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Speciality Brands Takes Exclusive UK Distribution deal for Chopin Vodka

Chopin Vodka is a proudly family-owned company based in Eastern Poland which has been pioneering the super-premium vodka category for in excess of three decades. 

Founded by Tad Dorda, the range is a true celebration of Polish craft and culture and is one of the few vodka producers in the world to oversee 100% of its production process from the farm field right to the bottle.

Speciality Brands' strategy will look at expanding and increasing Chopin Vodka's presence in both on- and off-trade channels, supported by a marketing and PR programme that will bring to life the brand's story, generate excitement and conversations around the vodka category, and ensure both professionals and consumers across the country experience it in a fresh and immersive way.

Chris Seale who is the MD of Speciality Brands, told That's Food and Drink: “When we first met with Chopin Vodka we were immediately impressed with the team's passion and expertise in making luxury vodkas showing terroir, texture, and taste. 

"As a family-owned business focused on producing the highest quality spirits, they share many of our values and they fit really well within our portfolio of premium drinks. We've got great plans for the Chopin brand, which include taking full advantage of the growing popularity of the martini cocktail in the UK.”  

Tad Dorda, Chopin Vodka founder and CEO, told us: “We're really thrilled to be unveiling this new UK partnership. We were looking for a distributor that would bring passion, expertise, and a flair for building luxury brands in a market that needs nurturing in a very specific way. Speciality Brands has all the right credentials and we're looking forward to taking Chopin on the next steps of its journey.”

Starting from the middle of this month, October, Speciality Brands is bringing the three single ingredient vodkas to the UK market, including the flagship Potato vodka, alongside the limited-edition luxury Vera Wang bottle, blended editions, and super-premium Family Reserve.

To learn more about Chopin luxury vodka and about Speciality Brands please visit https://specialitybrands.com

That's Food and Drink is delighted to be able to add our voice to promoting what looks to be a new and exciting offering in the UKs luxury spirits range. 

Seems like they'd be excellent components in Christmas cocktails.

Demystifying Thanksgiving: A Taste of American Tradition

Thanksgiving is one of the most beloved and cherished holidays in the United States. It's a time when families and friends come together to express gratitude, reflect on the year, and, of course, enjoy a bountiful feast. 

While Thanksgiving may not be a familiar concept in the UK, this blog post aims to demystify the holiday and provide a delicious glimpse into a typical Thanksgiving meal.

The Origins of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has its roots in the early 17th century when English Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a successful harvest together. This historic event is considered the precursor to the modern Thanksgiving holiday. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November and is a time for reflection, family togetherness, and feasting.

The Turkey

At the heart of any Thanksgiving meal is the turkey. A large, roasted turkey is the centrepiece of the table, and it's a tradition that dates back to those early Pilgrims. The turkey is typically seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, and then roasted to golden perfection. It's a symbol of abundance and a gesture of gratitude for the blessings of the year.

Stuffing

Accompanying the turkey is a generous serving of stuffing. This dish is made from breadcrumbs or cubed bread mixed with savoury ingredients like onions, celery, herbs, and sometimes nuts or fruits. The stuffing is stuffed into the turkey's cavity or baked separately, and it's full of rich, comforting flavours.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes, often creamy and buttery, are another staple on the Thanksgiving table. They provide a comforting contrast to the robust flavours of the turkey and stuffing, making them a beloved side dish.

Gravy

To tie everything together, a rich and flavourful gravy is drizzled over the turkey and mashed potatoes. It's made from the turkey's pan drippings and is essential for enhancing the overall taste of the meal.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce adds a touch of sweetness and tartness to the meal. This bright red sauce is made from cranberries, sugar, and sometimes a hint of orange zest. It's the perfect accompaniment to the savory turkey and sides.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato dishes, often baked or mashed with brown sugar and topped with marshmallows or pecans, bring a deliciously sweet and comforting element to the Thanksgiving spread.

Green Bean Casserole

A classic Thanksgiving vegetable side is green bean casserole. It consists of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions on top. It's a creamy and crunchy dish that balances out the richness of the other components.

Pumpkin Pie

For dessert, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without a slice of pumpkin pie. Made from a spiced pumpkin filling in a flaky pie crust, it's a symbol of autumn's harvest and a sweet ending to the feast.

Thanksgiving in the United States is more than just a meal; it's a cherished tradition that celebrates gratitude and togetherness. The typical Thanksgiving meal, featuring a roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and various other delicious dishes, is a testament to the American spirit of abundance and unity. While Thanksgiving may be a uniquely American holiday, the values of gratitude and the joy of sharing a delightful meal are universal. So, if you ever have the opportunity to experience a Thanksgiving meal, be prepared for a culinary journey full of warmth, flavour, and heartfelt appreciation.

(Image courtesy of Julie Rothe from Pixabay)

World Calvados Week Is the Time to Avallen

Calvados is one of France's three brandies - the others being Cognac and Armagnac. It's been produced since the 1500s and gained serious popularity in pre-prohibition cocktails like William Schmidt's Delicious Sour and the Corpse Reviver #1 as it appeared in the Savoy Cocktail Book. As enjoyable in cocktails, as it is neat, Calvados is a spectacular spirit for mixing. 

It's entirely natural, and the subtle flavours lend a satisfying twist in place of other base spirits like gin, whisky, rum, and even tequila. “Calvados and tonic is probably one of the most underrated yet most delicious highballs!”, said Andrew Ho, Co-owner and Founder of bar Hope & Sesame

Across the UK, bartenders and independent retailers will be pouring Calvados cocktails, creating menu cards and serving up this apple brandy at every turn.  And true to Avallen's ethical brand, £1 of every bottle sold during the World Calvados Week campaign will go to the not-for-profit organisation, One Tree Planted.

Avallen Calvados is ahead of the game in terms of natural taste AND its many stellar sustainability credentials. It is available in a game-changing paper bottle, one that's bold, bright, and more durable than glass. Weighing in at a superlight 82 grams, the paper bottle eradicates the use of single-use glass and significantly reduces the brand's carbon footprint – with each bottle generating six times less CO2 than its glass counterpart. Avallen is one of the first spirits in the world to make this bold move.

More about Avallen's values, which is sustainable by design.  Not only do they make every business decision with the planet in mind, they are a Certified B Corp– a recognition granted only to the most conscious of businesses. And beyond its carbon credentials, Avallen has a pretty exceptional aptitude for biodiversity. The apple orchards are rich habitats that support a wide array of life, and 2% of their revenue are donated to charities that champion the protection of bees. Quite an achievement in an industry that doesn't always consider its impact upon the natural world.

The liquid itself is made from nothing but apples, water, and time. It's entirely natural, bursting with the flavour of apples, and comes in with a kick thanks to its 40% ABV. Upon lifting a glass to your mouth you'll notice an aroma akin to apple pie filling accompanied by vanilla and a subtle spice. Take your first sip and sweet, juicy apple will come to the fore, and that subtle spice will unveil itself as cinnamon and delicate pepper. Other notes include toffee apple, vanilla custard, and delicate honeysuckle.

And what's more – there's an abundance of ways to enjoy it.

If you're a cocktail lover – Sazerac, Spritz, even perhaps an Espresso Martini – you can give your tipple of choice a climate-positive kick by swapping your base spirit for the applicious Avallen. If you prefer a neater beverage (a drink you can sink your teeth into), pour it over ice and sip away, or lengthen with tonic for a refreshingly fruity drink. If you're entertaining, try one of our cocktail recipes below whilst you regale your guests with the tale of this top planet-saving tipple…

Avallen Hedgerow

40ml Avallen

10ml Apricot Brandy

15ml fresh lemon juice

5ml sugar syrup

Top 50/50 ginger beer & dry cider

In a highball glass filled with ice, add all ingredients except ginger beer and cider. Gently stir the drink. Top with half ginger beer and half cider. Garnish with candied ginger and slice of lime.

Avallen Espresso

40ml Avallen

15ml coffee liqueur

30ml fresh espresso

10ml sugar syrup

2 dashes salt solution

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Double strain into a coupette and garnish with coffee beans.

www.avallenspirits.com

That's Food and Drink recommend getting some in for Christmas. 

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New Hot Spot: The Brandy House Bar at Burnt Faith

This month, the Brandy House Bar at Burnt Faith opens its doors to cocktail lovers in London.

The UK's first dedicated Brandy Bar from the UK's first dedicated Brandy House, it is a spirited addition to the Blackhorse Road Beer Mile of craft breweries and wineries – a destination for those who like to drink well and choose local.

The menu showcases the classic cocktails you know and love with an innovative edge and local nod. Each cocktail is served with a neat pour of Burnt Faith brandy to allow guests to appreciate the base spirit inside the drink.

Burnt Faith is on a mission to expand people's understanding and appreciation of what brandy can be and how it can be enjoyed. This is a buzzy, vibey urban space where drinkers can learn a little more about this fascinating spirit. 

Not sure if brandy is for you? The Brandy House Bar at Burnt Faith is the place to convert you. There's also an array of cocktails that whisky, gin and rum lovers will know and adore, including an Aged Negroni, a banging Espresso Martini and a chocolate-tinged Cocoa Old Fashioned.

It's not just brandy from Burnt Faith that you'll find in the drinks, as the Burnt Faith eau de vie – unaged grape spirit distilled in London – plays a supporting role in the Honey Man Daiquiri alongside honey from the Local Honey Man. While the Burnt Faith Triple Sec – home-made orange liqueur - boosts the Plum margarita along with Lacto-fermented E17 foraged plums.

Burnt Faith is a proudly British Brandy House and is uses only local suppliers wherever possible, including Local Honey Man who ios just up the road, Bethnal Green Chocolatiers cocoa to infuse the Rye for the Old Fashioned, as well as Devils Botany Absinthe and VSRD London Vermouth.

The Brandy House bar at Burnt Faith will offer flights of brandy tastings, a full programme of events and masterclasses, tours and tastings to follow.

Opening hours: Friday & Saturdays 4pm – 11pm

Address: Burnt Faith Brandy House, 57 Sutherland Rd, London E17 6BH

Booking policy: Reservations via Designmynight and walk-ins

Burnt Faith Brandy

Burnt Faith Brandy Batch 001 | 40% | £36 | Stockists : Burnt Faith online,  The Whisky Exchange Harvey Nichols

The first release from the new British Brandy house that is making waves for all the right reasons, Burnt Faith. Burnt Faith is on a mission to unlock the real potential of brandy and is redefining what brandy can be. 

Burnt Faith Batch 001 is aged, blended and bottled in Britain and is crafted with an intriguing blend of aromatic grape varieties and unusual cask finishes to deliver a brandy like no other. This is a delicious blend in a stunning bottle at a very reasonable price. It is packed full of fruit, notes of caramel and a truly elevated chocolatey smooth finish.

https://burntfaith.com/products/burnt-faith-brandy-batch-001

 

The Ferry House Waterside Restaurant Celebrates Prestigious Hospitality Award

Scooping a prestigious 2AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence, the team at The Ferry House, are raising a toast to the achievement with a glass of Gin (made using grain grown on their family farm). This significant award places the Isle of Sheppey restaurant among one of only 21 restaurants in Kent to have a 2AA Rosette. 

The award represents another milestone in over 20 years of ownership by local third generation farming family, the Burdens, who have taken the venue from humble country pub origins, to a rustically-refined country restaurant, boutique hotel and wedding venue in a beautiful wetland hideaway beside the Swale estuary. 

With a long-standing family heritage of food cultivation, produce for the menu is cropped from the 1.5 acre Kitchen Garden, alongside salt marsh-grazed beef, wild game and foraged produce from the shoreline and Harty estate.  

AA inspector Salvatore Scotti described the dining experience as “one of the highlights of my stay, with great pride taken in quality produce from the estate and vegetable garden. The hands-on team showed wonderful hospitality from making my reservation, to the time it came to leave.” 

Also praised was the experience from the luxury hotel rooms. “The rooms are filled with coordinated style, elegance, comfort and quality. The bathroom displayed clear sparkle!” 

Victoria Burden co-owns The Ferry House alongside her husband, Alex. She described the emotion of receiving the award; “Obviously, we're beyond thrilled! The report highlighted everything that's important to us, the quality of our home grown produce, a relaxed dining experience and warm and friendly service.”  

“Most of all we're happy for our team and proud of their contributions - every element of the AA report touches upon the role of someone role here. Hearing the cheers and seeing the emotion among the team when we gave them the news was a really great feeling. We are especially proud of and happy for Head Chef, James Pilcher.”  

“We are passionate about home growing produce that's not easily available, perhaps because it's perishable or is best handpicked to order. With our own kitchen garden we don't have that challenge, so guests can be introduced to dishes with unique, seasonal produce, that's exciting and creatively prepared, while being approachable and un-pretentious.” 

Recent dishes on the menu include wild Harty Estate duck wellington, pan-fried stone bass with foraged sea vegetables, 10oz salt-marsh grazed sirloin and charcoal-roasted golden beetroot, with pickled golden beets. 

As well as an à la carte Dinner Menu, diners can enjoy a sharing-style Small Plates Lunch Menu, Sunday roast lunches, a dedicated Vegan Menu available to pre-order, and a Children's Menu.  

Dining is available 7 days a week, Monday-Friday from 12pm–2.30pm and 6pm-8.30pm, Saturdays from 12pm-3.30pm and 6pm–8.30pm, and Sundays from 12pm-3.30pm and 6pm-7.30pm. Service times may vary occasionally around privately booked events, so please check The Ferry House website for specific opening times and to pre-book your table. 

The Ferry House, Harty Ferry Road, Harty, Kent, ME12 4BQ. 01795 510214 www.TheFerryHouse.co.uk | info@TheFerryHouseInn.co.uk | Instagram @TheFerryHouseHarty 

Launch of New Exclusive Sabrina Ghayour Spice Blends

Steenbergs, the leading sustainable spice company, is delighted to announce it's teamed up with award-winning Middle Eastern chef Sabrina Ghayour to produce three unique spice blends to complement her delicious recipes and add a little Middle Eastern magic into your everyday cooking.

The launch of the new spice blends coordinates nicely with the publication of Sabrina’s seventh cookbook, FLAVOUR, which is published by Aster on October 12th. It's a brand-new collection of simple, delicious, crowd-pleasing recipes which can be tailored to suit all tastes and budgets.

“Flavour is such an important element of my cooking. No matter what food I make, or where or what I eat, taste is everything. To me, flavour is comfort, satisfaction and even nostalgia, but importantly, it never has to be complicated, heavy-handed or extreme. Life is too short to eat bland food; sometimes a little seasoning, a flourish of herbs or a squeeze of lemon or drizzle of honey is all it takes to really elevate an otherwise simple dish into something that suddenly bursts with big, bold flavour” said Sabrina Ghayour.

The three new spice blends encapsulate Sabrina’s passion for flavour. They are exclusive to Steenbergs and are all carefully hand blended to Sabrina’s own recipes.

Flavour Blend is a mix of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, lime powder and cracked black pepper. “This earthy blend of spices is simply perfect for roasted meats, root vegetables and squashes,” says Sabrina, “and not forgetting, the perfect combination for kebabs like shawarmas, koftas and red meat kebabs.”

Persiana Blend is the very same blend that adorns the cover of Sabrina’s now iconic debut cookbook Persiana, released back in 2014, and was originally created for one of Sabrina’s signature dishes from the book, the slow-roasted spice-perfumed lamb. 

The fragrant blend of rose petals, sumac, lime powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, garlic powder and cayenne is perfect for roasted meats, grills, root vegetables and squashes but also great with game, poultry and oily fish and seafood too.

Bazaar blend is a wonderfully versatile blend of oregano, paprika, Spanish citrus pepper, ginger and garlic powder which can be used in a wide variety of ways from simply coating meat and fish for roasting or pan-frying to salads, rice dishes, hummus and even flatbreads.

Top tips, recipe ideas and inspiration for using the spice blends will be featuring on both Steenbergs and Sabrina Ghayour socials and on the Steenbergs website. The spice jars will be available for sale individually but also as a complete set of three, beautifully packaged in a jute bag with a card and ribbon, all ready for Christmas gifting.

Flavour by Sabrina Ghayour is published by Aster (£26) with cover photography by Kris Kirkham

The Amazon page for the book is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flavour-recipe-collection-SUNDAY-bestseller/dp/1783255102