Food and Drink
Sparkle this summer with Sovio
If you’re looking for the perfect wine for summer parties and barbecues, something light, softly sparkling, and not too alcoholic, we’ve found just the thing – Sovio has been specially designed to be lower in alcohol, just 8%, making it the ideal drink to enjoy on a summer’s afternoon or evening. Sovio is available in a choice of a zesty white, or a refreshing rosé, each with a light sparkle. It comes in a petite frosted 200ml bottle, each containing just 1 unit of alcohol, and less than 70 calories per glass.
A truly Indian summer
Acclaimed food writer and broadcaster Mridula Baljekar has devised a fabulous summer menu for London’s Atithi restaurant. An Indian summer conjures up images of blue skies, long lazy sunny days, the hauntingly delicate scent of fresh flowers, market stalls with their colourful displays …and spicy food with cooling accompaniments!
Top chefs cook up something divine for Chocolate Week
Divine Chocolate, the leading Fairtrade brand co-owned by cocoa farmers, is co-sponsoring national Chocolate Week 2008 (13th-19th October). Launched in collaboration with the Academy of Chocolate and now in its fifth year, Chocolate Week is all about unadulterated chocolate indulgence, and because Divine is celebrating its 10th birthday, this year’s line up is set to be the best yet!
Taste the summer in Leicester Square
Luxury ice cream maker Häagen-Dazs has launched a brand-new Limited Edition flavour - Apricot & Cream - available exclusively at the Leicester Square shop. The new ice cream pairs sweet sun-kissed apricot pieces with delicate apricot ice cream for a light and refreshing flavour that really encapsulates the summer. And, like all Häagen-Dazs ice creams, Apricot & Cream is rich, thick and creamy, so it melts slowly in the mouth making that taste of the summer last even longer.
Aldo Zilli opens new restaurant
Charismatic chef Aldo Zilli has recently opened his newest restaurant, Zilli Brasserie, to coincide with the official launch of myhotel Brighton. Walking into the 120 seat al fresco space through the open expanse of Jubilee Square, Zilli’s diners are greeted by beautifully flowing design accented with graceful curves and sparkling crystals.
‘Rasoi’ celebrates successful first year in business
The owners of one of Leamington’s most popular Indian restaurants “Rasoi” have just celebrated their first year in business. Ranjeev and Sharan Atwal, from Leamington Spa, took over the lease of the former Lloyds TSB bank in October 2006. After an extensive refurbishment programme costing tens of thousands of pounds, Rasoi opened at the end of May 2007.
Chill out with a cool Smooze this summer
Smooze Fruit Ice is a new kind of lolly that offers maximum refreshment with minimum guilt – perfect for people who watch what they eat and like to live healthily. There are three flavours to choose from: Mango and Coconut, Pineapple and Coconut, and Pink Guava and Coconut. Smooze Fruit Ice is made from 100% natural ingredients, with real fruit purees and juices (not from concentrate and with no added preservatives) and is rich in vitamin C.
Off with their heads - Champagne bar launches Bastille Day promotion
Amuse Bouche Champagne Bars are suspending all sales of Grandes Marques Champagnes in July to celebrate the democratic revolution of Bastille Day. Amuse Bouche Champagne Bars will be launching a new list on July 3rd, focussing exclusively on a range of thirty Champagnes from smaller, lesser-known, producers.
Champagne Philipponnat arrives in Selfridges
The acclaimed Champagne Philipponnat – located in the heart of the Champagne region, in the village of Mareuil-sur-Ay – is now available in Selfridges. One of the largest owners of Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in the region, Champagne Philipponnat is also one of the oldest Houses, with an impressive history dating back to 1522. Considered by experts to be a “connoisseur’s Champagne”, the House is run by the 16th generation of the Philipponnat family, Charles Philipponnat.
London’s hardest-working Indian restaurant celebrates 23 years
Babur, London’s hardest-working Indian restaurant, is about to celebrate its 23rd anniversary with a tasting menu made to match five exceptional wines. The 23rd baburthday celebration begins 17 July and runs until 31 August.
Fortnum & Mason sparkles this summer with Camel Valley
Cornwall’s leading vineyard, Camel Valley, has developed Fortnum & Mason’s first ever own label English sparkling wine. Camel Valley has produced just 3,000 bottles for the shelves of the world renowned food and drink emporium. This fresh yet vibrant fizz has elegant fruity aromas providing the perfect partner to this season’s British strawberries, light canapés and, indeed, any al fresco appetiser.
A corner of Lyon in South Kensington
Ambassade de l’Ile is the London debut of two Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex, which opens its doors to the public at the beginning of July. This former personal chef to Christina Onassis is, as yet, relatively unknown outside the gastronomic city of Lyon.
Brits bin food to feed 19m people
Brits cook enough extra food at dinnertime to feed at least an extra 19 million mouths. 39% of us admit to cooking enough extra food to feed at least one other person and 36% suffer from 'waste worry' over the amount of food they waste each week.
Celebrity chef Phil Vickery cooks up a pudding storm
Everybody loves a good pud! From homemade apple pie to granny’s spotted dick or mum’s treacle tart, everyone’s a winner. But how often do you make home-made puds and do you really know where to start? Well don’t panic! Celebrity chef Phil Vickery is here to save the day. Over the coming months he is welcoming you in to his kitchen to take you through the simple steps to create 6 classic puddings.
Culinary couple’s national coup
A culinary couple from Artisan Restaurant, in Hessle, East Yorkshire has been short-listed alongside some of the Country’s most famous chefs in a major National Restaurant Award.