Archive for November, 2006

South African Food Specialities in the UK

by Andrew on November 30, 2006 in Online Retailers with No comments

Biltong Hamper from Susmans South African specialists
I guess you must really, really, really love Biltong for someone to send you a basket full of the stuff! But here you go, specialist South African deli Susmans is offering just that. The Susmans Lekker Biltong Hamper has 10 different packs of Biltong at £30; just for Christmas.

There might be more interest in the Relief (£35) or Survival (£80) hampers both packed full of choice South African specialities. Biltong is included, of course, but down in the cervices are South African jams and seasonings, sauces and biscuits, relishes and herbs plus bubble-gum and fruit-gum.

All these products are available separately so I guess you could make your own gift pack full of bubble gum if that is your want. Susmans has a great range of products including a small range of wines (some available ready made into gift packs – 2 wines from Jordan at £20 – for example. They accept orders for delivery for Christmas only until the 5th December.

Just what every South African ex-pat desires.

The English Cheesecake Company

by Andrew on November 30, 2006 in Online Retailers with 2 Comments

White Cheesecake from the English Cheesecake CompanyWhat a great name – Cheesecake Charlie! A name Philip Weldon’s grandfather gave him after launching The English Cheesecake Company back in 1992. He began using a family cheesecake recipe that dates back several generations but now offers a full and ever changing range from Puddings and pies though to tarts, brownies and cakes.

And they sell to the general public (they use to be trade only) over the internet.

Never fussy, never stuffy, nothing preserved, nothing reserved. Impulsive, compulsive. Shake your bon bon,
fizzle the drizzle…

…eat a lot more dessert!

New listings include a SkyHigh Pumpkin Cranberry Cheesecake Pie (£16) “Delicious pumpkin puree with a hint of cinnamon topped with classic vanilla cheesecake and whole cranberries all sitting in a crunchy cookie shell” , SkyHigh Toffee Walnut Pecan Cheesecake Pie (£16) “The combination of chewy nutty pecan pie topped with classic creamy vanilla cheesecake is heaven. All sitting in a crunchy digestive biscuit shell” and, with a particularly winter feel, the White Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake (£16) “A complete white out! Creamy white chocolate cheesecake on a classic digestive biscuit base and topped with white chocolate curls”.

Simply gorgeous for the festive season.

Foodie Gift: Cake Tin and Cutters

by Andrew on November 28, 2006 in In Search Of..., Online Retailers with No comments

Cake Tin and Cake Cutters Kitchen equipment seems to fall into two categories – the ultra modern with cool, clean lines and metal or black finishes or the ‘retro’ with connotations of ‘your mothers kitchen’ harking to an earlier golden age of home baking and home-making, all pastel shades and hard-worn durability.

Firmly in the latter camp is this cake tin and cake cutter set available from Garden Trading. Currently it is on offer down to £25 a saving of £9. The trick with this retro styling is to mix and match products; they should invoke a life time of hand-me-downs and well used utensils.

If you are fortunate to have a surfeit of shelving in your kitchen, utility room or walk in pantry this tin would make a delightful focal point and unlike many such items actually having a use.

Antony Worrall Thompson’s Weekend Cookbook

by Andrew on November 27, 2006 in Books For Cooks with 1 Comment

Worrall Thompson\'s Weekend Cookbook
Antony Worrall Thompson was in the centre of Henley the other week – he lives nearby – signing his latest book.

His move from Saturday morning BBC TV over to ITV forced a rename of the book. Originally it was going to be a Saturday Kitchen recipe book but is now under a cover proclaiming it as Antony’s Weekend Cookbook. In a local foodie pamphlet Thompson describes the book as

food that you like to eat at the weekends, like brunch type dishes and roasts – those sort of easy-going days when the family has got a bit of time and like to get in the kitchen at weekends, creating something a bit special but uncomplicated.

The book covers ‘wandering through the Saturday market looking for interesting ingredients’ through to table laying for a dinner party. It is all about the ‘pleasures of cooking and eating at the weekend’. The book is organized by occasion and works chronologically from Saturday morning through to Sunday evening.

AWT’s book, Antony’s Weekend Cookbook is listed at Amazon.co.uk for £9.74.

Christmas Puddings

by Andrew on November 27, 2006 in In Search Of..., Online Retailers with 3 Comments

Why is that many profess a dislike of Christmas Pudding? I put most of the refusal to countenance a spoonful or three down to over indulging in the courses prior; after which the thought of a heavy pile of fruity stodge makes it hard, even for a guts like myself, to enjoy fully.

So what is required is a light pudding but many shop brought puds are anything but. It is why I have been pressuring my fellow UK food bloggers to have a tasting session for next year. It will be similar to those taste tests compiled by the weekend nationals; only using independent producers, artisanal products and the like.

The Times this week has put four Christmas puddings to the test. The Duchy Originals Organic (£5.99 for 454g) received top marks “Smells delicious, fruity, with just enough booze. Light and moist, you could easily find room for this” they record. The Carved Angle pud (£14.99 Waitrose 680g, £16 direct) is “(pull)Nicely spiced with a touch of ginger(/pull), this isn’t too sweet or sticky. A little different, but decent nonetheless”

The Tesco Finest Ultimate Christmas Pudding is one to avoid – “They’re overdoing the whole thing. It’s so sugary, you dread having to swallow any of it”

Light, boozy, not overly sweet – what a Christmas Pudding should be, to make the perfect end to the Christmas meal.

(Because of the time and equipment necessary to stream half a dozen Christmas puddings we plan to do taste tests on those other Christmas stalwarts – mince pies and panettone. )

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