National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival announces full line-up for 2023

The National Geographic Traveller (UK) has unveiled the full line-up of guest speakers and exhibitors for this year’s Food Festival, which returns to London’s Business Design Centre for a star-studded weekend celebrating culinary travel on 15-16 July 2023. 

Hosted by award-winning magazines National Geographic Traveller (UK) and Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK), the two-day event invites visitors to taste the world, with wine tutorials, international tastings, culinary masterclasses, live demonstrations, on-stage interviews with acclaimed cookbook authors and talks from celebrity and up-and-coming chefs.

The line-up will bring together some of the most exciting names in modern gastronomy. The festival’s Main Stage will welcome the likes of MasterChef judges John Torode and Anna Haugh, while Speakers’ Corner will showcase Caribbean specialist Andi Oliver and The Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod.

Tickets are priced at £26 per person, including booking fee. A limited number of additional tickets to the Wine & Spirits Theatre are available at the price of £6 per session, purchased in advance, with up to two drinks tastings included.  For more information, and for the booking link, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk  

Main Stage

The Main Stage will feature demonstrations and interviews with the culinary world’s leading lights, including:

MasterChef judges John Torode and Anna Haugh

Restaurateurs Thomasina Miers and Ravinder Bhogal

Writers Ixta Belfrage and Melissa Thompson and many more

For the full Main Stage line-up, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk  

Speakers’ Corner

Over on Speakers’ Corner, there will be an absolutely stellar line-up of cookbook authors will talk through their latest releases. The programme will take a deep dive into the culinary destinations that inspired these works, with visitors invited to ask questions before being given the chance to purchase their favourite cookbook and get it signed. This year’s line-up includes:

Andi Oliver, who’ll be discussing her long-awaited debut, The Pepperpot Diaries

Petty Pandean-Elliott, author of The Indonesian Table

Coinneach MacLeod, whose latest release, The Hebridean Baker: At Home, celebrates recipes and stories from the Scottish islands

For the full Speakers’ Corner line-up, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk

Masterclass Theatres

Alongside the festival’s guest speakers, two Masterclass Theatres will host live cooking demonstrations from more than a dozen destinations across the world, including:

Azerbaijan

Ecuador

The US and many, many more

Wine & Spirits Theatre

This year’s Wine & Spirits Theatre will also embark on a global tasting tour, featuring everything from Czech and Californian wines to Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon.

Attendees can book sessions to learn more about more about their favourite tipples before visiting the Drinks Showcase to try, and buy, wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages from all over the globe.

Main Hall

Finally, the Main Hall is going to be packed with a wide range of exhibitors, from tourist boards to producers, who’ll be available to inspire visitors through demonstrations, samples and stories. Some of the planet’s best chefs will be there to put a spin on classic dishes, with tourist boards on hand to tell you more about the culinary destinations that inspired them.

Meanwhile, in partnership with Brand USA, Travel South USA is hosting the Travel South Pavilion, offering visitors a homespun way to discover the flavours of the Southern states. Highlights include demonstrations by renowned Southern chefs and drink aficionados serving as Travel South Ambassadors, who’ll prepare tasty samples and share stories behind the region’s food and drink, along with inspirational travel information. 

A ticket to the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival offers visitors an immersive experience, giving them the inspiration to plan their next trip and get better acquainted with global cuisines. 

Thousands of food-lovers poured into the Business Design Centre in 2022, and with this year’s event promising to be even bigger and better, be careful! Because tickets are expected to sell out quickly. 

Tickets include entry to the festival, with access to all interviews, Q&As, panel sessions and chef demonstrations.   

For the full line-up, and to book a ticket, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk  

Main website: News, features and more: nationalgeographic.com/travel 

Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/NatGeoTravelUK 

Twitter: twitter.com/NatGeoTravelUK 

Instagram: instagram.com/NatGeoTravelUK 

Vimto Jam? Yes! Vimto Jam!

On my recent trip to Home Bargains The main purpose of the mission? I was actually buying some nuts for out parrot I bought a couple of very decent ales, some coffee (good quality coffee at a very reasonable price) and my eye fell upon some Vimto Jam.

Yes, Vimto jam. Which I had not even realised was a thing. 

Actually, it's not called Vimto jam it's official title is Vimto Fruit Spread.

It's described as "a seedless Vimto flavour mixed fruit jam with raspberries, black currants and grapes."

And "Made with our secret recipe."

It's produced in the UK by Somerset Cuisine Ltd of Highbridge in Somerset, manufactured under licence from the owners of Vimto, Nichols PLC who are based in Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside.

So, what does it taste like? Absolute perfection! It's Vimto flavoured and it is truly delicious on hot buttered toast, on jam sandwiches, on bagels, on scones (especially with clotted cream!) and is really spiffing if you spread it on a Victoria sponge cake, etc. 

It's available in 200g jars from most supermarkets, plus Home Bargains, B&M, etc.

https://www.vimto.co.uk/vimto-range/product/vimto-fruit-spread.

I have just noticed that B&M Bargains also sells Vimto jellies! Another great British idea! 

Sensational Summer Cocktails from Hattiers Rum

This summer why not just sit back, relax and enjoy the sunshine (or clouds?) while sipping on a refreshing Hattiers Rum cocktail?

They are certain to put you in a sunny mood, no matter what the weather, Hattiers Rum's Eminence Blended Aged White Rum is the essence of summer and quite simply delightful in cocktails at summer garden parties and picnics, savoured on a balmy summer's evening over ice, or enjoying neat at the poolside. Eminence Blended Aged White Rum is available from hattiers.com, £37.50, 42% ABV, 70cl.

It's the UK's first B Corp certified rum, Hattiers has a fresh take on the traditional art of rum blending with an uncompromising approach to quality and sustainability.  Sourcing fine aged rums from over 25 distilleries around the world, their versatile and accessible blends consist of carefully selected rums married together along with pure Dartmoor water at their Devon blending house and distillery.

With light and attractive soft fruit notes and a vanilla pod, creamy fudge and ripe pineapple aroma, Hattiers' Eminence Blended Aged White Rum is the quintessence of summer.  Crafted using cask rums from Barbados, Australia, Trinidad and Jamaica, this smooth, dry blended aged white rum has a great depth of flavour and character.  With a fruity but not sweet taste, it enjoys a gentle nutty pineapple aftertaste and long cream finish and is perfect enjoyed either neat, with a mixer or to create beautiful summer cocktails such as a Daiquiri and Mojito.

Here are two of Hattiers' favourite summertime cocktails using their delicious Eminence Blended Aged White Rum, which are simple to create at home.

Hattiers Rum - Classic Rum Daiquiri

When it comes to cocktails, Hattiers value tradition and simplicity of the art above all else. That's why they stick to a classic daiquiri recipe using their premium blended aged white rum and just two other ingredients. However, if you wish to add some strawberries, pineapple or even passion fruit to the mix, they won't hold it against you.

What you'll need...

60ml. Hattiers Eminence Blended Aged White Rum

30 ml. Lime juice

15 ml. Sugar syrup

1 lime wedge for garnish

What to do...

Add all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker

Shake vigorously

Strain into a pre-chilled coupe glass

Garnish with the wedge of lime

Hattiers Rum - The Eminence Julep

Rum cocktails don't come much more refreshing than The Eminence Julep.  A Mint Julep is traditionally a bourbon cocktail best known for being the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, but with Hattiers' rum twist, it shouldn't be reserved for just one day of the year!

What you'll need...

60ml Hattiers Eminence Blended Aged White Rum

1 Lime

A large handful of Mint Leaves

½ oz sugar or simple syrup

What to do...

Press a handful of mint leaves in a julep cup or glass with ¼ oz sugar or simple syrup. You don't need to muddle, just press

Add the remaining ¼ oz simple syrup or sugar and 60ml Eminence Blended Aged White Rum

Fill your glass with crushed ice, forming a mound on top

Finish with a lime and mint garnish

The Hattiers Rum range is available at hattiers.com as well as Waitrose & Partners, Harvey Nichols, Master of Malt, Fortnum & Mason, The Whisky Exchange, Enotria & Coe and Drink Finder. 

Hattiers Rum is immensely proud to steadfastly refuse to use any colourants to make their rums appear darker and don't add sugar to their blends.  They believe people should know what they're drinking, and therefore all component rums, countries of origin, age and distillation methods are detailed on the back label of each and every bottle.  Other premium rums in their range include Egremont Premium Reserve Rum and Resolute Navy Strength Rum.

For further information about Hattiers Rum please visit www.hattiers.com or like and follow Hattiers Rum on Instagram: hattiers_rum and Facebook: HattiersRum. 

Chur Bro New Zealand IPA

Another of my beer purchases from Home Bargains was a can of Chur Bro New Zealand IPA.

It's from the Off Axis Brew Company and has an alcohol vol of 6.2%.

It's brewed and canned under contract in the UK exclusively for TJM Ltd, the owners of Home Bargains.

It's a delightfully hoppy IPA, which is brewed using the following New Zealand hops: Pacific Jade, Motueka, Raku and Wakatu.

Unlike some heavily hopped IPAs this has a strong level of hoppiness, but it's not overbearing as can be the case with some IPAs, especially those produced by some brewers on the West Coast of the USA.

New Zealand has, over the past decade or so, began to forge a pathway to become a centre of IP excellence, but with a style all of its own.

There's an excellent mouthfeel, an enticing bitterness and a good degree of hop flavours that mean this beer is a great IPA right to the last drop.

I think it's about £1.49 for a 440ml can.

https://untappd.com/b/tiny-rebel-brewing-co-chur-bro/2821834

Chefs? This is for you! Enter for Your Chance to Be Part of Culinary History

The Bocuse d'Or UK Academy is issuing an invitation to chefs to compete for the chance to represent the UK in the Bocuse d'Or, the world's most prestigious live cooking competition.

It's the place where top chefs representing 24 countries show-off their talents, skills and creativity, pushing boundaries everywhere with technique and innovation in the hope of winning the most coveted prize in modern cuisine.

Chefs have until Wednesday 14th June to submit their application for the Bocuse d'Or UK Selection which takes place on Monday 10th July at the Gordon Ramsay Academy in Woking, Surrey.

To enter, chefs must hold a British passport and email a CV with a covering letter to Michelle at koyahpr@icloud.com, explaining why they want to represent the UK in the Bocuse d'Or and the skills, experience and attitude they would bring to the team. 

A shortlist of chefs will then be invited to be interviewed by Bocuse d'Or UK President Clare Smyth, Chair Andreas Antona and UK Performance Coach Mike Duckett.

The finalists who are selected to compete in the National Selection cook-off, sponsored by Seafood Scotland, will be offered mentoring from previous candidates to help them prepare. Chefs must also bring a commis chef who is experienced and will be comfortable working alongside them throughout their practises and on the day itself. (Note: The commis must be aged 23 or under by 31st January 2025.)

Founded in 1987 by the late and legendary Paul Bocuse, the Bocuse d'Or has grown to become the greatest culinary spectacle in the entire world.

The most rigorous cooking contest of its kind, the Bocuse d'Or represents the pinnacle of global culinary excellence, dedication, artistry and achievement. For the candidate chosen to lead Team UK - with support, expertise and mentorship from the Bocuse d'Or UK committee, coaches and past candidates - this is an exciting opportunity to represent Britain and secure its position as one of the best in global gastronomy.

The UK has competed in all but one world final with previous finalists including Ian Musgrave of The Ritz London, Tom Phillips of Restaurant Story, Adam Bennett of The Cross at Kenilworth, Simon Hulstone of The Elephant, André Garrett of the Corinthia Hotel, John Williams of The Ritz, Eyck Zimmer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Clive Fretwell of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Antony Worrall Thompson of The Greyhound.

The theme of the National cook-off is inspired by the 'Feed the Kids' theme at this year's world final and the Bocuse d'Or UK's commitment to supporting The Cancer Platform, from The Cancer Awareness Trust. 

The platform will be an invaluable companion to those impacted by cancer, providing trusted information, help and advice to help strengthen and empower their cancer journey at every stage. Therefore the dishes prepared by the finalists must involve an element of nutritional education.

The finalists will be tasked with cooking six plates using Scottish Salmon (a nutritious and oily fish) with a suitable sauce and three garnishes, using ingredients known to support cancer recovery, from a list including artichoke, beetroot, walnuts, almonds, carrot, broccoli, spinach, kale, cooked tomatoes in their skins, sweet potato, red pepper, beans, seeds and turmeric.

The second part will be the platter as the main dish. Finalists will need to prepare a saddle of South West UK Lamb and lamb sweetbreads from Aubrey Allen with two seasonal garnishes and a suitable sauce. (The salmon, lamb and platters will be provided to all finalists.)

The judges will be looking for precise culinary technique, creativity, complexity where appropriate, and for all the elements of the dish to be balanced and harmonious. They will also  look for chefs who demonstrate an understanding of the unique style of the Bocuse d'Or in a 5 hour 35 minute cook off and who will be able to take the necessary time out of his or her restaurant kitchen to dedicate themselves to training and practicing in order to compete successfully at the World Final. 

Adam Wing, who is the Head of Trade Marketing at Seafood Scotland said: “The premium quality and flavours of Scottish seafood are matched only by the passion and flair of the finest chefs in the UK. We're proud to be continuing our support for Bocuse d'Or UK which this year is featuring Scottish Salmon during the National Selection and we're very much looking forward to supporting the team throughout the 2024-25 cycle.”

The winner of the UK selection will compete in the Bocuse d'Or European heats in Trondheim, Norway from 19th to 20th March 2024 and be given the opportunity to become part of the world's most passionate and talented culinary family. 

With a British chef yet to reach the podium, securing one of the top three places in the European or World final would be a life changing experience and a great PR opportunity for the chefs and their restaurants.

Discover more about the Bocuse d'Or UK from top chefs and sponsors:

Instagram: bocusedoruk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bocusedoruk

Twitter: BocusedorUK

Linkedin: Bocuse d'Or UK

Introducing the New Thatchers Vintage Cider

Utilising only the very best pick of the crop from its 2022 harvest, Thatchers has unveiled a new look for its premium bottled Vintage Cider.

Pressed, blended, matured and bottled at Myrtle Farm, Thatchers Vintage uses traditional bittersweet apples including Tremlett's Bitter and Somerset Redstreak, plus some lighter, more modern varieties including Three Counties and Prince William, to create a premium cider that's deep in flavour, yet with an appealing light colour, its richness rounded off with a satisfyingly crispy sparkle.

Plus, a new label featuring its founder, William Thatcher, highlights the provenance and heritage of the brand.

And the new look for Vintage includes a higher ABV at 8.3% to reflect its premium positioning and stronger appeal to vintage cider connoisseurs.

This is a premium bottled vintage cider with a distinctive character, and with a premium ABV to match.

Thatchers Vintage has been a much-loved part of the Thatchers range for many years, and with this 2022 harvest, the ABV has been increased to 8.3% to further appeal to cider drinkers in the growing premium bottled cider category.

This is a very special, timeless cider and Thatchers has taken the utmost care to ensure it maintains its depth of character. It's a premium cider with a medium dry, crisp flavour, rounded aroma and gentle sparkle.

Thatchers Vintage Cider sits alongside Thatchers Katy (7.4% abv) in Thatchers premium bottled cider range.

With an RRP of £2.30 for 500ml bottle, Thatchers Vintage will also be available in a new 6 bottle pack.

Thatchers Vintage is available in high street retailers nationwide.

Devon Winery's Support for Gold-Winning Horatio's Garden at Chelsea Flower Show

The head of a Devon winery has spoken of his deep pride for supporting Horatio's Garden charity, which won gold and Best in Show at the Chelsea Flower Show with a wheelchair accessible design by Exeter and London-based landscape design duo Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg.

Horatio's Garden is a charitable organisation which creates and maintains beautiful and accessible gardens at NHS spinal injury centres. It's designed to be a sanctuary for patients with a therapeutic outdoor space specially designed to be wheelchair accessible where they can relax, escape the clinical environment, and engage with nature.

Duncan Schwab, CEO and head winemaker at Sandridge Barton, the home of Sharpham Wine, has supported the charity by offering celebratory wine. 

He said: “We're so proud to be supporting Horatio's Garden charity which provides beautiful spaces to help with the well-being and quality of life for people who have spinal injuries. 

“We believe that connecting with nature and the healing power of gardens positively impacts the lives of patients and their families and we were delighted to support them in a small way with some wine for their VIP visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show, and even more delighted that this beautiful garden won Best in Show.”

The garden was designed to be experienced by spinal injury patients from a bed or wheelchair. It will be relocated to the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre in Sheffield in 2024, offering an area of sanctuary to long-term patients, families and NHS staff and improve their wellbeing.

Horatio's Garden charity has gardens at six other NHS spinal injury centres across the UK including Horatio's Garden South West, based at Salisbury District Hospital. 

The charity is named in memory of Horatio Chapple, who had the original idea to create a garden for patients with spinal injuries and their loved ones while volunteering at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury during his school holidays. The first garden opened in 2012 and following its enormous success, a nationwide charity was formed with the mission to open a Horatio's Garden in all 11 UK spinal injury centres.

SRSLY Low Carb Launches Large Torpedo-Shaped Hotdog Rolls for BBQ Season

The month of June sees SRSLY Low Carb launching its next keto-friendly bread offering in the shape of a torpedo shaped hotdog roll that has all the taste and texture of a traditional hotdog roll, but which has an impressive protein count and only a fraction of the 'lazy' carbs you'd get in a traditional, wheat-based hot dog roll.

Says SRSLY Low Carb founder, Andy Welch: "By utilising the enviable protein prowess of egg, pea protein and wheat gluten we've managed to create a BBQ ready roll that offers only a miserly 1.3 carbs per roll, which is significantly less (90%) than their everyday alternatives.  Better than that each rolls offers 12g of protein, which is 170% more protein and 400% more fibre than a typical off-the-shelf bready hot dog holder.

According to SRSLY founder, Andy Welch, "When we travel up and down the country attending consumer events like Ketofest and IFE it's great to talk to both new converts and committed die-hards about what's missing from our range. 

"Consistently conversations have turned to us creating hot dog rolls that are not only immeasurably healthier but keep you fuller-for-longer.  

"We're proud to have a created yet another superb bready alternative that over-indexes in taste without causing the sugar crash so commonly associated with everyday white bread offerings."

https://seriouslylowcarb.com.

Goodrays CBD Expands Waitrose Listing With CBD Oils and Gummies

A box of Mixed CBD Gummies (RRP £24.95), CBD Zen Drops (RRP £24.95), CBD Night Drops (£24.95) and Mixed Pack of CBD Drinks (RRP: £7.50) will now be available across 263 stores. The range increase means customers will now have a CBD option for every part of their day.

Henry Colver, Head of Marketing, says: “For Waitrose to have taken on our whole range is game-changing for us - it supports our brand mission to educate on the benefits of CBD and provide daily calm and clarity to people all over the UK.  

"The CBD industry has its challenges - our digital advertising is heavily restricted, so we rely on word-of-mouth advertising and strong retail presence. There is still a huge amount of work to be done around educating around what CBD is - some recent research we conducted showed that 33% of CBD users thought that CBD products had THC in them, however, CBD in its purest form contains zero THC and will not make you 'high'. We look forward to working with the team at Waitrose to educate consumers on this amazing compound.”

In the research conducted 2023 by Goodrays, these are the main reasons customers are using CBD:

To help with stress and anxiety (45%)

For pain relief (42%)

To aid and improved sleep (38%)

Medical Reasons (29%)

To help with depression (25%)

Goodrays now has a team of ten and is based in Shoreditch, London.

Awareness around mental wellbeing has been a huge driving force for Goodrays' founder Eoin Keenan. Keenan has been a vocal advocate of the power of the hemp plant for over a decade, and set up his own business in 2020 focusing on high quality CBD products, at accessible price point, such as oils and RTD canned drinks, that gained listings in Tesco and Waitrose last year.

Like many young people, anxiety started to become an issue for Eoin in his early 20s and part of his mission now is to educate on how CBD usage can be helpful to deal with conditions such as anxiety through natural and holistic methods. During Mental Health Week (15-21 May) Goodrays donated 100% of its online profits to mental health charity Mind, Tower Hamlets, which is a five minute walk from their offices.

That's the Ticket! Ticket makes its low alcohol debut with refreshing lemongrass beer

There was never any question, lemongrass would be the new heroic ingredient when Ticket launched its eagerly anticipated low alcohol lager; a fragrant, tropical grass admired for its welcome presence in Southeast Asian cuisine (broths, curries, marinades and even delicious tea infusions) yet perfectly adept at making the transition to flavourful, non-alcoholic beer.

Looking past its uniquely refreshing taste and distinct uplifting benefits, lemongrass has an enviable reputation for amplifying the wow factor in other 'hero' ingredients, which in Ticket's case is saffron.

As with its pale ale before, Ticket is all about creating a meticulously crafted non-alcoholic beer that perfectly mirrors the tastes, aromas and mouthfeel associated with everyday beers, but at less than 0.5% ABV. 

Besides creating refreshing, well-rounded craft beers, Ticket's other priority is actively championing ingredients which have added health and wellness benefits.  Lemongrass is universally admired for tackling digestive issues (gastrointestinal problems) including cramps and gastric ulcers.

Faeghe Solemani, who is Ticket co-founder feels very strongly that its perfectly plausible for any well-balanced recipe to simultaneously champion great taste and functional benefits. Faeghe said: "Like saffron before it, lemongrass has a proud track record in medicinal & wellness circles; in this particular instance supporting good immune health and digestion.  

"It's a clean, lingering flavour and scent readily associated with far-flung holidays, full spread BBQs and lazy summery weekends, which is why we wanted to launch our feelgood lager at the very beginning of summer, not simply to provide greater non-alcoholic choice but also to show that we're anything but a one-way ticket."

T-cket.co.uk 

The RSP is £2.99.