Thursday, 15 December 2011

That's Health: Ocean Spray Your Way To Five A Day

That's Health: Ocean Spray Your Way To Five A Day: Start your family's day the healthy way with Ocean Spray's new range of 100% Juices. Enjoy a 250ml serving, which conveniently contains one ...

King of Beers? The crown belongs to W J King, Brewers!

W. J. King area proud traditional brewer based in Horsham, West Sussex.

Although they declare themselves to be a new style micro brewery, they are clearly more akin to the master brewers of yesterday, when each town of note -and with a good supply of water- had at least two or three breweries, each producing some extremely fine beers all under the watchful eye of the master brewer.

And this is what drinkers will get this Christmas and New Year should they be fortunate enough to find themselves drinking beers brewed by W J King.

Because W J King are proper, traditional brewers of finely crafted ales who do not compromise on brewing technique or on the fine ingredients that they use.

Their IPA, for example, is a fine example of this style of beer. Although it is heavily hopped, this is not over done so the high hop content is well balanced and there is a wonderful fruity tang that supports the hoppy bitterness.

There Market Porter is another fine beer. My wife -an expert on Porter style beers- has declared this the finest Porter she has drunk in many a year!

It is darkly roasted, and yes, one can imagine Victorian market porters using this to slake their considerable thirst before heading back, satisfied, for several hours more hard work. And then, after work, imbibing some more of it before making their way home.

These are only two beers from their extensive range of CAMRA recognised and bottle conditioned beers. To find out more and where to buy them visit www.kingbeer.co.uk

You must get a selection in for Christmas and the New Year.

Ooo-Er Missus - A Little Sauciness From Olives Et Al

Chilly round the edges, dark nights and dull days call for turning up the heat and that's what the dedicated bunch of oliveers at Olives Et Al have done with NEW Chilli Harissa.

This little pot of heat begs to be dolloped onto chicken breasts, stirred into sauces and soups, plonked onto roasted veggies, smothered under a blanket of cheese on toast, scrambled up with eggs and even speed-dated with cous cous - it could even be used to warm up a cold fish.

Made with seriously hot chillies, which have been crushed with garlic, coriander, cumin, fennel and paprika, Chilli Harissa is an essential ingredient in tagines, curries and chillies, or try a teaspoon rubbed into a chicken breast (or a halved aubergine for a vegetarian version) and baked for 20 minutes - it's the ultimate in a hot, speedy supper! For lots of other quick and easy to make with one hand tied behind your back recipes, pop on to www.olivesetal.co.uk

Olives Et Al's NEW Chilli Harissa is suitable for vegetarians (not on chicken of course!) and vegans and is gluten free. The rrp is £4.00 for 180g jar.

Olives Et Al's products are available in good food retailers, delis, farm shops, food halls and online at www.olivesetal.co.uk

(EDITOR: This would make an idea addition to leftover turkey, I feel.)

Chief Chocolate Officer Gerry Spreads Christmas Cheer With Extreme Chocolate Truffle Making Demo On YouTube

Gerry Wilton, chief chocolate officer at events company Chocolate Delight, is aiming to spread a little Christmas cheer with his extreme chocolate truffle making video posted on youtube.

In the video, Gerry whisks up chocolate truffles in his own inimitable style while singing instructions to the tune of Mack the Knife, prompting one bemused commenter to write: "I tried this - my hair is now silky soft - thank you."

You can see Gerry's extreme chocolate making video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd8qu0dAsqU


Who is Gerry? As well as heading events company Chocolate Delight, Gerry owns and runs the Chocolate Boutique Hotel, named one of the six best novelty hotels in the world by the Sunday Times Travel Magazine.

Chocolate Delight holds chocolate-themed teambuilding events and challenges for many of the UK's leading companies and brands.

www.chocolatedelight.co.uk/corporate-chocolate-events.html

Gerry is currently in the Caribbean, teaching passengers on board a cruise ship the art of chocolate truffle making.

Founded in 2004 by the Wilton family, Chocolate Delight was one of the first companies to have a commercial chocolate fountain in the UK and quickly established itself as the leading chocolate fountain hire company. It was soon called on by corporates, event companies and celebrities to provide fountains for functions such as film premieres and weddings, including Peter and Jordan's.

In 2006, the Wilton family saw the opportunity to expand and bought a beautiful but outdated 19th century grade II listed hotel. Christmas 2007 saw the renovation of the building and it became The Chocolate Boutique Hotel, the world's first chocolate themed hotel. Today, Chocolate Delight is one of the most successful UK chocolate companies in its field and holds Chocolate Workshops across the country. Its Corporate Chocolate Teambuilding events commenced late in 2005 and are now run all over the UK and more recently in Europe. Last year saw Chocolate Delight in Spain, France, Austria and Switzerland.

Box Brewery should be on your Christmas list!

If you are buying beers for yourself or a family member or a friend for this Christmas and Nee Year period,. then you simply must make certain that beers from the Box Brewery are on your list.

They are one of the leading independent brewers in the South of England, proudly sited in Wiltshire.

One of their fine ales is called Funnel Blower and, as my wife is a fanatic for the history of Victorian engineering. this one really caught her attention.

It is a finely hand crafted real ale and named for an incident that struck the Isambard Kingdom Brunel ship the Great Eastern, when, two days after her sea trials commenced, the ship suffered a gigantic explosion which blew off one of her five funnels.

What of the beer? The only thing this is liable to blow is your taste buds! It isa serious ale and not to be taken lightly, coming in with an ABV of 4.5%. The other thing that took my wife's fancy about this beer -and mine, too! is that this is a dark brown coloured Porter beer.

It has a good Porter aroma, you just know that there are some well-roasted barley and malts in there! You can taste the bitterness of the roasted notes, but that's well-balanced by a nice sweetness that pervades this fine ale.

It will cost you a very reasonable £2.35 a bottle and for stockist lists please visit www.boxsteambrewery.com or call them on 01225 858383.

Of course, this is not the only beer they brew. Please ask them for details and do mention That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas when you contact them!

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Tesco scoops up DipNation in time for Christmas

DipNation are set to launch their award winning range of dips in Tesco this December. The selection of chunky dips from the Fife based company will be available in selected Tesco stores across Scotland from today.

The Company was set up by Jeremy and Juliet Williams, and Juliet’s brother Patrick Gilmour. Inspired by the variety of dips available overseas and bored at the lack of choice in the UK market, Jeremy and Juliet decided to fill a niche. Patrick, with his background in chefing created scrumptious recipes to appeal to a primed UK consumer.

Since its launch in 2009 the family-run business, based in Fife built up a strong customer base of local Farm Shops and Delicatessens in Fife and its surrounding areas. They were an instant hit, their fresh ingredients and delicious flavours won them numerous stars in the Great Taste Award and a nomination in the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards. Their increasing popularity allowed them to supply to independent stores nationwide and they will now be rolled out across Tesco’s Scottish stores.

Commenting on the Tesco launch, co-founder Juliet Williams said, “It’s an exciting time for us and we are thrilled to be working with such a major retailer. It has really impressed us that Tesco are so keen to support and promote smaller, local producers who have innovative new products and to help them reach a wider market. We are extremely proud of our range and the awards they have won, so we are delighted that they will now be more readily available to consumers.”

The range is entering Tesco stores at a perfect time as they are a great product for the festive season. The delicious dips are perfect for parties, buffet table nibbles or for your traditional chips ‘n dips relaxing with friends and family. They even go well in recipes for a quick but impressive dish.

Lynne Roxburgh, Local Sourcing Marketing Manager for Tesco in Scotland said, "We pride ourselves on sourcing top quality food and drink from Scottish producers and are delighted to be the first supermarket launching such a range from DipNation. DipNation attended our 'Meet the Tesco Local Sourcing Team' event last year and introduced us to their award winning range of dips. Their enthusiasm and passion for their products was clearly evident and we are delighted to be working with them to help grow their business by adding these fantastic products to our range of locally sourced food and drink."

Bursting with delicious fresh ingredients, the Chunky Dips are made with a base of crushed cashews and real Parmesan shavings to give you more of a mouthful. Combined with an imaginative mix of ingredients these dips bring imaginative flavours to the UK table.
For more information contact Pam or Su at Crimson Edge PR on 0131 311 7050 or email pamela@crimsonedge.co.uk or su@crimsonedge.co.uk

FACTFILE:

*The dips will be available in 62 Scottish stores – a full list of stores can be provided if necessary
**The dips will retail at £2.20 for a 135g tub
***The following is the full range of Chunky Dip flavours available and the number of Great Taste Award gold stars they hold:

Sweet Thai Chilli Chunky Dip 2010 2 stars GTA. 2011 1 star GTA
Roasted Butternut & Sweet Chilli Chunky Dip 2011 1 star GTA
Roasted Red Pepper Chunky Dip 2011 1 star GTA
Spinach & Feta Chunky Dip 2011 1 star GTA
Sun Dried Tomato Chunky Dip 2010 1 star GTA

With New Year weeks away, what better way than to celebrate with Tarbert Fine Foods and the New Take me away products from Browns Food Group?

From the humblest beginnings of a small family butchers shop in Biggar 1885, Browns Food Group now supplies a vast range of chilled and frozen foods, ranging from delicatessen, pre sliced cooked meats, smoked salmon and convenience foods which are as unique and distinctive today as they were in 1885. Browns Food Group is a family run business based in the Borders of Scotland, in Kirkconnel. For more information please visit http://www.brownsfoodgroup.com/

Tarbert Fine is a range of Premium Scottish cooked meats, produced from Scottish meat, from animals born and reared in Scotland. This range carry the relevant Quality Meat Scotland Logos; Specially Selected Pork, Specially Selected Ham or Scotch Beef. Tarbert Fine products use premium cooked meat recipes to give a quality finished product. Made with Scottish meat and ingredients, it is a great tasting product.

Tarbert Fine Scottish Butter Basted Chicken
Tarbert Fine Scottish Honey Roast Ham
Tarbert fine Oakwood Smoked Ham
Tarbert Fine Honey Roast Finely Sliced Ham
Tarbert Fine Mature Ham
Tarbert Fine Ham and Arran Mustard
Tarbert Fine Scottish Roast Pork
Tarbert Fine Heather Honey Ham
Or sample the new Take Me Away range from Browns Food Group?

“Take me Away” is a range of premium snacking foods which take a matter of minutes to prepare. The range includes; Hot and Spicy Chicken Wings, Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings, Hickory Ribs and Spicy Boneless Ribs. A gap in the UK protein snacking market was recognised for a premium range. Within this range Browns have created a unique product in this market with the Spicy Boneless Rib, offering a bone free, mess free and tasty pork snack!

The National Trust's MyFarm experiment extends to include conventional farm method

The National Trust has announced that a 250 acre conventional farm is set to become part of the MyFarm* experiment which aims to reconnect people with where their food comes from.

The farmland will form a key part of MyFarm project which enables members to make decisions on what happens on the farm.

The arable land at Cambridge Road Farm is next to the 1,200 acre Wimpole Home Farm which is at the centre of the MyFarm project in Cambridgeshire.

Owned by the Trust, Cambridge Road Farm has always been farmed conventionally by a tenant, who has now retired.

Its inclusion in the project means that participants will be able to get closer to both conventional and organic farming methods.

Richard Morris, Farm Manager at Wimpole, said: "This is an exciting development for the project as we can now explore the differences between organic and conventional farming methods rather than simply talking about them.

"With only four per cent of farmland in the UK farmed organically we felt it was important to demonstrate the different benefits and challenges presented by each method.

"We'll be asking the MyFarm members to make decisions on the conventionally farmed land in addition to the 1,200 acres of organic farmland at Wimpole.

"We hope to make the differences and reasoning for both farming methods clearer and easier to digest. Whatever scenario the MyFarmers are presented with, we will be relying on them to make sure their decisions lead to both farms being profitable businesses."

Paul Hammett, Senior Policy Advisor at the National Farmers Union, said: "The MyFarm community will now have a fantastic opportunity to run the farms in parallel and learn about the advantages and disadvantages of both farming methods. It will be really interesting to see how their views and attitudes change, if at all, over the coming months."

For more information and to sign up to join the MyFarm experiment visit www.my-farm.org.uk.

Good with Christmas and the New Year, Sauvignon Blanc

This delicious white wine, Sauvignon Blanc, is a wine of the Western Cape of South Africa.

It is a modern wine which although proud of its long heritage is youthful and modern enough to wear its screw cap with a certain  amount of innocent pride.

Yes, it is clearly a good Sauvignon white wine, but there's a little more, too. When you drink it there are clear, fruity tones, there are hints of apple but these are enhanced by a rich top note of pears, too. Is there also, perhaps, a subtle blend of the flavours of some fruits of the forest, there, as well? Perhaps there are.

This wine deserves to be served chilled and you will find it goes well with any food at Christmas or the New Year, though I believe it is especially good with Christmas pudding and Christmas cake, Stollen and mince pies.

In fact, moving on into the summer months, this wine will make a fine addition to any al fresco dining that you have planned.

It makes a good first wine for the diner who is new to wine drinking. The wine is also produced using environmentally aware methods, so is a green wine, as well as a white one!

Thr ABV is 13% (so should be treated with respect) and should cost about the £8.00 mark and is available through Tesco stores. It is imported into the UK by Thierry's Wine  Services. For more details and to check on availability outside the UK, visit www.sauvignon.com.

Monday, 12 December 2011

Winners of the Cook Vegetarian Veggie Awards Announced!

Cook Vegetarian magazine is delighted to announce the winners of The Veggie Awards 2012, celebrating flavour, versatility and innovation in the world of meat-free foods.

Editor Rachel Callen said: “If you needed any sort of proof that vegetarian food is thriving in the mainstream, this is it. Over 350 products were entered in this year's awards, and nearly 1,700 readers voted on their favourites at www.cookveg.co.uk. There's no doubt that Britain's vegetarians and meat reducers are a shopping force to be reckoned with... and they know what they like, too!”


The Cook Vegetarian team invited entries from the biggest supermarket to the smallest producer, and 16 outstanding products were shortlisted in each category. After reader voting, the top three products received a Gold, Silver and Bronze Veggie Award respectively, while three runners up in each category were awarded a Highly Commended accolade.


This year's winners of a ‘Veggie’ are as follows:

Best Meat Replacement

Gold

Quorn Fillets

Silver

Linda McCartney Vegemince

Bronze

Cauldron Marinated Tofu Pieces

Highly Commended

Asda Meat Free Meat Balls

Fry's Chicken Style Strips

Redwood Vegetarian Streaky Rashers

Best Ready Meal

Gold

Linda McCartney Deep Country Pies

Silver

M&S Roasted Butternut Squash and Chargrilled Halloumi

Bronze

Innocent Piri Piri Veg Pot

Highly Commended

Aunt Bessie's Vegetarian Toad in the Hole

The Co-operative Moroccan Tagine

Asda Extra Special Four Cheese Macaroni

Best Burger, Banger or Grill

Gold

Cauldron Cumberland Sausages

Silver

Dalepak Cauliflower Cheese Grill

Bronze

Goodlife Spicy Bean Quarterpounders

Highly Commended

Linda McCartney Cheese and Red Onion Escalopes

Quorn Breaded Goujons

Waitrose Mushroom and Chestnut Grills

Best Cheese

Gold

Aldi Specially Selected Farmhouse Red Leicester

Silver

Delamere Dairy Honey Goat's Cheese Log

Bronze

Ilchester Applewood Smoke Flavoured Cheddar

Highly Commended

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses Blacksticks Blue

Godminster Vintage Organic Cheddar

Calon Wen Organic Extra Mature Cheddar

Best Dairy Substitute

Gold

Alpro Soya Custard

Silver

Swedish Glace Smooth Vanilla

Bronze

Pure Spread Soya

Highly Commended

Rice Dream Original

Booja Booja Hunky Punky Chocolate Ice Cream

Provamel Vanilla Soya Yoghurt

Best Vegan

Gold

Jus-Rol Shortcrust Pastry

Silver

Granose Falafel Mix

Bronze

Goodlife Spinach & Lentil Grills

Highly Commended

Tesco Meat Free 2 Curry Bakes

WeightWatchers Moroccan Tagine

Plamil Organic Mayonnaise

Best Veggie Snack

Gold

Tyrrells Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper

Silver

Quorn Mini Savoury Eggs

Bronze

Dorset Cereals Chocolate & Macadamia Bars

Highly Commended

Crips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar

Nakd Berry Delight Bar

Crazy Jack Ready-to-eat Apricots

Best Sweet

Gold

Ben & Jerry's Phish Food

Silver

Gü After Dark Hot Chocolate Soufflés

Bronze

Booja Booja Organic Raspberry Truffles

Highly Commended

Tesco Finest Passion Fruit, Mango & Scottish Raspberry Cheesecake

Waitrose Key Lime Pie

McVities Lyle's Golden Syrup Cake

Best Veggie Wine

Gold

M&S Chablis 2008

Silver

Tesco Finest Barossa Valley Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Bronze

The Co-op Leyda Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Highly Commended

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Pouilly Fumé

Asda Louis Bernard Champagne Brut Rosé

Laurent Perrier Vintage 2002

Reader Choice Award

Gold

Sainsbury's Cheese & Spring Onion Crispbakes

Silver

Munchy Seeds Omega Mix

Bronze

Cockburns Vintage Port

Highly Commended

Cropwell Bishop Classic Blue Stilton

Waitrose Nut Roast Wellingtons

M&S Veggie Percy

FACTFILE:
Cook Vegetarian is the UK’s leading monthly vegetarian cookery magazine, available nationwide in supermarkets, WHSmith stores and independents.

The Cook Vegetarian website is: www.cookveg.co.uk Follow Cook Veg on twitter at www.twitter.com/cookveg or on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/cookvegetarian