Welsh Brand Expands It Range Even Further With Its Gorse Inspired Cardi Bay Vodka

Top Welsh brand the Eccentric Spirit Co has launched their first vodka, Cardi Bay Vodka.

Cardi Bay Vodka, infused with hints of vanilla and coconut, is inspired by the gorse growing along the Ceredigion coastline.

A 70cl bottle of Cardi Bay Vodka (40% vol) is priced at £32.

Eccentric Spirits, distilled at the award-winning In The Welsh Wind, has expanded its range with the launch of Cardi Bay Vodka, their first ever Welsh vodka product.

From the label colouring to the taste notes, this Welsh vodka is inspired by the gorse which grows along the Ceredigion coastline, with a flavour profile infused with hints of coconut and vanilla.

Cardi Bay Vodka was unveiled at this summer's Royal Welsh Agricultural Show and received massive positive feedback from those attending this iconic show. 

Ellen Wakelam, co-founder and director of In The Welsh Wind Distillery which makes the Eccentric Spirit range said: “After releasing our Black Batch Rum into our Eccentric Spirits range, we knew we wanted to launch different spirits within the range, which would include a flavoured vodka.”

Ellen went on to explain: “We wanted the vodka's botanical profile to celebrate Cardigan Bay, and were inspired by the gorse which stands sentinel along the Ceredigion coastline, which reminds me and co-founder Alex of our 1,000-mile walk around Wales before we opened the distillery.

“The aroma of gorse is full of vanilla and coconut, making it the perfect inspiration for Cardi Bay Vodka's flavour and label design.”

She added: “From the initial distillations and tasting sessions to approving the label design, this project has been a long time in the making, and we are thrilled to be launching Cardi Bay Vodka and are also over the moon with the positive feedback gathered so far!”

Cardi Bay Vodka takes the number of spirits in the Eccentric Spirits collection to eight. It features six gins including a trio of award winners – all inspired by Welsh botanicals, and dark rum.

All of the spirits, including Cardi Bay Vodka, can be purchased through the Eccentric Spirits website, the In The Welsh Wind website www.inthewelshwind.co.uk.

Bug Lives Matter. To all of us

Wildlife like earthworms, ladybirds and bees don't normally have a voice. But now they do, which is due to a new Change.org petition launched in advance of Organic September, which is asking the next Prime Minister of the UK to take action to save nature in their first 100 days in government.

On behalf of nature, the Organic Trade Board (OTB) is requesting the new PM to make a commitment to protecting wildlife in any policies that they implement and represents the UK at the vitally important UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.

Not only are insects a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, providing food for other animals and recycling nutrients, they also play an essential role in our global food system. One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators and without pollinators we wouldn't have potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate or cotton.

Popular children's author and illustrator, Kate Pankhurst, a relation of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, was the first person to sign the petition. She has thrown her support behind the campaign, also creating an illustration to depict insects holding placards in protest against harmful pesticides and fertilisers that are often sprayed on crops,  which is leading to their decline. 

Said Kate: “As a mum of two, and an author and illustrator of children's books, I'm obviously passionate about preserving nature to ensure the next generations have a beautiful and thriving planet to enjoy in the future. 

"I hope other people around the UK will join me in signing this petition to help give nature a voice.”

The theme for this year's Organic September  is “Nature would choose organic”, which reflects that if wildlife such as bees, earthworms and ladybirds had a voice, they would want all farming to be organic to help keep the delicate ecosystem in balance.

Cristina Dimetto, General Manager of the Organic Trade Board (OTB), said: “Organic farming works with nature, not against it, encouraging natural predators like ladybirds and pollinators like bees and butterflies rather than spraying harmful pesticides. As a result, on average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms. There are up to seven times more wild bees in organic grain fields. So if nature did have a voice - it would choose organic. 

“If pesticides were substituted for more sustainable farming practices (like organic), this could slow or reverse the decline in insects. The hope is that even tiny insect-sized steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping nature's crucial keyworkers thriving.”

For more information visit www.GoOrganicUK.com and to sign the petition head to https://www.change.org/NatureProtest

That's Food and Drink has already signed the petition, we ask all of our lovely, kind and wonderful readers to sign it, too!

Hitachi Aims to Reduce Food Waste with Innovative 'Vacuum' Refrigerators

Hitachi's new Vacuum Compartment technology significantly extends the storage life of fresh food in your refrigerator, thus reducing food waste and saving you money, too.

Hitachi's new Vacuum Compartment technology will significantly extend the storage life of fresh food in your refrigerator, reducing food waste and saving you money, also.

Hitachi Europe has launched its latest technology in the battle to cut down on food waste and drive down household shopping bills, very important, especially at the moment.

How does it work? The innovative Hitachi Vacuum Compartment extracts air from a sealed food drawer to create a partial vacuum around fresh, chilled foods like vegetables, fruit, meat and fish.

Not only does this significantly increase food longevity through reduced oxygen levels, thus slowing the usual  oxidation/decomposition process, but it also helps keep meat and fish moist, helps to retain nutrients and colour in fruit and vegies, and maintains the flavour and texture of cheeses. 

Hitachi Vacuum Compartment is like 'vacuum packing' fresh food at home every time you close the fridge drawer. 

Combined with a low temperature in the compartment which is just above freezing, the result is much longer food storage times and greater retention of nutrients, flavour and moisture in the food.

Says Hitachi Europe's Head of Consumer, Richard Bass, "With almost a third of all food produced for human consumption currently going to waste, Hitachi is driving innovative solutions to reduce food waste globally. 

"In our homes, where most food waste occurs, our latest Vacuum Compartment technology offers one solution to reduce waste by keeping food fresher for longer. 

"The Vacuum Compartment can up to double the storage life and nutrient retention time of fresh foods, helping to reduce food waste and save money on food shopping bills."

Once shut, the Vacuum Compartment uses a miniature pump to withdraw air from the sealed drawer and maintain around 0.8 atm of air pressure. To open the drawer, you just lift the handle to release the vacuum seal, accompanied by a 'whoosh' of air returning to the compartment.

Independent tests at the Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand showed the Hitachi Vacuum Compartment retained 97% of the vital omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, in fresh fish (mackerel) after three days compared to just 93% in a standard chiller compartment.

In fresh fruit, vitamin levels can drop dramatically in the fridge, yet the Hitachi Vacuum Drawer retained 30% more vitamin C in pineapple than a typical refrigerator over the same three days. These benefits have a significant impact on nutrient retention in fresh food over even longer periods of storage, meaning less food is spoiled over time, less food waste or reduced cost in replacement.

The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) 2017 study into UK food waste showed that the UK bins almost 10 million tonnes of food every year, with household food waste accounting for 70% of the total. The study showed that the average UK household spends over £470 annually on binned food (@ 2017 prices).

Hitachi Vacuum Compartment technology has been launched on the flagship four-door R-WB640VGB1X refrigerator, the R-WB640VGB1, and the three-door R-MX700GVGB1 model.

Other features of the new range (depending on model) include removable water tanks that supply the integrated ice and water dispensers, Hitachi's Triple Power Filter for pure air and reduced cross-contamination of food odours, mould-proof door gaskets, easy clean tempered glass shelves, Quick Cooling, rapid Hybrid Freezing, energy efficient motors and frost-free operation across the range. 

Backing up Hitachi's 100+ year heritage in high-quality engineering, all the new Hitachi refrigerators come with a comprehensive 5-year guarantee as standard.

Hitachi refrigerators are available now from Euronics independent retailers across the UK.

More details can be found here https://www.homeappliances.hitachi.com/eu/eng/

To check out your nearest Euronics dealers please visit https://www.euronics.co.uk/

Businessman launches new diet plan

British businessman Paul Homewood has launched what he describes as "a revolutionary new way to lose weight, live better and stay healthy, a diet taking just 15 minutes a day."

The 15 Minute Diet is a subscription-based health regime aimed at helping its users who have previously struggled to shed the pounds or had difficulties finding the time to live better.

Scientific studies have shown even moderate exercise or short bursts of activity can be beneficial to general health and wellbeing.

Paul believes that he has harnessed a lifestyle product that will take just a quarter of an hour every day.

Paul went on to says: "The secret to the success of the 15 Minute Diet is our formula which creates enjoyable and beneficial weight loss and positive mindset habits for success in the long-term."

How does it work? The 15 Minute Diet works by providing an on-demand "Fitness" programme, an online "Diet Academy", “15 Minute Recipes” and endless motivation.

It will provide subscribers with support, tips and recipes and an opportunity to 'supercharge' success.

Paul added: " Dieting just became achievable with our new habit forming diet plan. We have capitalised on science to create a ground breaking product that combines the proven actions to lose weight into a daily routine that takes just 15 minutes a day to get results."

The 15 Minute Diet is a habit forming diet plan that takes just 15 minutes a day to achieve results.

To learn more please visit https://www.15minuteidet.com.

Blanco Niño Lead the Way With Recyclable Tortilla Chip Packaging

If you are like my wife and I, you will feel guilty that whilst you enjoy eating tasty snacks that the packets say "not currently recyclable."

But those wonderful folk at Blanco Niño, the premium corn tortilla and tortilla chip producer, will take that guilty feeling away from all of us as they have switched to fully recyclable packaging for its award-winning range of corn tortilla chips. 

And Blanco Niño is the first premium corn tortilla chip brand in the UK and Ireland to move to fully recyclable packaging.

A typical plastic crisp packet worryingly takes several hundreds of years to decompose. In the UK alone, six billion packets are consumed every year and only a fraction of these are capable of being recycled at present.

Blanco Niño's new packaging is made from a specially developed plastic resin called polypropylene 5 which is widely recycled. The innovative new design will keep the product fresher for longer, too. 

Blanco Niño Founder and CEO Philip Martin says: “I'm looking forward to unveiling our new recyclable packaging to our customers. It's a momentous step for Blanco Niño in reducing our impact on the environment. We saw an opportunity to develop fully recyclable packaging and I'm very proud to say that we're one of the first to do so.”

The packaging is a special bespoke design with a window, featuring eye-catching stylised landscapes representing key ingredients of each flavour. The product range itself remains unchanged and retains the premium quality the brand has become justifiably famed for. The range includes Lightly Salted, Blue Corn (formerly called Ancient Grain) and Chilli & Lime. 

Blanco Niño's Director of Community, Ruth Jenkins added: “We've been humbled by the great response to the bag design and I feel it stands out on the shelves. For Blanco Niño as a brand, sustainability and doing the right thing has always been a priority from the beginning.”

“Consumers are rightly demanding more sustainable products and we as a team are delighted to rise to this challenge. It was definitely not easy or particularly straightforward but our R&D staff and processes made it possible for us. I hope we can lead the way and that others will follow our lead.”

Blanco Niño Tortilla Chips earned five stars at the Great Taste Awards 2022. Double stars for their Lightly Salted and Blue Corn flavours and a star for Chilli & Lime. Judges noted “A superb texture and mouthfeel, truly wonderful. Perfectly salted and a joy to eat, and we feel that this is a great example of a traditional tortilla chip. They are light, delicate and so very well produced, and we applaud your process and creation here.”

The tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free, vegan friendly, kosher certified and are made using the finest ingredients, some of which are sourced from heritage farmers in Mexico itself. 

Blanco Niño Tortilla Chips retail at £3.50 RRP and can be found at Ocado, Daylesford, Booths, Eat 17 and numerous independent food stores.

To learn more visit https://www.blanco-nino.com. 

Affineur of the Year Competition Returns for 2023

The Academy of Cheese and Devon-based cheesemaker, Quicke's, are thrilled to be taking “Affineur of the Year” into its second year after its successful launch last year. 

The first ever Affineur of the Year competition was initially set up to help recognise and celebrate the age-old art of maturing cheese, or “affinage”.   

In March 2021, eight truckles of Quicke's cheddar were sent to the maturing rooms of cheesemongers and cheesemakers across the UK, where they remained under the watchful care of each competitor for the duration of the competition. 

Following 11 months of turning, tweaking and grading, the truckles were judged by a panel of industry experts at the final event, held in London on 27 April 2022, where the overall winner, Rennet & Rind, received the coveted award of Affineur of the Year 2022.

Building upon the success of this first year, and to widespread industry approval, the Academy of Cheese and Quicke's are delighted to be extending the competition to include four different cheeses, to encompass a larger spectrum of affinage techniques.  The cheeses have been selected, based on the Academy's Make / Post-Make model, and include:

Quicke's Cheddar – Hard

White Lake Solstice – Soft/Washed Rind

Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton – Crumbly/Internal Mould-Ripened

Fen Farm Dairy Baron Bigod – Soft/External Mould-Ripened

The organisers are obviously pleased that many of last year's competitors will be taking part once again, as well as welcoming new competitors from all across the UK, including Northern Ireland.

They are all ready to take on the challenge. This highly respected line-up of cheesemongers and cheesemakers will bring their wealth of knowledge and experience to the fore, letting them to experiment and demonstrate a full range of affinage techniques that are specific to those cheese categories, including temperature and humidity levels and exposure to unique microflora. 

It's their opportunity to showcase the skill and artistry that is involved in guiding a cheese to its fullest potential.

Competitors will be called upon to record their techniques and progress throughout the process and will ultimately be judged on a variety of aspects including flavour, aroma, texture, appearance and innovation.

All of the cheeses will be presented and judged by a specially chosen committee of cheese industry experts at the live finals event which will take place in London, where a winner will be selected for each category and an overall winner will be crowned “Affineur of the Year 2023”.  

This event, which is open to both the trade and public, will be held at The China Exchange in London, on 14th June 2023.

What was originally acknowledged as an experiment seems set to become a regular fixture on the cheese industry's calendar of events.

To learn more please visit academyofcheese.org

The Best Devon Drinks to Try This Summer from Drinks and Cocktails to the Ultimate Drink Experiences

This summer you can indulge yourself, family members and friends in some genuinely top tipples that are hand-crafted in Devonshire's orchards, distilleries, breweries and vineyards, including refreshing bubbly drinks, rich ciders, local wines, delicious coffees and sophisticated spirits.

Luscombe Strawberry Bubbly Blended in Buckfastleigh using Dartmoor spring water

One for popping into a picnic hamper or packing as a seaside refresher, this new bubbly from Luscombe brims with a blend of the finest organic strawberries, organic Sicilian lemons, Madagascan vanilla and soft Dartmoor spring water. 

Free from additives and nasties, Luscombe was recently awarded a well-deserved Royal Warrant, a sure sign of Devon quality.  Keep a bottle on ice to enjoy in the Devon sunshine.

Buy now - £21.30 - luscombe.co.uk/products/strawberry-bubbly

Sandridge Barton - Sharpham 'Summer Sparkling' 2020

Grapes grown and crushed on the edge of the River Dart

Looking to add some Devonian sparkle to an al fresco lunch with friends? This delicious sparkling rosé, packed with delicate red berry, crunchy red apple and pink grapefruit characters, will do nicely, thank you! 

Or, should you be visiting Devon, go one better and swing by the award-winning winery's new location at Sandridge Barton on the edge of the River Dart in the stunning South Hams. Here you can enjoy a tour of the vineyard, new state-of-the-art winery and visitor centre, followed by a slap-up, locally-sourced lunch at Circa, their new sustainable eatery.

Buy now - £22.00 - sandridgebarton.com

Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

Distilled in Salcombe, in 'Provident', Salcombe Distilling Co.'s 450 litre copper pot still

Since its launch in 2016, Salcombe Gin's 'Start Point' has become one of the most internationally recognised gins. It's distilled in Salcombe Distilling Co.'s waterfront distillery on Island Street, Salcombe; one of the world's only distilleries directly accessible by boat. The signature flavour is inspired by the voyages of the Salcombe Fruit Schooners, which carried exotic goods, fruits and spices.

In the first year of sales, 'Start Point' won all the most prestigious prizes in the international world of spirits, including 'Gold' at the World Gin Awards and 'Double Gold' at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, known as the Oscars in the spirits world.

Buy now - £40.00*, 70cl - salcombegin.com 

*Every UK 70cl bottle purchased helps protect and regenerate 2m² of seagrass by donating 40p to the Marine Conservation Society.

New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

Crafted and distilled in Salcombe

Whilst we make the most of the long summer days, why not cool down with a non-alcoholic tipple inspired by the wild Nordic regions where daylight ventures through the night. 'Midnight Sun' combines hand-picked seaberries and elderberries with the creative use of kelp and pine to give a new perspective on complex flavour combinations.  

Buying a bottle of New London Light's three non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs helps to protect and regenerate 1m² of seagrass with *27p from every bottle sale being donated to the Marine Conservation Society. Did you know? This underwater plant can store up to 10 times more carbon than tropical rainforests. 

Buy now - £27.50*, 70cl - newlondonlight.com 

Hattiers 'Egremont' Premium Reserve Rum

Distilled in Mothecombe, South Hams

Devon daiquiri, madam? Give your cocktail a Caribbean spin with Hattiers Rum's Premium Reserve Rum, 'Egremont'.  Sourced from the world's finest distillers and blended with pure soft water, fresh from the hills of Dartmoor. We love the stylish stripy packaging, and should you wish to enjoy your quaff where it's crafted, book in for a tour with founder Philip Everett-Lyons on the scenic Flete Estate at Mothecombe. He's sure to treat your tastebuds to a rum-bunctious tickling!

Buy now - £42.00, 70cl - hattiers.com

Devon Cove Vodka

Potatoes grown and harvested on a family farm in Hope Cove

Pop a bottle of Cove Vodka in your basket this summer; it's made from King Edward potatoes grown, harvested and fermented in fields overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the family farm at Hope Cove. We're talking lime and cream on the nose and sweet apple finish. It's also as low-calorie as alcohol can be, as the carbs in the potatoes don't translate, and, unlike much vodka on the market, it's grain-free so gluten-free, to boot.

Buy now - £39.50, 70cl - devoncove.co.uk

Sandford Orchards - 'Devon Red' Cider

Apples grown and pressed in the heart of Devon

Named for the colour of the county's distinctive red soils, and crafted with cider apples from local orchards, you can't get more Devon than this medium cider from Sandford. No surprise it's their number one best-seller, thanks to its light, pure taste, which hits the sweet spot of creamy, ripe apples with just a hint of refreshing sparkle. No artificial flavours are used in its making, just the best natural ingredients: pressed, fermented and aged slowly in the UK's oldest working cider mill.

Buy now - Case of 12 bottles, £27.50 / Case of 24 330ml cans, £35.00 - sandfordorchards.co.uk

Salcombe Brewery Co. 'Shingle Bay'

Brewed just outside of Salcombe

When Salcombe Brewery was bought in 2016 by current owners John and Gerry Tiner, it was John's favourite Devon drink, 'Shingle Bay', a fruity golden ale, that clinched the deal. One of five in their core range of tasty heritage beers, Shingle Bay has since been joined by their Discovery range of lager, pale ale, porter, cider and Salcombe Pilsner which has just snaffled a Gold in the Taste of the West Awards 2022. Locals love it, and so will you.

Buy now - Pack of 12, £24.00 - salcombebrewery.com 

Boo Chi Kombucha 'Fresh Mint to Revive'

Brewed in the heart of the Devon countryside

Boo Chi Kombucha is brewed in small batches creating a truly authentic kombucha meaning it's packed full of acetic acids, organic acids, enzymes, vitamins b6, b12 and c. Using only the freshest organic and locally sourced ingredients to flavour their original kombucha. 

Boo Chi Kombucha range offers six Kombuchas including 'Fresh Mint to Revive'. Boo Chi's mint flavoured kombucha is infused with the calming and soothing super herb fresh mint. It cuts through the acidity of the kombucha to give it a slightly sweet, bright, extremely refreshing taste leaving you wanting more. This incredible leaf is high in antioxidants and great for the tummy.

Buy now - £38.00, pack of 12, 250ml bottles - boochi.co.uk 

Wickhams - Huxbear Classic Sparkling 2018

Grapes grown and crushed in the Teign Valley

If it's grapes grown on the south-facing slopes of sunny Devon you're after, let Dan Farrell-Wright of online wine merchant, Wickhams, be your sommelier. More than 25% of the wines he curates are English, including many from Devon and the south west. Recently named Specialist Merchant of the Year England 2022 at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Merchant Awards. According to Dan, this Classic Sparkling 2018 from Huxbear Vineyard in the leafy Teign Valley is “as good as anything you'll get from the Champagne region - and at a great price.” It's also something of a Devonshire secret, so get in fast before everyone else discovers it!

Buy now - £25.54 for one bottle or £22.99 for any mix of six bottles - Wickhamwine.co.uk

Owens Coffee 'Bantham'

Organic and Fairtrade coffee, sustainably sourced and roasted in South Devon

Dreaming of the coast? Now you can bring the Devon seaside to your morning routine. Owens' award-winning 'Bantham' is one of their delicious five house blends and is named after Bantham beach, renowned as one of the best surfing beaches in the region. This smooth and chocolatey blend is a medium roasted blend of Arabica coffee beans from South America and Indonesia. It's ideal for espresso and filter as whole beans, perfect for cafetière and filter as medium ground and it's also available as fine ground for espresso. Owens Coffee will deliver its pouches of organic and Fairtrade coffee, anywhere in the UK. 

Top tip - if you're brewing Owens Coffee in a cafetiére, add 15g medium ground coffee per 250ml cup of boiled water and leave it to brew for 4 minutes. 

Buy now - £6.50 for 200g / £23.00 for 1kg (or subscribe & save 10%) - owenscoffee.com 

Devonia Spring Water

Bottled at source from an ancient spring near Beesands in the South Hams

Devonia supplies delicious still and sparkling natural Devon spring water to hotels, cafes, restaurants, weddings and private events across the region.  What makes Devonia unique is that they reuse their glass bottles time and time again, collecting the bottles from their environmentally-conscious customers at the same time as delivering newly filled ones.  They then carefully wash and reuse them to ensure their impact on the environment is as low as possible.

Visiting Devon? Here's a few of the places to enjoy Devonia: Burgh Island Hotel (Bigbury), Hotel Endsleigh (Tavistock), Salcombe Harbour Hotel, South Sands Hotel & Restaurant (Salcombe), The Three Crowns Hotel (Chagford), The Bedford Hotel (Tavistock) and The Angel (Dartmouth). In addition, Devonia supplies a handful of spirit producers with its soft natural spring water including Hattiers Rum and Devon Cove.  devoniawater.co.uk

 

Mandira's Kitchen Has Christmas 2022 Covered for Gifts and Celebrations

Mandira's Kitchen has Christmas 2022 nicely covered for gifts and celebrations.

Mandira's Kitchen have put together their best dishes to ensure that your Christmas party celebrations fuss free and a range of gifts to delight family and friends.

Party food that doesn't involve the hostess spending hours in the kitchen is all important.  To spice up your party, there are Party Platters available for delivery or collection that include crispy samosas and Indian canape delights - perfect for passing round or a buffet table.

You can also order catering size packs of all your favourite dishes with meat, vegetarian or vegan options.  This makes light work of catering for larger gatherings. You can order the food in advance and keep in the freezer until required, just heat it in the microwave for four minutes and spend more of your valuable time with family and friends.

You can also order specially curated Indian Banquets with three courses for a Family Feast and even Dine in for Two boxes for a romantic dinner for two.

Now is also the time when everyone starts to think about Christmas gifts for loved ones.  A Mandira's Kitchen voucher can get more than just food, they are also available for Cookery Lessons and Spice Tours for the gourmet in your life.  New this year is also a range of Indian inspired giftware, to ensure your banquet has that special authentic feel.  The range includes insulated dishes, spice tins and candle holders at various price points that make the perfect gift.

If you are intending to have a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Day – the Leftover Christmas Feast Spice Kit provides all you need to create a  special three course Indian meal using your Christmas leftover – it also includes two chutneys and ghee with a recipe booklet, cook-along videos are also available to watch on the MK You Tube channel. The kit makes the perfect gift or get one for yourself to make sure no food goes to waste.

The MK Team is looking forward to Christmas 2022 and firmly believe spending time with loved ones is more important than spending time in the kitchen.  Mandira says “Here at Mandira's Kitchen, the run up to Christmas is very busy and so we usually shut shop on Christmas Eve and open only in the New Year. These few days allow us to spend time with our loved ones and guess what, we too become customers of Mandira's kitchen ensuring our freezers are stocked full of deliciousness!”

You can visit the Mandira's Kitchen website for the full Christmas range link needs to go here when up on website

The food and gifts can be delivered anywhere in the UK from Scotland to Cornwall and everywhere in between.  All items can be ordered online from www.mandiraskitchen.com  and delivered to any UK Mainland address.

 

How did you celebrate International Beer Day, yesterday?

How did you celebrate International Beer Day, yesterday?

My wife and I went for our usual long walk that we take every day and we visited a Co-Op store and bought some cans of Goose Island IPA which we took home with us.

This beer is now brewed in Europe on behalf of Goose Island, whereas previously it was brewed in the USA and exported to Britain.

After taking a couple of sips of her can my wife said: "This is sweeter than I remember it. It doesn't taste quite so hoppy. Why is that, do you think?"

After ruminating on the matter over a couple of cans each we concluded that if a beer is made in a different location the water used during the brewing process would, obviously, be different, plus there would be other environmental factors to take into consideration.

Please don't get me wrong! My wife and I still love Goose Island IPA, but my wife says she prefers what she perceives as the slightly sweeter taste.

As an aside Co-Op stores in the UK often have a good selection of real ales, craft ales and international beer styles so are worth visiting to check out what your local Co-Op has on the shelves or in the chiller cabinet. 

The 2022 Great Taste Results Are Out!

This week, over 2,300 artisan producers from all over the UK and from across the globe have received their eagerly awaited results, and all-important judges' feedback, from Great Taste.

After being blind-taste tested by a team of over 500 judges, each producer has received invaluable feedback on their entries and found out if any of their products have scooped a prestigious 1, 2-, or 3star award in Great Taste; the highest global accolade based entirely on taste.

A truly international competition, Great Taste has a rigorous judging process, with comprehensive blind taste-testing of food and drink products from a staggering 110 different countries across the world, taking place over 90 days in both the Dorset and London judging venues, by a rotating panel of industry experts.

Great Taste's prestigious judging panel is made up of over 500 food & drink professionals, including critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, journalists, broadcasters, and experts in the field. 2022's judging line-up included head buyers from Selfridges, Whole Foods, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose, BBC Good Food editor Keith Kendrick, delicious. editor Karen Barnes, Bake Off contestant and author Chetna Makan, MasterChef Professionals finalist Santosh Shah, food and drink consultant Mallika Basu, BBC's Nigel Barden, national television presenters Lotte Duncan and Juliet Sear, restaurateurs Kavi Thakrar (Dishoom) and Amy Poon (Poon's), journalists including Felicity Cloake (The Guardian), Xanthe Clay (Telegraph) and Joanna Blythman (multiple national titles), as well food writers Gill Meller, Melissa Thompson, and Georgina Hayden among many others. This experienced panel, each with trusted palates, have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winning products to crown the Golden Fork trophy winners as well as the Great Taste 2022 Supreme Champion.

Only 5,556 products – that's 39.1% of the total products entered this year – received either a Great Taste 1, 2 or 3 star award, and of the 2,344 winning companies, 27% are based outside of the UK.

Who got the Great Taste 3-stars?

The highest rating is a Great Taste 3-star, which will have been sanctioned by over 20 expert palates, and this year just 241 products have been awarded this top accreditation. Of the 3-star winners, 138 are UK based and 103 from international producers, including chocolate from Australia, Sweden and USA, beer from Germany, Lebanese tahini, Cambodian pepper and cheeses from Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Italy and Spain, among many other interesting and innovative products.

Great Taste 3-star winners from the UK include:

Hadley's Blackberry Ice Cream, a small-batch ice cream made with local blackberries which have been slowly cooked before being added to a custard base by Hadley's Dairy;

Sea Salt with Saffron from the Pembrokeshire Sea Salt Co., which marries crumbly flakes of clean, pure, hand harvested sea salt with the vibrant colour, smoky aroma and floral flavours of saffron;

Glasgow-based B Corp brewery, Brewgooder, for their “excellent and accomplished” Brewgooder session IPA, that maintains body and flavour whilst keeping to a low, highly accessible ABV;

Wild Highland Venison Salami with Juniper, Smoked with Peat from Highland Charcuterie and Smoke House, made using local, foraged and wild ingredients in order to give a strong local identity to their charcuterie;

The “broad and intriguing with marked herbal notes balanced by pepper flavour” Ivaar The Boneless gin by Exeter Gin Ltd.

Great Taste 3-star winners from across the world feature:

A raw, unprocessed and unheated honey from the mountainous oak tree forests of Thessaly, said to have “a delicious evolution of flavour from rich to light” by Aphrodite in Greece;

A natural smoked cured beef ham which is the first Cecina certified as "organic" on the market, Cecina de Le󮠂io Entrepe񡳬 by Entrepe񡳠s.l. in Spain;

Lu Shan Yun Wu Green Tea, a “deeply pleasing tea” made of tender tea buds and leaves by TeaVivre Tea Company in China;

A 73% double origin dark chocolate with Guatemalan fleur de sel flakes which “melts slowly to a smooth, velvety tang with a gentle acidity”, the Fleur de Sel, from Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, USA.

Great Taste award-winners can now proudly display the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo on their award-winning products. The logo states the year and whether the product was awarded 1, 2 or 3 stars.

Past winners have revealed displaying a Great Taste sticker increased sales by up to 50%, as consumers from around the globe seek out the best food and drink products each year.

Golden Fork ceremony

The fun doesn't stop here, for the award-winners it's only just the beginning as the highest scoring producers go through to the regional finals. The Golden Fork Awards celebrate the best from each region (the North East, South West, Scotland, Wales etc), with the winner of each region awarded a Golden Fork trophy – there are ten regional awards up for grabs. A further six Golden Fork trophies are given, including one for Best International Food and Drink and the Small Artisan Producer of the Year. Plus, there is an ultimate winner, an award for the best overall product in Great Taste 2022, aptly crowned The Supreme Champion.

All will be announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Ceremony on Monday 5 September 2022, held at Southwark Cathedral, which sits on the south bank of the River Thames, next to Borough Market.

The full list of this year's winners and where to buy them can be found at www.greattasteawards.co.uk and a wide range of the award-winning products are available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets across the country.