A wonderful new recipe from Peter Gorton

Peter Gorton's Galette of Scallops and Courgettes With a Red Pepper, Chocolate and Vanilla Dressing

Creating delicious dishes for the environment, LittlePod and Peter Gorton have created a series of recipes using LittlePod's real vanilla.

LittlePod Natural Vanilla Paste 100ml is vegan, kosher and gluten free, available from littlepod.co.uk. RRP £15.

LittlePod is on a mission to save the vanilla pod from the very real threat of extinction. With 97% of vanillin used in the west being artificial, the vanilla pod was at risk of being lost within one generation. 

Most vanilla is grown in Madagascar, which puts it at high-risk due to environmental factors such as storms and drought. Having won a Queen's Award for Sustainable Development, LittlePod created the 'Campaign for Real Vanilla' and its products produced are a vehicle to allow the company to work on community projects in Madagascar and Indonesia, supporting farmers and families in these areas.

Peter Gorton - Vice Chair of the Master Chefs of Great Britain. Having been awarded many national awards including a Michelin Star, Peter is a well known face in the media. A regular contributor to food magazines with three published books, Peter opened a hospitality academy in Plymouth and now runs a hospitality consultancy business.

Serves 4 - Cook/Prep Time 35 Minutes

Ingredients:

12 scallops

1 large courgette (blanched for 2 minutes)

225g puff pastry

For the red pepper, chocolate and vanilla dressing

1 sweet red pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil leaves

2 tbsp chopped shallots

1 tbsp pitted and chopped nicoise olives (optional)

2 tbsp of peeled, seeded, and diced tomatoes

1 tbsp LittlePod natural vanilla paste

2 tsp LittlePod pure chocolate extract

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Method:

Combine all ingredients, but not  the olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Whisk in the olive oil very slowly so that the mixture will emulsify into a smooth blend, and season to taste.

Puff Pastry Disks – Preheat oven to 375F /190c /fan assisted oven 180°c/gas 5

Roll out the puff pastry into a square shape as thin as possible, place between two heavy baking sheets and cook in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown, remove from the oven.

Use a cutter to cut out a circle of about 3-4 inches in diameter.

Repeat three times and set aside the pastry disks and allow to cool.

Assembling the Pastry Disks

Place the four disks onto a baking tray, slice the scallops and courgettes into equal rounds.

Place a scallop on the pastry disc and then a courgette and continue to overlap the courgette and scallops until each disk is completely covered.

Season with salt and pepper and drizzle over a little olive oil.

Place under a hot grill for 4 minutes or until the scallops are just cooked.

How To Serve

Place cooked scallop and courgette pastry disc on warmed starter plates.

Spoon some of the pepper dressing around each galette and place a small pile of mixed salad leaves or king prawns in the middle of the galette.

Cooking Tip from Peter Gorton - This dressing will keep for several days refrigerated in a covered jar.

Wake Up! and Smell the Coffee This Organic September, with Owens Coffee

Discover other delicious organic products to try and win the ultimate organic getaway

Award-winning Owens Coffee are encouraging shoppers to make some small changes in their shopping habits this Organic September, like choosing to buy 100% organic and Fairtrade coffee beans.

If you're not already an organic shopper, this September is the perfect opportunity to try the wonderful array of organic products produced in the UK. Owens Coffee's entire range of beans is certified organic by the Soil Association, the organisers behind Organic September.

Organic September is a campaign designed to raise awareness of the incredible benefits of organic food and farming, including supporting biodiversity and wildlife, helping to combat climate change, reducing exposure to pesticides, and promoting the highest standards of animal welfare.

Devonshire's Owens Coffee has been certified organic and Fairtrade for more than a decade, and sustainability has been at the heart of the business from day one. This includes protecting the people and communities involved in producing the coffee they roast, as well as protecting the environment.

“In the UK, we drink 95 million cups of coffee a day. That makes a huge impact,” says Owens Coffee managing director, Lorraine Bridden. “By choosing to support an organic roastery, we know this means no nasty chemicals or pesticides, which is important for the environment, for those who buy and drink our coffee, and for those people who are involved in farming our beans and their wider communities. 

“When we set out in 2010, there were very few roasters, and even fewer who had sustainability high on their list of values. We are fortunate to live and work in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and this was the starting point which encouraged us to factor environmental issues into our business. Being named Muddy Stilettos' 'Best Sustainable Business of 2022' in Devon (which is voted for by the general public) is very important to us and it's equally as important to our customers,” Bridden adds.

Before awarding certification, the Soil Association monitors the product all the way to the cup, from farming to the roasting process. Owens Coffee goes the extra mile to ensure their coffee is 'clean-roasted'. They recently replaced their roasting equipment, with the new eco-roaster using 80% less energy and reducing greenhouse gases during every roasting.  

Owens Coffee to try this Organic September

Gara: Ideal for both espresso and filter. It's a bold and fruity, medium-dark roasted blend from Central America. The most popular espresso blend in Owens' range, the beans are roasted slightly darker to bring out notes of fruit, smoke and earth. These beans won 'Best Organic Coffee' at the Soil Association's BOOM Awards in 2019.

Bantham: A smooth and chocolatey, medium-roasted blend from South America and Indonesia. Winner of a 2019 Great Taste Award.

Dart: A mellow and sweet, dark-roasted blend from South America and Africa. Winner of a 2020 Great Taste Award.

Decaf: Refined and chemical-free, dark-roasted blend from Latin America, decaffeinated using the Swiss Water method. Commended at the Taste of the West Awards 2019.

To shop the full range of organic coffees or for further information about Owens Coffee, please visit owenscoffee.com or call 01752 897124.

To find out how to enter Owens' 'Ultimate Organic Getaway' giveaway, and to be kept up to date, like and follow Owens Coffee on Instagram: owenscoffee_, Facebook: @OwensCoffee and Twitter: @OwensCoffee. One lucky winner will receive a bundle of organic prizes, including an Owens' Coffee Brewing and Tasting Experience (worth £95.00) and a Discovery pack of Owens Coffee (worth £12.99).

Owens Coffee's Top Organic September Picks

 If you're looking to try more than just coffee this Organic September, here are Owens Coffee's top organic products and places to try.

Grab a ReRooted Cold Brew Oat Latte: If you're an iced-coffee-all-year-round kind of person, this is the one for you. Available from The Roastery at Owens' HQ in Ivybridge and nationwide through Riverford's veg boxes deliveries, it's a brilliant blend of ReRooted oat plant milk combined with Owens Coffee. Smooth and luxurious – plus, if you're not an iced-coffee-all-year-rounder, you can warm it up. £2.40 500ml/£4.00 1 litre

Say cheers with Luscombe Wild Elderflower Bubbly: Hold on to the taste of summer with Luscombe Wild Elderflower Bubbly. This fabulously refreshing tipple is packed with elderflower hand-picked in the June sunshine. The gentle sparkle lifts the floral notes for an elegant and sophisticated drink. Add some frozen berries and a twist of lemon to take it to the next level. 12 x 27cl bottles £21.30

Drink a Boo Chi 'Fresh Mint to Revive' kombucha: We can't get enough of kombucha right now. Infused with fresh mint, the calming and soothing super herb, it cuts through the acidity of the kombucha to give a slightly sweet, bright, extremely refreshing taste that'll leave you wanting more. Mint is high in antioxidants and great for the tummy, just like kombucha. This delicious product has just won a 2022 two-star Great Taste Award. 12 x 300ml bottles £38

Start the day right with an Açaí & Co smoothie: Stock up on this fabulous superfruit, and never have a boring breakfast again. For an authentic Brazilian açaí experience, add this thick, nutritious, organic and delicious whole food to your smoothies or smoothie bowls. With no added sugar or other fillers, it's just pure purple açaí in every pouch. 28 pouches of 400g (11.2kg) £125

Eat Eversfield Organic 28 day aged beef rib eye steaks: A multi-award winner, Eversfield Organic's rib eye steaks are produced from the Devon-based organic farm's own free-to-roam herd of native Aberdeen Angus cattle, fed on a 100% pasture diet, never grain. Perfect grilled and served rare, this cut is taken from the forequarter of beef next to the sirloin. From £9.50 per 220g steak

Relax in a Great Fibres organic cotton terry towelling bath robe: A medium-weight, medium-length kimono-style unisex bath robe made from 100% organic cotton terry material. It's versatile, being fluffy enough to wrap into after a bath at home, but not so voluminous it won't fit into your suitcase or beach bag. Available in graphite, loch blue, natural (undyed) and olive colours. £86.60

Enjoy an organic stay at The Bull Inn, Totnes: After a year of ecologically-driven renovations, The Bull Inn opened its doors in December 2019, with nine contemporary, eclectically-designed and stylish bedrooms, a self-catered, four-bed apartment and a supplier-led organic restaurant. From the organic beer on draught to the eco paint on the walls, everything – down to the very last detail – has been thought about from an organic and ecologically-minded perspective. Rooms from £85 for a single or £140 for a double king.

https://owenscoffee.com.

Malvern Autumn Show 2022

Backdropped by Worcestershire's breathtaking Malvern Hills, the three-day spectacular even promises to celebrate the very best of the season, from giant crops and floral art to shopping, local ciders and tasty treats.

A real highlight is, as always, the RHS Flower Show, which showcases the UK's best nurseries and growers and their spectrum of specialist blooms, as they compete for the coveted gold medal from the RHS judges.

Plus, there's a chance to start planning next year's spring pots and borders, with every kind of bulb, tuber and corm for sale, alongside expert advice to help you ensure your garden flourishes.

Green-fingered visitors will enjoy the Grow Zone and Harvest Zone, where they will discover visual floral feasts and sales, trade secrets and tips from famed experts, and a celebration of the great British harvest highlighting the finest from the Three Counties' orchards and hopyards. 

Not forgetting the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, a world of gigantic legumes and enormous fruits. Last year alone, four new world records were broken for the heaviest marrow, aubergine and broad bean pod, and longest leek.

Whilst over on the Family Green, there will be lots to entertain visitors both young and old, including free have-a-go activities such as pedal tractors and circus and bushcraft skills, a mini harvest festival, and animals aplenty, from wonderful dog displays in the Top Dogs Arena to the popular World of Animals featuring giant rabbits, alpacas, horses and more.

Special guests set to draw in crowds across the weekend include Gardener's World's own Arit Anderson, award-winning food writer Mark Diacono, floristry extraordinaire Jonathan Moseley, archeologist and TV presenter Jules Hudson and landscape designer and television favourite, Adam Frost.

Fans of nostalgia can head back in time and relive the glory days in the Vintage Village and Rural Pursuits zones, where they will find vintage machinery displays, forgotten skills and rural crafts. Plus, a traditional tearoom serving up delights from the 40s and 50s era.

Jane Edwards, Shows Manager, said: “The Malvern Autumn Show is a celebration of one of the most exciting and vibrant British seasons. We are delighted to bring back an amazing array of flowers, plants, experts, traditional skills, animals and food and drink from across our three counties – promising something for the whole family to enjoy.

“The show really is a plantsman's paradise, so whether you're looking for inspiration for your own garden or allotment, or simply want to soak up the beautiful blooms, the Three Counties Showground is the place to be this September.”

Breakfast, lunch, dinner – and of course tasty treats – are all on offer, courtesy of a huge range of outstanding local suppliers in the Food & Drink Village. Plus, the Kitchen Theatre, the Gin Show sponsored by Ludlow Gin, Festival of Perry and Westons Cider Garden.

All this, and so much more, promising an unforgettable family day out, with tickets costing just £18.85 per person, £17.85 for members and free of charge for children under 16. Book tickets online in advance to save at www.malvernautumn.co.uk or call 01684 584900 for more information.

   

Great news for Shmoo lovers! Shmoo Develops New Vending Machine Blends

Top food and drink distributor Aimia Foods are delighted to announce a new range of Shmoo milkshake powders which are specially developed for running through cold or chilled vending machines.

Available in four of Shmoo's most popular flavours, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Banana, Shmoo vending powders boast a unique, school compliant formula, which in seconds, transforms into a delicious shake when processed through a cold/chilled vending machine.

Karen Green, who is the  Marketing Manager at Aimia Foods, said: "When mixed through a cold/chilled vending machine, Shmoo vending powders share the same creamy texture that blended Shmoo shakes are renowned for, with just the addition of water , so the vending machine virtually takes care of the entire Shmoo shake making process automatically.

"And customers can enjoy their favourite Shmoo shake simply by pressing the appropriate button or screen on the machine.”

As with all blendable Shmoo powders, each flavour in the Shmoo Vending Powder range is suitable for customers following a gluten-free or vegetarian diet.

To learn more about Shmoo Vending Powders, or for advice on compatible machines, you can call Aimia Foods on 01942 4086000 or visit them at www.aimiafoods.com.

 

Ovolo Hotels Add Caffeine Boost to Negroni Week

To help celebrate Campari's Negroni Week (12-18 September), Ovolo Hotels have created 'The Decadent Count', a specially curated cocktail which will be available exclusively for just one week.

During this forthcoming Negroni Week, Negroni fans will discover the new creation on the menu at Ovolo Hotels' venues across their 11 restaurants and bars all over the world.

Blending two well-loved classics to create the ultimate classic. Partnering with St Remio Coffee in Australia and Hong Kong, and Tanamera coffee in Bali, Ovolo's drinks specialists have taken the globally loved Negroni recipe and added a kick of caffeine to create 'The Decadent Count', which they've taken to the next level with a garnish of Campari infused cacao nibs.

“Negroni Week is just as fun as it is important philanthropically', said Creative Beverage Director Andrea Gauldi. “We had the creative challenge to curate our own Campari Negroni and decided to mix two iconic drinks together - the Negroni and Espresso Martini - to create a velvety and luxe combination. We know that our customers will be excited by the new offering and hope they all get the chance to enjoy it within the week that it is exclusively available for”.

As part of Negroni Week, bars around the world will be mixing Negronis for a good cause. Upon signing up to the initiative venues donate an initial $25, and commit to donating $1 from every Negroni purchase to Slow Food. Slow Food is a global, grassroots organisation that champions cultural and biological diversity, promoting food education and advocating for more just and equitable food policies.

“Negroni week is an awesome initiative that we are happy to be a part of', said Group Marketing Director Stephen Howard. “It's amazing we can work with such bright talent such as Andrea to create a unique offering at all our bars and restaurants around the world and support a good cause at the same time.”

Sip over a good cause with a Decadent Count, available in Australia (£13), Bali (£9) and Hong Kong (£13).

https://ovolohotels.com/negroni-week.

That's Christmas: Hoppy Christmas! Seven Bro7hers Advent Calendar La...

That's Christmas: Hoppy Christmas! Seven Bro7hers Advent Calendar La...: It is time for a little Christmas beer! Introducing the ultimate festive count down we all need this December, the SEVEN BRO7HERS advent cal...

That's Christmas: Let Gravity Drink be on your Christmas tipple list...

That's Christmas: Let Gravity Drink be on your Christmas tipple list...: Gravity Drinks introduces Christmas Globe Gin Liqueur®,  this year’s NEW and collectable light-up globe, due for release in stores worldwide...

Low in alcohol but not low in taste

Most of us have times when we are avoiding alcohol, whether it’s for a specific time due to health reasons, or just to give our liver a rest.  

But more and more folk are doing ‘Dry January,’ and then finding out that they feel better, slimmer and generally more alert by avoiding alcohol, so they continue throughout the year.

Companies like the award-winning Wise Bartender have sprung up to specialise in alcohol-free drinks. 

 It stocks over 450 products, from alcohol-free beer, wine, cider, spirits and cocktails through to mead, kombucha, sodas and mixers. 

Founder Tom Ward, said: “In 2017, as the quality and choice of alcohol-free drinks, particularly beer, began to get better, we launched Wise Bartender with a modest range to give people the chance to buy individual bottles or cans to try, rather than having to order a whole case.  

"Alcohol-free has become one of the most exciting and innovative drinks categories with demand continuing to grow. In 2021, our retail sales grew 30% and we now also supply pubs, bars and restaurants,  as customers increasingly expect a good range of alcohol-free drinks when they go out.” 

https://wisebartender.co.uk/

In the summer we usually want longer, more refreshing tipples, so here are a few of the alcohol alternatives that I’ve discovered, and I have to say, I’ve been impressed!

Let’s start with Seedlip, probably one of the best known distilled, non alcoholic spirits. The company now has three varieties in their range: Seedlip Garden 108; Seedlip Grove 42  and Seedlip Spice 94.  If you go on the website you will find a host of great cocktail recipes.  A good  introduction to Seedlip is the gift box of all three in 20cl bottles at £34.99.  Try this, then you can move onto a full size bottle of your favourite.   But when out and about, do look for the Seedlip Summer of Colour cocktails as the company has teamed up with a number of bars to promote their colourful cocktails.

A new kid on the block is Mahala Botanical.  This award-winning, South African, alcohol-free, spirit makes a brilliant cocktail mixed with tonic and a sprig of rosemary or ginger ale and a squeeze of lime.  Mahala, meaning “free” in Zulu, is a premium craft spirit, free from alcohol, sugar, colourants and artificial flavours, triple-distilled in custom-made vacuum stills using nine hand-sourced botanicals, many of which are indigenous to South Africa and some which are even foraged from co- founder and Master Distiller Danielle Schoeman’s, own farmland. Its nine ingredients, including honeybush, orange, clove, buchu, Pelargonium citronella and more, offer a splendid premium drink. Available from Wise Bartender at £19.99 for 750ml.   Mahala is also gluten and vegan friendly.

If, like me, you’re a gin drinker and want to reduce the alcohol in your favourite tipple, then this clever idea from Inginious Gin should float your boat… it’s also lower in calories!  A 5ml serve, compared to the standard 50ml double serve of gin, mixed with 150ml of tonic results in the  familiar G&T taste experience, but with only 0.2 units of alcohol per serve. 

Each purchase comes with a special 5ml measuring spoon (but I have to admit that I serve myself double!) Inginious contains carefully chosen botanicals including the classic gin botanical juniper, and a citrus blend of lemongrass, grapefruit and lime to ensure a delicate, but recognisable, gin flavour. Available online at Inginious-Gin.co.uk, RRP £26.00.

I’m very impressed with Anon Drinks: the three products in the portfolio of this award-winning new company cover two of my favourite alcoholic drinks, but with no alcohol.  Anon Bittersweet makes a good alternative to Campari, or Aperol, and if mixed with alcohol free fizz, a brilliant spritz.  The palate profile is complex and developed, with hints of orange, citrus and herbs.  Anon Spiced Cane is a great rum alternative that  I’ve used to great effect in cocktails with cola or ginger beer.  But the star of the trio is the recently launched: Anon English Garden.  It’s a non-alco alternative to Pimms, blending natural flavours combining classic summer fruits, cucumber, mint, orange, apple and strawberry. Serve as one would a Pimms, or top up with some fizz for an English Garden Spritz.  Available at £20 for 70cl or £12 for 20 cl to try them.

And even easier, (and perfect for picnics) is the recently launched Anon English Garden ready-to-drink, in cans, to create an instant cocktail.  £10 for 4 x 250ml ready to drink cans of English Garden from anondrinks.com and Wise Bartender too.

Enough of ‘spirits’,  how about wine? Brewed in Birmingham, Bolle is a new alternative to sparkling wine, available in both 750ml (£9.99) & 350ml (£3.49),  Bolle has found ‘a revolutionary way to ferment juices without producing either alcohol or unpalatable sweetness, because a growing appetite for low/no abv should never mean short-changing one’s taste buds.’ Two varieties are available: Bolle Rosa: delicate salmon pink colour, fine bubbles & notes of berries, blackcurrant, toast & herbs and Bolle Ora: again fine bubbles coupled with notes of apple, pear, toast & minerals.  Available online from Bolle

For beer, Bavaria based ERDINGER Weissbrau, the biggest family-owned wheat beer brewery, has a couple of really delicious alcohol-free options – the regular ERDINGER Alkoholfrei and ERDINGER Alkoholfrei Grapefruit (which is a mix of the former plus grapefruit juice). Alkoholfrei is widely available at around £1.50 for a 500ml bottle from major supermarkets and the Grapefruit mix in Tesco.  They’re refreshing and are isotonic,  and known as the sporty thirst quenchers, as they help to replace lost fluids quickly. They also taste great!

And one doesn’t need to pretend to be drinking alcohol when there are so many really delicious soft drinks available.  I’m particularly impressed with the Cawston Press range.  The popular Cawston Press Sparkling Rhubarb and Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade are now available in 750ml glass bottles so can grace the drinks table at any gathering when something non alcoholic, but rather special, is required. Simply made from real pressed fruit and sparkling water – that’s it! As well as tasting pretty damned good, they are great in cocktails too. Around £3.49 a bottle, from selected Waitrose stores, Ocado and by the case of six from Amazon for £20.99

So, in a nutshell, there’s plenty of scope – from new arrivals and old favourites. Cheers!

Q Catering Expands Warehouse by 11,600 Sq. Ft to Meet Rising Demand for Frozen Goods

South East's leading Independent foodservice wholesaler, Q Catering, has begun its vast warehouse expansion development this month, resulting in an extra 11,600 sq. ft of storage facilities across the site.

The Sittingbourne-based company is a trusted, reliable foodservice wholesaler which offers an ever-increasing range of quality grocery, chilled, and frozen food products across over 1,700 product lines, from both local and national suppliers.

This expansion plays a part in the company's investment and wider goals for business growth, and to meet increasing consumer demand. Q Catering, will have 22,600 sq. ft of warehouse facilities when completed, a substantial increase from its initial 5,000 sq. ft back when the company started in 2003, aims to continuously increase its presence in the South East and London.

The company's new warehouse facilities is just across the road from the original space and will store ambient and chilled food products only. The new unit will allow 545 pallets of high-quality ambient and chilled food products to be safely stored on site. The original facility will be converted into a 11,000 sq. ft freezer to store up to 520 pallets of frozen goods at any one time.

Steve Clarke, who is the MD at Q Catering, said: “It's been an exciting week for us at at Q Catering. We've been planning this extension for almost a year now, so it's great to finally see it come to fruition.

“The new warehouse will help us achieve two goals. First, it will offer over double the amount of storage we've previously had across the site, meaning more products for our customers. Secondly, we've transformed our original unit, which has been good to us for over 12 years, into an 11,000 sq. ft state-of-the-art freezer to increase our cold store offering and keep up with the increasing demand for frozen foods and trends in the category.

“It's recently been announced the frozen foods category is about to have a moment, with reports showing that 'frozen food sales rose 21% in 2020, double the rise of fresh food sales', a desire originally driven by the pandemic but continues today. Caterers are looking for both high-quality foods and convenience in the kitchen, so we are expanding our frozen offering to help them stay one step ahead.

“Adding this extra facility will not only allow us to stock even more products to meet demand but will also take us forward in our continued investment plan and goal of hitting £20 million turnover by 2030. We're also currently investing in new vehicles on site which will offer more capacity, meaning bigger and more efficient deliveries, which will also play a part in our wider growth plan.” Clarke concludes.

Earlier this year, Q Catering announced the appointment of Steve Clarke, who joined in September 2021 after buying a substantial shareholding in the Fairway Foodservice member's business. Steve is ambitiously growing the business to take it to the next level and offers support and advice to hospitality and foodservice businesses across the South East and London.

To stay up with the latest news from Q Catering, sign up the newsletter here: https://www.qcatering.co.uk/newsletter/

For product offering brochures and more information, visit the Q Catering website here: https://www.qcatering.co.uk/ for more information.

UKs top Latin American Food Brand, Capsicana, Launches Ready to Serve Salsas.

Capsicana, which is the multi-award-winning UK-based Latin American food brand, has shaken up the shelves in Sainsbury's with the launch of two new ready to serve salsas, the latest additions to the brand's innovative range.

Capsicana Easy-Going Salsa made with mild red pepper and smoked paprika is an every-day, versatile salsa packed with flavour which offers a sweet, smoky flavour.

Capsicana Full-On Feisty Salsa, the punchier of the two, is made with chipotle and habanero chillies and hits the sweet spot between delicious taste and a strong level of chilli heat to get the taste buds tingling.

Developed as ambient 'ready to eat' products in response to consumer data showing that 52% of consumers claim they look for meals in the world food category that are ready in 20 minutes2, the duo of salsas combines the convenience of ambient with the freshness and flavour of a 'made from scratch' salsa.

Both have been created to bring authentic taste and a fresh Latin vibe to the table, offering punchy flavours and high-quality ingredients. They are perfect for adding some Latin flair to summer BBQs and al fresco dining whether 'dipping in' with tortilla chips or 'dolloping on' nachos, fajitas, or tacos.

Ben Jackson, founder of Capsicana, comments “As well as being developed to respond to the consumer trend for convenience coupled with freshness of flavour, the new salsas also cater for foodies looking to try new things and get creative in the kitchen. Research consistently highlights a consumer appetite for world food products and more adventurous flavours, initially driven by restrictions during the pandemic. The desire for creativity at mealtimes has never been higher”.

A fast-growing, adventurous food brand, Capsicana offers a range of Mexican, Brazilian, and Argentinian inspired products to awaken mealtimes. The ranges include quick and easy to use cooking pastes, seasoning mixes, meal kits and accompaniments which are available nationwide in Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado, Booths and Amazon.

Ben, who has previously worked in corporate roles, ignited a passion for Latin American foods and flavours after spending a year visiting his father, back in 1996 aged 19, in Texas, where he first tasted real Latin food. 

Ben and his father always connected over cooking and visited many cantinas together with Mexican friends. He experienced true Mexican food culture and it was the authentic recipes and ingredients that really sparked a passion.  He went on to launch the Capsicana brand in 2016.

Ben said: “I admit that I did take a bit of a risk when I launched Capsicana. I departed my stable, corporate job in London and started with just £500 and a market stall in Hertfordshire selling smoked chillies from Mexico. 

The brand broke into national retail after lots of hard work and determination and today we're the most awarded in our category, including a coveted Great Taste Golden Fork!"

He went on to explain: “Once I had the chillies in my hands, I began devouring Latin American cookbooks, met with top chefs and local cooks. It was important for me to understand authentic recipes and unique flavour combinations from the region when creating Capsicana. The goal has always been to create a premium, Latin American range of flavours for everyday cooking inspired by recipes from the region”. 

“I wanted to share my passion and knowledge for Latin flavours with consumers of the UK and help busy people to cook tasty and exciting meals at home”.

Available in 285g jars, the Capsicana Easy-Going Salsa and Capsicana Full-On Feisty Salsa are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They have an RRP of £2.50 and have now launched in-store and online at Sainsbury's.

Want to sell Capsicana? Please contact the Capsicana team on hello@capsicana.co.uk

www.capsicana.co.uk.