If you’ve never done meal prepping before, it may seem scary at first, and somewhat unnecessary. A lot of people think it is something only gym rats like to do and can benefit from, when in reality, everyone can benefit from preparing meals in advance – especially if they have a busy life. If you’re always spending money on lunch at work, you could also make significant savings with meal prepping. And, if you have children, meal prepping will make everything much easier for you. If you don’t know how to get started or want to improve your meal prep routine, here are some hacks that you can try.
Get the Right Equipment
You first have to make sure that you invest in proper equipment – and don’t just head to Amazon. Instead, you should try to go to a supplier that sells equipment for professional kitchens. One of the best pieces of equipment you can buy for meal prepping is a large stockpot. You’ll be able to cook large quantities of meat, large stews, or prepare large portions of sides like mashed potatoes or rice. You also need to get yourself a professional scale so you can measure portions of meat and other ingredients correctly. Also, make sure that you get good containers. Get yourself some airtight bento boxes that can go both in the freezer and the microwave. They should be dishwasher safe if you use a dishwasher as well.
Start Small and Simple
Before you start meal prepping all sorts of different meals, start with one dish and incorporate more of them into your rotation later. You also need to start with a solid template as it will help you get the foundation down.
If you’re looking for a good meal template, Ultimate Meal Plans can help. Their downloadable meal plan template is super easy to follow and will allow you to plan meals for every day of the week. You can start with only dinners first, then move to snacks, breakfast, and lunch after. Then you can start mixing and matching different recipes.
Use that Grill
If you own a grill and you love grilling, you should know that it could be your best friend for meal prepping. This is because you can use a large surface to cook large quantities of meat. You can even use the grill to cook stews in a Dutch oven, so if you are running out of space on your range, you can always use your grill as a backup.
Learn How to Use Your Slow Cooker
A slow cooker can also be extremely helpful if you like meal prepping. The best part about a slow cooker is that you can add all the ingredients in advance and set the timer. This is a very hands-off approach to meal prepping and will take a lot of stress out of it. This is an especially good option if you like stews.
Get a Rice Cooker
Single-use appliances often get a bad rap, but if you enjoy rice or things like quinoa as a side, you should think about investing in a rice cooker. A rice cooker is pretty much like a slow cooker, but for rice. All you need to do is put in the amount of rice you want and the recommended amount of water. This will get you a perfect batch of rice every time.
As you can see, there are tons of things that you can do to make meal prepping much less intimidating. We suggest that you start with baby steps, and keep things simple until you’ve mastered the art.
We love a new product release and a seasonal treat landing on the shelves in the supermarket, and we’re partial to an online stock revamp too. When it comes to food and drink we’ve never been happier to sample new things and tantalise our taste buds. Are you ready to find out about what’s going down in this month’s food and drink news?
FOOD
Crosstown Doughnuts, Guinness & Bailey’s St Patrick’s Day Limited Edition
Tell us it’s almost St Patrick’s Day without telling us it’s St Patrick’s Day! Dive head first into this Crosstown limited edition gift box. Prepare to go into drool meltdown. Crafted with Bailey’s Irish Cream chocolate ganache, filled between two fluffy layers of chocolate Guinness cake dough. Hand-dipped in Guinness icing and finished with Crosstown’s chocolate soil, creating a punchy flavour worthy of St Patrick’s Day traditions. Available from Crosstown, priced at £25.99 (six-pack Guinness & Bailey’s Doughnuts).
Lazy Day Foods
The Free From bakery we all know and love! Lazy Day Foods bakes everything you could possibly want if you suffer with food intolerances. They make biscuits, cakes, cake bars, tiffin, millionaire’s shortbread and so much more. Even if you don’t have any kind of food intolerance their bakes and cakes are simply divine. All available from the Lazy Day Foods website and many supermarket Free From isles. Prices start at £1.99 for oaties and shortbread up to £35 for a luxury hamper.
LoveRaw, M:lk® and White Choc Peanut Butter Cups
Our fave plant-based chocolate brand has launched two new treats! M:lk® and White Choc Peanut Butter Cups are now available to buy online from LoveRaw and we are super excited. The M:lk and White Choc Peanut Butter Cups contain a brand-new reformulated recipe, which is the first of its kind in the UK. Both are smothered in LoveRaw’s epic m:lk and white vegan choc, married with the creamy taste of traditional dairy chocolate. Available from LoveRaw, The Vegan Kind, Co-op, and Amazon. Priced at £1.69 (x2 butter cups).
Krumbled, Beauty Bites
Created in Australia to help with nutrition and also offer beauty benefits. Beauty Bites have been carefully formulated with five hero skin and gut health loving ingredients to provide targeted nutritional and beauty benefits. They include Vitamin E and C for skin hydration, elasticity, and improved collagen synthesis. Available in six delicious favours including Apple Cinnamon, White Chocolate Raspberry, Lemon Coconut, Triple Choc Chip, Salted Caramel, and Choc Cherry Coconut. From Krumbled Foods and Holland & Barrett. Priced at £14.99 (7 per box), £26.99 (x 14), or £2.29 per bar.
Häagen-Dazs, Honey & Peach with Rose Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love a tub of ice cream! With blossom honey at the heart of every tub, this elevated flavour is both silky smooth and delightfully sweet, with a unique twist of yellow peach and rose that will truly make you appreciate honey as the warmer months begin. Exclusively available at Waitrose & Partners for a limited time only, priced at £4.99.
Crosta & Mollica, Tartufi
Bringing Italy directly to your door! Continuing its mission to transport the Italian sunshine to the UK, the Crosta & Mollica Tartufi range is a frozen gelato truffle from southern Italy, created with the high quality and authentic Italian ingredients. The Tartufi are available in three flavours including Caffè Latte, Chocolate & Hazelnut, and Pistachio & Almond. Available from Waitrose & Partners and Ocado. All varieties are priced at £5 (x2 Tartufi in each box).
Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil
Newly launched Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil with Rosemary & Sea Salt and a new recipe for Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil with Chilli & Spice has launched alongside the existing Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil with Cracked Black Pepper. Available online from Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil, UK-wide farmers markets, farm shops, and delicatessen stores. Priced at £4 each (250ml bottle).
DRINKS
Belvoir Farm, Botanical Sodas
Botanical Sodas from our favourite Belvoir Farm have just launched! Floral Fizz uses Belvoir’s signature elderflower infusion along with geranium and hibiscus to give a fragrant botanical kick. Bitter Orange Spritz combines Sicilian blood orange juice with rhubarb juice, bitter gentian root and cinchona bark extracts that produces an uplifting and indulgent thirst quencher. Spicy Ginger Fizz gives a punch from fresh root ginger infusion blended with pressed ginger juice, yuzu juice, Japanese Sancho peppercorn, and gentian root extract for extra bitterness. All now in stock at Sainsbury’s, Ocado, and Booths – priced at £2.25 each 500ml bottle.
Remedy Kombucha, Wild Berry
Prepare to go wild for the latest flavour creation from Remedy Drinks! Bursting with strawberry, blackberry and blueberry bliss, this sun-ripened blend is sweet, jammy, and beautifully aromatic. Remedy’s new Kombucha is free from sugar, and is filled with live cultures, antioxidants, and organic acids that can support gut health. From Tesco, and priced at £5 (x 4 pack of 330ml cans).
Cocos Organic, Kefir Drinks
Brand new launch from Cocos Organic! Cultured plant-based kefir drinks bring billions of live, active cultures and the natural power of fermentation together in a silky smooth and creamy drink that is delicious and good for the gut. Available in two delicious vegan varieties including Natural, and Strawberry – both are organic and all natural. They are free from added sugar, dairy, lactose, gluten, preservatives, additives, and soya. Find out more from Cocos Organic, purchase from Waitrose & Partners, Ocado, Planet Organic and various other stockists.
Tobermory 24
Tobermory Distillery is excited to announce the launch of its limited edition 24-Year-Old expression (ABV 52.5%); the second release in the distillery’s highly collectible Hebridean Series, following the success of the award-winning Tobermory 23. Inspired by Mull’s 300-miles of stunning coastline and sea air, the Oloroso cask finish is a rare, limited release single malt, perfect for collectors. It is the first whisky to be created under Cara Gilbert, the world’s youngest distillery manager at just 28, who was appointed to head up Tobermory Distillery in 2021. Available for a limited time from Berry Bros. & Rudd, priced at £320 (70cl) or £1,920 (6 x 70cl).
Spring is very much on the horizon, we can feel it. With countless new restaurants, cocktail menus and new foodie collaborations popping up all over the capital, now is the perfect time to make the most of the better weather as winter fades into the background. Whether that is a pisco sour or a picnic, we have rounded up some fun foodie things to do this month in the big smoke…
Le Magritte
The beautiful Le Magritte Bar & Terrace nestled into Mayfair’s The Beaumontbelongs to the great tradition of American bars that became legendary in London and Paris during the roaring twenties. Guests feel like Ella Fitzgerald as they are taken to their elegant tables with plush leather seats and handed a menu filled with inventive cocktails. Although just a stone’s throw from one of the most famous streets in London, the five-star hotel and cosy bar feel like an oasis of 1920s glamour and sophistication. Turn left into the hotel and enter the new space for the intimate bar, run by Antonino Lo Iacono. The original location of Le Magritte is now Gatsby’s Room and serves a world-class afternoon tea experience. The drinks list is inspired by René Magritte, the surrealist artist and her works of art. With that in mind, order the Pilgrim 1966 filled with aba pisco and delicious yellow chartreuse or the Oasis 1925 with champagne syrup, gin and pick me up bitters. As well as sensational cocktails, Le Magritte has a long list of bourbons and American whiskies to pick from.
Japanese favourite Marugame Udon has opened two new sites in London – St Christopher’s Place and Canary Wharf. Marugame Udon has chosen the heart of London’s vibrant urban quarter – St Christopher’s Place and London’s central business district – Canary Wharf to give Londoners a taste of Japan’s favourite hand-made udon. Food fanatics and noodle lovers can taste authentic udon with menu favourites the Beef Nikutama (£8.45), udon with beef and caramelised onions in a dashi broth with a poached Onsen egg, or for a more traditional route the Kama Age (£3.45), the purest way to eat udon. Marugame Udon has exciting plans to roll out further sites across London with Argyll Street and Waterloo Station due to open later in 2022. A top tip is to join the Marugame Club; to collect ‘Bowl Stamps’ on each visit to earn treats and rewards.
Haché, has reunited with British-Ukrainian chef and food writer, Olia Hercules, to bring back the Mamushka burger. Originally featured as part of Haché’s lineup of female chef collaborations, the limited-edition Mamushka by Olia Hercules burger will be available again from 7 March until 4 April and will raise funds for #CookForUkraine to support those most in need during the conflict. Meaning mother, and named after Olia’s first and award-winning debut cookbook, the Mamushka burger features a perfectly cooked 6oz prime hachéd burger, topped with crispy streaky bacon, dill mayo and ginger and turmeric-infused beet kraut, all served in a toasted brioche bun. Priced at £14, £5 from every order will be donated directed to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal.
The days are set to be warmer at the end of March and with spring on the horizon, it is the perfect time to make the most of the beautiful parks in London. For non-alcohol alternatives to a boozy daytime drinking session, try VINADA. VINADA is a range of yummy no-alcohol sparkling wines produced using a process that retains most of the wine’s original aroma and taste. There are three wines in the range Crispy Chardonnay, Tinteling Tempranillo Rosé and Amazing Airén Gold. Founded in The Netherlands in 2018 by Jessica Van Spaendonk, who was fed up with other no/low alcohol wines and set out to create a quality wine with a superior taste and balanced flavour. The wine is now available in 29 countries and has just launched in the UK and currently available online. Cheers!
Do you often feel anxious? For some people, this can be caused by a new event or situation in their life. For others, it might be a symptom of having a job you do not enjoy or being around new people. No matter what is making your feel anxious, know that you are not alone and this is something that a lot of people feel every day.
The good news is there are different ways you can learn to cope with anxiety. One of them is finding ways for you to relax and alleviate the feeling of worry and nervousness. Many people have found that aromatherapy helps.
But, what essential oils work best for anxiety? Let’s take a look at the top essential oils you can try in order to unwind and beat the symptoms of anxiety.
Lavender
Another essential oil that is worth trying is lavender. This is a popular one and it is often associated with relaxation and enjoying better rest. Indeed, you may have heard of lavender-scented candles and lavender drops for your pillowcases you can use before bed. Well, now it is time to try lavender essential oils in an aroma diffuser.
Lavender has a beautiful scent but it is not just a fragrance that makes your home welcoming. It is also linked to having relaxing powers, which may help to calm you down when you are feeling worried or stressed. In addition, some say that lavender might help you to enjoy better rest at night if you struggle to fall asleep because of anxiety.
When you are choosing an essential oil for anxiety, make sure that you also choose a company that you trust. Namely, ensure they are transparent about where their essential oils come from. For instance, Smellacloud makes it clear that their quality products are sourced from a farmer in the Netherlands with over 50 years of experience. This gives you peace of mind and you can trust that you are receiving the best essential oils if the farmer has been in business for so long.
Ylang-Ylang
If you are suffering from anxiety, this can make you feel down. It can destroy your mood and mean that the rest of your day is unproductive and dominated by sadness. Of course, this is the last thing that anybody wants. So, why not try out some essential oils to see if this can lift your spirit?
One that you may wish to try is ylang-ylang. This has a beautiful floral fragrance that may help to brighten your day. It is thought to be an uplifting essential oil, which may help to combat exhaustion, stress and anxiety.
Frankincense
When you hear frankincense, you will automatically imagine Christmas time and the festive period. But, this is an ancient essential oil that has more significance. In fact, it is said to have a calming aroma that may help you to unwind and tackle feelings of anxiety and stress. You can also enjoy the wood and spicy fragrances of diffusing frankincense in your home. This is an essential oil that comes from India and from the Boswellia tree. Namely, it is tapped from the gum resin of this tree after many years of waiting for it to mature.
To prove that many people believe in frankincense, consider how it is being used. It is still used in religious ceremonies and places of worship around the world after many years. It is also used for meditation purposes, plus to help with yoga. So, you will have to try frankincense and see whether you can benefit from its calming and relaxing properties that studies have pointed to.
Bergamot Orange
Last but not least, we have bergamot orange. This essential oil is found on the rinds of fruit and it has a scent that a lot of people love. But, this is not all that is great about bergamot orange. It has actually been linked with having an uplifting and rejuvenating effect on your mood. This might be just what you need if you are feeling down and anxious about a situation in your life.
Sometimes, anxiety can take over your life. You may feel lost and like there is no way to avoid these feelings. Making some adjustments in your life might help you feel better. It is worth trying aromatherapy to see if this can work for you during times of anxiety. With an open mind, you may be surprised by the results.
Tucked up a lane in Hertfordshire is an old inconspicuous farm plot. Blink and you could easily miss it but for those in the know, it has quickly become a buzzing weekend outpost for locals, Londoners, and the occasional celebrity. The site has been home to fashion and homeware brand, Osprey for 15 years and has gradually expanded to include a gin distillery, beauticians, and more recently, JJAM, a countryside kitchen serving brunch style breakfast plates, light lunches and delicious dinners using fresh and where possible, local, seasonal ingredients.
JJAM Cafe
Set in a pretty courtyard, JJAM was founded by school friends Jack Ellisdon and Scott Martin during the first lockdown. The pair have a hospitality background, Jack previously worked in the hotel industry for the likes of Dorchester Collection Hotels while Scott has experience in private members clubs including the renowned Annabel’s.
I took my daughter and husband on a Saturday afternoon in January and the place was literally JJAM packed. The indoor space seats around 30 covers which adds to the intimate personalised service however, outside there’s a courtyard with a firepit for those who prefer to dine alfresco. Despite a chill in the air, there were couples meandering around the Osprey outlet store, people nipping in and out of the distillery and groups relaxing around the courtyard with hots drinks. Ellisdon tells me “People tend to come here for the best part of the day. They might have a leisurely breakfast with us then have a look around the shops or perhaps have a beauty treatment with Francessca, (who is also an old school friend), then pop back to us for drinks and dinner”. Dinner at JJAM is a big hit, especially in the summer when you can make the most out of the outdoor space, but more on that later. We were sat on a cosy corner table with a chilled glass of Sancerre while we scanned the food options. The menu at JJAM is refreshed every month and is an eclectic mix of classic British, and rustic, internationally inspired dishes. The chef has put his own spin on flatbread style pizzas, sharing platters and sandwiches which make this place more than a café. Front of house is big Dutchman, Parcifal, who casually mingles around the café chatting to people, answering any questions about the menu, and making you feel welcome.
We ordered the JJAM toastie, steak sandwich and triple stacked pancakes. Each plate served would look at home on any foodie’s Instagram page. Presentation here is next level and when our food arrives it looks too good to eat. The conversation grounds to a halt as we tucked into each plate. For the next few minutes, the table was filled with lots of nods and moans of appreciation. My daughter, a pancake connoisseur, took one bite from her fluffy stack and exclaimed it was the best plate of pancakes ever! My toastie was not your regular Breville toastie, wedged between a parmesan crusted sourdough was succulent, chunky slices of Wiltshire ham, melted mature cheddar cheese and a tangy onion chutney. The sourdough had just the right amount of crunch while the sweet onion chutney balanced out the cheddar and parmesan. I sneaked a bite of the steak sandwich and again it didn’t disappoint. The meat was melt in your mouth tender, enveloped in a toasted ciabatta bun.
Dinner at JJAM is the jewel in the crown. They switch up the menu to include specials and larger plates. There’s live music every weekend and no time limit on tables. In the summer tables are like gold dust with people vying over a courtyard seat. Fairy lights adorn the space, blankets and fire pits keep it cosy.
After lunch I had a wander around the shops. Ellisdon tells me they have plans to expand the site, host regular events and turn it into a destination location. The venue lends itself to private events and is already popular for parties and weddings. From May, they will be running JJAM x WELLNESS, a series of weekly subscription-based yoga, running and fitness classes that will be followed by a light breakfast, juice and coffee. The view is to then expand these ‘wellness brunches’ to include beauty treatments such as massages by their onsite beautician. As well as the venue in Hertfordshire, JJAM Regent Street has just opened offering coffees and tasty bites served with the same enthusiasm and passion.
JJAM has vibe, it’s one of those places you want to take your friends just to show off but at the same time you want to keep this place a secret. Word is already getting around so book your table in advance to avoid disappointment.
To book a table or find out more on the wellness events visit JJAM Group or follow @jjamgroup
Donuts – the ultimate comfort food, and the ultimate thing to make your mouth water! You’ve got the boston cream, the bavarian cream (Check out more about these donuts here: https://www.fanaticallyfood.com/boston-cream-donut-vs-bavarian-cream-donut/) and so many others that you can enjoy. There’s a donut out there for everyone – you just need to give them a try!
What’s especially fascinating is the history of the donut, and how deeply they are ingrained in American history. Premium and decadent donuts are a staple here in the US, so why not pay homage to them today? Here’s what you need to know about premium and decadent donuts – the perfect knowledge for your next quiz night with friends (Over a box of donuts, we hope!)
How Simple Donuts Became Popular
As we will explore later, donuts didn’t become a smash hit until after the war, but they do have a rich history spanning back centuries.
In the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, some form of the donut was already becoming fairly popular. These weren’t quite donuts as we know them today – instead, they were essentially tiny cakes, and these would then be fried and covered in a honey dop to finish. There were all sorts of variations of it throughout Europe. It wasn’t until 1750 that the word ‘doughnut’ would eventually be used in Northeastern England, however.
The original recipe for donuts were for simple glazed kinds. They were mainly popular in Hertfordshire in the UK, and when the colonization of New England occurred, the recipe for the donut made its way over to the United States.
But did the donut really originate in England? Some aren’t so sure. There’s information to suggest that the donut is actually a Dutch invention, with a very similar recipe to the donut as we know it being published in a cookbook called The Sensible Cook that was published in 1667.
The donut that we mostly eat today, however, is primarily something that was created in America – known as the cake donut. Oh, and the hole? Well, that exists most likely to ensure that the dough cooks more evenly and much faster. It’s not all that exciting – you may want to make up your own conspiracy theories for entertainment, and then confuse your friends with them.
America and The Donut – A Classic Romance
Donuts had been popular for quite some time, but it was in America that these sweet, delicious treats that we know today gained their mass fame. It’s possible that the love affair between America and Donuts can be traced back to as early as 1803, where a recipe was found in an appendix of American recipes in an English cookbook. Even back then, it was becoming clear that the donut and America were intrinsically linked. You can check out more about this in the book Glazed America by Paul Mullins.
Later in World War I, donuts were distributed to the American soldiers in France. Women known as Doughnut Girls would be in charge of ensuring that all workers on the front line had plenty of sugary treats to help them to thrive for another day. The same thing would happen again in World War II.
In 1920 the very first automated donut machine would be created by Adolph Levitt, and later a man named William Rosenberg would open up an unassuming donut shop in Quincy, Massachusetts. It was originally known as the Open Kettle, but the name later changed to… Can you guess? That’s right – Dunkin’ Donuts! By 1979 the shop had become a huge hit, with over 1000 Dunkin’ Donuts shops!
Donuts Today
Everywhere you look today, at least in the United States, there is a new donut shop appearing. You would think that they materialize out of thin air! At the moment, Dunkin’ Donuts actually sells around 2.9 million donuts and donut holes throughout the world every single year. Donuts now aren’t what they used to be either. You can get all sorts of different flavors and styles of donuts besides the classic glazed donuts that we all know and love. Not only that, but donuts aren’t just for those with a sweet tooth anymore either. They’re also a fantastic choice for anyone that likes something savory, since you can get lots of savory donuts out there too. Even KFC has released a fried chicken donut sandwich. What will we see next?
A Donut For Everyone
We’re willing to bet that you’ve seen one of those quizzes pop up on Buzzfeed or some other site at least once. Something like ‘tell us your favorite donuts and we’ll tell you when you’ll get married.’ Well, an article like that couldn’t exist if there wasn’t a plethora of different donut options out there! Donuts today are almost like a fashion statement – there are premium options and also options for a smaller budget available.
For the time being, let’s talk about styles. First you have the classic yeast donut, with lots of airiness and fluffiness inside. These will usually have holes in the middle, or they may sometimes contain a filling such as jelly or chocolate. They tend to be sugary on top, though sometimes can have other toppings. There’s also the cake donut, circular with an obvious hole in the middle. They are slightly more dense than the yeast donut and you can get them in all sorts of flavors. You can get glazed donuts, which are essentially like cake donuts but with glazing on top, there are sugar donuts, churros, chocolate or strawberry sprinkles… There are so many options that it’s overwhelming.
Premium Donuts
Now onto the super fancy stuff! You can also find premium donuts on the market today, too. These aren’t your average sugar donuts from your local bakery. These usually come from gourmet places and can cost quite a pretty penny. They may contain slightly more unique fillings too, such as salted caramel, chilli cream and more. Some of these donuts are exclusives that you may only be able to get for a limited time, or only from certain stores. For instance, let’s talk about Dunkin’ Donuts. From Dunkin, they released a limited range of donuts in November 2020 including the Strawberry Peanut Butter donut, Sunburst, Chocolate Sundae and the Banana Peanut Butter donut. These donuts usually tend to cost more money because they are exclusive – it also takes a really long time to come up with new donut flavors!
Premium donuts are the kind that you would be willing to pay extra for in order to get something unique that will truly tickle the taste buds. They’re the kind of donuts that you can brag about to your friends, claiming that you’ve tried every one of them like the donut connoisseur that you are.
Donuts Of The Future
One thing is perfectly clear – donuts aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. In the future, we’re sure to see more and more delicious donut combinations cropping up, more premium options and plenty of supply of the old classics like the glazed donut.
It’s obvious that we have come a long way in the world of donuts since the days of the Donut Girls of the first World War. With so many different flavors and styles available, it’s difficult to imagine a world without these sugary treats. Now, the next time you head to Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme, you can appreciate the history of the donut just that little bit extra. Now, go and grab yourself a donut – you’ve earned it!
Beth and Oonagh are the brains behind Bien Etre, a lifestyle brand that started in London but the Southern French Alps was the inspiration behind the brand’s visual identity and values. Over time the brand has evolved to help people lead better lives all over the world. With the launch of the brand timed just around the start of the pandemic, the initial plans to host retreats was put on the back burner as they were forced to rethink their strategy.
This duo were born to always win and of course between the two of them they were able to grow a successful brand despite the adversity they faced in the early days. Here, we spent some time with Beth and Oonagh to find out more…
Tell us about the journey that led you to launching your brand, Bien Etre?
Beth – One day in 2002, my dad suddenly collapsed. The company he worked for had just been bought out so he was regularly commuting to London and was studying for a diploma in marketing to keep up with the competition. He had a young family to provide for so losing his job wasn’t an option…and it all proved too much to handle. Later that day, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a chronic and incurable illness that would involve injecting 5 times a day and micromanaging his diet and lifestyle for the rest of his life. We didn’t know what all this meant, but my parents refused to let it define our lives, so in early 2003, they moved me and my little sister out to the Southern French Alps to pursue a stress-free lifestyle and give us a healthier upbringing. A move which would also inspire the birth of Bien Etre 16 years later.
Fast forward to 2019 where I was living in central London and working in a job that I hated. I lived for the weekend and my holidays, and I had developed a form of social anxiety that made public transport, shopping malls and meetings extremely uncomfortable. Then one day, I looked around and realised…I was heading down the same road as my dad and was really unhappy with where my life was headed. In that moment, I decided to take action. I started thinking about my dream job, talking to people, doing research. Finally, the idea came to me in a yoga class (by one of our now Directory members), I thought ‘why don’t I bring all these stressed-out Londoners to the Southern French Alps and show them what life could be like’. I registered the business two weeks later.
I had to deal with Covid only 6 months after launching, but with the help of my best friend and business partner, Oonagh English, we managed to build what is now, one of the world’s fastest growing wellness platforms that’s attracting the likes of the Tatler Address Book and is actively enhancing lives in over 33 countries…only 10 months after launching. Our mission is to make the world of well-being more accessible to people worldwide, bringing them the best quality information and support in order to help them make better decisions for their well-being and shape their best life. Wellness isn’t a luxury, it’s something that we’re all entitled to and should work on every day. It’s been one hell of a journey, but it’s still only just the beginning and I couldn’t be more excited to see what the future holds for us.
Oonagh – I have suffered from anxiety and depression since childhood. This has lead me on a journey of inner reflection and self discovery. My own journey to finding physical and mental health lead me to discover how hard it can be to find the right education and support to fit your personal needs. When Beth, brought up the idea of creating Retreats that cater to all areas of life, I realised that this was the perfect way to create an environment for people to focus on personal development. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, we were forced to cancel our retreats but we still wanted to provide a supportive environment and a way for like minded people to come together and support one another. This inspired us to create The Circle and the rest is history.
You’ve had to pivot from your original plans due to the pandemic, what has been your biggest learning curve since then?
Beth – Probably that the world is constantly changing and you need to work hard to keep up with it. It also makes it exciting though as it brings about new ideas on how we can use our brand to help people, professionals and companies all over the world. The Circle, for instance, has been a result of the pandemic and is now the centrepoint of our audience’s activity, bringing together wellness enthusiasts in over 33 countries. Change must be seen as an opportunity, not a barrier and that’s something that we pride ourselves on.
Oonagh – The value of being flexible and being able to adapt. Before the pandemic, I would assume so many things about the future and based my plans on them. For example, that we would be able to run retreats how we had planned. Having to face the uncertainty of the world has helped us to create a model that caters to our community members while also honoring the uncertainty in the world at the moment.
How do you want your people to feel when working with you?
Beth – We want them to feel safe, supported and empowered. We take immense pride in our people as the brand is nothing without them and ‘you’re only as good as the people who work for you’. Our employees are regularly given raises and promotions (if they prove themselves of course) and normally get at least 50% off our retreats. We’re working to become one of the top companies to work for in the UK – we love working with passionate, motivated people and love to heavily reward them.
Talk us through your wheel of life and what this concept is…
Beth – We’ve looked at all the wellness models out there and have boiled them down to what we believe are the 6 key dimensions that make up our well-being, we call it the ‘Bien Etre model’. The dimensions are your mental and physical health (the two which we all know about), but also your social, spiritual, occupational and environmental. They’re all interconnected, meaning that they all affect each other and therefore they should all be worked on simultaneously if possible. A brief description of each dimension can be found on this page. And here’s a great article that sums up why they’re all so important.
The last 18 months have been testing for many, what advice would you offer to anyone trying to find joy in every day?
Beth – It might seem cliché, but the fact that we’re all still here, living a life in the 21st century is such a gift. Certainly, most people reading House of Coco have things to be grateful for, whether it’s a loving family or relationship, a good job, a working pair of arms and legs or simply the fact that we’re not in Afghanistan right now! There are so many joys that can be found in the everyday, you just need to look and appreciate what you have, and if you can’t find any, go out and make some!
Oonagh – I would also add that some days are simply not joyful. Sometimes just honoring how we feel can be the best thing. Allowing the grief, sadness and fear to be there and processing it so that we can move on. If our mind is full of anxiety, it doesn’t allow a lot of space for joy. Sometimes we can feel a lot of pressure to “be joyful” and “grateful” despite the trauma we might be going through. Being honest with ourselves can be the best way to move through it. If you feel stuck I would recommend finding an expert to support you through this whether that be a therapist, coach or health psychologist. At Bien Etre, many of our consultants offer free initial consultations, you can find out more about our experts and connect with them here: The Directory — Bien Etre (wearebienetre.com)
Looking back since launching your business, is there anything you would do different?
Beth – I’d maybe try to be more structured in our approach and business plan, but I’m not giving myself a hard time about it as we’ve had to evolve so quickly due to Covid and it’s definitely paid off. The key is to know your audience as much as you can and evolve with them over time.
Oonagh: Great question and a difficult one to answer. If we had known that there would be a pandemic and in person businesses would be essentially shut down. We would have primarily focused on growing the online community first. One of the biggest lessons we have learned over the last 18 months was to prepare for every eventuality.
Tell us more about what inspires you…
Beth – My dad – he’s a world-class mountaineer with Type 1 Diabetes – the perfect example of someone who has made his passion into his work by founding AlpBase: a holiday letting company in the Alps, and Action4Diabetes: Asia’s most successful charity for children with Diabetes. He loves every second of his life and prides himself on never experiencing ‘Monday morning blues’. He’s the one that taught me to ‘never give up’ and that ‘I can always do more than I think I can’.
Oonagh – For me, anyone who chooses growth over giving up inspires me. Sometimes the hardest thing can be to get out of bed in the morning and keep going. Sometimes simply surviving the day is the biggest accomplishment. The sky inspires me. It’s so vast and feels infinite. Whenever I feel trapped, I look at the sky.
If you could describe your brand in three words, what would they be?
Trustworthy – Inclusive – Inspirational
What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to launch their own wellness business?
Beth – A lot of people come to me and ask for advice about becoming a life/health coach. I always give them the same advice: make sure you have a solid personal brand and a good personal story to back it up. Then find your niche and make sure it’s only composed of your favourite type of person – people that you’re seriously passionate about helping. This can take time to figure out so try working with lots of different types of people to figure out who you prefer working with. Then…JUST START! So many people just hang around waiting for the ‘right moment’ to start their business. When the idea to start a business came to me in a yoga class one day, I didn’t wait around and registered the business two weeks later.
Oonagh – My advice, don’t give up at the first hurdle or indeed the 10th. Most people don’t succeed on their first try. I have failed so many times. Those experiences have helped shape my success.
Talk us through an average day in your life…
Beth – I try to make time for all dimensions of my well-being every day, so an average workday will look like this:
07:20 – I get up, make my herbs (prescribed by well-being Guru and Chinese Medicinal Herbalist, Nona Taylor from our Directory – and coincidentally Oonagh’s mum), and do at least 20mn of stretching and yoga to wake my body up. I also try to do a bit of meditation or just simply sitting and thinking of all the things that I’m grateful for. I don’t generally have breakfast (unless I’m doing a big physical activity that day such as surfing or skiing) as I’m never hungry in the mornings (which works well for intermittent fasting). Sometimes I might get peckish and have something on toast mid-morning.
08:00 – I catch up on emails for the first half hour and then work solidly through to about 13:00 – 13:30 with 10mn breaks at 1h intervals. This is because our brains are much more active and productive in the mornings, making it the best time to concentrate and get a load of work done. Apparently we can’t concentrate more than 3-4 hours a day and aren’t able to be productive for more than 6 hours a day, so I’ve built my whole schedule around this – and it definitely works for me!
13:00 – I make a healthy lunch and then go for a 30-45mn walk to digest and get some fresh air – I’ll generally listen to music or a podcast during this time. If I’m in an exotic location I’ll go skiing/surfing or do something fun in the afternoon. Otherwise I’ll come back from my walk, make a green tea, do some reading and then workout for about 30mn (I alternate my workouts based on the 8 types of physical fitness and try to incorporate all of them as much as possible.). I sometimes have a nice relaxing bath with lots of home-made salts and essential oils (as I’m also an Aromatherapist). Sometimes I get creative and make some homemade sprays, skin oils and other beauty products with my essential oils – it’s a small hobby of mine.
I then do another hour or so of work somewhere between 17:00 and 19:00 (as that’s when your brain’s concentration starts to go back up) and ensure that I’ve done everything I needed to do and catch up on emails.
19:00 – I’ll make myself a nice healthy dinner and then watch some netflix. I’ll go to bed around 22:30 and am very strict with this as I really need my 8 hours!
I’ve tried so many routines and this one works for me, but might not work for other people. The key is to try different things until you find the perfect routine. And don’t be influenced by all that 5am lot – what works for them might not work for you (I’ve tried it and definitely couldn’t keep it up!).
Oonagh – Honestly, I used to put so much pressure on myself to create a routine and be a certain way. Over the years I tried so many different things. What I find works for me now is to plan my day around my energy and inspiration. As an entrepreneur, my daily tasks will vary hugely depending on what projects I am working on at the moment. I love meditation and I always find some time in my day for my practice. I also make sure I do something for my mental health. This might be going for an energising walk in nature, talking to my coach or spending some time in my bed listening to my favourite audiobook, Harry Potter. I have learned over time what my energy fillers and what my energy drainers are and I balance those out throughout the day.
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
Quite a lot – we rely heavily on Instagram (as that’s where most of our consumers are) to paint the right image of our brand and values and have been through 8 different social media managers before finding the right person.
You’re very well traveled but which place really has your heart?
Beth – This is a difficult question as I’ve lived in three different countries (England, France and Netherlands). I feel both ‘at home’ in England and France, but what I’ve also uncovered along the way, is that my heart and home simply lie within myself – and this is very important when travelling. I’ve been working on myself and my self-love throughout my twenties as I used to get anxious about travelling far from home without my friends and family due to a lack of self confidence. But I’ve finally come to the realization that I am my own home and I can feel centred, at peace and at home wherever I am in the world because I believe in myself and am 100% comfortable in my own skin. It’s taken years to get to this place, but I’m so glad that I made the effort as it’s really paid off.
Oonagh: I would say my home land, Ireland. In particular West Cork. It’s rugged, wild and so nourishing. I love the fresh air, the smell of salt. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks. To me it’s home.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
Beth – Costa Rica – for the surfing, landscapes and biodiversity, and also where Oonagh and I are going for the whole month of May and we can’t wait!
What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?
I remind myself of everything that I’ve already accomplished and then I tell myself to “never give up”, and that “you can always do more than you think you can”.
Oonagh – “We are what we think, all that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world” Buddha
What’s next for you and the brand?
Beth – We can’t wait to get our retreats back up and running and are planning some Alpine retreats for our members next September! However, we’re also working on creating our own custom-made app, that will deliver even more value, support and information in an even more accessible way. Next year is going to be a very important year for us. We have so much in the pipeline and can’t wait to start helping even more people around the world.
What does self care mean to you?
Beth – This seems to be a confusing topic, and people generally associate it with physical self care (such as working out or taking a relaxing bath), but to me (and the message that we’re trying to get out there), is that it means taking care of each of the 6 dimensions of our well-being: physical, mental, spiritual, occupational, environmental and social. Only when we look after all dimensions simultaneously, do we achieve overall well-being, creating feelings of euphoria and fulfilment.
Oonagh -Self care is taking a good hard look at your life and figuring out why you are wound up in the first place. Why do you feel you need to “getaway” from your life for the weekend? Are there some things that you can change or is there an area you can get support in? Self care is getting enough sleep so that you’re not constantly exhausted. It’s eating delicious, nutritious food on a regular basis and making sure you’re drinking enough fluids. It’s doing things that allow you to maintain a baseline state of peace and relaxation.
Can you believe that we’re already half way through autumn? It’s such a great season, with autumnal colours on the trees, pumpkin latte’s in every coffee shop, and people wearing scarves. Equally, there are lots to shout about from a food and drink perspective too.
We’ve put together a roundup of the latest food and drink news, including product launches, increased product lines, limited editions and more. Enjoy!
Food
Mad Pies from Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory
Have pie-fection delivered to your door by ordering from the world famous Mad O’Rourke’s pie factory. Tipton in the West Midlands is where each pie is lovingly made and packaged before being sent fresh to your door. You can order a box of 6 pies for just £24. Pies include 100% Bullocks (Steak), Posh n Becks (Steak & Stilton), Hen Pecked (Chicken & Mushroom), Andy Murray (Chicken Curry), Wham Bam Thank You Lamb (Minted Lamb), and Jack The Lad (Jackfruit & Mushroom). Available from Mad Pies Online.
Merchant Gourmet
The leading pulses and grains brand, Merchant Gourmet has launched a new limited-edition pouch this autumn: Spiced Grains & Chestnuts with Wild Rice & Cranberries, priced at £2.00 (250g). Flavoured with a mix of warming herbs and spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, rosemary and thyme, this limited-edition pouch containing pearl barley, wild rice, chestnuts and cranberries will make every dish taste wonderful. Available from Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
Cocos Organic, Plant-Based Coconut Yoghurt
Cocos Organic is an independent and family-run dairy free brand that produces delicious and functional coconut food and drink products in Britain, launching with the first UK-owned organic coconut yoghurt alternative. Yoghurt alternative flavours include Mixed Berry, Mango & Passionfruit, Strawberry, Vanilla, and Natural. Priced at £4.99 (400g) select flavours available from Ocado and all flavours available from Cocos Organic.
The Groovy Food Company
There are a variety of baking products that you can purchase at The Groovy Food Company including Organic Agave Nectar (£2.50 from Waitrose, Ocado, H&B, Sainsbury’s and Tesco), Organic Coconut Oil (£3.99 from Ocado and Waitrose), and Organic Coconut Flour (£3.50 from H&B, Ocado, H&B, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons) to name just a few. These three baking essentials are what you will need to make your very own Lotus Biscoff Millionaires Shortbread along with some more ingredients. Full recipe at the bottom of this round-up!
Oppo Brothers Ice Cream
Oppo Brothers Ice Cream, the indulgent, feel good ice cream brand has served up a staggering 10 million scoops of ice cream to its loyal fans throughout summer 2021 …and it doesn’t seem to be wavering as we enter the colder months. So, why not try their newly launched flavour, Cookies & Cream, which sit alongside their existing range of low calorie ice creams including Caramel Cookie, Colombian Chocolate & Hazelnut, Chocolate Brownie, Double Salted Caramel Swirl, Vanilla Pecan Praline Crunch, and Double Salted Caramel Swirl Vegan. Available from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado, and Amazon. Priced between £3 – £4.99 per tub.
SimpleFoods
New, healthy, and sustainable frozen food brand, SimpleFoods brings gourmet, chef-made food to your door. Offering restaurant-quality food, you can mix and match ready-to-heat portions to create the perfect meal. High quality nutrition, a mindful approach to sourcing ingredients, and reducing the amount of food and packaging waste are three of the brand’s key pillars. You can order 9, 15, or 24 portions, prices range between £2.95 – £5.50, from SimpleFoods.
itsu
The Asian-inspired healthy food brand itsu will be launching a new limited-edition Christmas gyoza bringing all the best flavours together into a gorgeous gyoza. soft steamed dumplings filled with juicy turkey, pork, bacon, sage and cranberry. They’re perfect on a party food platter, as a starter, dipped in soy, or simply thrown into stir-fries. Available from Waitrose and Ocado, priced at £3.75 (for 12 dumplings).
Drinks
New Breed Bottle Shop
Long time friends Neil Datta and Mikey O’Kane had a dream to open a bottle shop stocking labels and brands impossible to find in a supermarket or the high street. As a specialist retailer of under-the-radar bottles their range includes spirits & cocktails, craft beers (over 200 on rotation) and wines, including a great selection of natural and biodynamic. So, if you want to treat yourself to something a little bit special, you can order a subscription package either monthly or quarterly at £50 each order. Craft beers include 7-10 bottles and cans, mixed wines include 3 bottles, ales will have 7-10 bottles and cans, red wines include 3 bottles, and white wines include 3 bottles. They also stock cocktails and spirits at differing prices. Available from New Breed.
Pure Oaty from Glebe Farm
The purest British oats are used to make PureOaty Plant-Based Drink by Glebe Farm. Perfect in a homemade barista-style coffee, on your favourite cereal, or in a tasty smoothie. With only 4 natural ingredients including British oats, water, sunflower oil and salt this is one of the cleanest plant-based drinks around. Available from Amazon, Holland & Barrett, and Booths stores plus online with Glebe Farm Foods, £10.80 (6 x 1lt)
Wilfred’s Aperitif
A carefully crafted blend of distilled and extracted natural rosemary, bitter orange, rhubarb and clove. Wilfred’s is free from alcohol, allergens, artificial flavours, sweeteners and colours, vegan-friendly, and a naturally lower calorie aperitif. To be enjoyed over ice with a decent mixer such as tonic or similar – makes a refreshing spritz. £19 (500ml), from Wilfred’s Drinks.
Radnor Hills Infusions
Radnor Hills Infusions is crafted in the ancient county of Radnorshire in mid-Wales using their own spring water with a gentle sparkle, delicately infused with all-natural flavours and extracts! These infusions come in four flavours including Lemon & Mint, Raspberry & Black Cherry, Blackberry & Pomegranate, and Mango & Pineapple. All are sugar and sweetener free, are suitable for vegans, are preservative free, and are made with all-natural ingredients. Priced at £6.49 for pack of 4 (x 330ml cans each) Lemon & Mint or Raspberry & Black Cherry, from Radnor Hills or from various supermarkets.
Slingsby Blackberry Gin
Perfectly timed for the autumn season, Slingsby Gin recently launched their newest flavour, Blackberry Gin. Slingsby’s London Dry Gin base has been infused with Yorkshire blackberries and Harrogate’s world-famous water along with locally sourced botanicals and a handful of ingredients from around the world to produce this fruity gin. It makes the perfect ‘Mulledberry’ Gin Cocktail. Priced at £30 (70cl) from Slingsby Gin.
The Groovy Food Company Lotus Biscoff Millionaires Shortbread – Recipe
Preparation time – 25 minutes / Cooking time – 10 minutes
Ingredients • 90g The Groovy Food Company Organic Agave Nectar -Light Amber & Mild • 60g The Groovy Food Company Organic Coconut Oil • 200g The Groovy Food Company Organic Coconut Flour • 250g Biscoff Biscuit Spread • 150g Dark Vegan Chocolate • 2 Lotus Biscuits (crumbled) Method: • Combine the Flour, Oil and Agave in a large bowl into a rough dough. • Line square baking tin with greaseproof paper. • Tip the dough into baking tin, pressing evenly with the back of a spoon. • Put in freezer. • Weigh out your Biscoff Spread and melt over low heat in a small saucepan. • Remove tin with biscuit base out the freezer, pour in melted Biscoff Spread. • Put back in the freezer. • Melt chocolate in pan over low heat stirring constantly. Once melted let cool. • Take baking tin out of freezer and pour melted chocolate over it spreading evenly • Crumble lotus biscoff biscuits over the chocolate and press in gently. • Pop the tin in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow chocolate to set. Remove from freezer and slice up ready to serve.
The Seafood Bar is Soho’s hottest new opening, set within a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse on the iconic Dean Street, this stylish, elegant space serves up a fantastic selection of fresh, sustainable seafood, without the high price tag.
Hailing originally from Amsterdam, this family-owned restaurant group is hoping to make their mark in London and replicate the success they have had in the Netherlands. Founded in 2012, the original Amsterdam restaurant was opened by Fons de Visscher, a fishmonger who had run his business for 27 years in his hometown of Helmond. What he doesn’t know about the catch of the day is not worth knowing. The London outpost is their fifth site and first international venture outside the Netherlands.
Whether you are new to the seafood scene or are a connoisseur, there is something for everyone at The Seafood Bar. The restaurants live by the ‘Lekkerbek’ philosophy (what might seem simple on the outside, is complicated on the inside), with unfussy dishes on the menu which allow the fish to speak for itself. All feature the freshest, seasonal produce, with shellfish taking centre stage.
Upon arrival we are greeted by the sommelier who swiftly recommends we don’t have the champagne but instead start our evening with a glass of Ferrari Trento DOC, a Blanc de Blanc that is perfectly creamy and dry. Bubbles dancing on my tongue with every sip, I’m converted. This arrives with one of the restaurant specialities, Maldon and West Mersea oysters. Both are delicious and distinct in taste. The Maldon offering a meatier taste while the West Mersea is fresh and full of cucumber tones.
Next up was the Sea bass ceviche, plump, juicy slices of fish marinated in lime and topped with chilli and coriander. Bursting with flavour this simple combination is both unbelievably fresh and tasty.
Highly recommended is La Plancha grill, a selection of crustaceans and fish that includes a half lobster, shrimp, squid, slip sole, king prawn, salmon and seabass fillet – all served with mussels in a light tomato sauce. This dish is probably best shared or skip the starter as the portion size is generous. I’d suggest you order a side of bread to mop up the tasty sauce. My guest opted for mussels cooked French style with white wine, garlic and cream. They didn’t disappoint, the bowl of delectable, meaty orange jewels pop with flavour. I’m quickly buying into the ‘Lekkerbek’ philosophy.
An array of quality wines from across the world are perfectly paired with The Seafood Bar menu, including Ruinart Champagne, Austrian Grüner Veltliner, and Provençal rosé wines.
Sustainable seafood is at the heart of The Seafood Bar. The de Visschers have huge respect for the environment and maintain close relationships with producers to ensure all seafood is sourced ethically and sustainably. Most recently, The Seafood Bar partnered with Nordic Blu to source the world’s most sustainably farmed salmon. The founding family not only looks to contribute to the preservation of healthy fish stocks by sourcing sustainably, they are also making other changes to minimise the restaurants’ environmental impact.
It’s early doors, but as the restaurant begins to fill you can see that it is going to be a Soho success. The space is a mixture of exposed brickwork and white clean surfaces peppered with quirky neon lights and signs. It feels cool but without trying too hard. The basement bar has a different vibe, perfect for a cocktail and smaller plates. There’s a schedule of events planned that will include late night oyster parties.
Reservations can be made at The Seafood Bar or call 020 7734 5656
Welcome to the month where things begin to change both weather-wise and on the food front. Some of us still cling to long lazy summer days and others are ready to embrace the fast-approaching autumnal season. We start to see less salads and more hearty dishes on restaurant menus. With a new season on the horizon it brings lots of exciting food and drink launches.
Food News
HECK – Pork Italia Sausages, Posh Chicken Nuggets, and Flexitarian Burgers & Sausages
HECK has done it again, they’ve launched even more sausages and burgers to their already bustling array of meaty and veggie goodness. This time, they have added chicken nuggets into the HECK family alongside some new flexi additions. New products include chicken, minted pea & spinach burgers, chicken, red pepper & feta burgers, posh piri piri chicken nuggets, posh chicken Italia nuggets, pork Italia sausages, and a few different chipolatas. Prices vary between £2 – £3, available from the end of September from Tesco, and HECK
Nush Foods – Dairy Free Mango and Passionfruit Yog and Dairy Free Chocolate Fudge Pots
Nush has launched their Dairy Free Mango & Passionfruit Yogs along with their Dairy Free Almond Milk Chocolate Fudge Chocolate Pots. The choc pots are made with delicious almond milk, sweetened with fruit rather than nasty sugars, mixed with quality Belgian chocolate powder and lots of live cultures. The mango and passionfruit dairy free yogs are made with almond milk, are free from refined sugar, and are packed with live cultures. Priced at £2.99 (350g mango & passionfruit yog), and £3.00 (2 x 75g choc pots), from Ocado, visit Nush Foods
Crabtree & Evelyn – Small Batch Olive Oil from the Greece Collection
Crabtree & Evelyn has just launched the brand’s Exploration series – Greece, which includes this amazing small batch olive oil. Cold extracted by a family-run olive mill in Kefalonia, using certified organic farming techniques. It offers a rich, distinctive flavour perfect for dipping bread into or drizzling over a Greek salad. Priced at £22.50 (500ml), from Crabtree & Evelyn
H. Forman & Son, Smoked Salmon and Smoked Salmon Pâté
The news from H. Forman & Son is that you can now buy their delicious London Cure Smoked Salmon and Oak Smoked Salmon Pâté at Waitrose. So, next time you are doing your weekly shop or you nip into Waitrose you can pick up some outstanding quality smoked salmon whilst in store. Priced at £6 (100g Salmon) and £4 (225g pâté), from Waitrose. Visit H. Forman & Son to find out more.
Moving Mountains – Fish Fillet
The Moving Mountains® Plant-Based Fish Fillet is 100% free of microplastics and mercury and has 10g of protein and 4.5g of fibre per 100g. It has a succulent, flaky texture and is coated in golden, crunchy panko breadcrumbs and it can be enjoyed as a direct swap for the traditional variety. Priced at £4 from Ocado
Feast Your Eyes on Food – Book Launch
This brand new book has been written by Laura Gladwin and Zoe Barker. A unique food encyclopedia stacked with over 1,000 delicious things to eat from across the world. This is a great book for the whole family to read to find out about the history of certain foods. Discover how cheese is made and find out what it is about onions that make you cry as well as a host of other surprising facts you didn’t know about food, from pasta and cakes to fruits and vegetables. Priced at £20, from Magic Cat Publishing, available at Waterstones and all good bookshops.
Drink Update
Rapscallion Soda
Specialist soft drink company and Scottish trailblazers Rapscallion Soda are on a mission to get people across the UK drinking better. The Glasgow-based brewers who use fresh, natural ingredients to create delicious low-calorie soft drinks have launched their first subscription service. Now the whole household can replace aspartame-filled diet drinks with sodas made from raw, vitamin rich ingredients every day. Available in a number of flavours including C_01 Ginga Ninja, C_02 Burnt Lemon, C_03 Dry Lime, S_01 Rhubarb, S_02 Strawberry, and S_03 Cranachan. Prices vary between subscription services, available from Rapscallion Soda
Tanqueray – Holistay Kit and Cocktail Porter
You can discover Tanqueray’s different flavours in this collection from around the world. The Holistay Kit contains three Tanquerary minis including Blackcurrant Royale, Flor de Sevilla, and Rangpur Lime. The box surprises you with all the required bontanicals and dried fruits ready to make a selection of cocktails at home. Also, there are two Tanqueray balloon glasses within the Cocktail Porter box, two bottles of Double Dutch Premium Tonic, and a Tanqueray Gin Passport, which offers cocktail recipes and a QR code to access specific DJ curated playlists. Priced at £32.95, from Cocktail Porter
Bacardi Spiced – Apple & Ginger Cocktail
Bacardi Spiced is a delicious vanilla, woody and honey flavoured rum with a lasting spicy finish of cinnamon and nutmeg. This cocktail is an autumnal dream, which also gives a black pepper and fudgy feel to it, perfect for late September into October.
To make this cocktail you will need 50ml BACARDI Spiced Rum, 50ml apple juice, 50ml ginger ale, 2 dashes Angostura Bitters (optional) and 1 lime wedge. Firstly chill a highball glass with ice, secondly build all your ingredients into the cold glass. Finally squeeze your lime wedge and add the Angostura Bitters (if using), stir, and garnish with the lime wedge. Enjoy! Priced at £19.50 (100cl), from Asda and all high street supermarkets.
Aber Falls – Welsh Whisky
Aber Falls Single Malt Welsh Whisky was released just a few weeks ago, you don’t want to miss out! This is a rich and full-bodied whisky, crafted with passion in North Wales. Aber Falls is an amber gold distilled spirit with an aroma of vanilla and toffee, candied citrus fruits, fig, sultana, and a hit of cloves. It gives the drinker sweet sherry notes with forest fruit flavours, dark chocolate, nuts, creamy malt, and espresso coffee. Simply divine! Priced at £26 (70cl), available from Aber Falls Distillery, order your bottle now.
