Monday, 16 January 2023

Guild of Fine Food Launches Fantastic New Great Taste Bursary for 2023

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food is offering 50 micro producers the opportunity to put one new product in front of its expert panel of Great Taste judges for free. But applications must be in by 7 February 2023.

Great Taste is recognised as the world's most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. It's an opportunity for any food and drink producer to have its products assessed by chefs, buyers, food writers and retailers. Currently, the awards scheme is open for entries from members of the Guild of Fine Food, with general entries opening on 23 January 2023.

This new bursary is aimed at micro producers who have never entered Great Taste before or have a new product, which has never been entered before. Our bursary panel, consisting of Adrian Boswell, buyer at Selfridges, industry commentator and food entrepreneur Mallika Basu, and PR & marketing expert AJ Sharp, will select the 50 most eligible entries.

John Farrand, who is the MD of the Guild of Fine Food says: “Here at the Guild, we're very proud to be celebrating the 30 years of Great Taste.  Since its inception the accreditation scheme has celebrated and helped excellent food & drink. We've always been about working with businesses across the entire industry and our activities have an ecosystem of scaled entry costs that mean our biggest entrants also support our smallest ones."  

He went on to point out: "It's true, though, that micro producers often need more help, especially with the current economic headwinds, and that's why we're thrilled to be launching the Great Taste Bursary. By helping fledging makers, we'll continue the great work our team, our judges, and the sector is doing to nurture start-ups and innovative new businesses.  It will encourage and help the very smallest makers to enter, receive constructive feedback and, hopefully, receive affirmation that they're producing top-notch food & drink.

“If our bursary candidates go on to achieve an award, they'll be able to display it on packaging and benefit from support and the undoubted kudos which comes with a Great Taste award. If they are not successful, our rigorous judging process provides every entrant with impartial, honest feedback from industry experts. And that is incredibly valuable.”

Adrian Boswell, who is the buyer at Selfridges comments: “I've been judging Great Taste for over ten years and understand the good it does to the wider food and drink sector.  It's important for my buying role in the food hall to know what's out there and who are the emerging and quality makers. Great Taste has always done that but being involved in assessing applications to the bursary can only improve that market awareness and, more importantly, the initiative will encourage innovative producers to take part.”

Each year, over 2,300 artisan producers from the UK and across the globe enter their most prized products into Great Taste to receive the all-important judges' feedback. Some go on to receive an award too, either 1-, 2-, or 3-star; the latter is the highest global accolade based entirely on taste.

Eligible micro producers must:

Be under two years old

Have a turnover of under £100,000

Only enter one product per business (that hasn't been entered in Great Taste before)

Be commercially available in the UK

What happens next?

Applications must be received by 7 February 2023 via https://gff.co.uk/bursary

Their panel of judges representing three different disciplines across food and drink will shortlist the final 50 producers from their online application

Bursary winners will be announced 24 February 2023

The products will enter the Great Taste 2023 accreditation scheme, just like any other, and go on to be blind-tasted alongside the other entries in March – June 2023.  Results will be available as part of the overall Great Taste scheme on 1 August 2023.

What is Great Taste?

Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process.

The full list of last 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.

How does it work?

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.

Lusso to launch over 100 new products driven by home renovations

Lusso's long-term vision is to become the world's leading luxury department store, offering everything for the home, under the Lusso brand.

With established industry expertise and excellence designing bathrooms, the team have replicated these skills through the delivery of a contemporary kitchen collection growing their portfolio of homeware, from kitchen taps to sinks, radiators and stunning hardware.

Says Wayne Spriggs, Lusso CEO and founder: "In response to the current economic climate, at Lusso we're seeing a lot more interest in our collections of smaller homeware pieces, with sales of Basins, Basin Taps and Bath Taps increasing by over 25% across the last 3 months of 2022.

"For us, these figures indicate a growing number of UK homeowners are looking to update their bathrooms without investing in a full refurbishment, and we expect that pattern to continue well into 2023.

"And we're seeing higher demand for our ranges of luxury vanity units, mirrors, and accessories,  including our range of brushed nickel accessories and wall hung vanity units - which are more affordable ways to transform the look of your bathroom."

New Bathroom Launches

Customers can expect over 70 new bathroom designs launching to market in 2023, including a range of smoked resin baths.

Wayne went on to say: “Lusso saw a sales increase of 20% from August to October 2022 on our range of kitchen products, with a 25% increase on our signature Filtrata boiling water taps.

"Function and aesthetics play a large part and we have observed the highest sales increases of our brushed gold and polished nickel kitchen taps, in keeping with the renaissance of Art Deco and period home trends which utilise the two distinct brassware shades.

"Due to the increase in sales of polished nickel, we're introducing more varieties to the exclusive collection, with recent additions including the Claridge and Asbury taps as well as pot fillers, a brand-new concept to Lusso.

"Ahead of this, we're launching a brand new Filtrata which combines the excellence and function of our signature tap with a brand new, traditional style, aiming to bridge the gap in the market for period glamour which doesn't lose out on function and efficiency.”

New Kitchen Products

Customers can expect over 30 new designs launching to market in 2023. Key products include pull out Filtrata boiling taps.

www.lussostone.com.

Friday, 13 January 2023

The heat's boosted by Very Lazy with the New Chilli Boost Range

Those clever folks at Very Lazy has unveiled a new range of highly versatile Chilli Boost condiments that are certain to get the nation’s tastebuds a-tingling. 

They'll be available in Tesco from 16 January onwards, this mouth-watering range has been created for those looking to spice up life in their kitchens.  

The Chilli Boost range are oil-based condiments, blended with chillies to give them their unique flavours. Packing a punch when it comes to delivering both heat and taste, this multi-sensory range will initially include Smokey (medium) and Zingy (hot) flavours, with the line-up set to expand further in 2023.

Cleverly designed to deliver maximum flavour with minimum fuss, the naturally versatile Chilli Boost range can be spooned, spread, or stirred into any dish to add heat and flavour. Whether added to pizza, pasta, rice, fajitas, hummus, or as a dip, it will provide a delicious chilli boost to any dish, making the opportunity to have fun in the kitchen limitless for both novice and pro cooks alike.

The ideal store cupboard essential, the range has been created in response to a raft of market research that shows an uplift in consumer demand for a fusion of more intense flavours and spicier chilli-based options.

Zingy Chilli Boost – the hot one (£3.00 RRP)

The Zingy Chilli Boost provides a chilli kick with rich savoury notes from the herbs & spices. The unique zingy flavour is driven from a blend of dried chillies, onion and garlic, as well as miso and oil.

Smokey Chilli Boost – for medium bite (£3.00 RRP)

The Smokey Chilli Boost is a well-balanced fusion of smokiness with a chilli kick, providing an easy way to add great flavour and heat to your dish. The smokiness is driven by smoked paprika, chillies and chipotle, with a blend of rich balsamic vinegar and oil.

For further information, visit Very Lazy here https://www.verylazy.com/the-range.

Thursday, 12 January 2023

Athletic Brewing Company. Where alcohol-free does not mean taste free

If you are thinking of taking part in Dry January but are concerned not about missing out on the alcohol but on the tastes of what you would normally be drinking, then your new companion for January and beyond should be the brews produced by the Athletic Brewing Company. 

And as it's safe for vegans because it contains no animal products or by-products it's an ideal meal accompaniment for your Veganuary feasting. Also, it's great for people who suffer from coeliac disease as it is also gluten free, too. 

Established back in 2017,  the Athletic Brewing Company points out, and with considerable justification, that they brew without compromise. 

Take their Upside Dawn Golden Ale, for example. It contains under 0.5% alcohol. So is perfect for the designated driver, someone taking part in Dry January or who doesn't want to drink alcohol for whatever reason.

What about the taste? My wife, who is more of a connoisseur of Irish stouts than pale or golden pale ales like Upside Dawn has declared Upside Dawn to be "absolutely delicious." And I have to agree with her. It is one of the nicest golden ales that I have ever drunk, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

It has a clean, nicely hoppy taste and it's clear that it has been brewed to taste good, with the non-alcoholic side being a very useful additional feature. 

It has an IBU of 15 and the taste is awesome on the tongue, with bright notes and a clarity of combined tastes.

It has a good mouthfeel and is a worthy beer for your fridge.

Of course, there are other ales and beers that are available including: Tucker's Westcoast IPA, Round of Cheers, Lodge Life, Wit's Peak Witbier, Run Wild, Free Wave, Athletic Lite, All Out (a stunning stout), Cerveza Atletica, a Mexican-inspired light copper ale, Mystery Limited brew packs, Sunset Stoke (a refreshing red IPA) Kyle's Pale, Jumbo Juicy IPA, The Ocean Under the Moon (a special, extra-dark beer) and Athletic ESB.

UK lovers of this American craft brewing revolution can order their cans here https://uk.athleticbrewing.com.

https://athleticbrewing.com

Athletic Brewing Company's beers are also available in Tesco stores, some independent off licence premises, via Amazon and in some restaurants. 

Get 2023 of to a fine start with Bone Idyll's Rums and Gins

Connoisseurs of fine rums can enjoy the debut collection, featuring Botanical and Aged Rum varieties. Bone Idyll's rums are a hassle-free way to enjoy premium spirits from the comfort of your own home.

Perfected for their hospitality comrades by admired local restaurateurs, residents and husband and wife team, Sam, and Alex Berry, they will continue to develop and grow the Bone Idyll offering throughout the year.

Botanical Rum, £40

700ml

For Wilful Wanderlusters

Hit the tropics and calypso with this mysterious, exotic beauty – an alluring one-of-a-kind blend of vibrant freshness, subtle sweetness, and a hint of fire. Lose yourself in the moment.

Botanicals

Scotch Bonnet pepper, banana, and lime leaf.

Serve With

Double measure with The London Essence Blood Orange and Elderflower tonic. Serve with a lime wedge and wild abandon.

43% ABV- 70cl


Aged Rum, £35

700ml

For Master Blasters

Blending the deep funky bassline of Guyana with lighter, brighter tones from Barbados and the Dominican Republic, this rock steady mix will liven up your at home drinks experience.

Notes

Rich peaches and cacao.

Serve With

Double Measure with The London Essence Roasted Pineapple soda. Serve with a pineapple wedge and a banging soundtrack.

45% ABV, 70cl

The Bone Idyll Spirit & RTD Cocktail Collection

Customers can enjoy the wider Bone Idyll spirits and RTD cocktail collection. Available to purchase online, with nationwide shipping to your door.


The Spirit Collection

Spirits: Barrel Aged Gin, £40.00, Blushing Pink Gin, £37.00, London Bone Dry Gin, £35.00, Vodka, £30.00, Botanical Rum £40 and Aged Rum, £35.

Refresh yourself with a choice of 5 RTDS cocktails (ready to drink): 

Cocktails: Pink Gin Cosmo, £30.00, Margarita, £30.00, Barrel Aged Negroni, £30.00, Espresso Martini, £30.00, Passionfruit Daiquiri, £30.00.

Now Open, The Bone Idyll Gin School

Curate Your Own Gin 

Enjoy a creative 2.5hr session with this talented team and upon completion, you can take home your very own 700ml bottle of gin.

Rich Botanical Ingredients for Curating Your Own Gin

During the session, you'll be presented with an eclectic and wide range of botanicals, from citrus to spice to floral ingredients. You will choose your own botanical blend and your instructor will help you to carefully craft your unique and delicious gin.

"I'm really delighted to have launched our debut gin school. Launching a community offering for intimate gin school classes with our experienced team of distillers, has always been part of the Bone Idyll dream. These sessions will be creative, interactive, and fun. We want everyone to feel right at home and part of the Bone Idyll family,"  said Sam Berry, co-founder.

Feeling A Little Peckish?

During the session, the team will be serving bar snacks. If you feel you want a little more, guests can order from the Bone Idyll menu featuring the new pizza range. 

What Happens If You Want to Re-order Your Gin? 

The team has taken this into consideration and will keep every recipe on file. To re-order, simply email the team with your bottle number. It's that easy.

What's Included in A Gin Class Booking, £125 per person

A 2.5hr session includes 3 double gin & tonics, Bone Idyll gin tasters, bar snacks (per person), a 700ml bottle of your own gin and a £5 discount to spend at the Bone Idyll shop.

The Bone Idyll Bar 

And when you're done, why not stay a little longer in the main bar area – you can book a table and enjoy sampling more from the Bone Idyll range.

The bar and gin school areas are available for private bookings.

To book your session, please email

hello@boneidyll.co.uk

IG: @bone_idyll

Tuesday, 10 January 2023

New Limited Edition Bonne Maman Crêpe Pans

Leading conserve specialist, Bonne Maman is launching a limited very special edition crêpe pans ahead of Shrove Tuesday. Produced in partnership with Tefal, the beautifully decorated crêpe pans will be available from 1st February, for a four week period whilst stocks last, from Home Departments in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.  

The 25cm special edition Bonne Maman crêpe pan plus 3 x mini jars of various flavours of Bonne Maman Conserves will be available for an RRP of £17.50.

Shrove Tuesday shoppers can find the delightful pans as part of special Pancake Day displays. They can also enjoy a selection of Bonne Maman classic flavours in adorable mini jars and the brand’s irresistible, perfect-for-pancake-day Hazelnut Chocolate Spread - made with all-natural ingredients, 20% hazelnuts and absolutely no palm oil. 

For the ultimate pancake day showstoppers, Bonne Maman has collated a selection of simply delicious, classic French crêpe recipes - perfect to enjoy on February 21st. Whether you choose luscious Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, vibrant Lemon Curd or fruity Conserves, delight friends and family with stacks of fantastic crêpes! 

Monday, 9 January 2023

Celebrate Veganuary in style with Jimmy's Iced Coffee

My wife and I love Jimmy's Iced Coffee. 

There's nothing like a nice drink of Jimmy's Iced Coffee at no matter what time of the day, well, excepting perhaps at bedtime!

So, what's available? There's Jimmy's original coffee, iced coffee with an extra shot, and delicious, decadent mocha.

They only use carefully chosen coffee beans (Arabica, and only ever Rain Forrest Alliance Arabica coffee beans) so clearly Jimmy's is the ideal coffee maker for those of us who care about what we consume and what impact we have on our world.

And Jimmy's has taken the extra step of making sure that its delicious iced coffee is only ever sold in 100% fully recyclable aluminium cans or in funky and very attractive BottleCans to which it proudly has the Trademark. Also guaranteed to be fully recyclable.  

But that's all very well, but what about Veganuary? Jimmy's has Veganuary covered with its most excellent and very tasty iced coffee made with oat milk! Tried other non-dairy coffees before but weren't all that impressed? That might have been so, but I'll bet that wasn't Jimmy's oat milk based non-dairy coffee? 

My wife and I both love Jimmy's Oat Milk Iced Coffee and we enjoyed the taste and as my wife has a dairy allergy, she was doubly pleased.

You can order your Jimmy's Iced Coffee direct at https://www.jimmysicedcoffee.com or from several smart retailers such as Morrison's, the Co-Op, Waitrose, Asda, M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury and bp. 

Jimmy's is a Dorset-based company and is B-Registered. 

That's Christmas: Lidl's Christmas offerings attracted over 1.3m ext...

That's Christmas: Lidl's Christmas offerings attracted over 1.3m ext...: Lidl’s industry topping prices and multiple award winning product ranges, helped it attract over1.3m more customers in the pre-Christmas per...

Asda Reveals Two New Vegan Ranges for 2023

That's right! Asda has launched not one but two new vegan ranges in time for Veganuary 2023!

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just looking to cut down on your meat consumption this January, or want to provide vegans in your family or friends with something that's not only vegan but also tasty and nutritious,  Asda’s new OMV! and Plant Based ranges have you completely covered, with over 112 high-quality, unapologetically indulgent, and flavoursome vegan products.

The OMV! range contains delicious and utterly tasty treats sure to tantalise everyone's tastebuds, whilst the Plant Based range offers nutritionally balanced meat-free meals that don’t compromise on flavour, either.

New for January 2023, Asda’s OMV! Hot & Spicy No Chicken Burgers (£2.25) are a must-try. Prepared with a succulent pea and wheat protein blend and encased in a zingy hot and spicy crumb, they’re perfect for pairing with the delightfully soft OMV! Brioche Burger Buns (£1.15), for an easy Friday night dinner with family or friends.

For those who are missing out on a hearty fry-up on those cold, January mornings, the Plant Based by Asda Bacon style rashers (£2) are a brilliant option. Made with wheat protein, and nutritionist-approved, the 100% vegan rashers can be indulged on in between slices of soft farmhouse bread, or as an accompaniment to the juicy and flavour filled OMV! No Pork Caramelised Red Onion Sausages (£2). (Just as a reminder, That's Food and Drink says make sure its Asda's very own freshly baked bread!)

A vegan take on a classic dish, the OMV! Macaroni Cheese (£2.85), is perfect for a quick and comforting weekday meal. Brining together traditional macaroni pasta with a spiffing coconut oil-based cheese alternative, the cheesy favourite is topped off with a flavour filled paprika and parsley crumb.

For those who are eating lunch on the move, Asda has you covered, as its new ranges also includes on the go options, like the Plant Based by Asda Chick*n Caesar Wrap (£2.75) – a bar-marked tortilla wrap complete with flame-grilled soya protein pieces, vegan Caesar style mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, gherkins and a tasty alternative to Italian style hard cheese, and the OMV! No Prawn Sandwich (£2.75), an Oatmeal bread sandwich with a vegan prawn alternative marinated in a vegan Marie Rose sauce.

Perfect with a coffee or after a meal, the OMV! range includes a number of decedent sweet treats like the very indulgent OMV! Choc Brownies (£2), complete with a sprinkling of chocolate chips, and the OMV! Salted Fudge Chocolate Bar (£2.50), a rice-based caramel milk chocolate, topped with vegan salted caramel fudge and crunchy honeycomb pieces.

Also as That's Food and Drink have previously mentioned, Meat-loving Married at First Sight star Zoe Clifton was announced as the fairly unlikely ambassador for the brand’s new OMV! And Plant Based by Asda ranges. Renowned vegan-sceptic Zoe is vowing to go vegan for all of January, eating products from the Asda ranges and sharing her verdict on vegan cuisine, supported by her plant-based partner Jenna.

The full range will be available to buy in-store throughout 2023, with select products also available to buy online from the 4th of January. Throughout January, customers who spend £5 on vegan own-brand products (OMV! and Plant Based by Asda) can also earn £1 back in their cash pot in the Asda Rewards app.

www.asda.com

Asda reminds us of its café meal deals for kids and over 60s

Asda has announced its very popular and successful ‘Kids Eat for £1’ and ‘Winter Warmers’ deal for pensioners will be extended into 2023 to help more customers manage the cost of living crisis.

The supermarket, which launched the offer for kids under 16 to enjoy a hot meal in any of their 205 cafes in June 2022, has extended the deal until the end of March 2023, with no minimum adult spend. 

Over 60s will also be able to continue enjoying hot soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffee in Asda cafes until the end of March 2023, thus making sure thousands of older customers can benefit from a warm space and a hot meal during the colder months. 

Since Asda launched the two initiatives last year, it's served over 1.2 million meals to kids and over 60s from its cafes nationwide.

For the first time since the launch, both café meal deals are now also available in the 28 Asda Living Stores across the country.

The extension of café initiatives comes as Asda’s Income Tracker shows UK households were £107 a month worse off in November 2022 and predicts disposable incomes will continue to decline into as inflationary pressures continue to bite.

Besides its support for kids and older people, Asda has confirmed it will be extending its 10% discount for emergency workers to at least the end of March 2023 through its partnership with Blue Light Card. 

Blue Light Card is a nationally acknowledged scheme which provides workers in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and the armed forces with a range of discounts. Asda has extended its discount for card holders to acknowledge the amazing work they do day in, day out.

Asda’s colleagues will also continue to receive 10% discount in stores and online from their first day of employment.

Mohsin Issa, Asda’s co-owner said; “We know as families head into the New Year, the pressures on household budgets will continue, but we remain as committed as ever to supporting our customers tackle tough times. Our café initiatives have already proven a lifeline for over a million customers since we launched them last year, and we hope to support many thousands more into 2023, alongside our ongoing support for emergency workers and our valued colleagues.”

www.asda.com