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Food & Drink March 4, 2024

Exciting Food And Drink Round-Up

We’ve got so much to celebrate in the world of food and drink at the moment. This includes our Exciting Food And Drink Round-Up, plus it’s almost Mother’s Day here in the UK, and there’s lots of delicious things to gift to your mum or the mother figure in your life.

We’ve included some outstanding drinks that can be for yourself or gifted to others, especially mum! There’s even some foodie bits and pieces that you’ll probably want to keep to yourself but they should be shared.

Mother’s Day Food & Drink Gift Ideas

Crosstown Doughnuts

Treating mum to a box of doughnut delights is sure to put a smile on her face this Mother’s Day. Indulge in this perfect treat – a box of six or 12 handcrafted Crosstown doughnuts, complete with ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ edible toppers. Includes Dark Chocolate Truffle Sourdough Doughnuts filled with a rich and indulgent chocolate truffle, coated in luxurious dark chocolate ganache. Also includes Homemade Raspberry Jam Sourdough Doughnuts, with fresh, fruity raspberries and comforting vanilla, filled with raspberry jam and topped with vanilla glaze and freeze-dried raspberries. Priced at £29.95 for 6, and £49.95 for 12 from Crosstown.

Belvoir, Limited Edition Elderflower & Rose Cordial

Belvoir’s Elderflower & Rose Cordial is made to their traditional family recipe, crafted from masses of hand-picked elderflowers with rose petal extract for a delicately floral taste. The limited edition Mother’s Day bottle say’s Happy Mother’s Day on the label and with Love From on the label too, which makes it the perfect gift for Mum. Priced at £4 (500ml bottle), from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Booths.

Category is: Cocktails, by David Dodge and David Orton with Prestel Publishing

If Mum’s a cocktail lover and a fan of Drag performers then this book is for her. The book is filled with sixty delicious, easy to make cocktails and zero-proof drinks, inspired by iconic drag queens. Learn how to make the ‘Donut Come For Me’, named after RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Kim Chi, or why not try a ‘Tingly Crangrarita’ made for UK drag queen Tayce. Each recipe is accompanied by a beautifully-rendered illustration and profile of the queen, king or non-binary performers who inspired them. Category Is: Cocktails! is packed with brilliant concoctions and deep-dive diva trivia. Priced at £12.99 from Waterstones, Amazon, Blackwell’s and more.

Non-alcoholic and Soft Drinks

Mariage Frères, UME CHA 2024 Tea

Luxury French tea purveyor Mariage Frères celebrates its 170th anniversary this year with the launch of vintage blue tea UME CHA 2024. Championing the French Art of Tea since 1854, Mariage Frères has launched this delicate blue tea with notes of blossoming plum trees. A comforting and silky tea with round, floral notes inspiring sweet reverie. Extraordinarily blue in colour when brewed, the loose-leaf tea is encased in a collectible cannister adorned with gold flakes. Priced at £28 per 80g tin, from Mariage Frères.

Belvoir, Brand New Lemonades

If you’re looking to switch up everyday hydration for something that’s lighter on sugar, contains nothing artificial and brings new flavour to savour, say hello to Belvoir Farm’s Sicilian Blood Orange Lemonade and Elderflower Lemonade. Destined to become your zestie besties this summer, they contain fewer than 20 calories per 100ml and come in smaller 500ml bottles (two serves) to keep handy in the fridge for an everyday treat without the sugar. Priced at £2 per bottle from Waitrose.

Alcoholic Drinks

SERVED, Pre-mixed Cocktails by Ellie Goulding

SERVED, the award-winning premixed cocktails brought to you by Ellie Goulding are the perfect fit for BBQ’s, summer drinks, and alfresco dining moments. These bar quality cocktails in a can are crafted with 100% natural ingredients, a double measure of premium spirit and real fruit to give an authentic but exquisitely refreshing flavour, setting them up to be the affordable luxury of 2024! With Mojito, Passionfruit Martini, Margarita, and Pina Colada offering some crowd-pleasing cocktail favourites, SERVED cocktails are also made with wonky fruit to help reduce food waste. They are also vegan, gluten-free and have no added sugar. Priced at £26 for a Taster Pack (8 x cans), from Served Drinks.

Don Julio, Blanco Tequila

Don Julio Blanco Tequila is made from the finest blue agave plant though a time-honoured distillation process. A smooth, fresh tasting tequila, Blanco is the heart and soul of Don Julio and the base for all their tequilas. Offering a crisp agave flavour and hints of citrus, this is tequila in its truest form. The spirit can be enjoyed in a variety of innovative cocktails. Priced at £47.85 from Amazon.

The Drinks Bureau Cocktails in Cans

Serving up seriously tasty cocktails in cans, party boxes and soon to add frozen cocktail pops to their collection. Made with premium quality ingredients, which are vegan and allergen free, their award-winning ready-to-drink cocktails taste like bar-made drinks without the faff and in fabulous little packs! Cocktails include Spicy Margarita, Passionfruit Martini, and Espresso Martini. Equally, new no and low cans have been added, which include Shirley Temple, non-alcoholic made with cherry, ginger, lemon and bitters. Also, Dirty Shirley is a 5% abv, with a moreish ginger zing! Keep any eye out for frozen cocktail pops in both G&T and Passionfruit Martini. Priced between £12 to £15 for 4 cans, from The Drinks Bureau.

Food

Häagen-Dazs, Limited Edition Vanilla Pint for Charity

The iconic Häagen-Dazs Vanilla pint undergoes a fresh new look to celebrate its iconic female founder, Rose Mattus and The Rose Project, with proceeds being donated to The Prince’s Trust Change a Girl’s Life campaign. Launched just in time for International Women’s Day it will have a fresh new look tub. Priced at £5.15 from Sainsbury’s.

Melora, Manuka Honey

The Manuka honey from Melora is harvested from New Zealand’s super plant and can be used in many dishes. Breakfast is the perfect time to add Melora’s Manuka Honey into your porridge, or have on your toast. It can even be added to hot drinks for both health reasons and to replace sugar. You can buy the Manuka Honey either as honey, or as flavoured honey, or even as lozenges to help fight colds and flu viruses. Priced from £7 for Honey, £12.50 for flavoured squeezy honey bottles, and £6.39 for lozenges, from Melora.

Jelly Belly Bubble Tea

Calling all bubble tea enthusiasts! Jelly Belly introduces the Bubble Tea Collection, the perfect blend of tea, tapioca and sweetness in jelly bean form. Hitting shelves this month, bubble tea buffs will soon be able to enjoy five unforgettable flavours inspired by the beloved beverage – Mango Milk Tea, Taro Milk Tea, Matcha Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea, and Thai Milk Tea. Priced between £0.95 – £6.50, from Jelly Belly.

Exciting Food And Drink Round-Up – Words by Rachel McAlley

For more Food & Drink with House of Coco Magazine

Cocktails January 10, 2024

GO ALCOHOL-FREE THIS DRY JANUARY AS SEARCYS PARTNERS WITH PENTIRE AND WILD IDOL

Searcys is popping the corks by partnering with some of the best British zero-alcohol drinks, Pentire and Wild Idol to offer alcohol-free alternatives across its venues this January.

Limited-edition botanical mocktails from Pentire and non-alcoholic sparkling wines by Wild Idol are the perfect tonic for those seeking alternatives to alcohol this Dry January. Celebrating the best of British, these no-alcohol offerings perfectly complement Searcys’ carefully selected list of Champagnes and English sparkling.

Searcys’ 2024 Dry January Menu includes two fitting twists on refreshing summer classics. Simultaneously sweet and sour, the Pentire Paloma is sure to dispel the doldrums of winter. The Pentire Coastal Spritz is blessed with a bracing burst of Cornish salt that offsets the quintessential bittersweetness. The unique botanical notes of Pentire are inspired by the remarkable flora flourishing along the Cornish coast. In the hands of Searcys master mixologists, these luxurious ingredients elevate the mocktail to new heights.

Another British gem served at Searcys is Wild Idol, a premium, alcohol-free sparkling alternative to fine wine and champagne. Wild Idol is hand-crafted using traditional winemaking techniques and a superior blend of grapes for the finest aromatics and purest flavour. A long-time partner of Searcys, Wild Idol’s ingredients have never included alcohol. The production process is simple and pure – ideal for those searching for a New Year detox. Vegan, low calorie and gluten-free, the result is a sparkling drink of the highest calibre, delivering supreme taste without compromise.

Pentire mocktails will be available at Searcys Barbican restaurants (Barbican Brasserie by Searcys and Barbican Bar & Grill), Brigade Bar and Kitchen, The Pump Room in Bath, Carlton Brasserie and Searcys Champagne Bar at 116 Pall Mall, Searcys Brasserie at St Pancras International and The View at the Royal College of Surgeons. Meanwhile, Wild Idol will be served at Searcys Champagne Bar at Battersea Power Station and St Pancras.

For those wishing to elevate their new year even further, an alcohol-free afternoon tea at Searcys at the Gherkin, enjoyed alongside dramatic 360-degree views, will ensure January has all the glamour and excitement of a new year. Priced at £55 per person, the signature Searcys Sparkling Afternoon Tea can be paired with Wild Idol Non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine from 3^rdJanuary until 11^th February. From delicate cucumber and cream cheese to indulgent smoked salmon and caviar sandwiches, followed by a tantalising array of sweet pastries and scones, Searcys Afternoon Tea at the Gherkin will ensure no one is compromising on those special moments this Dry January.

The Dry January menu across all other venues will be available until 31^st January.

searcys.co.uk

Food & Drink December 15, 2023

December’s Delicious Food & Drink Round-Up

As we are in December, what better month to highlight the amazing food and drink produce that has recently launched, or is about to launch.

It’s the time of over indulgence, but that doesn’t have to mean eating and drinking all bad things in December. There is so much to enjoy from locally produced frozen meals to super-healthy mushroom matcha. Outstanding ice creams and barista-style syrups to limited edition sausages also feature in this round-up.

Food This December

Strong Roots, Good Made Easy Meals, £3.50 each from Ocado

Strong Roots, the pioneers in plant-based frozen food, have done it again! Setting out the next step in their mission to make tasty, plant-based food for busy people, they have launched five bold, veggie-packed meals. Strong Roots meals currently at Ocado include; Creamy Mac, and Thai Green Veg Curry, Veggie Masala, White Bean & Lentil Stew, and Mediterranean Orzo Bake. Plus, soon to launch at Sainsbury’s in January will be the Thai Green Veg Curry and the Veggie Masala, so keep your eyes peeled.

Boursin, Truffle Flavoured, £2.95 (150g) from Tesco

New limited-edition Boursin Truffle Flavoured! A delicious puck combining the classic, creamy and crumbly texture of Boursin cheese infused with a truffle flavour. This adds depth and richness to the classic Boursin, elevating homemade recipes to a whole new level.

Nairn’s X Marmite, Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes, £1.95 (200g) from Waitrose

Nairn’s best-selling Cheese Oatcakes are a firm family favourite for a reason and have now been taken to new levels with an added dose of Marmite’s iconic flavour for the ultimate savoury taste sensation. Made with real cheese, wholegrain oats, a dollop of Marmite, and very little else.

Häagen-Dazs, Caramel Biscuit & Cream with Biscoff®, £5.40 (460ml) from Tesco & other major retailers

The collaboration we’ve all been waiting for, Häagen-Dazs Caramel, Biscuit & Cream crafted with Biscoff® is a match made in biscuity heaven. The mouth-watering flavour offers a delightful combination of Belgium caramelised biscuit, delicately paired with deliciously rich and sleek caramel ice cream, full of flavour and texture.

MAXI Babybel, £3.25 (200g), from Asda

After a long-anticipated arrival, the NEW Maxi Babybel has arrived. This 200g version of the nation’s favourite cheese snack, has just rolled out in the UK and unveiled as a limited edition!

HECK, Limited Edition Pork, Wensleydale & Cranberry Cocktail Sausages, £3 from Tesco

Three favourite Christmas flavours into one deliciously festive cocktail sausage bite. Pork, Wensleydale and Cranberry flavours, with 20 mini sausages in the pack. The limited-edition packs ae only available until 2nd January, so get yours now!

Graham’s Family Dairy, Protein Pots

Brand new launch of confectionery flavoured Protein Yogurt Pots from Graham’s Family Dairy in Scotland. New flavours include; Lemon Cheesecake, Chocolate Caramel, and Stracciatella. Each pot is sweetener free, has 22 grams of protein per pot, and relys on all-natural goodness. Currently available in Scotland only.

Drinks This December

Belvoir, Fruit Cordials £4 each, and Delicious Light Cans £4.75 (x 4) from Waitrose

If you’re looking for a deliciously healthy kickstart to the new year that’s naturally low in sugar and calories, and contains absolutely nothing artificial, fill up on Belvoir Farm’s two new fruit-packed thirst quenchers: Delicious & Light reduced sugar, low-calorie cans and the UK’s first No Added Sugar Pure Fruit Cordials. The light cans include; Raspberry Lemonade, Mango & Peach, and Elderflower Lemonade. Belvoir’s no added sugar cordials include; Sicilian Lemon & Lime, Exotic Mango & Passionfruit, and Elderflower & Apple.

BZZD, Energy Drinks, £15 (24 x 150ml cans), from Amazon

BZZD Energy Tonic Water is expertly crafted to lift spirits. BZZD Energy is the ultimate guilt free pick me up as it boasts more caffeine per 100ml that the UK’s leading energy brand, while being only 18kcals per can. What’s more, BZZD Energy is powered by nature, with caffeine extracted from 100% natural plant sources to give the ultimate all-natural, uplifting buzz. Can be used as a mixer or enjoyed on its own.

Tate & Lyle, Barista Syrups, £2.79 each from Morrisons

Create barista-style drinks at home with the new Tate & Lyle syrups, including Caramel, Vanilla, and Hazelnut flavours. Al made from pure cane sugar.

DIRTEA, Mushroom Match Super Blend, £53.99 per month

DIRTEA’s Mushroom Matcha is made using the world’s finest functional mushrooms sourced from the fruiting body which contains the highest concentration of active ingredients, including beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other active compounds.

Citizen Spritz, Non-alcoholic Spritz Mixers, £20 (500ml)

Crafted for special moments, these spritz mixes allow you to effortlessly create drinks similar to pornstar martinis or mojitos in an instant. Plus, as each bottle offers 20 servings, drinks can be made in bigger quantities which is perfect for hosting. All you have to do is add 175ml of soda or sparkling water to 25ml of Citizen Spritz and voila! The range includes 4 flavours including; Bitter Orange, Cool Lime, Pink Grapefruit, and Passionfruit.

December’s Delicious Food & Drink Round-Up – Words by Rachel McAlley

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