Tuesday, 13 June 2023

Salcombe Brewery Co. Announces New Listing With Sainsbury's

Salcombe Brewery Co. is thrilled to announce it's secured an agreement with Sainsbury's to sell two of its much beloved beers, Seahorse and Shingle Bay, in twenty stores throughout the South West of England.

Jordan Mace, who is the MD of Salcombe Brewery Co. said: “We're really thrilled that Sainsbury's stores across the South West are now stocking Shingle Bay and Seahorse. 

"We have a huge fan base across the South West area and this will make it even easier for them to stock up on their favourite pint. It's also a great opportunity to introduce our beers to an even wider audience.”

Jordan went on to explain: “Shingle Bay is our best-selling bottled beer and one that holds a special place in all our hearts. It's because John Tiner, the founder of Salcombe Brewery, loved Shingle Bay so much that he bought the brewery in the first place.”

Jordan added: “Seahorse is also very important to us at Salcombe Brewery Co. because the Salcombe estuary is a haven for both British species of seahorse and, as part of our commitment to our local environment, we are trying to help conserve these amazing animals by donating 5p a bottle towards The Seahorse Trust.”

Shingle Bay (ABV 4.2%), is a very easy-drinking golden ale, with a crisp bite. It has a fruity aroma of blackberry and spiced fruit.

Seahorse (ABV 4.4%) is a sweet and smooth amber ale with a gentle spicy hop character, hints of burnt caramel and a smoked malty finish.

Salcombe Brewery Co., founded in 2015, is based at its innovative Estuary View brewery which nestles in the Devon countryside above the world famous Salcombe Estuary. 

Award-winning, SALSA accredited Salcombe Brewery Co. produces a range of premium cask ale and keg products. Their vision is to be recognised as a leader in producing high quality products crafted using sustainable methods that look after people and the planet. They have just started their journey to becoming a B-Corp accredited company.

Salcombe Brewery's range of beers is available nationwide in pubs and hospitality venues as well as retail outlets and online from www.salcombe brewery.com. For further information on Salcombe Brewery Co. please visit www.salcombebrewery.com follow Salcombe Brewery Co. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Made for Drink Teams Up With Baron Bigod to Put a Gastronomic Spin on the Humble Cheese & Onion Crisp

When Made for Drink were given the job by English Heritage to put their unique gastronomic spin on the time-honoured cheese & onion crisp, a stalwart of our island's unrivalled fine crisp traditions, it was immediately clear Dan and his team would be tearing up the rulebook to provide Cheese & Onion with the culinary reboot it so richly deserved.

Baron Bigod was quickly identified as the all-important fine cheese compatriot, a treasured food union that brought one of rural Suffolk's most treasured foodie heroes into Made for Drink's Thursday night fine snacking orbit.  

What is Baron Bigod? It's a proud squidgy cheese in the Brie-de-Meaux style, a small batch artisanal offering that uses only the freshest morning milk from its highly prized Montbeliarde herd, because 'early hours' milk is the perfect temperature for fine cheese production.

According to the founder of Made for Drink, Dan Featherstone, "Baron Bigod has become a regular Thursday night companion on the Featherstone cheeseboard, a newfound favourite among friends and family.  

"Everyone in our fine snacking huddle adores this cheese's deliciously distinct nutty rind and the fresh buttery yet earthy texture that comes complete with a discreet citrusy twang.  When English Heritage challenged me to produce a cheese and  onion crisp that celebrated England's finest cheese wisdom, I knew precisely who to talk to!"

This perfect marriage of like-minded food heroes means Made for Drink is aligned with a fine cheese luminary who will not only help Made for Drink press forwards within the Ontrade, indie wholesalers and discerning food halls ambitions but also grow their profile within the UK's flourishing fine deli and cheese hall estates; establishments that once-upon-a-time might have been a tad sniffy about the rethinking of the ultimate cheese & onion treat.

 "When Dan from Made for Drinks got in touch with us, we were so pleased that they wanted to use our cheese to make crisps. We then got a sample back from Dan, which was the powder flavouring, before it was added to crisps, we were totally blown away! From that moment on we were all fully sold on the idea and can't wait for you all to try them.

"They are a savoury, gourmet delight that combines the creamy and indulgent flavours of the cheese with the crispy, flavourful notes of caramelised onion, resulting in a rich and irresistibly fragrant treat," says Iona , who is the Sales Manager at Fen Farm Dairy.

 From an English Heritage perspective, this latest addition to their fine snacking stable hits all the right notes, adding an unmistakably gourmet twist to a 'nation favourite' whilst shining a light on yet another of our island's inspiring small food producers.

Baron Bigod Cheese & Onion crisps will be is available from June 23 onwards.

Available in 150g (£2.75) & 40g bags (£1.35).

Monday, 12 June 2023

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Peanut Butter Milk Stouts

This is another of my Home Bargains beer purchases. These beers are brewed by the Tailgate Brewery of Nashville, Tennessee. https://www.tailgatebeer.com.

I love peanut butter. I particularly like peanut butter whiskey, but especially with properly hot Jamaican ginger beer. Not ginger beer, but ginger ale.

But on to the peanut butter milk stout, plain and with strawberry jelly/jam.

Peanut Butter milk stout. There was definitely a strong peanut butter aroma from the beer. And it did have a peanut butter like colouration.

There was a peanut butter taste plus a strong, malty taste and a somewhat bitter aftertaste.


The Peanut Butter and Strawberry milk stout had a similar colouration. It tasted very similar to the peanut butter milk stout, but there was also a slightly sweet undertone that I attributed to the strawberry jelly content. 

However, tin my opinion, the strawberry flavour was not strong enough to make any real headway through the stronger peanut butter flavour. If I were brewing this stout I'd certainly consider adding more strawberry jelly to the recipe because of this.

I'd have to point out that, although these beers are interesting and well worth seeking out, that they are not really to be considered as milk stouts, to be completely honest.

However, they are intriguing enough that I'll certainly be looking out for beers from Tailgate Brewery in the future.  

To check out the beer range at Home Bargains use their store locator service https://storelocator.homebargains.co.uk

Or you can visit your website at https://home.bargains

From memory I think I paid about £1.49 a can.

Friday, 9 June 2023

For Father's Day: Single malt, shortbread and the novel Bloodlines by Chris Bishop

With this book I would suggest that a nice bottle of single malt would be a good option, with a large box of shortbread, too.

Bloodlines by Chris Bishop

Published by Red Door Press at £8.99.

It’s the year 893 and King Alfred is making ready his defences to beat back yet another Viking invasion.

Alfred is concerned about the plight of his stable boy, Edward. Alfred believes that Edward is the bastard child of Matthew who was a famed warrior who had met his death fighting for the cause of the Saxons.

However, the story is a complex one because if Edward was the son of Matthew and this could be proved, Alfred would be in line to inherit a staggering fortune. Alfred is aware that the fortune would attract every fraudulent chancer in the entire realm. Even worse, with his potential noble lineage, Edward might even prove to be a risk to Alfred’s kingship.

In order to play it safe Alfred sends Edward to the burh (burg) at Wareham, using the excuse of having him train a magnificent black stallion. It was a spirited horse and considered by some to be unrideable.

The people at Wareham accept that whilst Edward is stunningly good with horses, they believe he is too weak to be a warrior.

But when they find themselves outnumbered by a Viking war party Edward’s abilities to think quickly and his massive courage make people wonder if he might be a real warrior after all.

The beginning of the novel starts at a raging gallop in the birthing chamber of twins, when someone had to follow through with a devastating promise.

The rest of the novel continues at a strong, compelling pace and will make the idea gift for the father who loves historical fiction.

Thursday, 8 June 2023

Tomahawk steak returns to Waitrose

Waitrose customers can once again get their hands on their British Beef Tomahawk Steak (£19/kg, average weight 1kg). 

Available for a special limited time, this juicy and very tender British Tomahawk Steak is grass and forage fed and is sure to bring the wow-factor to your summer meal times.

A spokesperson said: "With searches on waitrose.com up 54% compared to last year,  we know our customers are ready to bring this exciting steak to their hosting events this summer season, and this particular steak is perfect for those celebrating Father’s Day." 

Senior Development Chef at Waitrose, Paul Gamble, says: “Our Tomahawk steak is ideal for hosting this Father’s Day. The easiest way to ensure the steak is cooked exactly the way you like it to be is to use a temperature probe, medium rare should be 52°C, medium 58°C, and medium well 62°C.  

"During cooking, I recommend you baste the meat with melted butter or with beef dripping, which adds extra flavour, and when finished cooking always slice the meat against the grain. Serve up with a sprinkle of sea salt, our delicious triple-cooked chips and the rich and buttery bearnaise sauce.”

For a step-by-step guide on cooking our Tomahawk Steak please click here https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/inspiration/at-home-with-us/more-stories/how-to-cook-the-perfect-tomahawk-steak

All Waitrose beef is from British farmers

Their cattle get more space, some 30% more than the standard set by food standards regulator Red Tractor.

No growth hormones are used at any stage. And Waitrose promises that will never change. It's all part of their commitment to high standards of animal welfare.

The spokesperson went on to say: "We’ve worked exclusively with many of our farmers for more than 10 years – and in some cases, more than 25 years. This long-term partnership offers our farmers the security they need to invest in sustainable farming practices that help to benefit the environment and encourage local wildlife."

www.waitrose.com

New greener packaging for Lidl beef mince

Lidl GB has revealed plans to introduce new vacuum-packed, recyclable packaging across its beef mince range, thus bringing about a very welcome plastics reduction of almost two thirds (63%). 

The smaller packs provide a valuable space saving, which will also result in up to 350 delivery trucks being taken off the road every year.

Customers across the UK will be guaranteed the same amount of high-quality 100% British beef mince, whilst collectively saving over 250 tonnes of plastic a year through the new packaging. With the new packaging providing around double the current shelf life, it’s also estimated it will half the amount of beef mince food waste in store.

Alongside the positive impact on the environment, the change, which will be introduced at the beginning of 2024, will also comes with significant additional benefits for shoppers, such as:

Double the shelf life, from eight to around 16 days, staying fresher for longer for customers to use

Easy peel film, so customers don’t have to touch the raw meat

Smaller footprint pack, thus taking up less storage space in the fridge or freezer

Shyam Unarket, Lidl GB’s Head of Responsible Sourcing & Ethical Trade, said: “Plastic reduction is a huge priority for us at Lidl, and this one change will cut the amount of plastic in each pack by a whopping two thirds, culminating in the elimination of over 250 tonnes of plastic from packaging a year. 

"But we also recognise the important role plastic plays in our daily lives. That’s why it’s vitally  important Lidl's plastic reduction strategy is centred around a progressive circular programme. By ensuring any new packaging is recyclable, we’ll also be able to help prevent plastic pollution in our environment. 

 “When the new packaging arrives in store early next year, we know the huge benefits both from a sustainability and practical perspective, will be welcomed by our customers.” 

This latest change forms part of Lidl GB’s commitment to tackling the important issue of plastic waste, as it looks to drive improvements across its product range through plastic reduction, recyclability and circularity.

Missing out on an Aldi shopping experience? Not anymore in five areas

How so? Because Aldi is opening five new stores across the UK in the next several weeks.

They'll be joining the other existing 990+ stores that Aldi already operates. It'll be opening in new locations this month June including Southampton and Whittlesey.

Further stores in Norwich, Castle Donington and Porthcawl will also open early next month, July.

The new stores are a part of Aldi’s commitment to invest over £400 million in store development during 2023.

On average each new store will provide about 40 new jobs on average, thus offering a welcome boost to employment opportunities in local areas.

Store Assistants will be able earn up to £11 nationally, and £12.45 inside the M25 zone, with paid breaks included, increasing to £11.40 and £12.85 respectively from July.

George Brown, Aldi's Real Estate Director, said: “Demand for Aldi has never been higher, and more than two thirds of British households already shop with us.

“However, there are still too many people for whom shopping at Aldi isn’t a convenient option and we’re committed to changing that, thus we'll be giving even more people access to our award-winning products at unbeatable prices.

“To meet that demand, we're investing in new stores up and down the country and won’t stop until we’ve made quality, affordable food accessible to everyone.”

Aldi has been recognised by Which? as the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for the past 12 consecutive months, with the latest figures showing Aldi was a massive £18.21 cheaper on a basket of shopping than the most expensive supermarket, Waitrose.

List of store locations opening in the coming weeks include:

Hedge End Retail Park, Southampton

Eastrea Road, Whittlesey

Station Road, Castle Donington

William Frost Way, Norwich

Eastern Promenade, Porthcawl

Asda ready to serve vegan customers with nine new products

As the BBQ season hots up, Asda has introduced nine new products across its OMV! and Plant Based by Asda vegan ranges.

Now, as Google searches for ‘vegetarian BBQ ideas’ soar by some 300%, Asda has announced the launch of nine new products across its vegan ranges, OMV! and Plant Based by Asda.

New and approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute, Asda’s OMV! No-Pork Chilli Sausages (£2.50) are blended with fiery green Jalapeños, red chillies and smoky chipotle, perfect for vegan spice lovers.

Making a deliciously flavourful alternative to meat, the new, fragrant Plant Based by Asda Bombay Inspired Meat-Free Bangers (£2.35) are blended with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, spinach and spices for extra flavour.

If burgers are more your thing, then you should try the Plant Based by Asda Spiced Bean Burgers (£2.35). Shoppers are already praising these succulent bean burgers with spicy chillies, with one shopper commenting they're “the best meat free burgers [they] have ever had.” 

Those wanting to indulge in traditional BBQ meatiness can opt for the OMV! No Beef Burgers (£1.85) or the Plant Based by ASDA Mushroom Sausages (£1.85). Asda’s meat-free alternatives are perfect when served with the OMV! Deliciously Vegan Burger Mayo (£1.50) or sandwiched between one of the OMV! Deliciously Vegan Brioche Burger Buns (£1.15).

To celebrate the arrival of BBQ season, Asda’s Senior Director of Food Trends and Innovation, Jonathan Moore, shares his top three tips on how to master the ultimate vegan BBQ:

“Don’t be tempted to start cooking on your BBQ until the flames have died down, you want to cook over the coals when they are grey in colour”

“Don’t cook your food straight from the fridge to the BBQ, you want your food out of the fridge for 10-15 minutes before you start cooking”

“Cook over direct and indirect heat depending on what you are cooking and how thick it is. When the coals are cooling slightly, you can drop vegetables like peppers and aubergine straight on and cook directly on them. This blisters the skin and adds another layer of flavour”

Asda’s OMV! And Plant Based by Asda ranges are available online and in-store now.

Shop at Asda and earn over £100m in this year alone!

How is this possible? Asda has today announced Asda customers who use its popular Rewards app have earned over £100m in Cashpots this year.

Rewards provides Asda customers with the opportunity to earn pounds, not points, each and every time they purchase certain products or complete a milestone mission.

In excess of five million Asda customers use the app every month and have been growing their Cashpots to help reduce their grocery bills, earning a total of in excess of £100m so far this year. (And it's only June...)

Asda customers in Scotland are high earners, with customers across the country having received a total of over £13.5 million back into their Cashpots.

Customers in the South are also eagerly taking advantage of the Rewards scheme, with London alone earning over £4.8m into their Cashpots.

Customers looking to get ahead of the back to school rush can now also take advantage of the Back to School boost on the app. Customers who convert their Cashpots into vouchers to spend on school uniform or shoes before 18th June will get 33% back in voucher value.

The Back to School boost voucher can be created by selecting the ‘spend’ tab in the app and clicking on ‘create rewards voucher.’ If customers opt to use £15 from their Cashpot on school uniform, a £20 voucher will be added to their wallet which can be redeemed instore.

Since the launch of the app, Asda has continually assessed how customers shop with the aim of providing a more tailored experience for each customer.

Asda recently increased the number of personalised missions that users will have access to. Customers will see an evolution of their offers within the app over time based on how they use it.

To get started on Rewards, customers just need to download the Asda Rewards app and log in with, or create, an Asda Groceries account.

Mark Baxter, who is the Senior Director for Loyalty at Asda, said: “We’re really pleased to see our Rewards users are continuing to benefit from using the app. This milestone shows that by earning pounds and building their Cashpots, our customers are being rewarded for simply shopping with Asda.”