LAWNFEST, a boutique, family-friendly festival will be held on beautiful grounds in Sevenoaks, Kent on the 30th June 2012.

Prepare to have your taste buds indulged this year, with chef Nicole Walshaw heading up the Lawnfest Food Shed.

Reflecting her core values, Nicole has identified local Kent based produce, which has been responsibly farmed.

“All the food I have located for the event is in season and grown with care so it will not need much tampering with. I’m really there just to enhance the natural flavours – this is what the love of food is all about”.

Guests will enter the Lawnfest Food Shed enclosed in a fully covered vintage style Marquee with tables lovingly dressed with flowers and potted herbs. As the sun goes down, over the grounds, the festival will transform into a warm, lantern lit atmosphere, where delicious food, cold drinks, music and art will enchant and captivate the audience.

Fitting in with the ethos, very special guests, Street Kitchen, will be cooking up hand-made gourmet burgers with their famous sweet potato fries.

These comforting delights will be accompanied by organic iced “freshies” made with fruit tea kindly provided by Clipper Teas. The London Distillery Company will donate premium organic, London Dry Gin to The Lawnfest Food Shed, made with Kent’s finest botanicals.

After being inspired by the local culinary dishes, guests can then visit the Lawnfest farmers market to pick up the ingredients – before refreshing themselves with offerings of Chapel Down wines and Shepherd Neame real ales and lager.

The Food Shed will serve chilli con carne and veggie chilli, made in a traditional style with real ale and cocoa, served with corn chips, crème fresh and coriander, or tempt with a summer squash, spinach and sesame tart beside a wild rocket salad or step-up to a grilled apricot, watercress and cured gammon ciabatta. That’s just a taster.

Finally, for those that fancy a sit down traditional English tea, Violet’s Vintage Teas will be serving freshly made cakes, finger sandwiches and scones with a huge dollop of real clotted cream.

“Lawnfest is all about the feel-good,” says Camilla Al Fayed. “It brings together the ingredients in life that make us feel great. Music and art play a big part of this, and are particularly important in helping the pupils of West Heath start moving forward with their lives. But food enjoyment is equally fundamental. Nicole is brilliant at creating food experiences, and together with her farmers’ market, Lawnfest is going to be an interactive celebration of food.

BOOK YOUR EXTENDED EARLYBIRD TICKETS NOW! www.lawnfest.co.uk
£20 Adults
Free Children aged 8 and younger
£10 Children 9 years and above
£40 Family (two adults, two children)

Please note, Lawnfest Food Shed uses 100% recyclable or biodegradable packaging across the festival.

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Exquisite handmade chocolate maker Holdsworth Chocolates has launched a Union Jack chocolate box to mark the summer of celebrations in the UK.

The 240g box features delicious quintessentially British-themed chocolates, such as clotted cream truffle, praline cup, and apple and geranium cream. Designed to be re-used as a keepsake gift box, the Union Jack selection box has been created to celebrate both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.

Holdsworth Chocolates, which is based in the heart of the Peak District at Bakewell in Derbyshire, has a team of skilled chocolatiers led by creative director Genevieve Holdsworth. Each chocolate is handmade – not just hand-finished – and a number have been awarded gold star rating in the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Awards…the Oscars of the speciality food industry.

“Holdsworth Chocolates’ Union Jack Box is a traditional British product, filled with chocolates that have been made in the heart of the UK using the finest ingredients,” said Genevieve Holdsworth.

“It makes a wonderful gift or an indulgent treat, and of course the box can be re-used as a gift box as a reminder of the historic events of the summer of 2012.”

Available nationally in selected stores and directly from Holdsworth Chocolates via www.holdsworthchocolates.co.uk, the recommended retail price for the Union Jack Box is £14.95.

The company was created by Barbara Holdsworth in 1988. Spurred on by a passionate belief in making chocolates by hand, she developed her own recipes. Barbara handed over to daughter Genevieve in 2002.

Stockists of Holdsworth Chocolates include Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose, Chatsworth House shop and Chatsworth Farm Shop and Ibbotsons of Ashford.

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The nation’s favourite spread, Marmite, has been given a makeover to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The new look Marmite makes it the most appropriate kitchen table condiment for people wanting to toast the Queen’s 60th year on Tuesday 5th June.

“We wanted to pay a fitting tribute to the Queen – from one British institution to another. We just hope Ma’am loves it!” comments Nicola Waymark, marketing manager at Unilever.

Ma’amite, Marmite Jubilee Limited Edition, is available at all good high street retailers, nationwide – including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons and Co-op – as well as online at http://www.marmiteshop.co.uk from Monday 30th April. Ma’amite has an RRP of £2.72 – so grab it while stocks last!

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Michel Roux Snr, forever immortalised as the Godfather of the UK’s culinary revolution and founder of the Waterside Inn, the only restaurant outside of France to be honoured with three Michelin Stars consecutively for 25 years, has created an innovative range of fresh, delicious, wholesome and affordable meal-kits ready to be cooked from scratch in under ten minutes.

Designed for people who value the virtues of good cooking but are squeezed on time and refuse to succumb to the ‘ping’ of a microwave, the genius of Scratch lies in its simplicity. One box, containing premium pre chopped, washed and weighed fresh ingredients, no additives or preservatives and a simple set of instructions requiring nothing more than a wooden spoon and no more than two pots or pans.

Created to readdress the balance between our growing desire to cook and our ever-increasingly hectic and time-strapped lives, Scratch serves up healthy, hearty and balanced meals in minutes, the kind that makes your soul and your tastebuds sing, with zero stress, fuss or preparation combined with a sprinkle of Michelin Stardust, for that extra dash of je ne sais quoi.

From April 25th the range, comprising of Chicken Thai Green Curry with Bamboo Shoots (£3.95), King Prawn and Chorizo Paella (£3.95), Makhani Chicken Tikka Masala (£3.95) and Tagliatelle Pistachio Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes (£3.95) will be stocked in 60 Sainsbury’s Local stores across London, with a view to rolling out nationally across the UK later in the year.

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Sainsbury’s new frozen ‘ingredients for cooks’ is a convenient range of chopped herbs and spices, bags of chopped vegetables and ready to bake pastry dishes, available now priced from £1. Great for having in the freezer for quick and cost effective ways of adding a little something to a simple meal, rustling up a freshly baked breakfast or creating a tasty side dish.

Available in frozen cubes of chopped herbs and spices, including chilli, garlic, ginger, coriander and pesto – they are perfect for storing away for those impressive recipes or simply for sprucing up a everyday meals. Without the need to measure and chop, add chilli, garlic, ginger and coriander to chicken to make a spicy Thai style dish.

For batch cooks or those faced with preparing a large meal for the family, Sainsbury’s frozen prepped vegetables, such as chopped onions, chopped plum tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and mixed sliced peppers are a great base to ratatouille or chilli con carne.

For unexpected guests or an impromptu treat, keep the freezer stocked with Sainsbury’s new range of frozen pastries. Top Sainsbury’s Ready to Roll Shortcrust Pastry with ricotta and Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Mediterranean Vegetables for a delicious veggie dish. Wake to the smell of freshly-baked pastries with Sainsbury’s Frozen ready to bake Croissants and Pain au chocolate, both ready in 20 minutes.

Sainsbury’s Ingredients for Cooks range is available in store and online now, priced from £1.

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Rod and Ben’s Soup Club has voted two delicious NEW soup flavours on to the line-up of summer soups, which will be available from May 1st. A dozen members of its “Brotherhood of Broth” spent hours putting soups through their paces on Rod and Ben’s organic Devon farm near Exeter – and were ultimately bowled over by two exciting new Thai soups: Thai Chicken and Thai Vegetable, which will join the ranks of seasonal summer favourites such as Gazpacho, Tomato and Basil, Pea and Mint and Courgette and Tomato.

Rod Hall, Rod and Ben’s owner, whose 100% natural organic soups have won a host of Great Taste Awards, says:

“Thai soups are a new departure for us but as soon as the Soup Club tasted the two new contenders everyone was adamant that they had to be part of the Rod and Ben’s Summer Soup range. Thai flavours are light and delicious and lend themselves perfectly to a light summer soup – and who can argue with the decision of the Brotherhood of Broth?!”

Wheat and gluten-free, and sometimes dairy-free, the summer soup range is made using simple recipes so that the ingredient’s integrity – colour, flavour and texture – is preserved. The summer full line-up includes:

• NEW Thai Vegetable – wheat and gluten-free
• NEW Thai Chicken – wheat and gluten-free
• Carrot and Coriander – wheat and gluten-free
• NEW Gazpacho – dairy-free
• Tomato and Basil – wheat, gluten and dairy-free
• Pea and Mint – wheat and gluten-free
• Haddock Chowder – wheat and gluten-free
• Chicken and Vegetable – wheat and gluten-free
• Each month there is a soup of the month – a great way to taste the seasons!

Rod and Ben’s Summer Soup 2012 range is available from May 1st – October 1st from independent retailers (including Abel and Cole, Riverford, Planet Organic stores, Union Market, Selfridges and As Nature Intended), delicatessens and farm shops all around the country, South West Morrison’s stores and by mail order via www.rodandbens.com. Pots are 600g and have a RRP of £3.49 – £3.99.

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In celebration of National Pie Week a recipe from Food Network Chef Andy Bates – a Black Pudding Pear Pie.

Black Pudding & Pear Pies
Ingredients
• 400g pork mince
• 200g black pudding, chopped
• 1 large diced pear
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
• 1 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
For the pastry:
• 450g plain flour
• 200ml water
• 170g lard
• 1 free-range egg yolk, beaten
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
How to make Black Pudding and Pear Pies
1) Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2) For the filling, mix all ingredients together and season well. Then divide into four 150g portions.
3) For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl and set aside.
4) In a pan, heat the water and lard together and gradually bring to a simmer, or until all the lard has melted. Bring the mixture up the boil and then pour this onto the flour mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon to create a firm dough.
5) Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead the dough quickly for a few minutes. Roll the dough out flat, take one of the pie portions and place on the pastry. Cut around the portion leaving enough room for you to fold the pastry around the mix creating a parcel. Repeat this with the remaining portions.
6) Roll out the remaining pastry then stamp out with pastry cutters 4 mini circles for the lids. Brush the lids with beaten egg yolk, then place the pastry on top of the pies and press down to seal. Cut a small hole in the top of each pastry lid and transfer into the oven for 35 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and the meat is completely cooked through.
7) Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

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It’s a family business; taking the daughter-in-laws business degree thesis on a healthy eating food to a fully formed idea. Beyond Dark chocolate was born.

“What I found so fascinating was that scientific research studies had shown that cocoa and dark chocolate had some amazing potential health benefits. They both contain flavanols which are anti-oxidants. These flavanols have numerous health benefits associated with their antioxidant properties – most notably they have been observed to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, promote a healthy heart and lower the risk of some cancers and diabetes. All of a sudden I had a healthy reason to eat dark chocolate.”

“although a standard dark chocolate does have higher levels of antioxidants compared to some other foods the high fat to antioxidants ratio of the chocolate means that there are no real health positive benefits to the consumer. This started a four year voyage to create a healthy antioxidant-rich chocolate. Thanks to our cocoa bean selection and production process Beyond Dark contains up to three times more antioxidants than a standard dark chocolate, that’s the antioxidants equivalent to 25 oranges, 8 bananas or 5 apples in every 35g pack, making our chocolate a health positive indulgence.”

Beyond Dark was launched in November 2010 and is now available in Sainsburys in the premium chocolate section as well as over 200 independent retailers across the UK. Holland and Barret have also just started selling Beyond Dark. It is also available online via the Beyond Dark website.

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Introducing the new assorted Lindor Collection gift box, a lovingly created chocolate collection from the Lindt Master Chocolatiers for you to give to that special someone this Valentine’s day.

Taking the gift of Lindor in a new direction, the Lindt Master Chocolatiers have brought together the finest selection of Lindor truffle flavours in one beautiful gift box, set to make mouths water and pulses race.

This special Valentine’s gift is packed full of delicious Lindor truffles with melting centres and mouth watering flavours including: Lindor milk, white, extra dark, hazelnut, Stracciatella and Irish cream. Each exquisite 285g box provides 19 delicious Lindor truffles and 3 Lindor milk chocolate truffle hearts to enjoy with your Valentine.

The Lindt Master Chocolatiers have unmatched expertise when it comes to the art of chocolate making, and are driven by their passion for skilfully creating delicate masterpieces such as the unique Lindor truffle, with its luscious melted chocolate centre, and ideal for tempting the one you love.

The Lindor Valentines Collection Gift Box is available online for £7.99.

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Coldpress fruit juice is a new drink from Closed Loop Foods made from 100% fruit juice with four times the shelf life of conventional chilled fruit juices.

Having launched successfully and being stocked immediately by in excess of 200 Waitrose outlets and being positioned competitively as a credible alternative to the ordinary range of juices Coldpress is fast expanding across the United Kingdom.

Coldpress provides a more thirst quenching, better tasting juice that is much high nutrition value than it’s competitors. By using a cold pressure as opposed to boiling the juices the brand retains a lot of its existing aromas and textures that the heated juices do not hold. Its unique bottle design sees it being an exciting and breath of fresh air in what is a fairly crowded market in the UK.

Coldpress is available in 250ml and 750ml bottles designed for the consumer market and retail routes as well as the new ‘Bag in a Box’ product that is far more cost effective to the restaurant, bars, clubs and other outlets.

Coldpress Fruit Juice is available in seven flavours that include – Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Valencia Orange, Apple & Lemon, Apple & Passionfruit, Apple & Raspberry, Apple & Strawberry.

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