It’s certainly been a ‘flaming’ June and here are some new products that are real scorchers…
An English Sparkler
It’s English Wine Week and I’m very impressed indeed with Asda’s English Sparkling – Asquith Gardens.
This is beautifully dry and comprises the same grapes as champagne: Chardonnay; Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It’s already won quite a few awards and I’m not surprised.
And the price – just £17.97- is amazing value too.
Get Street-wise with Gosh!
Gosh! Street Food has launched Aloo Tikki and Katsu Bites.
Made from 100% natural ingredients, these bites are packed with veggies, and different flavours from around the world. They’re great for upgrading a weekday dinner, serving a tasty treat to friends or just snacking at home.
Perfect for sharing, they are bursting with flavour and high in fibre. They can be served warm (five mins or so in the air fryer) or eaten straight from the packet, so they are a nice little extra for a picnic or packed lunch.
Gosh!’s new Aloo Tikki and Katsu Bites are now available in Tesco stores nationwide, and Ocado, RRP £2.60.
Great Beans!
We’re such fans of pulses in our house and I was impressed with this new six-strong range from Organic Realfoods.
There’s a strong Mediterranean flavour that’s been sourced from Italian family farms, where they ensure that these fibre packed beans not only hold their shape, but don’t become too starchy in texture.
Every batch of beans is hand sorted, soaked overnight and pressure cooked before being bathed in Sicilian sea salt. The range comprises Borlotti Beans, Chickpeas, Red Kidney Beans, White Cannellini Beans, Black Turtle Beans and Fine Peas.
Under £2.50 for a 370g jar from organicorealfoods.com
A Taste of Italy
When it comes to a supermarket pizza, there’s just one brand as far as I’m concerned: Crosta Mollica.
Known for its popular sourdough pizza range, it’s the only UK range with pizzas made in Italy. The dough is slow proved and baked in a traditional wood-fired oven on the lava stones of Mount Etna.
And now there is a new Salami Napoli pizza available (£5.75 Tesco), with Crosta Mollica’s signature slow-proved, leopardised sourdough base, topped with a simple tomato sauce, creamy buffalo mozzarella, smoked Provola cheese and peppery salami.
And for those who sometimes like to create their own pizza, there’s a new pizza base two pack (£4.95 Waitrose in the frozen food section) for ease, already topped with the brand’s signature tomato sauce.
Raising the Bar for Snacks
These new treats from Raise combine cashews, almonds and pecans, Coconut & Almond flavour is sweet, delicately crunchy and light in coconut flavours, while Raspberry is sweet and tangy, with a nutty and crispy crunch.
They contain protein, fibre and antioxidants and under 5g sugar per pack. Plus, they are suitable for a gluten free or vegan diet.
Available from Sainsbury’s and Ocado, RRP £1.79 per 35g pack, they augment the existing range of four nut and seed clusters (Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt, Dark Chocolate & Orange, Maple Pecan and Caramel Sea Salt)
Raise donates 1% of every sale to Magic Breakfast via Work for Good.
Bowled Over
Those lovely Hokan bowls are now available in a great new colour – jade.
For a sustainable, BPA-free household, Stoneware is dense pottery fired at high temperatures making it non- porous and, consequently, odour and stain free. (Which can’t be said of plastic alternatives) . The bowls heat evenly and retain heat efficiently. Cooking and baking with the lid on keeps moisture in and the temperature stable. Taking the lid off allows the top surface area to crust or brown. The Reactive glaze is a finishing technique used on stoneware ceramics. The term ‘reactive’ refers to the chemical interaction between the glaze’s minerals and oxides during the high-temperature firing process. This reaction creates distinctive patterns, colours, and textures. The results depend on factors such as the glaze composition, firing temperature, and kiln atmosphere, meaning no two pieces are exactly alike.
Green Jade, plus Lemon Yellow, Sea Green, Cobalt Blue, Pitch Black, Antique White, RRP £90 for a set of three or individually: Small: 400ml, RRP £25 Medium: 600ml, RRP £30 Large: 1000ml, RRP £35 Available from hokanbowls.com with free shipping on orders of £90 and above.
Some other news…
Welcome Back Valentina!
After a devastating fire earlier this year, SW London’s much-loved Valentina Deli is reopening its doors – and doing it in true Italian style for an opening weekend of food, family, and celebration.
From 4th to 6th July, the Deli is hosting a family-friendly celebration packed with traditional pizzas, complimentary deli tastings, gelato, Italian drinks, and live entertainment – from face painting and Punch & Judy to stilt walkers and music.
The reopening also lands perfectly alongside ‘Independents’ Day’, making it a brilliant opportunity to spotlight a local, family-run gem making a big comeback.
Valentina Deli, 284-286 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW14 7JE. 11am-5pm, Italian ground coffee served from 8am.
A Fab Danish
Ole & Steen, the fabulous Danish bakery, has just launched its summer rye selection …and I was lucky enough to taste some this week at its midsummer event.
The latest Open Rye sandwich range was created in collaboration with acclaimed Danish chef and cookbook author Trine Hahnemann.
Each sandwich is hand-crafted and packed with vibrant toppings – from smoked fish and creamy herbs to bright vegetables and Scandi-inspired salads. The new range features Carrot Rye topped with fresh ingredients including smoked salmon, herb and lemon cream cheese, fennel, fresh dill and micro herbs. There’s roast beef, horseradish mayonnaise, spinach, pickled red onions, cucumber and micro herbs. As well as green pea, herb and chicken salad, fresh asparagus and micro herbs. To finish the Carrot Rye topped range there’s smashed avocado and peas, jammy egg, mixed seeds and pea shoots. These are great value from £5.75 eat in or £5.55 takeaway
Piano Sessions at Scott’s
Scott’s Richmond has brought live music to its riverside setting with ‘Piano Sessions’ Upstairs at Scott’s, every Tuesday-Thursday evening.
A resident pianist and grand piano, paired with seafood, fine wine and signature cocktails and the timeless charm of live music. Piano Sessions at Scott’s take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm until 10pm, offering an elegant backdrop for drinks, dining and late-night unwinding.
Get Paid to Picnic!
This summer, Champagne Piper-Heidsieck is putting a twist on a quintessentially British tradition by turning leisurely picnics into a paid gig. The paid picnickers programme will see 20 lucky people paid £50 each to enjoy a picnic at its iconic Champagne Rooftop Garden at Coq D’Argent in London.
Running across Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July, Piper-Heidsieck’s Paid Picnickers scheme will welcome five groups of four for a one-of-a-kind dream picnic experience. For just two hours of ‘work’, participants will be paid £50 each to sit back, relax and enjoy a picnic with three friends… complimentary champagne and a picnic menu curated by Coq D’Argent. For those unable to take part in the Paid Picnickers activity, rooftop picnics will be available to book at Coq D’Argent from 27th June to 31st August. Priced at £30 per person, the picnics will run Friday 12-2pm and Saturday – Sunday, from 12pm to 4pm.
More information is available on the Coq D’Argent website: https://www.coqdargent.co.uk/rooftop-picnics/
