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Tabasco Gallon Jug

by Andrew on May 26, 2011 in In Search Of..., In The Basket, Specialist Shops with No comments

You can’t have too much of a good thing. That’s why every self respecting food lover carries a miniature bottle of Tabasco in their handbag or pocket, to cheer up dull meals or bland sandwiches; that’s why that iconic 57ml size bottle sits boldly on many a dining table; that’s why professional cooks choose the chunky (350ml) chef sized bottle. Now there’s the ultimate kitchen aid – a gallon sized jug of Tabasco Pepper Sauce.

Destined to create almost as much impact on kitchen shelves as on the plate, the Tabasco Gallon Jug will be a perfect choice for hot pepper sauce fanatics, real chilli heads and true Tabasco fans. When a normal size bottle is not quite big enough and when breakfast lunch and dinner just aren’t the same without it, here’s a sensible sized supply of Tabasco® Pepper Sauce!

Whether it’s the three year ageing in oak barrels, the unique recipe or its flavour enhancing properties the army of Tabasco fans is growing and demanding more of their favourite condiment. They’ll be delighted with the news that the gallon jug can now be found in Fortnum and Mason, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges (RRP from £75).

New from British Cassis Steeped Blackcurrants in Cassis

by Andrew on March 22, 2011 in In Search Of..., Specialist Shops with No comments

Riding high on the success of her award winning British Cassis, Jo Hilditch has set about adding to her product range with the launch of her blackcurrants steeped in Cassis – a perfect flavour addition to both sweet and savoury dishes as well as summer cocktails.

Bursting with Vitamin C and antioxidants it’s a very versatile store cupboard staple; perfect on ice-cream, with granola and Greek yoghurt or to add flavour to sauces. Jo has been devising some fantastic summer recipes including; a delicious blue cheese and blackcurrant salad and a new take on the traditional Eton mess. All recipes are available on the website www.britishcassis.co.uk.

Jo has now been producing her Cassis on her farm for 5 years. Although not as alcoholically strong as the French version it is infinitely fruitier in flavour. Jo won Herefordshire drinks producer of the Year at the Flavours of Herefordshire Festival in 2009 for her Cassis and Framboise. This followed her equally exciting accolade of being voted a Local Food Hero by the Hairy Bikers for Countryfile in 2009, and adds to other awards including two gold stars in the Great Taste Awards 08 for her Cassis and being a finalist in the Waitrose/Made in Britain awards.

Jo said, “I am thrilled that our cassis has achieved so much in only the fifth year of production. It is important to us that our Cassis gains the recognition it so richly deserves and with these awards being judged by industry experts it is gratifying to know that our product is deemed to be among the best in the UK. We look forward to our jars of British Blackcurrants with Cassis developing in the same way.”

Price: £8.95 available online at www.britishcassis.co.uk, also available in selected fine food establishments across the country (full list on the website).

Firefly Tonics Valentines Love Potion

by Andrew on February 7, 2011 in In Search Of..., Specialist Shops with No comments

Firefly Tonics, the 100% natural energy drinks producers, are bringing back the Love Potion for Valentines Day. This special edition love tonic is just the thing to get hearts racing on Valentines Day for guilt free passion. This tasty little aphrodisiac is back by popular demand after being in hiding for the last five years. Founder of Firefly Tonics Marcus Waley-Cohen admits “Love Potion is the single thing we are asked for more than any other edition”.

Love Potion is a saucy blend of Passionfruit, Blueberry and Jasmine with sensory botanicals Angelica, Chocolate and Damiana, all known for their aphrodisiac qualities.

The limited edition range will be available from Harvey Nichols, Whole Foods, online at Holland&Barratt and other independent retailers nationwide while stocks last.

Nakd Bars!

by Andrew on February 2, 2011 in food, Specialist Shops with 1 Comment

Brace yourself! I’ve just discovered three of the greatest new healthy snack bars of all time: Nākd Cocoa Delight, Nākd Cocoa Mint and Nākd Berry Delight. (Although I didn’t really like the mint version, having an aversion to the combination of mint and chocolate, but others loved them). The manufactueres believe they are going to take the healthy snacking market by storm.

So what’s the big difference from other bars? Nearly all so-called ‘healthy’ snack bars on the market rely on intense heat-processing, refined sugary syrups and mysterious additives. Take a look for yourself; your typical cereal bar, for example, has between 15 to 30 ingredients, many of which are completely unrecognisable and several of which are often just various types of sugar. Despite what decades of slick marketing and packaging seeks to imply, heavily processed, syrup-laden and additive filled is not a credible recipe for ‘healthy’.

These new Nākd bars, on the other hand, are made with a wholefood approach. Instead of heavy processing, sugary syrups and mysterious additives, Nākd bars rely on raw fruit, nuts and natural flavours rolled together. That’s it. Simply wholefoods rolled together and nothing else. Literally, any more natural and you’d have to peel them. Consequently, they are genuine nutritional powerhouses bursting with natural raw nutrients, are wheat, dairy and gluten free, vegan and count towards one of your five a day. They are as different health-wise from most snack bars as freshly squeezed orange juice is from fizzy orange.

And they actually taste fantastic! Flavourful and satisfying – almost too good to be true; you have to taste them to believe it!

Nākd bars are widely available in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Boots, Holland & Barrett and independent health food shops.

Nākd Cocoa Mint Ingredients: Raw dates, raw cashews, raw raisins, cocoa, natural flavour
Nākd Cocoa Delight Ingredients: Raw dates, raw cashews, raw raisins, cocoa, natural flavour
Nākd Berry Delight Ingredients: Raw dates, raw cashews, raw raisins, raw raspberries, natural flavour

Patisserie Valerie Opens In Salisbury

by Andrew on January 4, 2011 in food, Specialist Shops with 1 Comment

Salisbury got a taste of OO La La when the renowned Patisserie Valerie opened its doors – complete with the now familiar can can girls and balloons!

This marked the end of a year when the London based chain, established in 1926, had new and old customers in market towns and Cities across the UK drooling with its continental style patisserie offering – with more openings planned early in the New Year.The opening was part of a rapid expansion for the Company which has already seen thousands of new customers and businesses try its clever combination of early morning breakfasts, delivered catering, wedding cakes and a dazzling array of indulgent offerings.

Patisserie Valerie until recently, was a familiar site in London but relatively unknown outside the Capital.

Patisserie Valerie’s Chief Executive Officer Paul May said,
“This year the plan has been to open in quality shopping areas outside London – and Salisbury fitted the bill perfectly. Despite opening on the worst day so far this winter, we were full to capacity for many parts of the day. We had a similar experience in Twickenham only a couple of weeks ago.

We provide a dazzling array of pure indulgence in the form of our delicious cake range, but we do not neglect the basics of breakfasts, lunches etc matched with quick and excellent service. Many business breakfast clubs use our facilities early in the mornings for example. We provide businesses with a delivered catering service and at the other extreme, decorated wedding cakes.

All of this puts us in a different market place from any other operator. This is why we have been able to add so many new customers this year alone.

We really believe that we are helping to add to the shopping experience and entice shoppers.”

Founded in 1926 by a Belgian – Madame Valerie, Patisserie Valerie has had new openings this year in Bath, Cambridge, Canterbury, Twickenham Wolverhampton two outlets in Leeds together with further openings in its London base. Openings planned early in the New Year include York, Manchester Arndale, Liverpool and Chester.

For more details of why Patisserie Valerie is so popular, go to www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk.

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