo Sausages, skin removed

3 x Red Peppers, finely sliced

½ White Onion, finely diced

4tbsps Karimix Chimichurri Sauce – available from online from Karimix

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1-2 tbsp Rapeseed Oil – try the Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil from Pure Kent

3-4 Buns or Ciabatta bread cut into pieces

Method

Light the BBQ so it has time to get to optimal cooking state.

Finely slice the red peppers and fry them in a pan with the rapeseed oil until they are soft and slightly caramelised on the edges.

Mix 4 tbsps. of Chimichurri sauce with 1 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and set to one side.

Finely dice the white onion.

The skins on the chorizo sausages come off easily, just make a light cut down one side of them and peel the skin away.

The sausages are cooked whole to begin with, then removed from the heat and butterfly cut (just cut down one side to open the sausage up) exposing the centre. Put them back on the heat to crisp the middle.

Whilst the sausages are cooking, toast the bread.

To build the Choripan, start by piling in the fried red peppers, place 1-1½ sausages on top (depending on the size of your bun), drizzle over some chimichurri sauce and scatter in some of the diced white onions. Whack on the other half of the bun and devour...

Relaxing Afternoon Tea

The fields of Lavender at Castle Farm are awash with purple right now, enjoy this seasonal flower (known for its calming properties) and delicate flavour in this shortbread recipe.

Recipe: Castle Farm Lavender Shortbread

Ingredients:

200g plain white flour

Pinch of fine sea salt

40g ground rice flour

75g caster sugar (plus extra for decorating)

5-10 drops Castle Farm HOT Lavender Essence

One heaped teaspoon of Castle Farm Culinary Lavender Flowers

175g unsalted butter, from a chilled 250g block

Method:

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and stir in the ground rice flour and sugar

Take your butter from the fridge, and while your bowl is on the weighing scales, grate in 175g of butter from the block.

Sprinkle in the Lavender flowers, and the drops of HOT Lavender Essence.

Work it all quickly into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Press the mix into a 20cm square baking tin and level the top

Chill in the fridge for about an hour.

Then, heat the oven to 140'C fan (160'C/gas 3).

Bake the shortbread for 40 minutes until light golden.

Remove from the oven and prick all over with a fork, then mark into 20 pieces, cutting right through to the bottom of the tin.

Dust caster sugar all over the top and leave the shortbread to cool before removing from the tin.

Then sit back and enjoy with a relaxing cup of tea!

Not in the mood for cooking? From wine tastings, music and foodie festivals, Produced in Kent have bags of inspiration on things to do, where to eat & how to treat yourself this summer, check out Produced in Kent's Summer Guide.

For more information visit https://www.producedinkent.co.uk/.

 

A new way to buy us a coffee!

My wife and I run That's Food and Drink from our home.

We do it mainly because we are both writers and we like what we do. We are also passionate about food. My wife's mother was a cordon bleu qualified chef and ran her own specialist catering business for many years.

And my father was an army chef trained to B1 and B2 levels. The equivalent to advance City and Guilds 153 at that time. He was usually the chef for the officer's mess. So we were both brought up with food.

As you will appreciate it's not cheap to operate our food blog and I recently found a way to encourage our readers to Buy Us a Coffee using this link and following the instructions   https://www.buymeacoffee.com/martinschoX.

Thank you!

C4 Energy Drinks

There are "energy drinks" then there are C4 Energy Drinks.

You can trust me, you will not have had an energy drink like C4 Energy Drink before.

If your idea of an energy drink is something that has a weird, chemically, slightly disgusting sets your teeth on edge taste and bright "makes you question what you are putting in your body" colours, then I have a pretty good idea that I could name at least one of several energy drinks you will have sampled in the past.

But those "energy drinks" are the past. Because the future of real, honest to goodness (with myself adding emphasis to the word goodness) energy drinks is C4 Energy Drinks.

There's no colouring, artificial or otherwise. It's clear! Wow! How neat is that? There are no unpleasant artificial or the weaselly faux "nature identical" flavourings.

Only natural flavourings in this bad boy! Nope, the term bad boy cannot be used in relation to C4 Energy Drinks. Because in my opinion, C4 is a good boy, through-and-through.

What else is in it? There's also water, a moderate amount of carbonation, a bit of malic and citric acid, a touch of L-Arginine (sounds exciting, but it's merely a valuable amino acid that helps the body build protein) a bit of taurine (also an useful amino acid, which is vital in several of the body's metabolic processes, plus known as an antioxidant) some Betaine (another nifty and important amino acid) and some no sugar sweeteners, being sucralose and Steviol.

Factor in the Niacin and Vitamin B12 and a smidgen of caffeine and you'll know that C4 Energy Drinks are the real deal.

Each can contains 500ml of drink, so they'll quench your thirst, too. 

What do they taste like? Cosmic Rainbow tastes to me like a nice summer's afternoon, maybe add a chunk or two of ice? Orange Slice tastes of freshly sliced oranges (duh!) and Twisted Limeade tastes, well, like a rather nice limeade drink with a twist.

I have been feeling under the weather of late (long COVID, nasty and very, very boring!) and I have to say that C4 Energy Drinks have been a really nice pick-me-up. My degree is in writing and journalism, not medicine so I have no scientific basis for saying this but I can only go by my feelings and I know they made me feel better.

They are available via Holland and Barrett either in branch or online 12 cans cost  £26.99. You can also order them via Amazon at £20.00 for 12. They are also available through other retailers.

Flavours available include Cosmic Rainbow, Orange Slice, Twisted Limeade and Frozen Bombsicle.

You'll be able to learn more at https://cellucor.com/pages/c4-energy

The Story of Real Vanilla from Charlotte White

Charlotte White

Charlotte White will be the host and curator of the Cake & Desserts Theatre at the Foodies Festival - a celebration that will bring together the biggest names in food, drink and music.

Held over three days from 5 - 7 August 2022 at Inverleith Park in Arboretum Place, Foodies Festival is a star-studded event centred around the best food and drink, which offers visitors the chance to broaden their palates, watch culinary masterclasses from TV chefs, enjoy street food whilst drinks flow, along with live music from some great acts.

Sponsored by LittlePod vanilla, the Cake & Desserts Theatre has a full schedule of live demonstrations set to thrill baking fans. Bringing her passion for real vanilla to life on stage, Charlotte White from Restoration Cake is a remarkable host and worth seeking out at the Foodies Festival.

Not only is she a creative baker who has appeared on shows like ITVs Lorraine, she is also a well respected historian. “I've always been interested in the world of King Charles II and the people who inhabited it,” she reveals. 

Regularly contributing to Inside History Magazine and history podcast History Hack, she obviously enjoys talking and writing about 17th century history and classic Hollywood.

Believing cakes should tantalise and tease the taste buds, Charlotte White has published two cake decorating recipe books in her unique show stopping style - Burlesque Baking and Deliciously Decorated. As a LittlePod ambassador for the use of real vanilla, Charlotte demonstrates creative baking and cake decorating skills at Foodies Festivals across the nation.

“I am host and curator of the Cake & Desserts Theatre at the Foodies Festival - and I get to travel the UK presenting live cookery demonstrations, interviewing chefs - and all whilst wearing heels!” she laughs. 

With both her historian and chef hats on, Charlotte really does know her stuff when it comes to the story of vanilla and is highly aware of the fact that 97 percent of all the items sold as 'vanilla flavoured' do not contain a single genuine molecule gleaned from the pod of this much celebrated tropical flower.

“I find that fact extraordinary and it is something that drew me to Janet Sawyer [LittlePod's MD] and her company. LittlePod is doing so much to get real vanilla being used once again around the globe,” she says. “I first came across Janet and LittlePod a decade ago - and I fell in love with what Janet was trying to do in promoting the use of real vanilla. 

“So that is what I do - I take the LittlePod products around the country to festivals and demonstrations and put them in front of people who love food with a great story. It's a privilege to be able to tell the world about real vanilla - and in that way I see myself more as an evangelist than a saleswoman. I'm not there to sell, but explain why. And I tell people that what's important is to spend money on real quality vanilla. Which sounds like a tough message to deliver when everything is getting more and more expensive - but the truth is that this is a win-win situation. 

“Real vanilla is so amazingly delicious and, added to that, when you are buying the LittlePod products you are sourcing your ingredients responsibly and sustainably. Yes, it's true that in the past vanilla was not a very ethical product - so when you get someone like Janet working with real vanilla farmers and knowing them individually by name, then you know the product is the real deal.”

Delving into her favourite world of culinary history, Charlotte admits that vanilla was once a product that seemed to signal the unadventurous and mundane. “I remember a time when vanilla flavour was basically regarded as the most boring thing you could order - probably because it was an industrial product that had nothing to do with an orchid growing in a tropical rainforest. 

“But when you taste the real thing, it is anything but boring! And at the moment, that is the message I'm taking around the country,” says Charlotte, who describes herself as a 'travelling showgirl chef'.

So what's her favourite thing to make when she's showing people the deliciousness of real vanilla? 

“I've been making an amazing tiramisu,” she smiles, describing a rather complex but fabulous vanilla-cocoa-and-coffee flavoured version of the classic Italian dish. “It's a plant-based tiramisu, so a bit different. There's no egg or butter, so the vanilla sings through because nothing competes with it. It also features in the cream - it's a kind of Chantilly cream and you have the flecks of vanilla sitting alongside coffee and cocoa - two crops which of course grow in close association with vanilla. I love it because I agree with that old adage in food which says: what grows together goes together…”

“So much of what I do is about stories from the past,” adds Charlotte. “The nostalgia thing comes from my love of old Hollywood movies. I loved them so much I ended up with a film degree. I am also an historian - my business Restoration Cake is named after Charles II. So, working with LittlePod fits in nicely - because the history of vanilla is absolutely fascinating when you start looking into it.

“Elizabeth I, for example, was obsessed with vanilla - and the moment she tasted it she immediately demanded that it should be in everything she ate! Which was a very expensive demand, when you think of what it took back then to bring vanilla from the Tropics. It must have been like putting gold leaf on everything!

“Few other ingredients have such stories,” mused Charlotte. “And I love being able to tell people about them in my role with LittlePod as an ambassador for real vanilla.” 

https://www.littlepod.co.uk/

https://foodiesfestival.com/

 

Greener, kinder packaging for Fudge Kitchen

Fudge Kitchen are an artisan confectionery producer which is putting sustainability at the forefront of its business, with the launch of a new range of products in pouches that you can fully compost after use. 

And Fudge Kitchen is fully committed to reducing its impact on the environment and it is making changes to the way they source ingredients and also package their products.

The new packaging which is made from fully renewable resources - including TIPA bio-based film, NatureFlex cellulose and PaperWise paper, and can be composted in your household food waste (subject to local authority, of course). 

The compostability is clearly stated on each pack, with instructions on how to dispose of it appropriately.

The new pouches range will include Fudge Kitchen's handmade Chocolate Coated Honeycomb, Raspberry Coconut Ice, Rock Salted Peanut Brittle, and Sea Salted Caramel Crumbly Fudge. The collection is available to buy in their shops throughout the UK, on the Fudge Kitchen website and through their independent retail partners. The confectionery pouches are priced individually from £5.50.

Over recent years, Fudge Kitchen have made a number of business changes to propel them forward on their journey to operating in a more sustainable manner. 

For example several months ago in March, they changed their chocolate supplier to Colombian producer Luker Chocolate, meaning they have more visibility on supply chain ethics & sustainability practices used. 

Luker Chocolate is widely recognised for their work supporting cocoa growing communities in Colombia, recently receiving a sustainability honours award in recognition of this achievement. 

Sian Holt, who is the managing director of  Fudge Kitchen, says “During the pandemic, we began challenging ourselves to actively do more to minimise our environmental impact and give back wherever possible. As well as changing chocolate supplier, we are also trialling cane sugar (grown overseas) to beet sugar grown predominantly in the UK.”

The brand has also recently published their 2021/22 Giving Report, detailing their partnership with giving platforms B1G1 and Work For Good, which is allowing them to provide an exceptional positive impact not only to the environment, but to local and community initiatives too.

The compostable pouches range follows on from Fudge Kitchen's sustainable rebrand earlier this year. As part of their new look and feel, the confectioners moved to UK printed packaging, dramatically reducing their carbon footprint, and switched to plant-based inks and water-based glues. All non-compostable packaging is now FSC certified and fully recyclable.

Head of Sales, Rupert Allinson, says “There's a responsibility for all businesses to play their part in tackling the climate emergency. We don't want to just do 'enough' to keep in line with government rules and legislation, instead we want to pave our own way, going above and beyond to minimise the impact we have.”

The confectionery producers are nearing their 40th anniversary, and alongside their 6 high street shops and a flourishing online business, they also produce confectionery for some the UK's most prestigious department stores. 

To learn more please visit https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/en.

Parma Ham Recipe to Enjoy This Summer

The warmer summer weather always gives us the ideal opportunity to celebrate in true British fashion. By getting together outdoors with friends and family over some delicious food and drinks. 

Often hailed as a healthy alternative to bacon, Parma Ham is a natural product with no additives or preservatives, making it the perfect healthy choice to add flavour to anything from picnic palmiers, crispy canapés, and yummy fresh salads.

Prosciutto di Parma (often known as Parma Ham in English), is a product with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. It is therefore made according to precise production methods that have undergone very few changes over the years. Every leg of ham is individually quality-checked after exactly a year of ageing by an independent inspection body, after which it is branded with the special 5-point Ducal Crown. This symbol is also present on all supermarket packaging, making the authentic Parma Ham easily identifiable.   

Parma Ham is the star of the show in these seasonal dishes – from small bites to picnic favourites, there is something for everyone to bring the taste of Italy to British summertime.

Prosciutto di Parma Palmiers

A simple puff pastry dish perfect for sharing as well as a delicious Parma Ham pairing.

Makes 28  

INGREDIENTS 

320g Sheet ready-rolled puff pastry

Flour for dusting

4 tsp. Sundried tomato paste

50g Parmigiano Reggiano

6 slices Prosciutto di Parma

1 Egg, beaten

METHOD 

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 and line a couple of large baking trays with parchment paper.  

Unravel your pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface with the long edge facing you. Spread the sundried tomato paste all over the pastry, right to the edges, then evenly scatter over the Parmigiano Reggiano. Gently roll with a rolling pin to flatten the cheese a little. Top with the Prosciutto di Parma slices, laying them flat and evenly over the pastry. 

With the long edge facing you, fold the top quarter of the pastry down and the bottom quarter up. Repeat, folding the bottom up and the top down, so that the pastry meets, and you have a seam in the middle.  

Roll along the pastry pushing down gently to compact a little, then brush the top with the beaten egg. Fold in half along the seam, then chill in the freezer for 20 mins. 

Transfer the dough to a chopping board and cut into slices just under 1cm thick using a floured knife. Place well apart on the prepared trays.  

Gently pull the ends of each palmier apart slightly to make a kind of heart shape. Sprinkle very lightly with a little more Parmigiano Reggiano and bake for 15-20 mins, or until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. 

To find and support a local Parma Ham Specialist deli in your area, visit:

 https://specialist.prosciuttodiparma.com/ 

Brits Brave the Pub Despite the Heat

Monday and Tuesday of this week saw scorching temperatures over most of the UK, with the first 40 degree plus temperature ever recorded. 

Despite warnings to stay indoors and many businesses closing their doors, OrderPay data showed many Brits braved the heat, with pub sales broadly similar to the same days last week. However, the heat seemed to affect when we drank, and what we drank, with some interesting behavioural shifts in the data.

Although overall sales were similar to last week, lunchtime sales dropped dramatically - orders between 12PM and 2PM were down 42% week on week (18th -19th vs 11th - 12th)

However, punters stayed around until last orders to grab a drink when the heat dropped - orders at 11PM on Tuesday 19th were 3x higher than last Tuesday. 

Birra Moretti and Aperol remained the most ordered drinks through the OrderPay platform, with Guinness unsurprisingly seeing a 23% dip in sales week on week. 

But what is OrderPay? OrderPay is the UK's fastest, most flexible & highly cost-effective Order & Pay provider. 

Live in over 26,00 sites including Stonegate & Corbin & King, and the chosen partner for TUCO's 130 universities, every base is covered - from a slick app to a web-based Pay Only solution. With tipping, tabs, bill splitting, gifting & analytics offered as standard, OrderPay is the most feature-packed system on the market.

to learn more visit  www.orderpay.com. Would you like your premises on OrderPay? please visit marketing@orderpay.com.

Hot summer? Cool off with Nielsen-Massey

As temperatures continue to rise all over the UK, Nielsen-Massey, leading expert makers of gourmet extracts and flavourings, has introduced some delicious ice cream recipes that are perfect summer coolers.

These recipes feature Nielsen-Massey's Gourmet Vanilla Extract which offers cooks the ultimate flavour enhancement, as it is produced with vanilla beans that are hand-picked and cured, using a precise cold extraction process that preserves over 300 flavour compounds from the vanilla. 

No other company uses this method, guaranteeing both quality and the most 'true-to-bean' vanilla flavour that's possible.

Nielsen-Massey also produces a wide range of other extracts, including orange blossom, peppermint, rose water, coffee, almond, and lemon, all made with the same high quality standards as their vanilla. These are all incredibly versatile and perfect for various sweet and savoury dishes.

Ice cream for all the family:

No-Churn Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream

Enjoy a refreshing tropical twist on Britain's favourite vanilla ice cream, that  is really easy to make, with no need to get hot and bothered churning.  This simple five-ingredient recipe combines rich creamy coconut milk with the classic rich flavour of Nielsen-Massey's Gourmet Vanilla Extract to make the perfect summertime treats.

It's also a fun activity for adults to do with children over the summer holidays.

20 minutes of preparation.  Makes four servings.

Ingredients:

Three 400ml tins of unsweetened coconut milk

60g double cream

85g caster sugar

7g Nielsen-Massey gourmet vanilla extract

24g coconut flakes for garnish

Directions:

1. At least six hours before you plan to make the ice cream, put the coconut milk tins in the fridge to separate the coconut milk from the coconut water. Be careful not to shake or tip the tins, to ensure the layers stay separated.

2. Put a 1,000ml loaf tin in the freezer to chill.

3. Once the coconut milk has chilled, use a knife to take out the hardened coconut milk, and put it into a sieve or strainer.

4. Place the solidified coconut milk into a heavy mixing bowl with the double cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Reserve the leftover coconut water for another use.

5. Whisk the mixture at a low speed until the coconut milk is smooth, then increase the speed to medium until it forms soft peaks.

6. Scrape the mixture into the frozen loaf tin and place some baking parchment or cling film over the top of the mixture.

7. Place the loaf tin in the freezer until completely frozen (about six hours).

8.  Toast the coconut flakes by spreading them on a baking tin and baking at 180°c for three minutes.

9. Garnish the ice cream with the toasted coconut flakes and serve.

For adults:

Tequila Sunrise Ice pops

These refreshing, boozy, ice pops, named after their cocktail counterparts, are colourful and easy to take to a picnic or BBQ.  They feature Nielsen-Massey's Gourmet Vanilla Extract and Orange Extract which make a great flavour combination.

10 minutes of preparation.  Makes 10 servings.

Ingredients:

10 stemless maraschino cherries

830ml orange juice

150ml silver tequila

6ml Nielsen-Massey Orange Extract

5ml Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract

2.5 tbsps Grenadine

10 x 90ml ice pop freezer bags

Directions:

1. Add a maraschino cherry to the bottom of each ice pop bag

2. Place a freezer bag in a tall clean drinking glass

3. In a measuring cup stir together the orange juice, tequila, Nielsen-Massey Orange Extract and Vanilla Extract.

4. Place a funnel into the top of an ice pop bag and pour in some of the mixture, making sure you don't go over the fill line.

5. Stir the mixture between fillings to make sure the tequila is evenly distributed in each ice pop before freezing.

6. Using the funnel, pour 3-4ml of Grenadine into each bag to create a colour gradient.

7. Freeze the ice pops in an upright position until fully frozen, to retain the colour and prevent seepage.

New Bonne Maman Fruit & Chocolate Mousse

Bonne Maman has added another two very indulgent new layered mousses to its chilled desserts range.  Cherry and Chocolate Mousse plus Pear and Chocolate Mousse.

It actually makes reference to a classic French dessert, 'Poire Belle Hélène', the new Pear and Chocolate Mousse is a mouth-watering, multi-layered combination of flavours and textures. 

The creamy vanilla mousse is delicately whisked with generous pieces of juicy pear, then topped with a smooth, rich chocolate sauce.

New Cherry and Chocolate Mousse is a classic flavour fusion of milk chocolate mousse whisked together with delightful and luscious pieces of fresh cherry and then topped with a juicy cherry coulis.

As you'd expect from Bonne Maman, both of these desserts are made with highest quality, all-natural ingredients and, of course, contain no artificial colours or flavourings. 

Presented in packs of two x 95g pots the new mousses are available at Waitrose and Sainsbury's stores nationwide, at £2.20 recommended retail price. 

 

Double blow as 1,000s of families miss out on price cap and £400 energy bill rebate

Chris Harris at Millennium Apartments 

1,000s of British families are facing a double energy bills blow after finding they are not eligible for the £400 rebate, plus not being protected by the price cap, too.

Why is this the case? Households which don't have their own electricity meter and are supplied by a private supply meter won't get the discount.

These households are already facing a bigger than average rise in bills because they are classed as commercial users rather than domestic, so aren't covered by the price cap.

The new issue has been highlighted by bosses at Birmingham-based Ginger Energy, who launched a petition earlier this year calling for the price cap to be more far-reaching after finding that up to half a million UK households were not protected.

Lisa Gregory, a director with Ginger Energy, said: “To say it’s unfair is an understatement. These are the customers who need this rebate the most, yet they're missing out. So they could be paying up to 300% more for their electricity this year.

“The news that as taxpayers, they'll now be contributing to a £400 rebate that other households who are already protected by the price cap receive, will be a bitter pill for them to swallow.

“We are urging the government to review and consider its position regarding private supply electricity consumers, who are missing out on the rebate and are indeed the ones that need the help.”

Chris Harris is one of the residents who are affected. He lives at Millennium Apartments in Newhall Street, Birmingham, where electricity is supplied via a private supply.

Retired Chris, 72, a director of the Millennium Apartments Management Company, said: “Our contract renewed on July 1 and we've seen bills shoot up. My payments have gone from around £145 a month to £220 and we're all braced for another rise later in this year when we renew again.

“We don’t have the protection of the price cap,  so it was very disappointing to find out we aren't eligible for the rebate either.”

He said neighbours in the 70-apartment block were all dismayed and angry at the news and were all fearing a further big rise later this year.

He went on to say: “All residential customers should be treated the same.  Just because we're wired up differently doesn’t mean we should miss out.”

Stephen Knight, who is a director of Heat Trust, the national consumer champion for heat networks, said: “Ginger has rightly identified an injustice facing these energy customers. The government promised every household would get the £400 energy rebate this autumn, but as it stands, those on communal electricity circuits won’t see a penny, as the payment will only be made via domestic electricity suppliers.

“We have called on the government to find a way to get the rebate to this group of residents, who already face the injustice of not being protected by the price cap or having access to the Warm Homes discount scheme.”

Lisa went on to point out that it appeared Ofgem and the government had begun to take notice of the issue, thanks, partially, to Ginger's campaign.

The latest consultation document from the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme states: "The government recognises households without a domestic supply contract do not benefit from the same consumer protections as households with one. Government will work actively to address this at the next opportunity.”

Lisa added: "We don't know what this will entail yet, but they now acknowledge the situation is a situation. It's good that our open letter started it all off because they didn’t recognise it at first."

To sign Ginger Energy’s petition, go to https://www.change.org/Gingerenergy

Greene King launches new programme

Greene King is running “Expensable Lunches” - a new programme offering city workers the ultimate pub lunch break, but which has a very productive twist. 

In partnership with small business support platform, Enterprise Nation, the pub chain is giving central London workers access to a variety of meaningful training modules during their weekday lunch hour, for a lunch break that swaps office desks for pub stools.

The new launch comes as recent changes in ways of working have led to a more flexible approach to office life, but one where the lunchtime pub trip still can, and should, play a part.

The ‘Expensable Lunches’ training sessions will run every Wednesday for five weeks at select central London locations, from Liverpool Street to Victoria, Fitzrovia to Mayfair. At £25 each, tickets include entry to the training session – hosted by an accredited trainer - along with a main course and drink of choice. The menu on offer includes a range of options from Fish and Chips to Vegan Burgers coupled with a cheeky pint or refreshing soft drink.

The 45-minute lunchtime learning modules are designed to encourage city workers to take time away from their desks to acquire new skills, with sessions covering five key topics – creating a social media plan, building your personal brand, mastering the art of public speaking, becoming a better leader, and building a growth mindset. Upon completion of the module and a tasty pub lunch, Zone 1 workers will leave the upskilling session with a formal certificate, as well as a VAT receipt, allowing them to expense lunch back to their employers.

Said Alex Dawson, Business Unit Director at Greene King Urban Pubs: “It goes without saying that the working week is looking a little different these days. With people spending fewer days in the office, lunch times are often rushed with many central London workers opting to eat al desko. 

"We feel it’s important people take a proper lunch break and we’re excited to be offering these meaningful lunchtime workshops in partnership with Enterprise Nation to encourage people to take a break from the workplace. Our Expensable Lunches allow people to learn new skills over a delicious pub lunch, to help them refresh and refuel for an afternoon in the office.”

Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation said: “We’re delighted to be working with Greene King pubs to give Londoners a reason to step away from their desks and take a break from the daily grind. Bringing productive lunch sessions to local pubs in Central London will give city workers and small business owners an opportunity to learn something new that may help their own personal development. 

"In this new post-pandemic world, self-development and training has become more important than ever, and we are thrilled to be able to offer these bite-sized training sessions for anyone looking to spice up their working day."

Those after a guilt-free lunchtime getaway can snap up tickets for the power hour sessions via Eventbrite.

Sessions remaining are:

Wednesday 20th July – The Kings Arms, Bishops Gate

Wednesday 27th July – The Finery, Fitzrovia

Wednesday 3rd August – Rose & Crown, Mayfair

https://www.enterprisenation.com/