Archive for November, 2006

Chocolate In The UK

by Andrew on November 23, 2006 in In the Press, Online Retailers, Specialist Shops with 1 Comment

It is chocolate all the way across the foodie blogosphere this week as Sugar High Friday hits us with truffles. Mighty fortuitous then, that The Independent reports on the vibrant world of the chocolatier.

Our chocolate-makers are challenging our perceptions. Forget violet and rose creams, bring on the Szechuan pepper, Stilton and port, basil and strawberry with balsamic vinegar. These are delicacies devised by chefs who’ve researched the cocoa credentials and understand how unlikely sounding flavours enhance each other.

The article interviews and lists aeveral Chocolatiers from across the UK. Two have websites:
William Curley Pâtissier Chocolatier, 10 Paved Court, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey
Paul A Young Fine Chocolates, 33 Camden Passage, London

Also recommended as stockists are
The Chocolate Empire
Infinity Foods, Brighton
Middle Farm shop, Firle, East Sussex
The Chocolate Gourmet, Ludlow
The Store, 13 Comley Bank Road, Edinburgh


Lina Store, Brewer Street, London

by Andrew on November 22, 2006 in Specialist Shops with No comments

Lina Store, 18 Brewer Street, London Like all the other delicatessens I visted in London town yesterday, the Lina Store is stocked full of Pannetonne. I know they are Italian an’ all but just how many Pannettone do us Brits actually buy for Christmas?

It’s a funny little shop, the 1950′s tiled exterior gives a unique impression and adds much to the unique feel on Brewer Street, but inside the two large counters take up more space than is available for customers. It was busy when I popped in – packed with four people, not helped with my large bags of shopping. One lady scopped up the last of the days fresh pasta, a gent brought a big slab of Parmesan. I didn’t see much of pasta in big bins which was what I was expecting but plenty of high quality boxed brands. Apparently Jane Grigson use to purchase spaghetti from here.

Bread, cured meats, olives, grow your own Italian seed collections (tomato, herbs), big bags of herbs at prices cheaper than the supermarkets… what more do you expect from an Italian corner deli?

(pull)Lina Store 18 Brewer Street London(/pull) W1R 3FS

Dragon Sausages

by Andrew on November 18, 2006 in In the Press, Online Retailers, Specialist Shops with No comments

The Welsh Dragon sausage is no more. You could put it down to the addition of the species to the endangered list but it is actually unbending trading standards officers who are to blame. They ruled that because the sausage doesn’t actually contain dragon meat it could confuse customers.

Now’s the time to do one of those exaggerated ‘Oh, pleeazze’ type sighs.

The sausages will now have to be labelled Welsh Dragon Pork Sausages to ‘avoid any confusion among customers’ so reports the Times.

Jon Carthew, 45, who makes the sausages, said yesterday that he had not received any complaints about the absence of real dragon meat. He said: “I don’t think any of our customers believe that we use dragon meat in our sausages. We use the word because the dragon is synonymous with Wales.” A Powys County Council spokesman said: “The product was not sufficiently precise to inform a purchaser of the true nature of the food.”

His company, the Black Mountains Smokery in Powys produces 200,000 sausages a year, including the Welsh Dragon, which is made with chili, leak and pork.

The well designed website offers a range of products – whole cooked hams, salmon and kippers, smoked cheese but sadly not a mention of sausages could I find dragon or otherwise.

Alternatives To Olive Oil

by Andrew on November 17, 2006 in In Search Of..., In the Press with No comments

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – its had its day has it not? A bit like chucking out your chinz it is time to make way for alternatives to the ubicutous olive oil. These are recommendations from The London Paper.

Almond Oil from Vom Vass £4 for 100ml
You can put it in your bath but it is delicious in rice pudding or drop a little on frsh fruit.

Pistachio Oil from Vom Vass £6.50 for 100ml
(pull)Pungent, dark green oil adds sophistication to chocolate cakes(/pull). Add a few drops to simple pasta dishes or experiment when cooking game.

Amazon Flame Brazil Nut Oil Goodness Direct £3.89 250ml
From the rainforest, it has a delicious nutty taste. Ideal for salads and dressings.

Pure Sesame Oil widely available £2.60 for 163ml
Deep in colour and rich in taste; this East Asian stable should always be heated with care.

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil £3.29 200g Fresh and Wild
Often used in India, this oil is ideal for cooking. Use it for baking or frying. Try it spread like butter on bread, or with scrambled eggs.

Styrian Toasted Pumpkin Seed Oil £6.99 250ml Fresh and Wild
Do not heat this rich and dark oil, made from dark pumpkin seeds that are grown only in Styria, in the OSuth East of Austria. Best drizzled on salads, cooked vegetables or pasta. Why not try a few drops in soup or with goats’ cheese?

Food fraud in Britain

by Andrew on November 17, 2006 in In the Press with No comments

Just how much poor quality food is labelled as something better? The Food Standards Agency is about to find out as it launches a comprehensive inquiry into food fraud in Britain. From across the country trading standards officers have been reporting irregularities – including fake organic chickens and labels written in felt pen on certified foods. New chemical tests are to be introduced to detect, for example, a chickens diet (corn fed or not?) and the build-up of anti-biotics in meat (organic farms can only administer one shot a year).

Some butchers have also been trying to cash in on the higher value of organic meat, which can sell at prices up to five times those of meat from a conventionally reared animal. A nationwide survey into bogus organic foods by trading standards will not be com- pleted until the new year, but the agency has already been alerted to possible scams.

The Times

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