Seven Retro Arcade Game Cocktails Launched by NQ64

From Mr. Stay Puft to Final Fantarita, NQ64 has put a new focus on nostalgic vibes with the launch of seven new retro arcade game-inspired cocktails, including two made with non-alcoholic ingredients.   

The new menu is modelled on game-themed cocktails, namely Ghost Busters, Super Monkey Ball, Mario, Final Fantasy, The Simpsons, Crash Bandicoot and Driver to be enjoyed while button bashing to victory with your mates.  

Highlights include Lake Springfield (Sour Apple Whiskey) developed by NQ64's bartender in Glasgow, and Mr. Stay Puft (Espresso Martini) which pays homage to the cutest, most delicious baddy of all time from Ghostbusters. 

 A large part of NQ64's team training focuses on developing their bartenders cocktail skills; always striving to develop and create the perfect drinks to accompany arcade games, their latest menu came about through an internal competition that took place at each of NQ64's 9 venues.  Bartenders were given the opportunity to create and develop their own game-inspired drinks before presenting them in the finals at NQ64 Birmingham. The cocktails presented at the competition led to the direction of NQ64's new menu, with the drinks selected having been created directly from the team. 

Their non-alcoholic cocktails to seek out are No Uka Uka and Driver Spritz. 

NQ64's enviable cocktails, craft beer and soft drinks are served in adult-only neon splattered drinking dens filled with retro arcade games and classic consoles. Their signature neon-filled aesthetic provides immersive arcade bar experiences, in its street style aesthetic that sees spray painted artwork cover the walls and ceiling that glow under UV lights.  

NQ64 has venues in Soho, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Liverpool. 

Cocktails inspired by the retro arcade games, which will be on offer at each of the venues include: 

Mr Stay Puft: NQ64's version of the Espresso Martini, Mr. Stay Puft has Tiny Rebel Stay Puft in it, so was only right that they commemorated the cutest, most delicious baddy of all time from Ghostbusters.

A Marshmallow Espresso Martini, with Vodka, Espresso, Marshmallow, Chocolate… based, of course, on the iconic Ghostbusters character.  

Super Coco Ball: Everyone loves cereal and videos games eh? Based off the game Super Monkey Ball, this is a Rum based drink with Brandy, Cacao, Banana, Hazelnut, Coco Pop milk blend

Mega Daisy: Based on the Mario series of games, Mega Daisy is what happens to princess Daisy when she eats a mushroom. Lychee and Elderflower Gin spritz with Aperol, Triple Sec, Elderflower, Lychee, Prosecco… based on Daisy from the Mario franchise

Final Fantarita: Based on Final Fantasy... Sour Cherry Margarita topped with Fanta 

Lake Springfield: Simpsons inspired! A Sour Apple Whiskey drink with JD Apple, Midori, Toxic Waste Cordial and Apple [Developed by bartender Robbie who is from Glasgow]

No Uka Uka (non-alcoholic): Non-alcoholic cocktail based on the game Crash Bandicoot. NQ64 already has the Aku Aku (the mask character in the Crash games) so it's only fitting to call this one Uka Uka (Aku Aku's twin brother, who's the total opposite)

Driver Spritz (non-alcoholic): An alcohol-free cocktail with Crodino, Candied Strawberry, Lemon and Soda (great for the designated driver!) based on the game Driver

James Taylor, who has the very enviable job of NQ64 Drinks Development and Training Manager, told That's Food and Drink: “At NQ64 we're always looking for inspiration when it comes to our venues, whether it's through finding new arcade games or developing our bar menus." 

He went on to say: "With drinks being such a huge part of the experience at NQ64, we always like to keep the menu fresh with new and exciting twists on game-inspired cocktails, using fun and unique ingredients that result in a delicious, but different taste.” 

As well as their new drinks menu, NQ64 will also be launching up to four new arcade games across each of their sites this November, adding even more entertainment to their already retro packed arcade bars.  

For Christmas, NQ64 are accepting Christmas party bookings from groups of any size, and drinks and token packages can be ordered in advance https://nq64.co.uk/christmas.

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Salcombe Brewery Co. Launches It's New Chocolate Stout, Maya

Salcombe Brewery Co. is launching Maya (ABV 4.5%), its brand new Chocolate Stout. It will be available from early this month (November) in cans (330ml x 12 for £25.00) from retail outlets, including the brewery shop and online for nationwide delivery from www.salcombebrewery.com.

Head Brewer, Sam Beaman, said: “We are really very excited about this latest addition to our small batch range. 

"For the ancient Maya people, the cacao bean was sacred. They were obsessed with its rich, chocolate taste and believed it was a gift from their gods. This was our inspiration for our new stout which we have infused with organic cacao nibs to add depth and complexity to the stout.”

Maya (4.5% ABV) is a Chocolate Stout, created by adding cacao nibs during the brewing process. The caramel and coffee notes from the malt blend perfectly with the rich chocolate flavour from the cacao nibs, resulting in a smooth chocolate stout. It's a dark, warming beer ideal for these colder autumn and winter nights. It pairs well with braised or spiced meats and rich autumnal stews, but is equally enjoyable on its own. 

Salcombe Brewery's range of beers is available nationwide in pubs and hospitality venues as well as retail outlets and online from www.salcombebrewery.com. It is available to the trade directly and through a number of key wholesalers. For further information on Salcombe Brewery Co. please visit www.salcombebrewery.com follow Salcombe Brewery Co. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

Maya will be available from early November, in cans (330ml x 12 for £25) from retail outlets, including the brewery shop and online for nationwide delivery from www.salcombebrewery.com.

That's Food and Drink believes that this is an ideal drink for the Christmas period, so do get some cans in for your Christmas festivities! 

Wow! More yummy goodness with a new Blueberry Yoghurt from Bonne Maman

Bonne Maman are introducing their new and utterly delicious new Blueberry yoghurt. 

Made only using utterly fresh whole milk, the creamy and smooth natural yoghurt is served on a delicious and utterly delectable layer of Bonne Maman Blueberry compote. Which is filled with flavour and crammed with lots of juicy, ripe blueberries.

It's a simple yet perfect choice for the start of the morning or as a light dessert or snack at any time of the day, the Bonne Maman range of deliciously fruity small pot yoghurts also includes aromatic Apricot, sweet yet tangy Rhubarb and mouth-watering Raspberry alongside new luscious Blueberry.

Bonne Maman Yoghurts are all created with simple, natural ingredients and are guaranteed to contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.  

Presented in a pack of 4 x 125g pots, the new Blueberry Yoghurt is available initially as an exclusive at Waitrose stores nationwide and via Ocado at a recommended price of £2.60p.   

Broader distribution will be available from early next year. 

It's suitable for vegetarians. Packaging can be widely recycled, too.

 

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How big brand collaboration can nurture sustainable trade of wild-harvested ingredients

The recently created WildCheck platform is already encouraging major brands to realise the benefits sustainable wild-harvested ingredients can have for local ecosystems and communities. 

TRAFFIC encourages others to follow and join forces with companies which are taking steps to ensure their supply chains have the best results for people and also the planet.

The use of wild-harvested plants in medicine, foods and cosmetics goes back many millennia. The demand is still growing, as the trade volume of medicinal and aromatic plant species has increased by 22% since 2000. 

As explored on the WildCheck platform and in the WildCheck report, through collaborative, non-competitive efforts, there are ecological and social opportunities to be gained for the environment and people who depend on harvesting these wild ingredients.

“The collaborative buy-in from end-market stakeholders is vital to adapt the competitive profit-oriented structure of wild plant sourcing in multiple industries,” explains Caitlin Schindler, TRAFFIC Plants Trade Programme Manager.

Encouragingly, big brands such as Twinings, the world-renowned tea company and the second largest UK supermarket chain, Sainsbury's, are already diving deeper into the sourcing of wild-harvested ingredients on their shelves, including using the WildCheck platform.

In a recent event attended by everyday brands from multiple industries, companies recognised how, as critical stakeholders in the wild plant supply chains, they have important roles to play and acknowledged that there are challenges to overcome in the sustainable sourcing of ingredients. 

Business representatives took the opportunity to highlight their ongoing or newly-formed sustainable sourcing activities and discussed non-competitive potential avenues to mitigate against overharvesting and mismanagement of wild species, plus dealing with potential safety concerns of harvest workers and exploitation of them.

Also attended by standard holding organisations, certification bodies and conservation NGOs, businesses were encouraged to form partnerships with other firms and organisations to help share costs and reduce duplication of efforts in addressing current knowledge gaps and action around wild plant ingredients.

“We're ready to help guide companies in making robust progress toward fairer, safer and sustainable wild product supply chains that ultimately work towards various UN Sustainable Development Goals for the environment and support the 1.2 billion people that rely on nature for their basic needs,” says Caitlin went on to explain.

To show unity and commitment to responsible sourcing of wild-harvested ingredients, the attendees were encouraged to sign the We Use Wild Pledge.

What is The Pledge? It's a voluntary, self-led initiative to increase awareness and responsible sourcing of wild-harvested plant ingredients and provides an action framework. 

While the Wild Dozen ingredients offer a starting point, thousands of other plant species used in the medicinal, foods and cosmetics industries need examining, also.

This event took place a few weeks ahead of the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), where TRAFFIC experts will discuss the benefits of innovative approaches, like WildlCheck, to the management and sustainability of trade in CITES-listed medicinal and aromatic plants

Hernan Zunino, Social Impact Manager, Latin America at Twinings, said, “while having a stable demand for wild ingredients is decisive for the communities that collect them, we also have a responsibility to ensure there's a concrete, positive impact for the communities behind them. 

"Knowing exactly where and how our ingredients are produced and collected is a vital and essential part of that work, and any platform, database or group that can help us gain a better understanding brings us a step closer to the sustainable and transparent chain we envision.”

Mike Maunder, Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, said, “Cambridge Conservation Initiative is about bringing people together to collaboratively build answers to global conservation challenges. 

"This workshop arranged by TRAFFIC brings the CCI institutions together with the biggest brands to chart the opportunities for shifting the sourcing of wild plant products towards a sustainable and regenerative industry. TRAFFIC, one of CCI’s 10 partners, is a leader in wildlife trade and with particular expertise in wild plant products, exemplifies the skills of the CCI partners during this accelerating biodiversity crisis.”

WildCheck platform is part of TRAFFIC's Wild at Home Project and was built using information from the 2022 report WildCheck: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients report.

WildCheck is an online knowledge and collaboration platform that offers objective insights and advice on sourcing wild ingredients to support business, investment, and policy scoping, as well as consumer education. WildCheck connects a broad set of partners in their commitment to responsibly-sourced wild ingredients through the We Use Wild Pledge.

Wild at Home Project: Using Markets for Wild Ingredients to Support Conservation and Rural Livelihoods https://www.traffic.org/what-we-do/projects-and-approaches/promoting-sustainable-trade/wild-at-home/.

TRAFFIC's Wild at Home project acknowledges the generous funding from the Swedish Postcode Foundation.

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Make sure your cocktails are smokin' hot with Flavour Blaster!

If you are the kind of person who wants to add the "wow" factor to home entertaining, then you can now follow in the footsteps of the world’s top restaurants and cocktail mixologists.

Flavour Blaster, which creates unique smoke-filled bubbles which sit atop of everything from cocktails to culinary masterpieces, has become a massive hit with professionals across the entire hospitality industry.

And now anyone who wants to recreate this experience for themselves, their family members and friends can do exactly that, because its creators are now marketing their latest creation, a new version designed for use in the home.

Flavour Blaster Mini is delivered in its own stylish box and in a range of colours, complete with all the kit that is required to produce the bubbles, which release smoke in any one of a range of aromas when they burst.

Users can make their selection from a whole host of different, exciting aromatics and infusions to ensure they create the required perfect result, with aromas like passion fruit, bergamot, cinnamon, coffee and mixed berry to name only a selection from the enchanting range.

And what's more, there are also a number of savoury options for anyone who wants to add a chef-like touch to their dinner parties, including rosemary and smoke, which then dissolve into a cloud of fragrant vapour.

Since being launched, Flavour Blaster has become the must-have techno-accessory gadget for the hospitality industry used in venues such as celebrity haunts like Annabel’s, to the five star Fleming Hotel in London’s swanky Mayfair.

The Flavour Blaster Mini costs £199 plus VAT and comes with two aromas, with more available to buy via the website at www.flavourblaster.com.

Avallen Calvados Launched in a Paper Bottle as a First at Harvey Nichols

Almost everyone has heard the song Paper Roses, but I have to admit that paper bottles is something entirely new to me. 

Because Avallen Calvados has launched a paper bottle as an amazing first at Harvey Nichols,

Sustainability in the spirits industry has taken a gigantic leap forward with the launch of the first mainstream spirit to be housed in a paper bottle. 

Pioneering environmentally aware brand Avallen, which is distributed throughout the UK by premium spirits distributor Mangrove UK, has just launched this utterly unique new paper bottle for its deliciously refreshing completely natural Calvados. 

And it's available exclusively until the end of November at Harvey Nichols. It must be emphasised that this marks a true and very revolutionary first for the UK spirits industry.

Not only is it far more robust than standard glass bottles it's also six times lighter, weighing in at a mere 82 grams, this type of packaging will reduce glass use in the future and will dramatically cut the brand's carbon footprint, with the carbon footprint of each bottle being no less than six times lower than average glass alternatives.

And the design of the bottle is truly stunning. The design of the bottle remains beautifully detailed, with a colourful, intricate design that wraps around the whole bottle, showcasing the existing Avallen Calvados brand. 

The brand itself reflects, not only the sustainable credibility that makes it a popular choice with conscious consumers, but also the delicate, floral and fruity flavours that Calvados lovers' desire above all else. And it remains at the same price as the glass bottle alternative.

Avallen Calvados has always prided itself on a pioneering brand, creating sumptuous spirits whilst helping the planet. Indeed being 'planet positive' is built into every stage of Avallen's process, from distillation to shelf. 

Tim Etherington-Judge, Co-Founder of Avallen points out: “Here at Avallen we're always trying to improve our environmental performance and combine it with beautiful designs. I think our new paper bottle really delivers on both and we're thrilled to launch it exclusively in Harvey Nichols, which is  one of the world's most famous retailers.”

The development is in partnership with sustainable packaging brand, Frugalpac, who's global mission is to help the planet by decarbonising the food and drinks industry. 

The paper bottle which is home to Avallen's delicious Calvados spirit is made from 94% recycled paper, with a food grade pouch inside to make sure the spirit inside is kept safe. With each bottle so light, the reduced weight also makes it cheaper to deliver, or to post if you're sending it as a gift. 

Since its launch in 2019, Avallen has built its business around taking action against the climate crisis. The drinks industry can often be viewed as an environmental  rogue, responsible for catastrophic biodiversity loss and the depletion of natural resources. 

Avallen tackle this by authentically and honestly giving back more to the planet than they take. The brand is an ideal example of a company that's producing great quality alcohol alongside helping the environment, with impact-led production methods and the use of a mere three ingredients (apples, water, and time). They have already achieved B Corp certification and 1% For the Planet membership – certifications granted to only the most conscious of businesses.

Nick Gillett, MD of Mangrove UK adds: “Avallen has always embarked on a mission to take action against the climate crisis and inspire drinkers to giving back more than they take. This new incredible paper bottle exemplifies exactly this and will appeal not just to eco-conscious drinkers but to anyone who is intent on reducing waste.”

This latest step solidifies Avallen's commitment to being 'planet positive' and is now available in its paper packaging, exclusively within Harvey Nichols.

Nick Bell, Senior Spirits Buyer at Harvey Nichols said of the product: “At Harvey Nichols we're proud to stock Avallen in its spectacular sustainable packaging across our bars and our stores.

“As a buyer you have a real opportunity to take genuine, positive steps to reduce carbon and improve biodiversity, so being able to take on a carbon-negative product with the quality of Avallen is extremely rewarding.”

The product and its eye catching new paper bottle will be available for wider purchase in stores and online at avallenspirits.com, from the 1st December. Priced at £35.

This will make an ideal Christmas gift for eco-aware family members and friends who like fine drinking.