Archive For April 2019

The Farm Brewery – Goossens

The Farm Brewery – Goossens

Goossens Farm with Malting Brewery Lambic Brewery Heritage Lambic beer is a typical wild yeast beer, brewed in the southwest region of Brussels (Pajottenland).  It forms the basis for geuze (a blend of lambic of 3 different ages) and for kriek lambic, a cherry beer. This farm with malting brewery was one of the many…

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Idols: The Power of Images

Idols: The Power of Images

Idols: The Power of Images is yet another sumptuous volume from Skira Editore. They are a paramount publisher of quality books on art and design, and these books are highly collectable. This tome takes the reader on a journey back through the centuries to a time when we find the first sculptural representation of the…

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British Museum – largest exhibition of manga outside Japan

British Museum – largest exhibition of manga outside Japan

Mangaマンガ – till 26 August 2019 Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery The British Museum presents the largest exhibition of manga ever held outside of Japan. Manga are Japanese comic books or graphic novels with a twist, serialised in magazines and read by a global audience. A multi-billion-pound business that embraces anime and gaming, manga are a global…

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Bayou Bar Hurricane Cocktail

Bayou Bar Hurricane Cocktail

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…

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Old Hopking Dark Rum

Old Hopking Dark Rum

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….

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Madeira’s Still-living History

Madeira’s Still-living History

The 15th century saw the dawn of the Age of Discovery, a time when European powers began exploring the world to find new lands and new opportunities. Portugal was in the vanguard of this drive, sailing southwards in their case down the west coast of Africa. So it wasn’t long (1419 to be precise) before…

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Bellucci Amaretto from ALDI

Bellucci Amaretto from ALDI

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…

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Lee Kum Kee and Gizzi Erskine’s Chicken

Lee Kum Kee and Gizzi Erskine’s Chicken

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…

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Outrigger Phuket Executive Chef Roberto Conrad

Outrigger Phuket Executive Chef Roberto Conrad

Outrigger Phuket is perhaps one of the friendliest luxury resorts one would hope to find. It combines both Thai hospitality and style. But food is often the cornerstone of any good vacation, and Outrigger Phuket Executive Chef Roberto Conrad ensures guests don’t go home disappointed. Tastes are diverse yet Chef Roberto has skilfully presented an…

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Nordés is the first Atlantic Galician Gin

Nordés is the first Atlantic Galician Gin

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,…

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Black Pig Cocktail

Black Pig Cocktail

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…

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Topaz Blue Premium Gin by Aldi

Topaz Blue Premium Gin by Aldi

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…

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Ion8 Leak-Proof Travel Mug/Flask

Ion8 Leak-Proof Travel Mug/Flask

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…

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Madeira wine – a sweet tour

Madeira wine – a sweet tour

For a small island in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira has a big reputation for the sweeter things in life: its history includes sugar, wine, and ‘honey’ – well, a Madeiran interpretation thereof. We’ll discuss the first and the last of these elsewhere, but it’s the story of wine on the island that…

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