Archive For The “Food and Drink” Category
It’s summer and sometimes the sun peeps through the clouds. When it does our thoughts turn to al fresco dining and garden parties. Fizz is often the beverage of choice, but how about something that looks beautiful, tastes of summer fruits and even matches flowery sun dresses? Roséfine from Marrenon The teardrop bottle with a…
My favourite chocolatier, Lily O’Brien’s, has come up with a convivial treat for the summer …or any time. It’s a delicious new range of Share Bags which would be just perfect to take on a picnic or with coffee after an al fresco meal. The new collection includes Crispy Butterscotch, Mega Milk Chocolate, Dark Belgian…
It seems an unlikely marriage between a popular chain supermarket and Eden Mill. They are producers of Scottish small-batch craft gins. Those who frequent the beverage aisles of ALDI will expect a bargain and those who are familiar with Eden Mill will expect quality. One gets both in this unique stoneware bottle which seems to be the distillery’s trademark…
OK, I had not heard of Lambic and that’s mainly because I am not a big beer drinker, but this was something of a revelation …and a delicious one. Lambic is a style of beer brewed mainly in the Pajottenland region of Belgium. These beers include gueuze and kriek lambic, which are both striking and…
Pickering’s Gin & British Airways create world’s first sky-high gin Botanically engineered to enjoy at 30,000ft In a world first, Edinburgh based Pickering’s Gin, have created a gin that has been specifically developed to be enjoyed at altitude. The gin is available to drink onboard on all short haul flights and through the High Life…
One glance at the Fortunella Golden Orange Liqueur bottle will lead the prospective sipper to expect something a little different, a refined taste, a well-crafted spirit, a nod to London and its history …and that’s before one even pulls the traditional cork stopper. The name Fortunella refers to the lucky discovery of the fragrant and…
Strawberry Daiquiri From BBC Food The sweetness of fruit and the kick of lime make this classic Strawberry Daiquiri a real crowd pleaser of a cocktail. Ingredients 4 fresh strawberries, plus ½ strawberry to garnish 2 tsp white sugar 35ml/1½fl oz white rum 1 tbsp strawberry liqueur 25ml/1fl oz lime juice Method Place the…
It’s soon going to be Father’s Day and there is that dilemma. Men are often difficult when trying to find the perfect gift. Socks are handy but not exactly original. Chocolate is always appreciated but perhaps you used that idea for Mother’s Day. But I bet some quality fudge will hit the spot. Fudge Kitchen…
Game Fair at Hatfield House, July 26-28 Wild and Game, the Somerset-based not for profit company working to turn the UK into a nation of game eaters, will promote eating game in summer at this year’s Game Fair at Hatfield House, July 26-28. While game season is traditionally the time to enjoy game, Wild and…
Sidecar is a delicious and classic cocktail with both sweet and sour elements. Vary the ratio of these to find your perfect combination. Ingredients 1 oz. Cognac 1/2 oz. Orange liqueur 1/2 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. simple syrup Method Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake till well-chilled and strain into…
Lily O’Brien’s has done it again. They present wonderful gift ideas for every occasion, but they are also perfect for those ‘be good to me’ days. Just in time for Father’s Day they are offering a Personalised Keepsake Photo Box. One can upload one’s chosen snaps and Lily does the rest! This sturdy and well-designed…
Is this getting monotonous? I keep saying ‘ALDI has done it again!’ and ‘Another winner from ALDI’. But they do seem to have the edge when it comes to quality spirits at an attractive price. Here we have Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin from the ALDI shelves and it doesn’t disappoint. The bottle is flat-sided…
Bayou Bar, the first permanent offering from London’s renowned Street Food Union team launched earlier this year is serving up a carefully selected small but perfectly formed range of cocktails in tribute to their New Orleans inspired roots. The drinks menu, created by the team’s mixologist Toby Steinberg, delivers authentic drinks like The Hurricane, The…
Many, in the past, viewed Aldi as something of bargain basement supermarket, but that perception is changing. Yes, they sport attractive price tags on their goods but that, at least in my experience of the spirits department, doesn’t indicate a lowering of standards – just the price. Old Hopking Dark Rum is another Aldi gem….
Here we are again! Visiting the spirits department of Aldi. This store has made a name for itself by offering groceries at a lower price than some of their larger competitors. They are now becoming justifiably celebrated for their beverages, and they are not putting a foot wrong – at least from the review samples…
Soy Roast Chicken by Gizzi Erskine Gizzi Erskine presented several cooking programmes and cookery features for ITV1’s This Morning, contributed to Healthy Food Guide magazine and appeared on Sky1’s Taste. She has published Kitchen Magic and her latest book, Skinny Weeks and Weekend Feasts, is a best-seller. Here Gizzi turns her attention to Lee Kum…
I first met Nordés Atlantic Galician Gin a few years ago. I was dashing through an airport returning from a stay in this unique region of Spain. No, it wasn’t a purchase made after lingering research, but it turned out to be a wonderful choice. It was several weeks before I even opened the bottle,…
The Black Pig is a cocktail for lovers of those drinks that shout aniseed. The Vodka tastes of berries but both Sambuca and Pernot offer distinct non-fruit flavours of fennel-like herbs. Ingredients Black Liquorice Sambuca 25ml Pernod 25ml Eristoff Black Vodka 25ml Method Put all the ingredients into an ice-filled shaker and…
Aldi have done it again! Topaz Blue Premium Gin is perhaps one of the best Premium gins around considering its very attractive price point. Its blue-backed bottle has shelf appeal and is rather reminiscent of another gin with a similar azure hue. Aldi say, ‘Topaz small-batch, hand-crafted superior gin is a testament to the passion…
Ion8 Leak-Proof Travel Mug/Flask, Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel, 360ml / 12oz, Red Drink bottles are trending. We all want to enjoy the well-known health benefits of hydration at any time of year. A flask or mug needs to be durable, portable, attractive and practical. Ion8 stainless steel Leak-Proof Travel Mug is one of the better…