It’s all about travel and food – lots of international excursions, art, culture and history, hotel, destination and restaurant reviews, chef interviews. Please look elsewhere for negative reviews.
For Entertaining or Pampering There are plenty of food delivery companies around these days and that’s a good thing. There are plenty of fairly sub-standard delivery companies around these days and that’s a bad thing. I have enjoyed 44 Foods packages a couple of times now and I can attest to their quality of both...
I found myself drawn to this rum even before the first sip. Who can resist the humour, the sheer fun of a Pirate’s Grog Spiced Rum? Avast me hearties! (translation: Stop, dear chaps) is emblazoned on the back label, begging the reader to learn more about this award-winning spirit. This rum was conceived in the...
Rock Rose Negroni brings a new aroma to Winter nights There are few herbs in the garden in the chill of mid-Winter, but one stalwart is that gloriously aromatic botanical, rosemary. Even more fragrant when smoked, combine this aroma with Navy Strength Rock Rose Gin in a classic negroni and you have a cocktail of...
The Twelve Days of Christmas with Dunnet Bay Distillers Spirited gifts from Scotland to suit every price range, from £1 – £90 Raise a glass to these gift ideas from Dunnet Bay Distillers, makers of the cool brand Rock Rose Gin – officially chosen earlier this year by CoolBrands. If you are looking for unusual...
Quality Liqueurs and Syrups Giffard is one of the most celebrated producers of essential bar ingredients, and they have a diverse range of liqueurs and syrups to fire the imagination of any mixologist or home aficionado. Back in 1885 Émile Giffard was a pharmacist in Angers in Val de Loire, France. The date is still...
The Father of All Rums from the Philippines The name ‘Don Papa’ was inspired by Papa Isio, a leader of the revolution in the Philippines against the Spanish. He led his island to independence before joining the main revolutionary movement. This national hero is prominent on the striking brand label, which was designed in New...
… in Classy Knightsbridge It’s a not-so-crazy pizza experience at Crazy Pizza. It’s rather more a polished and smart affair with fun touches. It’s as swep-up as one can imagine but perfectly accessible for pie-lovers of all ages. Crazy Pizza is found right next to Harrods. Just exit the Underground and follow the pedestrian street....
Here is another lovely cocktail from Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka Hive-Mind Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake and double strain into chilled glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg. Ingredients 50ml Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka 30ml Espresso 15ml Ramsbury Estate runny honey Pinch of sea salt Garnish Grated nutmeg For more delicious cocktails visit...
Delicious Plant Jars, and hamper-worthy I love cooking but towards the end of the year there are plenty of distractions – like that little thing called Christmas. There isn’t always enough time in our hectic lives to cook from scratch, but I still want to present delicious food, and Merchant Gourmet solves the dilemma. Merchant...
This worthy tome isn’t a cocktail recipe book, and I would venture to say The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails is for the serious cocktail drinker. By that I don’t mean those who drink a lot of mixed alcoholic drinks but rather those who want to know and understand every element that helps to...
It’s approaching the season. That time of year when we might be entertaining a little more than usual. We need a well-stocked bar, and that space should definitely include a vermouth or two. Azaline Vermouth earns its place for both its packaging and its taste. But what is vermouth? The name ‘vermouth’ is the corrupted...
The gift that keeps on giving Bullards have created a distinctive gin and it’s been inspired by Norfolk, with its coast and its wooded landscape. The company has been around in that county since 1837. The convenient Coastal Gin set with its blue azure-coloured bottle and pouch combination is bound to be a hit this...
Under-priced and under-estimated Blanquette De Limoux Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée is great value for money. Yes, it’s certainly more expensive here than in France but far less pricey than its celebrated cousin, Champagne. In 1531, the Benedictine monks from the Abbey of SaintHilaire in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the south-west of France discovered the secret...
…and every other day David and Peri met in the airport in Rome back in 1985 and discovered a common interest in Italian food. A few years later they launched a small batch of premium Lunaio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, produced on their Southern Tuscan farm. They started scouring Italy for other dedicated producers who...
A wonderland of houses, creative constructions and cookies Gingerbread is a delightful festive presentation of 38 projects, gingerbread recipes and templates for creating beautiful centrepieces. The fairy tale ‘Hansel and Gretel’, in which the children discover a house made entirely of gingerbread, sweets and cake, inspired the trend for making beautiful constructions based on this...
