Christmas will soon be upon us again, so this month I’m suggesting some simple time-saving products and a few indulgences (that will also make lovely presents)
Pastry Toasties
Ginsters, famed for pasties, has just launched Ginsters Pastry Toastie, ready in just four minutes straight from the toaster.
Great for home workers, but also ideal for those offices with a toaster to hand. Designed to keep the fillings in and toasters clean, they are available in three flavours: Smoked Ham & Cheddar; Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella and Chicken, Pesto & Mozzarella.
Made with 100% British meat they are available from Tesco at £2.50 per toastie, much cheaper and more warming than a sandwich.
Seriously Fine Honey
When it comes to choosing honey, one needs to be sure of the quality and origins and we love Louisa’s Honey.
The honeys are collected in tightly selected areas, far from possible forms of pollution and environmental contamination. They only work with bee farmers who use traditional, natural treatments and methods, and bees are treated with respect (never treated with unnatural products or chemicals).
I’m delighted to report that those folk at Ocado have seen sense, and are now stocking it.
Multi award winning (including numerous Great Taste stars), in total the company’s Italian range of honey consists of eight varieties of flavours: seven unique flavours, which are pure, natural and not infused: Bosco, Coriander, Lime, Chestnut, Citrus, Cherry and Acacia. Plus a speciality infusion, which is pure Acacia honey infused with natural root ginger. Bosco is our favourite and it’s one of the rarest and most complex honeys in the world.
Quality like this comes at a price, of course, and the generously filled 400g jars are £24.95 at Ocado but definitely worth it. More info and shopping at louisas-honey.com
Easy Festive Desserts
With a view to the forthcoming festive season, Häagen-Dazs has reintroduced two truly scrumptious limited edition nutty flavours: Pistachio & Cream returns, plus a return of Peanut Butter Crunch.
Perfect for squirrelling away for a festive treat, these are available from all major supermarkets from £5.75.
Pistachio & Cream combines rich buttery roasted pistachios with an ice cream base and caramelised pistachio and almond pieces scattered throughout each spoonful. Peanut Butter Crunch is sweet & salty with the ice cream containing peanuts, gently roasted then ground into a smooth base. Ripples of thick nutty sauce run through, with crunchy peanut pieces adding texture.
All Round Protein
Back in 2015, Matt & Hayley Hunt had one mission: shake up snacking. Protein was booming, but choices were bland, boring, and full of nonsense. So they rolled up their sleeves and started making protein balls that tasted as good as they were good for you. More than 30 million bags later, The Protein Ball Co is still rolling strong.
Twelve flavours, four ranges, and one clear promise: snacks that fuel your body without sacrificing flavour. The Protein Ball Co follows a minimally processed mantra using everyday larder based ingredients (dates, peanut butter….) and by prioritising rolled bites over bars Protein Ball also taps into the growing ‘grazing’ agenda, where we eat less, but more often. Do check out the range for high protein, high fibre, low sugar and also a plant-based variety.
For further information and to buy visit theproteinballco.com
Spice Up the Everyday
Korean food has enjoyed a massive growth recently and I was pleased to discover a fabulous range of Korean sauces, ketchup and glazes/stir fry sachets.
It’s a cult Irish brand called Chimac. 
Inspired by Korea’s love affair with fried chicken, Chimac combines our obsession with bold punchy flavours. Vegan, flexitarian, or full-blown meat lover, whatever your preference, Chimac’s range will shake up your meals and add a real flavour punch. This Dublin-based brand offers a range of Korean Hot Sauces, BBQ Sauces and Marinades for adding a little bit of heat, spice and all things nice to your kitchen creations!
Korean Stir Fry Marinade: a punchy, umami-packed blend of gochujang, garlic, ginger and soy that brings instant depth to just about anything you can toss in a pan. There’s the Sriracha Caramel Glaze, a sweet-heat balance of fiery sriracha with sticky caramel. Finally, the Korean BBQ Wings Marinade: rich, smoky, and sticky with soy, garlic, sesame, and a touch of sweetness. There are selection boxes available from John Lewis, Sous Chef, selected fine food stores and Amazon and of course the whole range can be bought directly from chimac.ie
Good News for the Gluten Free
If you, or a member of your family, has the misfortune to be gluten intolerant, it can be very difficult for lovers of pasta and pizza in particular. This is where White Rabbit comes in…
The gluten-free italian food brand has recently added three new frozen products to its range. There’s a Chicken and Chorizo pizza, Prosciutto Ham and mushroom pizza and some Sourdough dough balls which come with a garlic and herb butter. While pizza is still the main product focus, the company has also perfected the art of producing Italian-inspired dishes that the gluten intolerant are often missing, including yummy desserts.
As with the rest of the range, the brand prides itself on creating delicious, no compromise Italian dishes to the masses. We’ve been particularly impressed with the pastas that are widely available too.
Restaurant News:
Tower House Richmond
The team behind Gold Notting Hill has just opened a new restaurant in Richmond called Tower House.
Located in the mid-19th-century clock tower on the riverside and accessible from the start of Richmond Bridge, Tower House promises to be a relaxed and intimate modern Mediterranean riverside restaurant and bar. Executive Chef Theo Hill’s menu has a focus on open-fire cooking and seasonality. Tower House’s clock tower pays homage to Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s Isle of Wight residence. Inside Tower House, guests will find heirloom collectables and objets, Outside, the elevated Riverside Garden will, no doubt, be very popular in warmer weather. Tower House will be taking bookings from December but is currently open for walk-ins.
Diary Note: Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre
Make a diary note folks, next month the historic gardens of Henry VIII’s former home are again to be transformed into a food lover’s paradise for the highly festive Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre (5th –7th & 12th –14th December). Now celebrating its 10th year, the Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre showcases artisan and boutique food and drink businesses, alongside independent retailers brimming with gift inspiration.
Visitors can browse high-quality ingredients to elevate winter feasts, including Hot Star Honey, Hebridean Charcuterie, Atrangi Chutneys, Asilia Salt, Orcadian Fudge, The Glorious Mess Meringues, Cambridge Artisan Cheese and more. Merrymakers can indulge in festive delights such as gooey brownies and custard drenched crumble, and sample exceptional drink brands including Great Drams Whisky, Portuguese Vinhos and Rosemullion Distillery. There are also street food stalls, and seasonal drinks to enjoy, plus live music on the East Front bandstand, and horse and cart rides through the grounds. Visitors can step inside to discover Henry VIII’s atmospheric kitchens with demonstrations of Tudor cookery. Entry to the Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre is included with palace admission tickets, and Historic Royal Palaces members also go free. For further information and tickets visit: https://www.hrpfestivals.com
