Introducing: Egg Royale

This has got to be the most indulgent ‘adult chocolate egg’ for Easter 2023.

Introducing the Egg Royale for Easter 2023, a chocolate egg like no other. Experience the most indulgent and rich chocolate alcoholic cream liqueur made from the finest cocoa and vanilla and blended with real cream nestling within a beautiful glass egg.

Developed over two years by Gravity Drinks, which is the team behind the cult favourite Christmas Globe Gin Liqueur and Sixpence Pud Gin Liqueur, Egg Royale is set to become another seasonal favourite.

It's perfect as a unique Easter gift for adults, the glass egg will be found sitting within a special art-deco style box with a beautiful foil printed handle.

Delicious served straight over ice, in a cocktail or even to add a boozy kick to your Easter chocolate cake!

It's available in stores from this month, February 2023.

700ml – 15% alc/vol and the RRP is £29.00.

You'll find it stocked at Harvey Nichols and is also available via Amazon.

"A love letter to India" The Colonel Saab story

Multi-award-winning, luxurious Indian restaurant, Colonel Saab was launched in the very heart of London by Roop Partap Choudhary, who meticulously crafted the menu and art-festooned destination as a “love letter” to his family and India. 

And in the past year Colonel Saab has been named one of the top Indian restaurants by Forbes, also won Newcomer of the Year at the Asian Curry Awards, Best Newcomer at British Curry Awards, Best Restaurant in Feed the Lion awards and was awarded Harden’s Certificate of Achievement. 

It welcomes regulars from Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai - who says “it is the only place which serves the authentic flavours from home” to pop stars, TV personalities sand presidents. 

The modern Indian restaurant the home of which is the grand, former Holborn Town Hall, is a homage to Choudhary's travels across India with his mother, Mrs Binny Choudhary and father, Colonel Manbeer, who was given the honorific name ‘Colonel Saab’ shared by the restaurant, while serving in the Indian Army. 

The postings across India enabled them to experience the continent's rich diversity of food from traditional local lunches in the tents of Rajasthan to British-inspired Indian breakfasts in the Officer’s Mess and banquets hosted by Indian nobility and Maharajas.

Choudhary spent a year retracing his father’s footsteps across India by train, bus and car with Indian food royalty, Karen Anand to curate contemporary twists on dishes passed down through the generations of people they were able to meet, with many regional specialities appearing for the first time on a London menu.

The exciting, all-day dining menu introduces diners to progressive takes on nostalgic dishes, from British and Indian fusion afternoon high tea, regional favourites rarely served in the UK, like the Cauliflower 65, signature dishes, like the Falahari Curry Kofta, their popular Gutti Vankaya - Andhra curry, baby aubergines in tangy tamarind gravy - and the restaurant’s outstanding desserts, including signatures like the Rasmalai Milk Cake in cardamom cream and Boondi Caviar or the Bengali, Mishti Doi Cheesecake in jaggery syrup.

Dining at Colonel Saab is also a feast for the eyes, with a treasure trove of eclectic Indian art and artefacts collected by his family on their travels, lovingly brought to the space under challenging conditions. 

Downstairs, a grand, pure silver door from a Gujarat temple greets you, while upstairs features a carved temple door from South India. The opulent dining room is bathed in light by a canopy of ornate chandeliers from Firozabad. A drinks bar made by Asprey for the Maharaja of Patiala takes pride of place in the private dining room, while 17th and 18th century Tanjore paintings and handwoven Persian silk carpets adorn the walls and precious decanters and crockery from the palace of the Maharaja of Faridkot shimmer in cabinets. 

The Colonel Saab staff bring the decadent surroundings to life, happily regaling diners with the rich stories and histories of the sumptuous artwork collected by the Choudhary family.

Every element of Colonel Saab has been lovingly and imaginatively crafted to create a multi-sensory experience of India, including the drinks. A Masala Dabba - or spice box - of artisanal gins, whiskies and rums based on Indian botanicals has been created with the Diageo mixology team, along with innovative cocktails by celebrated mixologist Antony Bertin, designed to complement the food and named after Choudhary's family members.

When Colonel Saab and his wife returned home, they channelled their unique experiences into serving the community, starting with a modest hotel and continuing their journey with boutique and palace hotels, which are now managed by their proud son Roop. He began his work life in their hotel kitchens as a young man and continues the proud legacy of hospitality that spans more than three decades, with Colonel Saab. 

Choudhary is on course to set a new benchmark in London, continuing the family tradition of celebrating the vibrant and diverse culture of India’s food and history with humility, elegance and originality.

To learn more visit www.colonelsaab.co.uk  or on social media @colonelsaab

Top tips for proper pancakes, vegan style from Fergus Smithers

 Fergus’ top tips for vegan pancakes are:-

Firstly, you should opt for American-style pancakes.

Why? Fergus Smithers who is a vegan chef and head of recipe development at plant-based recipe subscription box Grubby explains why : “American pancakes tend to work best when making vegan pancakes because the batter holds together better when it's cooking. 

"However it is still perfectly possible to make a traditional crepe style pancake, but you will have to be especially gentle when flipping them to avoid them tearing.” 

Don’t overmix 

“My secret to dairy-free pancakes is to make sure you don't overmix the batter. It might sound obvious, but if you overmix the batter it will make your pancakes dense and chewy rather than having them light and fluffy. 

"You'll also have to ensure that your pan is hot. A cold pan will result in a flat pancake, so always add your batter to a pre-heated pan with a little oil or vegan butter.” 

Avoid oat milk 

“I’d always recommend unsweetened plant-based milk for pancakes like soy or almond. You could use sweetened if you have a sweet tooth, but I find soy and almond make a delicious batter that’s not too sweet and works well for both sweet and savoury toppings. 

You can use oat milk, but it tends to give you a more stodgy pancake.” 

Allow the batter a bit of a rest 

“When mixing your batter, always use a whisk and slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients to make the batter as light and airy as possible and make sure you remove any lumps. You can also sift the flour from a height to get more air into the batter. 

"Finally, leave the batter to rest for about 5-10 minutes before you start cooking to help remove any clumps of flour for a more even cook when frying your pancakes."

Fergus’ fail-safe vegan pancake recipe:

Ingredients

150g     Plain flour

1tbsp    Baking powder

60ml     Crackd egg replacement 

2tsp      Sugar 

250ml   Plant-based milk

Method 

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl, and then add in the sugar and mix. 

Add the Crackd egg replacement and plant-based milk to a separate bowl, then slowly pour into the flour mix and whisk until it forms a smooth batter. 

Preheat a large frying pan with a little vegan butter. Pour in the batter to the pan and leave to cook on each side for 1-2 minutes, until air bubbles start to form on the top. Once the bottom side is golden brown, carefully flip the pancakes and cook for a further minute. 

Remove from the pan and eat whilst warm. 

“Smores” style pancake toppings

Digestive biscuits 

Vegan marshmallows 

Chocolate peanut butter

Break apart the biscuits

Toast the marshmallows 

Spoon over the chocolate peanut butter

Mango, banana and coconut

Mango

Banana 

Coconut yoghurt 

Desiccated coconut 

Strawberry 

Lime 

Dark chocolate 

Peel and dice the mango into a small bowl. Grate in the zest and juice of the lime and mix well.

Slice the banana. 

Toast the desiccated coconut in a frying pan until golden brown. 

Gently melt the dark chocolate, then drizzle over at the end. 

To learn more about Grubby please visit https://grubby.co.uk/about-us

Recas. A wine treat for the women in your life

Mum. Aunty. Grandma. Wife. No matter what you call her, Mother's Day is the one time of the year you show the strongest woman in your life your appreciation with gifts, a beautiful meal accompanied by a special bottle of Recas and a flick through a magazine.

At Cramele Recas, their Pasari Pinot Grigio's very special meaning behind its name makes this a special bottle to present to that special female presence in your life. 

Meaning birds in Romanian, the Pasari gather late February to build their nests in preparation for spring. Across Romania, people celebrate this joyous occasion dedicated to the appreciation of love and nature. RRP £8.75 available at Corney & Barrow.

Named after the embodiment of the Moon in Greek mythology, the elegant Selene is the bottle for you if you're after a beautifully unfiltered red. Ample, dry, optimally barricaded red wines (between 6 and 9 months) offer a special taste and olfactory experience to each taster. RRP £24.26 available at Vinero.

New Limited Edition Fudge Sauces from Artisan Confectioners Fudge Kitchen

The wonderful folks over at Fudge Kitchen have launched two very special new limited edition liquid fudge sauces in Sherbet Lemon and Butterscotch flavours.

The new fudge sauces are launching in time for Pancake Day and will be available for a limited time, but only while stocks last. The limited-edition flavours will sit alongside their current Sea Salted Caramel and Rich Chocolate Fudge Sauces.

Fudge Kitchen are known for their traditional artisan slab fudge, made in small batches in their shops. Their fudge sauce is a liquid version of the award-winning slab fudge that they are  justifiably famous for.

2023 marks Fudge Kitchen's 40th anniversary, and the business has gone from strength-to-strength in the last four decades. What started as a modest number of fudge shops has expanded into a strong e-commerce presence, flourishing wholesale business and shops in six of the UK's most visited cities.

Sherbet Lemon fudge sauce is a sweet, zingy lemon sauce that will take any pancake right up to the next level. Butterscotch fudge sauce is a decadent and creamy sauce that can be paired with ice cream, pancakes, or just about anything and can be served either hot or cold.

The latest flavours follow on from last year's successful limited-edition Raspberry Fudge Sauce. 

Priced from £4.60 the new fudge sauces can be found in Fudge Kitchen stores, and on their website. The confectionery producers have six shops in some of the UK's most historic cities, Canterbury, Windsor, Cambridge, York, Bath and Edinburgh.

Each of their high street shops offer fudge making experiences, where customers can get behind the scenes and make their own fudge 'loaf' before cutting it into slices and taking home a generous box of freshly made fudge.

The liquid fudge sauces were actually created by accident when their NPD team were experimenting with vacuum packing the original fudge. The confectioners pride themselves on their ability to innovate and trial new flavours and formats. 

The fudge menu changes seasonally to reflect national events and holidays, the next one being the King's Coronation in May. Fudge Kitchen are also launching Hot Cross Bun Caramels for Spring, enrobed in a thick layer of chocolate.

To find out more about Fudge Kitchen's fudge sauce range head to: https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/en/categories/liquid-fudge

Food Drink Devon Shines a Light on County's Food and Drink to a National Audience

(As a proud Plymothian, or Janner, my wife vigorously approves of this message!)

Championing quality, sustainability and provenance, Food Drink Devon is shining a light on the county's food and drink to a nationwide audience with events at the Houses of Parliament and the QEll Centre over the coming month. 

At these events, the ongoing innovation, drive and enterprise within the entire region of Devon will be showcased. There will be a selection of producers on display, such as Luscombe Drinks, Hattiers Rum, Salcombe Gin and Sharpham wines from Sandridge Barton, plus leading hospitality businesses, like Boringdon Hall, Saunton Sands Hotel, Winslade Manor and The View restaurant which is at the new Courtyard by Marriott Sandy Park Hotel. 

This incredibly active and vibrant organisation, which is going from strength-to-strength, has now reached a record 350 members and has grown its team with a new membership development manager, Kate Rippin.

It has a host of networking events, workshops and trade and consumer shows planned, plus its highly regarded awards which are currently open for entries. The recent The Source trade show, at which Food Drink Devon had an important presence, reflected the energy within the food and drink sector in the region. 

The forthcoming Toby's Garden Festival, 28th and 29th April, at Powderham Castle will have a tempting selection of local food and drink all provided by Food Drink Devon members. 

Greg Parsons, who is the proactive chair of Food Drink Devon, says: “It's exciting to be hosting a 'Taste of Devon' event with Anthony Mangnall MP in the House of Commons at the Palace of Westminster in March to showcase the best of Devon's food and drink industry to an influential audience. 

"In addition, Food Drink Devon will also be at the International Media Marketplace (IMM) at the QEII Centre where hundreds of travel journalists attend to see highlights from all over the world.  Last year Devon was named as one of the 'planet's most unmissable tourist destinations' in globally read Time magazine following the IMM."

Greg continues to say: “Devon is home to a flourishing food and drink sector with more than its fair share of award-winning producers and hospitality businesses.  Lush pasture, high moorland and miles of coast yield delicious meat and dairy, abundant seafood and Michelin stars, but Devon also has bright, new start-ups and exciting foodie entrepreneurs who merit a wider audience.” 

Other news is that Food Drink Devon has transferred to a Community Interest Company.  While always a not-for-profit organisation, this legal structure means the company can apply for additional funding and is built from the ground up to serve and benefit its community,  who are members of Food Drink Devon.  

Whereas before Food Drink Devon needed to operate like a business, it now has the freedom to operate in a more philanthropic way, working with service providers who better match its requirements and bringing more benefit to its members.  

Also, Food Drink Devon has changed its banking to Triodos. Which is an ethical bank committed to the future, Triodos is a world leader in sustainable banking so again matches the ethos behind the membership organisation. 

Food Drink Devon is committed to increasing the county's profile, both nationally and internationally and represents a membership of Devon's leading food and drink producers, retailers, hospitality venues and related businesses dedicated to serving up the best produce from the county.  With a focus on quality, sustainability and provenance, Food Drink Devon's aim is to support and promote their members and raise Devon's culinary profile as a whole.  Look out for the green heart logo which is carried by over 350 producers and businesses across Devon.  

For more information on Food Drink Devon visit www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk or follow @FoodDrinkDevon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Galentine's Day: Chocolate and Sweets Are the Most Wished for Gifts

Celebrating female friendship has become a phenomenon according to gifting website DrawNames which has seen a 55% growth in friendship gifting.

Galentine's Day will occur on Monday 13th February this year and was first made famous by the cult classic comedy show Parks and Recreation.

The premise is female friends getting together to celebrate friendship, unity and individuality through thoughtful, anonymous gifts.

The number of visitors to DrawNames over the February period has more than doubled in the last year with users picking names and making gift lifts for both Galentine's and Valentine's Day. The DrawNames Galentine's top most wished for gifts include:

Chocolate and sweets

Skincare

Yankee candles

The DrawNames data shows users' exchange on the 14th (61%) and 13th (16%) of February.

Emma Shaw from Leeds has been running a Galentine's event since 2020, she said: “The pandemic was the perfect reason to create an event to look forward to. We gathered our single friends to create a gift exchange but our female friends in a relationship wanted to get involved so we now have a mixture. 

“The thoughtful gifts we've exchanged include photo albums, handmade crafts and food at home. We used DrawNames to ensure everyone was completely anonymous which made the gift exchange so much more special.”

Arjan Kuiper, co-founder of DrawNames, said: “There is no better reason to give someone a gift than to celebrate friendship and unity. 

“Galentine's is growing in popularity and it's easy to see why! Using a gift exchange website means everyone involved can enjoy the surprise and enjoy the day." 

To find out more head to https://www.drawnames.co.uk/secret-valentine-generator.

Choose a Coffee With a Purpose This Fairtrade Fortnight, With Owens Coffee

Award-winning Owens Coffee is encouraging coffee lovers to wake up and smell Jabulani Coffee this Fairtrade Fortnight (27 February – 12 March 2023). 

It's a smooth and mellow coffee with sweet notes of cherry, hibiscus and vanilla, the organic and Fairtrade single-origin specialty coffee is ideal for espresso and filter use as whole beans, or as medium ground for cafetière and filter. 

It's also available as fine ground for espresso. Roasted and distributed by the South West based roastery, it's available from owenscoffee.com, 200g for £7.76 and 1kg for £27.00.

The beans used to craft Jabulani Coffee are grown in the Gakenke District of Rwanda and sourced from the Twongereka Coko Cooperative. This mountain community - made up of a group of 204 members, of which 169 are female - grow their coffee at unusually high levels (2,000m above sea level) so the beans are slowly ripened and full of flavour. 

This particular coffee is produced in partnership between Owens Coffee and Jabo Butera, resulting from a Diversity Business Incubator (DBI) project, which is a Business Hub for Minority Ethnicity entrepreneurs. 

Owens and Jabo have a direct relationship with the Twongereka Coko Cooperative, with sales of the beans supporting an initiative which connects ambassadors from the UK and Rwanda to exchange knowledge, nurture leadership and encourage positive global change. Following a trip to Rwanda in summer 2022, a film was created about how a remarkable spirit of togetherness inspires a nation and binds this coffee with a purpose. 

International Women's Day (8 March) also falls during Fairtrade Fortnight, giving yet more reason to celebrate the incredible women of the Twongerekawa Coko Cooperative and their brilliant coffee beans, which are in the top 10% of quality in the world and are therefore classed as 'speciality grade'. 

Since 2010, Owens Coffee has supported the aims of the Fairtrade Foundation and is proud that 100% of its coffee range is certified Fairtrade and organic.

“We source our coffee beans consciously. As one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, it's important for consumers also to make a conscious choice when purchasing coffee. Whether that be in a coffee shop, supermarket or from a local roastery like ours, Fairtrade coffee is widely available in the UK and, by choosing Fair Trade products, you will make a huge difference not just to the taste of your morning cuppa but to the growers and the planet.” says Managing Director of Owens Coffee, Lorraine Bridden.

To shop the full range or to find out more about Owens Coffee, please visit owenscoffee.com. Follow Owens Coffee on Instagram @owenscoffee_, like or follow @OwensCoffee on Facebook and follow @OwensCoffee on Twitter. 

To watch the documentary or to find out more please visit www.jabulanicoffee.com and to stay up-to-date, follow @jabulanicoffee on Instagram and Jabulani Coffee on Facebook.

Mandira's Kitchen Makes Celebrating Mother's Day Deliciously Different this Year

This year Mothering Sunday falls on 19 March 2023 and families are already planning how to spend this very special day with Mum to thank her for all she does for her family. 

And Mandira's Kitchen invites you to a sumptuous Afternoon Tea served on their delightful patio overlooking the Silent Pool or you can order a family feast  for 4 people that can be delivered to your door.

The Mother's Day Family Feast is available as classic or vegetarian options and includes some of their favourite Supper Club dishes; crispy samosas, Methi Chicken or Paneer, Jaipur Alu (baby potatoes simmered in spices) and Saffron Pulau, delightfully finished off with Gulab Jamun and Carrot Halwa.  Or choose the Biriyani and Bubbles feast.

For those who want to take Mum on a day out, why not book a slot (spaces are obviously limited) on either Saturday 18 or Sunday 19 March to have Afternoon Tea on the MK Patio, overlooking the Silent Pool.  

Set in the Surrey Hills the surrounding area is ideal for a family walk after an afternoon tea full of Indian street food treats such as :- A MK Cocktail on arrival; spinach and onion pakoras; lamb or vegetable sliders; Coronation Chicken mini pittas; Mini Papri Chaat; Khati Rolls; Spiced Cheese scones with tomato and date chutney; Rose Scones with Cardamon clotted cream; and more. 

Full details of the menus can be found on the Mandira's Kitchen website https://www.mandiraskitchen.com/collections/mothers-day.

In addition to the Mother's Day food you will also find a wide range of gifts and tableware including Chutney sets with serving dishes, Chai tea pot and glasses and many more dishes and tableware to make the perfect gifts.  

MK also has a range of vouchers for cookery lessons, spice tours and general spending on their website.

Mandira Sarkar, owner and founder of Mandira's Kitchen says: “This Mother's Day we want people to travel with us to a bygone era, my childhood amongst emerald tea bushes and blazing bougainvillea for the most amazing afternoon tea with an Indian twist. The menu reflects a gentler time and an unhurried pace,in this menu are a few of my favourites which I hope will also become yours and help you celebrate with your mum.”

Of course, Mandira's Kitchen will cater for any dietary restrictions and you can discuss your individual needs by emailing orders@mandiraskitchen.com.

All items can be ordered online from www.mandiraskitchen.com and either collected from Mandira's Kitchen at The Silent Pool Guildford or delivered to any UK Mainland address by Wednesday 15 March ready to eat over the weekend.  

All food arrives frozen at your door and can be kept in the fridge for 48 hours or in the freezer for up to 6 months.  Dishes can be heated in the microwave in 4 minutes, or in the oven.  Full details https://www.mandiraskitchen.com/collections/mothers-day.

Oggs for Eggs

We owe an apology to those wonderful folks over at Oggs. The publication of this post was delayed by the dreaded COVID.

If you are lucky, you have an eggs free cake shop within easy reach of you. Their cakes are really delicious and great for people who are allergic to eggs or who are vegans.

However, egg free cakes made at home haven't always been as tasty or as "good" as cakes made with eggs.

But! Now with the introduction of the real alternatives to eggs, Oggs, you, too can also make egg free cakes that are just as good as the very best cakes.

Using soya-based alternatives isn't an option for us, as my wife has a soya allergy so the fact Oggs doesn't use soya is a real blessing for us.

The Oggs eggs alternative is  Aquafaba, which is chickpea water, and it works perfectly every time. It's ideal for vegan baking, all you need do is just whip and whisk it just like an egg in all of your favourite recipes.

Their 200ml carton is great for home bakers and shakers, and the 1L carton ideal for professional bakers, chefs and bartenders.

So if you own a bakery you too can start making vegan cakes and sweet and savoury treats just like the egg free cake bakeries!

And if you miss having scrambled eggs at breakfast, lunchtime, teatime or for supper, they have Scrambled Oggs which whop up to make a perfect and very tasty alternative to traditional scrambled eggs which are great by themselves, on toast or with vegan sausages, vegan bacon or vegan burgers or with vegan cheese grated on top.

They are available in Waitrose, Tesco, Co-Ops, Sainsbury branches and other retailers.

Not only do they produce the Aquafaba egg alternatives, they also bake delicious cakes and hot puddings, too!

Some restaurants and cocktail bars offer Aquafaba products, too. And you can use them in your own restaurant or premises.

To learn more please visit them here https://www.loveoggs.com.