July Food and Drink News – Where is our summer going? It seems to be rushing past all too fast.
If you’d like to spice up your culinary repertoire, I thoroughly recommend checking out the excellent Christy’s Kitchen range. Brought up on a very plain diet, Christy developed some great spice mixes and soon his hobby had developed into a profession. There’s a collection of fabulous spice blends that are very versatile and will cover you from everyday cooking to BBQ. Buy one tin or a bundle (which will make a superb gift) plus, the tins are very generously filled, allowing you many chances to experiment. The range includes: Mexican Stand Off – Mexican Spice Blend;Jerk Jamin’ – Caribbean Spice Blend; Kick Bang Thai – Thai Spice Blend; Indian Espresso – Indian Spice Blend; Arabian Nights – Middle Eastern Spice Blend and Amore D’Italia – Italian Spice Blend, From £8.99 a tin at christyskitchen.co.uk
Attention all fans of kombucha: MOMO has a new limited-edition flavour – Watermelon – and it’s really great. It’s another successful collaboration with Natoora and available from MOMO, Natoora, Gail’s Bakery, Selfridges, Planet Organic and Whole Foods Market (RRP £4.50 per 330ml glass bottle) until September ‘25. MOMO’s unfiltered kombucha blends perfectly with Sentinel Watermelon, resulting in a burst of sweet, fruity flavour, perfectly balanced by the classic zingy tones of Kombucha. This may be the lightest, most refreshing kombucha MOMO has ever made, and it really highlights both the quality of the produce and kombucha as a medium.
If orange is more to your taste, here’s a sunshine soaked alternative to an Aperol Spritz coming from Cornwall. This summer, English Spirit, has launched two zesty new stars: Orangino as well as Limongino. Orangino is a bittersweet orange gin liqueur made with real fruit and no artificial additives, while Limongino, bursts with the zest of Amalfi lemons and English gin – perfect served straight from the freezer or topped with fizz. They’re made with real fruit, distilled in copper pots, with no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. The ABV is 22% and it’s priced at £26 for a 50cl bottle from englishspirit.uk
Talking of flavours, I was tempted to try a few of the latest Venchi gelato recipes recently and I was blown away. This takes ice cream to a new level of deliciousness. There are three Mediterranean-inspired gelato flavours that celebrate Italian culinary tradition and innovation: Extra Virgin Olive Oil combines Laudemio Frescobaldi Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a fior di latte base enhancing the slightly spicy and herbal notes of the oil. Parmigiano Reggiano matches the cheese with a fior di latte enhancing the sweet-savory notes of the cheese, and flakes of the cheese add texture. Caramel & Rosemary balances creamy caramel crunchy crumbs, with the fresh, slightly bitter flavour of rosemary. Check out the Richmond store and be daring, it’s worth it! And while you’re there, treat yourself to a jar of the wonderfully rich Milk Chocolate & Piedmont Hazelnut Spread with Extra Virgin Olive Oil – it’s not cheap, but then quality like this never was.
Looking for a fresh way to kickstart your morning or power through that afternoon slump? Plenish has you covered with its new Ginger Energy Shot, a clean, natural boost to keep you energised and focused. Formulated with Yerba Mate, ginger root and fortified with 100% of vitamin B6 with vitamin C, iron, this new shot provides a natural, balanced energy lift. Plenish has also revamped its multi-serve Dosing Bottle format, now containing 7 shots so providing one for each day of the week. Plenish Ginger Energy and the new multi-serve bottles are available via plenishdrinks.com, and in major retailers nationwide including Sainsbury’s and Tesco (£6) and Ocado.
Still on a health theme, I’ve not really been a fan of rice cakes, until now… IBIS Rice, the Cambodian rice brand, backed by renowned conservationist Chris Packham, has launched a new product – Bean & Rice Cakes. These delicious, nutty, bean & rice cakes are a natural source of protein and additional fibre, making them a tasty and nutritious snack. IBIS rice is traditionally grown rice, planted a once-a-year with the seasonal flooding from the monsoons. Working with farmers on soil improvement, IBIS Rice has established inter-cropping with red, black-eye beans. The beans naturally fertilise the soil, improving yields, and nourishing soils to support wildlife and help safeguard the forests. Now, with one rice crop a year and two bean harvests before and after the rice season, IBIS Rice farmers are paid three times a year instead of once, and the income diversification is a key part of building climate resilience and future sustainability into their livelihoods
If you’re looking to elevate your summer gatherings with some good fizz, look no further than the Bouvet ‘Saphir’ Saumur Brut Vintage 2023 (£16 at Majestic), a discerning choice for anyone seeking bubbles in the sunshine. Crafted using the traditional method, this award-winning vintage sparkling wine is a testament to quality and elegance. Made from a blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, Saphir Saumur Brut Vintage 2023 boasts a brioche-rich character that sets it apart. Each bottle is numbered and produced in limited edition. This wine delivers a delicious biscuity flavour, complemented by peachy, honeyed, and nutty notes. It’s a truly classy bottle that offers exceptional quality at incredibly good value.
Providing the perfect treats for this sunny season, LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW has a limited-edition summer collection of its chocolate-coated liquorice, inspired by the vibrant taste of a sunny escape. Available in two refreshing flavours: PINK PINEAPPLE, new for this year, and returning favourite LEMON. In addition to the fruity lineup, this summer also sees the permanent return of the popular SOUR STRAWBERRY. This MIXED tub offers the ultimate indulgent treat, offering a combination of all three flavours (£28.99 for a generous tub weighing a hefty 550g) The summer collection is available to order online and buy in-store at Selfridges, John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, lakridsbybulow.co.uk, and the LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW stores in Canary Wharf, Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, and Westfield.
The Seasoned Gastronome