Archive For October 2021
Brockmans Gin embraces the season with scents of Autumn Brockmans, ‘The Properly Improper Gin’ has released a new cocktail recipe, with a theme of orange to complement the bitter-sweet orange notes which are naturally present in this distinctively different gin. In this drink, rosemary syrup and smoked bitters combine Cointreau and smooth Brockmans Gin with…
Meat-free with imagination We have been passing through many strange, worrying and often frightening months. We have experienced loss in many forms but there have been gains which will be long-lasting and profound. Wagamama has voiced its support for the vegan movement in delicious fashion. The pandemic has raised awareness of the need for our…
Marrying food and wine This is a delicious concept for wine lovers and for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Ramekins & Wine have constructed the simplest way to appreciate great English wines at home, these being paired with the ideal small bites. Ramekins & Wine would be an outstanding gift for folks…
If you are gathering around the bonfire for 5th November, make it an evening to remember with these two martinis from Holy Grass Vodka. The Toffee Appletini and the Pumpkin Spiced Espresso Martini both benefit from this award-winning vodka, made by Dunnet Bay Distillers in the UK mainland’s most northerly distillery. This eco-friendly company forages for…
Your favourite chocolate but deliciously festive Wait! What’s that noise? It’s the sound of sleigh bells …or is it the contented munching of some lucky person enjoying a bite of Montezuma’s Christmas goodies? Montezuma’s have plenty of holiday items from which to choose. There is something to suit every taste and one could always consider…
Don’t allow the children to have all the fun. For Halloween this year, Rock Rose Gin is recommending a spooky version of the classic cocktail, the Corpse Reviver. The original recipe from the 1870s was surpassed in the 1930s by the famous Harry Craddock of the American Bar at London’s Savoy Hotel whose Corpse Reviver…
Blue Aurora was born at Lutton Farm. It’s family-run on the border between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. A lovely part of the country, and the land is evidently perfect for the production of soft fruits. Lutton Farm was originally a livestock and arable farm with a small pick-your-own fruit patch. In 1981, brothers Stephen and James…
The case for reading Many of us have rediscovered the joy of reading over these past strange months. We leaf through paperbacks but we also appreciate the convenience of a Kindle. The major complaint has always been ‘but it doesn’t feel or look like a real book’. The Twelve South BookBook has the solution to…
Cosy fine dining on Lower Sloane Street My dear reader would have doubtless noticed my previous article on Sloane Place a couple of weeks ago. But this one concentrates on food at this classy yet accessible hotel. Sloane Place is described as a Boutique Hotel and Restaurant. For me at least, its charm is its…
Step forward, tequila lovers. An innovative variant has just landed in the UK: Rooster Rojo® Smoked Pineapple Tequila. This pineapple infused Anejo tequila is a new addition to the Rooster Rojo range and is really something to crow about. It’s an entirely new way of enjoying tequila as this pioneering variant is the first Smoked Pineapple infused tequila in…
Liberate yourself this Christmas with Liberation Cocktails It’s here again! The Season of Goodwill – but I don’t think word had got around yet! It will soon be Christmas with the threat of all that entertaining. And Liberation Cocktails are here to lighten at least the beverage burden in delicious fashion. Liberation Cocktails’ smart and…
Simple, Heartwarming Food to Enjoy Together Family Comforts reflects how lots of us want to eat today. Those sought-after dishes need to be simple to prepare and they would be, for the most part, quick and practical. No chef skills required nor investment in costly equipment nor, most importantly, expensive ingredients. The dishes here are…
100 Authentic Indian Vegetarian Recipes Author Vina Patel now lives in the US although she was born and grew up in Gujarat in India. She therefore has a perspective on which authentic Gujarati recipes will work for an international audience as well as natives of the subcontinent. The foods of this west-coast region are traditionally…
British Museum and Sketchfab collaborate for the first time on a touring exhibition A British Museum Spotlight Loan Troy: beauty and heroism § Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, Reading (till 12 December 2021) § Haslemere Educational Museum, Surrey (10 February – 8 May 2022) § The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum (19 May –…
A Food Adventurer’s Guide This truly is a real food-lover’s treasury. By ‘food lover’ I mean those who sincerely love food rather than just the latest restaurant, and are excited by the prospect of new flavours. Gastro Obscura will be bedtime reading for so many of us, although it’s such a culinary page turner it’s…
A Food Encyclopedia of More Than 1,000 Delicious Things to Eat This large-format book is fully illustrated with delightful watercolours of, as it says in the subtitle, more than 1000 food items. It’s not a recipe book but rather a sumptuous compendium of ingredients and dishes. Feast Your Eyes on Food would be a welcome…
Beer for Wine Lovers binary botanical beers are somewhat unique. Truth to tell, I was not expecting to enjoy a beer which was designed to appeal to wine-lovers. Manipulations of a successful format often don’t work. But I was surprised… pleasantly surprised! With just half the calories and alcohol of wine, sugar-free and vegan, binary…
Byron Burger – New Chicken options Byron was founded in 2007 by Tom Byng and Head Chef Fred Smith. They have created a signature range of satisfying and rather impressive burgers. They have remained solid in these rather troubled times and still offer those quality beefy temptations to loyal followers. But the company moves with…
Boutique and Beautiful on Lower Sloane Street What a gem! I would say ‘hidden gem’ but it is a surprisingly popular corner of one of the smartest areas in London. Sloane Place is a hotel which deserves many happy returns. Situated just off Sloane Square, Sloane Place is a boutique hotel and café bar offering…