Frantoio Franci launches brand new organic olive oil

Frantoio Franci Delicate Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml (2022/2023 harvest) is a brand new addition to the Franci organic selection. 

It's a delightfully tasty light fruity extra virgin olive oil, with ripe vegetal notes of tomato and artichoke leaf. 

It offers a sweet taste with a touch of mild bitterness and spiciness and is in good harmony. 

It's recommended for employment in soups, vegetables purées, salads, raw and cooked vegetables which have delicate flavours and in fish and meat dishes.

It is produced by Frantoio Franci, one of Italy’s most renowned olive oil producers. 

The farm, which is based near Montalcino in Montenero d’Orcia is currently managed by Giorgio Franci, who has taken over running the business from his father, Fernando. 

Incidentally, the olive mill quickly became famed through its flagship Villa Magra Grand Cru, which has long been regarded as the pioneer on the segment of olive oils of the highest qualities.

www.artisanoliveoilcompany.com

Limoncello di Capri

I first became aware of  Limoncello di Capri at a high end genuine Italian restaurant in London a while back and it's truly a stunningly good drink.

Limoncello di Capri is distributed in the UK by Mangrove Global.  

Legendary leading Italian drinks company Molinari has recently taken the step to relaunched its world-renowned liqueur, Limoncello di Capri, with a bold new look.

Molinari’s Limoncello di Capri is sitting in a class of its own and this is due entirely to the fact that they only employ authentically sourced ingredients. 

The liqueur is made from 100% Sorrento, ‘I.G.P’ lemons, this is a special type of fruit that is specific to the region which gives the drink its utterly outstanding, delicious flavour. 

The process of making it has remained unchanged throughout the years and the production of the liqueur takes place only on the Gulf of Sorrento itself , so it's a truly genuine taste of the Sorrento Coast. 

Originally designed as a post-meal digestif, this adaptable drink is now enjoying a renaissance amongst all types of drinkers with a variety of different serving suggestions. Though it's still a crackingly good post-meal digestif!

The first signature serve makes for the perfect aperitivo, the Limoncello Spritz, which includes 50ml of Limoncello di Capri, 75ml of prosecco, and 25ml of soda (over ice, naturally!) accompanied by a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lemon as a garnish. Or you can mix 50ml of Limoncello di Capri with 100ml of tonic water and pour over ice, if you'd prefer.

ABV: 30%|50cl

£14.50 from Majestic.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/spirits/limoncello-di-capri-50cl-49460

Heinz is launching a new Culinary Tomatoes range, celebrating its iconic sun-ripened tomatoes

Absolutely ideal for both scratch cooks and those who are requiring a bit of a culinary helping hand, this absolutely new range from Heinz brings its passion for the finest of tomatoes straight into their kitchens, opening up its most loved ingredient in ways never before seen.

From finely chopped tomatoes to pizzas, curries and chilli tomato bases, the new range will help cooks create and whip up a vast array of world cuisines at home, with tomato inspiration that goes beyond just Italian dishes.  

Introducing Heinz’s Culinary Tomatoes range: opening up Heinz’s tomatoes to everyone. 

Using only the finest Heinz tomatoes, these are all sun-ripened and grown in Italy for truly unparalleled flavour, the brand-new range includes chopped and peeled tomatoes, a classic pizza sauce and tomato puree, as well as a range of tomato bases for cooking sauces (passata, chilli, curry and frito), helping cooks to dish up a range of cuisines from around the world with convenience.  

With recent research highlighting that seven out of the UK’s top 10 favourite dishes are tomato based, the new range will allow cooks to give their best-loved meals – from a pizza Margherita to shakshuka or chicken bhuna - a uniquely Heinz twist.  

Caio Fontenele, Heinz New Ventures Director said: “We’re really delighted to give Heinz tomato lovers even more access to our finest tomatoes, while offering real inspirations to all cooks to create new and delicious recipes in their kitchens."

He went on to say: “We’ve developed our brand new tomato collection to offer something for everyone, regardless of the level of their cookery skills. 

“For those who love cooking from scratch, we have our delicious Heinz tomatoes in peeled, chopped or puréed formats. And for those who require an extra culinary hand and want to skip the basic preparation stages, we have our tasty, ready-to-use tomato based cooking sauces, too.

“Our Heinz Passatas are perfect for creating classic pizzas and pastas, while our Chilli and Curry bases will help home cooks to explore cuisines, beyond Italian . We also have our signature Heinz Tomato Frito, containing fresh garlic and onions, cooked in olive oil to extract the best flavour, and already a success in other European countries”. 

Discussing Heinz’s tomato history, Caio went on to say: “When it comes to tomatoes, it really just has to be Heinz. Ever since Henry J. Heinz first grew the seeds for the tomatoes that would become a staple in Heinz products all over the world, from our iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup, to our new Heinz Pasta Sauces, we’ve been truly in love with our tomatoes. 

“Our Heinz tomato masters’ obsession with quality and agricultural excellence inspired us to offer our tomatoes directly to customers, allowing everyone the chance to create their own pizzas or tomato curries with the unmistakable taste of Heinz”. 

Of the launch, Gary King, Global Agricultural Developer at Heinz, said: “As one of many Heinz Tomato Masters around the world, I’ve had a lifelong passion and dedication for our tomatoes, always searching for new ways to further improve their quality.

“Heinz’s tomatoes are truly, incredibly unique. They are one of the most viscous tomatoes in the world, giving them their delicious, rich, thick, unmistakeable Heinz flavour. We’ve always grown our tomatoes using traditional methods and we’re as passionate about doing this today as we were back when it all began in 1869. As we say at Heinz, our tomatoes are grown, not made”. 

The launch of the Culinary Tomatoes range is part of Kraft Heinz’s larger transformation to bring insight-driven innovation to consumers faster than ever before and grow its taste elevation platform around the world. 

The full new Heinz Culinary Tomatoes range includes: 

●          Heinz Chopped Tomatoes (400g) – RRP £1.25 

●          Heinz Chopped Tomatoes multipack (4x 400g) – RRP £4.75 

●          Heinz Peeled Tomatoes (400g) – RRP £1.25 

●          Heinz Classic Pizza Sauce (400g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Classic Passata (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Passata with Basil (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Curry Tomato Base (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Chilli Tomato Base (500g) – RRP £1.75 

●          Heinz Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (130g) – RRP £1.40 

●          Heinz Frito Tomato Base (500g) – RRP £1.75 (available in August) 

●          Heinz Finely Chopped Tomatoes (400g) – RRP £1.25 (available in August) 

Of course, the entire range has absolutely no added preservatives, additives, or sugar. 

The new Heinz Culinary Tomatoes range is available now from ASDA stores all over the country, expanding to other retailers later this year. Prices will be at the sole discretion of the retailer. 

For more information, visit www.heinz.co.uk/heinz-tomato-products 

Making the 2000 Year Old "Pizza" from Pompeii

 

I subscribe to the YouTube channel of Max Miller and I was so impressed by his video of making a pizza style meal form 2,000 years ago that I decided to share it with you.

You can follow Max here:- https://www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory.

Sustainable strawberries pollinated by AI influenced hover-flies

Strawberries and cream are synonymous with the Wimbledon tennis fortnight, running this year from 3rd-16th July. UK agtech startup Olombria is partnering with the UK’s largest fruit growers to ensure the volume and traditional quality of fruits are preserved as the industry experiences many pressures.

Fruit farming has many modern challenges, and the need to control pests and enhance pollination of berry flowers is a constant management challenge. In the past, bees have been strong allies in the pollination of fruit, but bees are in jeopardy, and their numbers are diminishing fast. 

New farming techniques beyond open fields utilising poly-tunnels and closed environments used in vertical farming techniques create challenging environments for hive-based bees to operate in, and their stress can also increase stinging hazards for farm workers. Consequently, bees are no longer the ‘top seeds’ in the pollination game.

Instead, Olombria raises a combination species of hoverflies (natural bee-mimics that don’t sting) with larvae that are voracious consumers of aphid pests. 

When given the right coaching, these fast-flying hive-less insects are better performers in modern farming pollination situations, so Olombria uses advanced AI vision systems and natural semiochemical lures to encourage the hoverflies to the right part of the crop at the right time. The result is strawberry fruit yields that are 20% heavier and raspberries that are 56% heavier - and aphid outbreaks are brought under control within the optimal timeframe.

Olombria's Integrated Pest and Pollination Management (IPPM) approach both eliminates the continuous threat of aphid infestations and enhances pollination in the changing environments of modern farming. 

As chemical pest control options become more restricted, farms are turning to biocontrols to seek and destroy bugs that weaken the plants and deform their leaves but putting these controls in the right place is something Olombria’s AI vision systems are trained for. The same system ensures that hoverfly adults get busy pollinating the plants when the bloom is right, using lures to increase their activity and targeting them in the correct area.

Just as Hawk-Eye gives the tennis Umpire unambiguous play information, Olombria also provides Berry Gardens growers with valuable enhanced data on the condition of their plants at every stage of their maturity, whilst Olombria’s systems use that data to adapt to deliver the best IPPM results for the crop.

Tashia Tucker, who is the CEO and Founder of Olombria said, “We are delighted to work closely with progressive organisations such as Berry Gardens to show how nature can be empowered by new technology to help enhance natural growing environments without the use of chemical sprays and to deliver the best fruit possible. 

"Our combination of skills in AI, semiochemical lures, and insect rearing and release, places us in a unique position to support growers around the world.”

As we prepare for exciting battles on the Wimbledon courts, spare a thought for the battles in the berry fields of the UK, where insects compete to bring you the perfect tennis accompaniment. It’s game, set and match to the hoverflies.

(Image courtesy of Fonthip Ward from Pixabay)

Time to party with Double Dutch

With Google searches for summer party ideas up by 22%, Double Dutch has created a party pack for larger get-togethers, smaller gatherings and everything in between.

2023 is set to be the year of summertime get-togethers, thanks to the glorious weather predictions for what some are saying will be the hottest year on record, the producers of award-winning premium tonic and mixers Double Dutch, are set to be a part of your party, no matter the time, occasion or location with the launch of its exciting and utterly brandnew party packs.

With searches for summer parties already up 22% versus 2022 and the #SummerVibes hashtag on TikTok continuing to increase in popularity, Double Dutch wants to double expectations of every get-together and help create the ultimate party for everyone to enjoy, to make summer 2023 the best ever.

Double Dutch co-founders, Joyce and Raissa de Haas are known for bringing the party to any day of the week, adding personality to drinks with Double Dutch's wide range of unexpected dual-flavoured mixers. 

The Ultimate Party Starter Pack contains all the ingredients required to create the perfect summer serves, -Cucumber Cooler pairs Masons Original Gin and the fresh fruity flavourful Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon mixer, whilst the Pink Paloma pairs the intensely rich, sweet and citrusy Pink Grapefruit Soda and El Rayo Tequila which complement each other perfectly. 

Get the party started with The Ultimate Party Starter Pack

There's no need to wait for the big occasions to get that party feeling going!. As searches for at-home parties increase by nearly a third (29%) month on month, just add Double Dutch to reinvent hosting friends and family with The Ultimate Party Starter Pack.

Containing all the essential ingredients to host a party for up to 24 very lucky people, each pack contains full-sized bottles of El Rayo Tequila and Masons Original Gin, alongside a case of Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon and Pink Grapefruit Soda, plus cups, cocktail garnishes, recipe cards, biodegradable face glitter and confetti cannons. 

The Ultimate Party Starter Pack will feature products worth in excess of £150, and is on sale for £94.99, available from the Double Dutch website: https://doubledutchdrinks.com. (Which seems like a real bargain to us at That's Food and Drink!)

For those just looking for the perfect mixer to pair with the spirits, try the Summer Party Mixer Pack by Double Dutch which contains x5 Cucumber & Watermelon mixers and x5 Pink Grapefruit Sodas for £20.15, available from the Double Dutch website.  

What does The Ultimate Party Pack contain?: 

x1 case (24 200ml bottles) Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon mixer 

x1 case (24 200ml bottles) Double Dutch Pink Grapefruit Soda 

x1 70cl bottle of El Rayo Tequila 

x1 70cl Masons Original Gin 

x24 Premium double walled Double Dutch paper cups

x24 wooden stirrers

x24 cocktail sticks for garnish

x1 recipe card

x4 confetti cannons

Face glitter (for up to 24 people) 

If you want to stock Double Dutch, email sales@doubledutchdrinks.com.

(The image used is courtesy of Ferla Paolo Photography)

Fallowfields restaurant Unveils 'Jewels of the English Sun' Set Menu

A leading and innovative Cornish restaurant is aiming to keep things fresh for summer with its latest menu update which is  called 'Jewels of the English Sun' which launched earlier this week.

Fallowfields, located within the Housel Bay hotel on the Lizard Peninsula, has updated its tasting menu with an assortment of summer-inspired dishes aimed at giving its guests and diners a taste of some of the best the season has on offer.

Commenting on the menu, Head Chef Joseph Fallowfield said: “At Fallowfields, we focus on delivering the best locally-sourced seasonal dishes which means regular menu updates are required as we chop and change the ingredients we use as the seasons develop and change.

“Now we're full swing into the sunny months, we felt that we wanted the menu to showcase a selection of ingredients that range from beloved summer favourites to some unique flavour options exclusive to our location. Our goal is to leave diners yearning for just one more bite!"

He went on to say: “We create our dishes from the ground up, focusing closely on several key ingredients; with this approach, nothing beats fresh, seasonal and locally sourced.”

The 'Jewels of the English Sun' tasting menu features a variety of dishes, examples of which include:

Miniature sea lettuce loaf with whipped dulce butter

Cornish mozzarella with heritage tomato, thyme, peach sorbet and peach ash

Lobster & prawn bisque with carrot, ginger, Fowey mussels and saffron

Cucumber tart with berries, pistachio macaroon and basil

Joseph added: “The reception we've had from diners at Fallowfields continues to blow us away. We're in an isolated location on the very tip of the coast and to see increasing numbers who are making their way down just to try our food is really fantastic for us.”

The new menu joins another recent change to the hotel's food offering, Seafood Sundays, which swaps out the more usual traditional Sunday roast for something a little more coastal-inspired with a selection of lobster and seafood dishes taking the spotlight.

The full tasting menu is £65 per person or £110 with paired wines. The short tasting menu is £45 per person or £70 with paired wines.

Fallowfields is open from Wednesday to Saturday evenings with bookings available from 6pm – 8.30pm.

The 'Jewels of the English Sun' tasting menu is available now at Fallowfields. Reservations can be made online via https://www.houselbay.com/eat-drink.

Double Dutch Launches New Elderflower Tonic

The amazing producers of Award-Winning Tonics & Mixers has launched its new Elderflower Tonic to be stocked in on-trade.

Double Dutch, the award-winning producer of premium tonics and mixers, has announced it's to  launch a brand-new Elderflower Tonic Water later this month. 

This latest offering will expand their core range, which already features an impressive selection of 13 tonics and mixers.

The award-winning Double Dutch Indian Tonic Water forms the basis of the Elderflower Tonic Water which is then blended with intensely aromatic elderflower to create a truly super delicious and versatile mixer.

The latest flavour's tasting notes include delicate, lemony hints with a welcome bitter finish. Soft and rounded with a uniquely fragrant, fresh and fruity finish and an aroma of orchard sweetness. The refreshing serve is best paired with floral gins, vodka or prosecco and champagne.  

The drinks in the Double Dutch range are both lively mixers to enhance any spirit and refreshing as a soft drink on their very own. All flavours are created via the process of molecular gastronomy, which results in unique, counter-intuitive, yet utterly delicious flavour combinations.

As champions of the unexpected, Double Dutch is always looking for new ways to experiment and double down on flavour. Its dedication to delivering exceptional taste experiences has made the products a favourite among bartenders, where they appreciate the ease and impact of the creations. Double Dutch's products are not only quick to prepare but also effortlessly leave a lasting impression on discerning palates.

Says Raissa de Haas, Co-Founder of Double Dutch: “We've been observing a market demand for a lighter, more floral tonic. There is increasing interest in natural and botanical-based products, with more health-conscious consumers looking for beverages which are created with real, high-quality ingredients. So to us, a fresh Double Dutch Elderflower Tonic Water seemed the perfect way to hit this market demand, providing bartenders with an essential high quality floral mixer.”

Double Dutch is the official tonic partner at Soho House, and is also stocked in Club Soda, the hub of mindful drinking. 

https://doubledutchdrinks.com.

Costa Coffee welcomes customers with new, exciting Warrington Drive Thru

The UKs Favourite Coffee Shop, Costa Coffee, is thrilled to have opened a new, modern Drive Thru store in Warrington, based at Fortress Boulevard, Burtonwood and Westbrook, WA5 3ZT. 

The new store, which opened on May 13th, offers customers a bright, modern, and uplifting environment, perfect for those morning meet ups or afternoon escapes. Fresh features can be found throughout, including digital menu boards and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating areas for those sitting in, whilst an efficient Drive-Thru lane awaits for anyone on the go. 

There’s even a new ‘Rinse & Refill’ station so visitors will be able to top up water bottles and clean out reusable cups at no cost. But even better, Costa Club App members, are able to earn an extra ‘Green bean’ when purchasing a drink using reusable cups, meaning they're one step closer to receiving a free drink! Or, for the perfect birthday celebrations, App members can also receive a free slice of cake on their birthday. There are truly amazing offers and rewards all year round! 

Local customers have already been stopping by to enjoy their favourite drinks, perfectly crafted by nine newly recruited and keen team members. And, as the weather warms up, it’s the perfect chance to try some of Costa Coffee’s Summer menu additions, from the new Refreshers range, to one of the new flavourful Pizzettas. 

Jude Brackstone, who is Regional Operations Director at Costa Coffee, says: “It’s really, incredibly exciting to have opened our bright new Drive-Thru here in Warrington. Our amazing team are enjoying meeting the local community and welcoming new Costa customers for a delicious Flat White in-store, or an indulgent Frappé that’s ideal for their journey!” 

The store team are also already busy playing their part in the local community by participating in the Chatty Café scheme, which designates a ‘Chatter and Natter’ table in-store on a weekly-basis, so customers can meet new faces and enjoy conversations with one another. 

Not only that, some of the team from the new Drive Thru were due to undertake a gruelling challenge to raise money for the Costa Foundation by climbing Mount Snowdon on 11th July. The Costa Foundation exists to help improve the life chances of boys and girls in coffee growing communities around the world by providing them with access to a safe and quality education. To date, the Costa Foundation has helped build over 100 schools and educated over 100,00 children. The team can’t wait to share stories with their new customers when they get back. 

The Fortress Boulevard, Warrington store is open from 6am-8pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am-7pm on Sunday, and is available for orders via Click and Collect. To find your nearest Costa Coffee store, click here: https://www.costa.co.uk/locations/store-locator/map  

Sainsbury’s Nectar Prices now offers savings on meat, fish and poultry

Nectar customers can now get even more great value as Sainsbury's has rolled out Nectar Prices across meat, fish and poultry for the first time. Nectar Prices now offers more choice than ever as customers can access discounts on around 3500 products when shopping in Sainsbury’s supermarkets or online.

From now on, Nectar Prices will be available on a variety of popular Sainsbury’s meat, fish and poultry items like Sainsbury’s So Organic lamb mince (usually £5.25, Nectar Price £3.50), Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference cod fillets (usually £5.50, Nectar Price £4.95) and by Sainsbury’s southern fried chicken breast steaks (usually £3.55, Nectar Price £2.75).

The change means over 18 million Nectar customers can choose from an even larger range of discounted products, helping them save money each time they shop with Sainsbury’s. Through Nectar Prices, shoppers can benefit from discounts of, on average, £14.32 and expect to enjoy savings on favourite brands such as Fridge Raiders chicken bites (usually £2.80, Nectar Price £2.00), Peperami Original (usually £2.80, Nectar Price £2.25), Richmond pork sausages (usually £3.25, Nectar Price £2.25) and Gressingham aromatic duck (usually £8.00, Nectar Price £6.25).

This expansion of Nectar Prices means Nectar users can make great savings in a wide range of categories. These include health and beauty, confectionary and snacking, beers, wines and spirits, household, baby and pet and food cupboard items, dairy and bakery, fresh produce and ready meals, and now also meat, fish and poultry.

Already a Nectar customer? All existing Nectar customers need do to benefit from Nectar Prices is scan their app or swipe their card at the checkouts to save. Customers shopping online will have their discounts applied automatically but only if their Nectar and Sainsbury’s accounts are linked.

Want to become a Nectar customer? Shoppers can sign up to Nectar Prices by joining on the Nectar app, online at www.nectar.com, or by picking up a Nectar card in store.