Archive For August 2022
No-guilt ’Nduja from Belazu. Ve-Du-Ya won’t be a familiar name, but find it on a supermarket shelf and it will likely look like a favourite spicy and meaty paste. It does share many tasty characteristics with traditional ’nduja but this one has no animal products. But to start with – what is ’nduja? It is…
Summer Rosé We have never had such a warm summer. It hasn’t done much good for our gardens but has been perfect for entertaining. Saint-M from Chateau Saint-Maur Cru Classé 2021 is the rosé to partner any smart garden party, lunch party or dinner party, and all al fresco! Chateau Saint-Maur was founded in the…
Skull Motif and Mexican Charm Listen up tequila lovers. Tesco is now stocking KAH Tequila Blanco, its first super-premium tequila, in over five hundred stores across the UK. If you buy a bottle of this superb, super-premium Mexican tequila, you will be one of those in possession of a bottle that is exclusive in the UK as initially only…
Coconut Rum and Fruit Aluna Toasted Coconut Rum was born when three surfing friends discussed their love for great rums and the prospect of making one with fresh, natural ingredients. They wanted to distil something a little different without the over-sweet profile of most traditional rums. Aluna Peach and Pomelo Liqueur is a child of…
For East-West Summer Cocktails. This great-value cava is produced by a winemaking dynasty that dates back to the sixteenth century. An early mention confirms that, in 1551, the family already had equipment to produce wine in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, the town that Codorníu calls home. In 1659 the Codorníu and Raventós families, the main wine…
Spain in Wales. Bar 44 in Cardiff is just around the corner from its siblings, Asador 44 and Parador 44. They are a wonderful Spanish restaurant and a smart hotel above. I have not visited Bar 44, but this sumptuous Spanish cookbook, Bar 44 Tapas y Copas, attests to the high quality achieved by the…
Fuel the Summer. It’s summer and we are all enjoying al fresco get-togethers and lighter meals with friends and family. New Pink Diesel Rosé is the perfect partner. This delicate blush-pink wine comes from the beautiful region of Provence in the south of France. The sloping terraced hillsides are ideal for growing grapes, which they…
Recipe for Kwai Feh’s The Chill Bill High summer needs elegant yet no-fuss recipes. Kwai Feh Lychee Liqueur is the perfect ingredient for warm nights and The Chill Bill cocktail is a recipe to embrace. With just two elements, Kwai Feh and Bitter Lemon, this is as simple to create as a G&T, yet low in alcohol,…
No-guilt breakfasts. Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. It sets us up for a morning of exercise, commute and work. If we are active we need to make positive choices which will sustain us till lunch. Superzeros are somewhat unique among cereals, which are often packed with sugar. Superzeros…
PLUS a summer bundle deal saving you £10 In a nod to exotic travel, Dunnet Bay Distillers has released a new and exotic cocktail recipe: the Thai Gin Fizz. There is also an exciting Summer Bundle offer for Rock Rose Gin Summer Edition. The Thai Gin Fizz Cocktail This is a twist on the traditional gin…
Apple Brandy The Château de Sassy is found in the heart of Normandy. This is a beautiful French region rich in history and famed for its food, cider and remarkable calvados. Sassy Calvados which has Appellation Calvados Controlée is a delicious ambassador for that celebrated apple spirit. Sassy Calvados is based on the family recipe…
Extraordinary Ways to Grill Fruits and Vegetables, from the Master of Live-Fire Cooking. Oh, the big outdoors. We love summer entertaining and that includes cooking al fresco. Green Fire: Extraordinary Ways to Grill Fruits and Vegetables, from the Master of Live-Fire Cooking offers tips and inspirations for creating delicious vegetarian meals. Francis Mallmann is an…
Dunnet Bay Distillers, the Scottish distillery, has just launch an all-British bottled cocktail: Holy Vesper Martini (20% ABV, priced at £27 for 50cl). The vesper martini is a classic. Immortalised as an iconic cocktail by James Bond, the delicious mix of vodka, gin, and vermouth is sophisticated and delectable. Now the award-winning makers of Holy Grass Vodka…
The Tropics in a glass. Aluna Toasted Coconut Rum was born when three surfing friends discussed their love for great rums and the prospect of making one with fresh, natural ingredients. They wanted to distil something a little different without the over-sweet profile of most traditional rums. Their first presentation in their now-established range was…
The Natural Food Protector. We are all thinking more about waste these days. We think we can’t do much alone, but every little bit helps. Every little piece of cling film saved is less in landfill. Kikkerland offers these kits for making one’s own waxed fabric for wrapping all kinds of food. The natural beeswax…
‘Superiore’ Sparkling from Italy via Tesco This delightful and affordable summer sparkle from Tesco is part of their ‘Tesco Finest’ range. We will likely be entertaining friends during the warmer weather and that means fizz. Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore is Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita which is the same as the French DOC designation. It’s…
Tour and Taste. The Dunnet Bay Distillery Tour – a visitor experience at the UK mainland’s most northerly distillery – has been awarded the accolade of a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award making this one of the top activities in the world. These awards are only for attractions or venues that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and…
Deliciously unmissable. A short time ago I wrote about Parador 44. That’s the superlative-inducing hotel found just up the stairs from Asador 44, its stylish sibling restaurant. Asador 44 has a convenient location just around the corner from the Principality Stadium and the castle in Cardiff. Shoppers are well-served by the wide array of independent…