Food and Drink
All hail the Christmas pud!
Tradition reigns over taste buds this Christmas, as 71 per cent of households plan to serve Christmas pudding on December 25th, yet only 33 per cent of people rank it as their favourite festive dessert.
Half of Brits see the beauty in ugly fruit and veg
Bent carrots, battered peaches, and blemished apples, it seems when it comes to fruit and veg it’s what’s on the inside that counts, as new research from Mintel finds as many as half (48%) of UK fruit and vegetable buyers agree that they would buy oddly shaped fruit or vegetables if they were of good quality.
Bone Daddies bring ramen, buns and Rock ‘n’ Roll to Kensington
Two years on since the ramen boom of 2012, when Bone Daddies Ramen Bar arrived in Soho with a bang, London’s hunger for ramen shows no signs of waning.
Sloe Gin World Champions
Glasgow-based “liquid deli” Demijohn has been crowned Sloe Ginster World Champion for 2014. The annual competition is hosted by The George Inn in Frant near Tunbridge Wells on the Kent/Sussex border.
Festive surprises on the Christmas Day menu
Hundreds of people in Leicester will be ignoring the turkey and stuffing served up on Christmas Day at Red Hot World Buffet, as they tuck into the less traditional dishes on the menu.
Grand Marnier launches limited edition Parisian themed bottle
Grand Marnier, the luxury liqueur that is the icon of Parisian chic, is launching a modern, playful and elegant limited edition bottle in tribute to French creativity to celebrate the coming of Christmas.
The Minnis to feature in Relish South East restaurant recipe book
The award-winning Minnis Bar & Restaurant in Birchington, Kent, has been selected as one of the county’s top dining destinations that will represent the best of Kent in the South East edition of the new Relish South East cookbook.
Shake Shack to open second London location mid 2015
Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) is proud to announce it will open its second London Shake Shack in the bustling Westfield Stratford City shopping centre.
Changing shopping habits continue to drive down footfall
Footfall in November was 2.4% down on a year ago, down on the 0.8% fall in October and below the three-month average of a 1.4% decline, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
A classic returns: The re-imagined Zaika of Kensington is now open
Kensington’s much loved Indian restaurant, Zaika, has now reopened its doors with a menu of Northern Indian cuisine; a new team with executive chef Sanjay Gour at the helm, and a revived look to the 120 cover restaurant space.
I’m a Celebrity - Get me out of the Wye Valley
As the celebrities in the jungle get to grips with the bush tucker trials down under, ex England rugby international Steve Boyle, owner of The Pilgrim Country House Hotel in the heart of the Wye Valley, has created his own insect-eating challenge for his guests to raise much- needed funds for the local St. Michael’s Hospice.
Marley Spoon launches in the UK
Founded in May 2014, Marley Spoon is a bespoke recipe kit delivery service, bringing fresh, quality ingredients and creative, gourmet cooking back into the kitchen.
STK London provocatively celebrates its second birthday
On Friday 21st November, STK London marked two successful years since the upscale modern steakhouse arrived in the UK, taking residence on the Strand, operated by New York based restaurateurs The ONE Group. The landmark was celebrated in style with a dinner party attended by over 500 regular diners and special guests.
Brits hunger for Surf ‘n’ Turf
The concept of ‘Surf ‘n’ Turf’ may have been around for some time but new research from Mintel reveals pairing meat with fish could offer a useful way to encourage younger Brits to buy more fish.
Giggling Squid reopens in Hove after £150,000 storm damage
Giggling Squid, the restaurant which introduced the “Thai Tapas” concept to Britain in 2009, has reopened its 80 cover, split level, Hove branch restaurant following a £150,000 refit.