Trewithen Dairy's No-churn summer cup clotted cream ice-cream

The epitome of summery flavours, Pen Sans Summer Cup is truly bursting with red berry aromas and pairs perfectly with Trewithen Dairy's delicious rich Cornish clotted cream. 

Why not create this easy no-churn ice-cream in advance so you have it ready to pull out of the freezer for hot days and al fresco dessert?

Here is the recipe:-

Ingredients

2 Large eggs

125g Caster sugar

250ml Double cream

200g Trewithen Dairy Cornish clotted cream

250ml Trewithen Dairy whole milk

200g Strawberries - frozen (defrosted) or fresh

1 tbsp Icing sugar

50ml Pen Sans Summer Cup

Garnish

Mint leaves

Strawberries

Orange slices

Method

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until they are light and fluffy. While you are still whisking, add the caster sugar, one spoonful at a time and continue mixing for a few minutes. Add both the types of creams and pour in the milk, while continuing to whisk.

Pour into a freezer-proof container (a loaf or baking tin is ideal) and freeze for two hours. Remove from the freezer, whisk the mixture thoroughly and return it to the freezer. 

In the meantime, place the strawberries and a splash of water in a small saucepan over a medium heat and cook until the strawberries break down into a sauce. Add the icing sugar and Pen Sans Summer Cup. Allow to simmer for a few minutes until the mixture reduces slightly. Set aside to allow it to cool. 

Stir the strawberry sauce through the semi-frozen ice cream and, using a cocktail stick, pull it gently through to create a beautiful marbling effect. Add the remaining strawberries on top and return to the freezer until frozen. This should be something like an hour later. When you're ready to serve, remove from the freezer and add fresh strawberries, mint and orange slices to garnish. Enjoy in cones or bowls.

https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk.

Summer Cup Scones - Perfect for Wimbledon

Light, refreshing and utterly delicious, these scones are a delightfully scrummy talking-point to serve at parties for a summertime twist on the classic cream tea. 

Pens Sans Summer Cup is bursting with ripe summer fruits and red berries - perfect with Trewithen Dairy's  luxurious Cornish clotted cream. 

You can even use shop-bought scones and titivate them if you haven't time to bake your own.

Ingredients

For the scones

350g Self-raising flour, sieved

Pinch of salt

100g Trewithen Dairy unsalted butter

110ml Trewithen Dairy whole milk

1 Egg, beaten

For the topping

150g Frozen strawberries

2tbsp Caster sugar

50ml Pens Sans Summer Cup

Garnish 

Fresh strawberries

Mint leaves

Cucumber, sliced

Trewithen Dairy Cornish clotted cream

Method

Start with the scones. Preheat the oven to 190c. Grease and line two baking trays.

Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour to create fine breadcrumbs. Stream the milk in slowly, using a cold knife to gently mix until it just forms a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 20 minutes while you make the strawberry topping.

Place the frozen strawberries and a splash of water in a saucepan over a medium heat, allowing them to break down. At this point, add a measure of summer cup and caster sugar. Continue to stir for a couple of minutes until it has reduced down slightly. Remove from the heat and chill.

Back to the scones. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a thickness of 2cm and cut into rounds with a cutter. Don't twist them out of the cutter, otherwise they will warp in the oven. 

Place on the baking trays, before brushing the tops with the beaten egg. Bake for 12 minutes until slightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

To serve, smother with strawberry sauce, a generous spoonful of Cornish clotted cream and garnish with strawberries, cucumber and mint. Enjoy with a large jug of Pen Sans summer cup filled with appropriately delicious and refreshing summery botanicals. Divine!

https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk

Wise Bartender hosts Wise Fest 2023 – the Fun and Free Family Event That Showcases the Best of Alcohol-Free Drinks

On Saturday 15 July Wise Fest 2023 is being held at Wayside Farm, Evercreech, Somerset, BA4 6QW from 12noon-10pm. 

With a wide and eclectic range of alcohol-free drinks to choose from, visitors can also enjoy fantastic live music, tasty BBQ food and tutored drinks tasting sessions with kids face painting and glitter tattoos available for younger guests.

Says Wise Bartender Founder and organiser of Wise Fest 2023, Tom Ward: “Wise Bartender has specialised in alcohol-free drinks since our launch back in 2017. We offer people a choice about what they want to drink. 

"We stock over 600 products to meet the growing demand for alcohol-free beer, cider, wine, spirits, cocktails and kombuchas and know from research that over a quarter (29%) of UK drinkers now 'semi-regularly' consume low and no alcohol products. The quality has increased and improved dramatically over the last several years and there's now an incredible range of full-flavoured alcohol-free drinks that are perfect to enjoy on a sunny summer's day. We feel that Wise Fest is the perfect way of exploring and discovering some new gems alongside enjoying some old favourites in a relaxed and enjoyable setting with the whole family.”

One of the highlights of Wise Fest 2023 will be tutored tasting sessions, all hosted by drinks experts. “For those who want to know a little more about the range of alcohol-free drinks and finding some new alcohol-free must-have drinks, we're genuinely thrilled to welcome some of the most knowledgeable experts in the category who'll be leading tasting sessions” Tom went on to say.

“Leading wine expert and founder of the world alcohol-free awards, Chrissie Parkinson, social media personality Emma Newman (@Emma_Sobersonic) and Club Soda beer expert Teddy Hardman will all be taking guests through sampling sessions at free tastings throughout the day. 

"Among the alcohol-free drinks available to try will be beers from Big Drop Brewing, Butcombe and Clean Break Brewing; spirit alternatives from Caleño, Myth Spirits, Ish Spirits and Mahala Spirit; wine from McGuigan's and Not Guilty and Maiden Mill, which is the world's only dedicated alcohol-free cider producer.”

Everyone is welcome at Wise Fest 2023, as are dogs on leads, with a wide range of alcohol-free drinks available plus BBQ and ice creams. Live music will be provided by local artists Eddie Dean, 34 South Duo and John Lime Acoustic and you may even catch a glimpse of the Caleño Brazilian dancers!

There is plentiful parking and admission to Wise Fest 2023 is free on the gate, but advance tickets can be ordered for £5 which will include a free drink at the event and a free glass to take home with you.

Wise Fest 2023 is on Saturday 15th July 2023

Wayside Farm, Evercreech, Somerset, BA4 6QW from 12noon-10pm

Wise Fest 2023 Tickets, Sat 15 Jul 2023 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

Sweden's Flävar Strawberry & Lime Schnapps will be a Summer hit

Many people are glued to the tennis at the moment. So, why not take the traditional Wimbledon treat of strawberries and cream and give it a nifty, modern twist by serving a chilled shot with squirty cream on the top for a bit of Flävar flair? 

Flävar Strawberry & Lime is also delicious served with prosecco (the 'Flävecco'), or topped up with ice and lemonade. Inspired by Founder Rolf's Scandinavian heritage, plus the Swedish concept of 'Fika' (a short break from a busy day to enjoy a sweet treat with friends), Flävar's retro refresh of the schnapps category is well-timed to coincide with celebratory occasions like Wimbledon, receptions, garden parties, BBQs and more.

Says founder Rolf Munding: “Anyone brought up in Scandinavia or Germany will know Schnapps as a huge part of our culture. It always makes me think of the good times with friends and family, as I'm certain it does for many other people too. Flävar is inspired by this retro-drinking experience and we've created a range that appeals to the UK's desire for exploring new, delicious flavours.”

Time for the perfect serve? You'll discover your Flävar at https://flavarspirit.com or Amazon. 

RRP is £19.99 for 70cl, 25% ABV.

Salford's SEVEN BRO7HERS BREWERY launched Crowdfund Campaign to build 'Forever Home" and boost production

Salford's SEVEN BRO7HERS BREWING CO is aiming to raise half a million Pounds via a crowd funding campaign in an exciting bid to build a new 'forever home' as it expands to meet rapidly growing production demands.

The much-loved Salford-based brewery is looking to invest in “near-term” production, as well as launching the process to build a larger brewery and distillery site in city.

The crowd funding callout promises a big investment in the north – aiming to provide more jobs for the region, as well as revenue.

The initial wave of funding would support the implementation of an upgraded canning line, as well as new tanks. This upgrade will caterer to the brand's growing production demands from major retailers, like ASDA and ALDI, as well as supporting its capacity to fulfil new craft beer arena tenders and contracts.  

As part of the expansion plans, SEVEN BRO7HERS is looking to secure brand-new location to build their 'forever home' by 2026. The new site will be the base for a brewhouse, a custom-made distillery, packaging, and operations, plus an onsite taproom and restaurant.

CEO Keith McAvoy, said: “We don't expect this funding round to be able to finance all our ambitious plans, but this round will lay the groundwork. It will allow us to staff and resource the right team to make this dream into a reality. ​

“It's our ambition to have a new venue operational by 2026, and this new premises would support group revenue to exceed £30m before 2030.”

The latest crowd fund is targeted to raise £500,000 at a valuation of £12m – this is up 50% from when SEVEN BRO7HERS crowdfunded in 2020.

Keith McAvoy, went on to say: “We've operated from the same brewery since 2017, we're  now nearing operational capacity.​ We have two investment scenarios available to us; one is an overhaul and increase of capacity within our current premises, the second is to invest in a new destination brewery in Manchester, suitable for growth over the next two decades.​

“We have several retail opportunities available to us, not only in Manchester but cities across the north including Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and York and further south into Birmingham and London. ​Which, of course, we can only explore with more operational space.”

He added: “Initially we're raising to support the current production site; increasing volume and speed of packaging, then looking to invest significantly in a future home for the business this year and in 2024.”

The brewery was founded in 2014 by McAvoy brothers, Guy, Keith, Luke, Daniel, Nathan, Kit, and Greg, inspired by their dad's home-brewing efforts in their cellar at home.

Since crowd funding in 2020, the brewery has utilised every penny invested to maximise the return on investment and promote growth within the business. The total investment, including founder funding is £1.3m from which the company has generated cumulative revenues of more than £14m.

SEVEN BRO7HERS have four successful beer houses and a taproom across Salford, Manchester, and Liverpool. Most recently the brothers opened a summer pop-up in Manchester City Centre within the 'Kampus' residential complex, there are currently discussions in place to make this a permanent fixture in the portfolio.

In July 2020 they opened their partnership bar at Manchester Airports new T2 Departure Lounge, operated by HMS Host International.

This Summer SEVEN BRO7HERS and SIS4ERS DISTILLERY will be collaborating on the launch of a new brand “ELEVEN CENTRAL” this will include a range of spirits.

SEVEN BRO7HERS will be offering 'investor rewards' to those who support the crowd fund. A £25 investment will get you a free pint at one of the SEVEN BRO7HERS beer houses, with £100 securing you dinner as a thank you.

Larger investments mean greater perks, £250 a 5% off investors card for the webshop and bars, £1,000 will get you 10% off. For those investing over £10k you will receive a monthly case of beers for 12 months plus discounts.

To invest in the crowd fund, head to https://www.crowdcube.com/early-access/seven-bro7hers.

(That's Food and Drink: I'll be working in Liverpool city centre this week. I'll pop in for a drink if I can.)

‘Beer Gate’ and ‘Party Gate’ venues shortlisted in Asian Restaurant Awards

Two curry houses thought to have provided the takeaways for controversial political party meetings, have both been shortlisted for this year’s Asian Restaurant Awards, being held in Manchester on 27th June, which is today.

The Spice Lounge in Durham, which is believed to have provided the food for Labour leader Keir Starmer and other party members during the evening of the so called ‘Beer Gate’ meeting, has been nominated for Best Indian in the North East.

Dishoom, whose takeaway box is evident in a photo of Boris Johnson at a leaving event inside 10 Downing Street, is shortlisted in the Best Restaurant Group category. The Irani-café style restaurants have branches in Manchester, Edinburgh and London.

The shortlist was determined by over 100,000 votes from members of the public.  A panel of judges for the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which hosts the awards, are currently touring the country to determine the eventual victors.  Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony, sponsored by Just East and Booker Wholesale, being held at the Manchester Hilton on Monday 27th June.

The prestigious Fine Dining Category will be contested by Benares, Cinnamon Club, Grand Trunk Road, Heritage Dulwich, Indian Essence in Orpington, and Quilon in London, Ambrette in Canterbury, Indian Essence in Orpington, Mint Room in Bath Navadhanya in Cambridge and Prithvi in Cheltenham.

The full list is online at www.asianrestaurantawards.org

Winner at the year’s event will be included in the ACF’s new ‘One Hundred Top Curry Restaurants’ guide, which is being published currently, region–by–region, at www.Top100curryRestaurants.co.uk, with a printed version being available next year.

Later this year the ACF will also be hosting the 6th Asian Restaurant Awards (Scotland) in Edinburgh at the Sheraton Grand on 19th September and the 12th Asian Curry Awards at the Grosvenor House in London, on 20th November 2022. 

Incidentally, these are the UK’s only restaurant awards open to all Asian cuisines, including: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.

ACF’s chairman Yawar Khan says that many curry restaurants are facing an existential crisis: “Soaring food, energy and salary costs, combined with rising National Insurance and VAT rates, plus severe staff shortages, compounded by customers having less money to spend on restaurant visits and takeaways, is seeing record numbers closures,” he said.

Khan urged customers to support their favourite restaurants by nominating them for this year’s awards via www.asianrestaurantawards.org/scotland-nomination-form and www.asiancurryawards.com

The Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which represents the nation’s 30,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants organises the only awards open to all Asian cuisines: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.

The Awards’ main sponsor is Just Eat, the market-leading online food ordering and delivery platform.  The awards are also supported by Booker Wholesale.

The ACF strives to deliver real returns for its members within the Asian catering industry, helping them to find financial success, achieve excellence, and build customer loyalty. It aims to unite Asian caterers on one platform; campaign for greater recognition; achieve members’ common goals through partnerships with government and other organisations; provide help with training and create rewarding careers in Asian catering.

The sector employs over 100,000 people and contributes more than £5 billion to the UK economy.

 (Illustration courtesy of  Pete Linforth and Pixabay)

Quorn, pioneer of meat substitutes, joins Plant-based Food Alliance UK

Quorn, which is the pioneer of plant-based meat substitutes, has joined the UK Plant-based Food Alliance (PBFA) as a full member. It's believed this will strengthen the Alliance’s clout in Westminster. 

“It’s fantastic to have such a strong player in the market such as Quorn join us in our push for policies that promote plant-based eating in the UK,” Marisa Heath, PBFA CEO, said. 

“There's so much the Government can do to encourage climate-friendly diets, in the form of trade, public procurement, research, marketing, plus regulation. And it's vital for us to have the big plant-based companies by our side as we negotiate our way there,” Heath added.

Quorn joins the Alliance, which includes industry heavyweights such as Alpro, Oatly and Upfield, at a time when the labelling of plant-based foods is under threat of restrictions. New guidance, aimed at trading standards officials but, as yet, unpublished, looks to restrict dairy descriptor terms used by plant-based products, such as “m*lk” or “alternative to X” or “yoghurt-style”. 

“We've been fighting the proposed guidance to restrict plant-based labelling for over a year now and we will continue to do this because we believe the Government should be doing all it can to promote the sector rather than hindering it,” she pointed out.

She went on to explain: “The sector very much represents the future of food, producing far less greenhouse gas emissions than the meat and dairy sector, and maturing to provide a huge range of alternatives to conventional meat and dairy products." 

Plant-based diets are also a key to global food security: researchers have found growing food exclusively for direct human consumption, rather than as animal feed and for biofuel production, could potentially increase available food calories by up to 70%, which could feed an additional 4 billion people, worldwide. 

Food security was the reason Quorn came into existence when Lord Rank recognised in the 1960s that conventional farming wouldn't be able to keep up with food shortages and a rapidly growing population and that a new, sustainable protein source was needed. Quorn was born out of research to find a solution to that problem.

“Quorn is such an excellent example of a company using the power of science to come up with sustainable solutions to global crises. We know policy makers will take notice of what Quorn has to say as a member of the Alliance going forward,” Heath added. 

Tess Kelly, Head of External Engagement, at Quorn Foods, said: “Quorn Foods shares the conviction that making positive change happen on our plates is a vital step to regenerating human and planetary health. We look forward to contributing to the work of the PbFA, and are proud to stand alongside fellow pioneering organisations that are at the forefront of providing the solutions needed to speed the transition to a food future that is healthy, sustainable, equitable, and absolutely delicious.”

Goodrays Reports Growth of 1,491% as Waitrose Expands CBD Range

Waitrose supermarkets are taking four new products this month (June) which Goodrays predicts will contribute to the brand tripling its revenue over this next financial year.

A four flavour mixed pack will be sold exclusively through Waitrose as a permanent SKU, RRP £7.50. It contains 250ml cans of Elderflower & Yuzu, Blood Orange & Grapefruit, Raspberry & Guava and Passionfruit & Pomelo. It is completely plastic-free, vegan and low calorie, and each can contains a market-leading 30mg of CBD.

Waitrose has also taken CBD Zen Drops and CBD Night Drops Oil and 'anytime' CBD Gummies. CBD Oils, as recent research by Goodrays shows, are currently the most popular way for the UK to consume CBD. 

Goodways Head of Marketing Henry Colyer said: “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. We are excited to have launched the mixed four pack of our delicious flavours - just in time for the festival and summer party season in the UK. Our fully recyclable pack allows you to enjoy relaxation without the toxification. 

"Goodrays is the perfect alternative to a four pack of beer or cider when you want to take a break and achieve a bit of balance. Waitrose now offers an option for multiple moments of the customer's daily routine, thanks to our oils designed for day and night, and tasty gummies that can be enjoyed when needed.”

Goodrays recent research of 2000 CBD users showed that the most popular way to consume CBD is:

Oils and Tinctures (54% reported this was their preferred way to consume CBD)

Drinks (40%)

Gummies (32%)

Coffee (26%)

Balm (24%)

Other (6%)

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.  He launched Goodrays in 2021 to focus on high quality CBD products at an accessible price point, such as oils and RTD canned drinks. Goodrays is now available at Waitrose and Tesco and other major retailers such as WH Smith.

Marks and Spencer latest retailer to lock down prices

M&S Food is investing in the price of over 200 products as part of its promise to deliver trusted value to its 30 million customers.

The investment will see the store reduce the prices of over 70 family staples and extend its price lock on 150 customer favourites, whilst still upholding its market leading quality and welfare standards.

M&S Food is cutting the price on some of its more popular cupboard staples to support its customers, including products like M&S Select Farms DNA traceable Beef Mince, Avocados, Greek style yoghurt and Ciabatta rolls. These are some of M&S’ most popular lines, with in excess of 400,000 Avocado packs and 140,000 Greek Style Yogurt pots sold by M&S in the last four weeks alone.

Also M&S Food is extending its price lock on 150 products which will be in place right through to the autumn, and features a number of essential food items that customers can rely on at M&S for great value right through the summer months.

This includes M&S Select Farms RSPCA Assured outdoor-bred British Pork Sausages (pack of eight - £2.00), Super Sweet Corn on the Cob (pack of two - £1.40), Traditional Coleslaw (225g - £1.25) the price lock bestseller, British Mature Cheddar (10 Slices 250g - £2.80) and Select Farms Season's Gold Potatoes (1kg - £1.65).

This initiative is in tandem with the retailer’s Remarksable Value range of everyday staples, first launched back in 2019, which are continuously benchmarked against key competitors to guarantee the best value for its customers. The range continues to grow in appeal among M&S shoppers, with Remarksable sales up 40%, and in over 20% of customer baskets over the past year.

Alex Freudmann, who is the MD at M&S Food: opined: “We know value is everything to our customers especially at the moment and while they’re looking forward to a great summer, they’re also looking for certainty on spending. Our latest price investment across 200 products upholds our trusted value promise and delivers on that certainty.

“Trusted value means offering the best possible quality at the best possible price. I’m proud we're the number one retailer for farm animal welfare, selling the biggest range of RSPCA Assured products, including our Scottish Smoked Salmon fillets and British Pork Sausages, alongside our DNA traceable Beef mince, able to be traced back to the individual farm and animal."

He went on to say: "We’re determined to keep up the pace for our customers. Our value perception is at its highest point in six years because we relentlessly focus on price with no compromise to the magic of M&S Food, our market leading product quality, innovation and sourcing standards.”

In February this year, M&S topped consumer group Which?’s annual supermarket satisfaction survey, achieving the highest overall customer score of 77% and receiving five star ratings for store appearance, customer service and quality of own label and fresh products.

marksandspencer.com

I'm officially joyful! Aldi launched Ballycastle that tastes exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Fans of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (like me!) will be thrilled with the news Aldi is launching a totally new Ballycastle flavour, the Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur (£7.49, 70cl) which will  be in stores from Thursday 29th June.

It's a luxurious blend of Irish whisky, rich chocolate and salty-sweet peanut butter notes, fans will be certain to notice flavour similarities to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but with a nifty alcoholic twist.

Serve it neat, with ice or why not create your deliciously boozy milkshake?

Ingredients:

100ml Ballycastle Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur

100ml Cowbelle Chocolate Fudge Milk

500ml water

60g The Pantry Cocoa Powder

Moser Roth Milk Chocolate, shaved

Peanuts to garnish

Method:

In a small saucepan, boil 250ml of water then remove from heat and add The Pantry Cocoa Powder 

Stir to dissolve and then add the remaining 250ml cup of water 

Once it's cool, add the Ballycastle Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur to the mixture and leave to infuse

Once successfully infused (this will take ten minutes) shake all the ingredients up in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Pour into your preferred glasses and top up with whipped cream, grated Moser Roth Milk Chocolate and the peanuts!

The latest addition follows the success of Aldi’s Ballycastle Hazelnut Chocolate Cream Liqueur (£7.49, 70cl), which was noted as a delicious alcoholic twist on the much-loved spread, Nutella.

The supermarket’s Ballycastle range has scooped a series of awards. The Specially Selected Irish Cream (£7.99, 70cl) landed a ‘Great Value’ accolade in the 2022 prestigious Which? ‘Irish Cream Liqueur’ taste test, whilst the Ballycastle White Chocolate Cream (£7.49, 70cl) and the Ballycastle Chocolate, Caramel and Hazelnut Cream (£7.49, 70cl) BOTH won medals at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).

Aldi’s Ballycastle Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur is available in-stores and via Click & Collect nationwide from Thursday 29th June.

Actually, when I make this milkshake, I'm seriously thinking of adding some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups into the mix! 

A shopping trip to our nearest Aldi is certainly on the cards for next Thursday!