If Fairtrade Fortnight (February 23 to March 8, 2009) spurs you to seek more fairly traded food, look no further than Essential Trading. The British co-operative business sells hundreds of Fairtrade foods from pulses to peanut butter, cereals to soups, chocolate spread to sprouting seed mix. the range is diverse. Essential sells a number of leading vegetarian, vegan, organic and fairtrade brands plus its own Essential brand of larder staples such as tahini, vegan pesto, quinoa, chocolate spreads, nuts, soups, fruit mixes and biodynamic herbal teas to name a few.

If fine food and drink excites you then a visit to the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair will be sure to live up to your idea of foodie heaven.The Country Living Magazine Spring Fair takes place from 11-15 March 2009 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London. From handmade chocolate and cheeses to oatcakes and organic produce, there is a wide variety of foods to suit all tastes and visitors can try before they buy!

If you like chocolate, {Hello Girls) then the MARS hot chocolates range should make you go all gooey with delight. With four flavours to choose from : Moment du Chocolat Gourment (that’s French btw), GALAXYCreamy Hot Chocolate, MALTESERS Malted Hot Chocolate and MARS Hot Chocolate.

With the demise of my favourite butchers, (Meat City in Clerkenwell knocked down by developers) the search for a decent sausage has been a hard one. I don’t like to walk to far after all. Good news then that Debbie and Andrew Keeble from Yorkshire have sausages that sort the gourmets from the gourmands with the best British bangers made only with lean British pork shoulder, breadcrumbs, herbs and seasoning.

The young chocolatier raised in a mining town has put together a valentine selection exploding with flavour and romance. Paul A Young’s collection includes delicate chocolate roses infused with essential oil of English rose, a red heart gift box, a love heart cube and love bites filled with sultry combinations like passion fruit and vanilla or black raspberry liquer.

2nd February 2009 marked the start of the ‘New Season’ for New Zealand Lamb here in the UK, reminding lamb-lovers nationwide that their favourite meat is widely available. New Zealand’s climate ensures that lamb is available for UK customers virtually all year round. It also complements a range of other seasonal, springtime vegetables, such as new potatoes, tomatoes and purple sprouting broccoli.

The UK’s hottest Indian cookery school has created a special event for Valentine’s Day. Chef Monisha Bharadwaj will cook you a romantic Indian supper using fresh ingredients. Enjoy the evening dining in an exotic, relaxed ambience with that special someone. Watch Monisha cook her favourite recipes for you and enjoy a sumptuous 3-course meal that you will never get to eat in any restaurant! Chat with Monisha as she cooks and pick up tips on how to recreate the special flavours at home.

Think Valentines night is cheesy? Then celebrate at La Cave a Fromage. As an alternative to the usual rather unoriginal dinner for two they’re ’re holding a cheese tasting at their South Kensington shop for loved up couples who enjoy a piece of fine quality fromage.

Mymuesli has launched a limited edition Valentine’s Day ‘Love Crunch’ for cereal romantics wanting to tantalise their lover’s taste buds between the sheets this Valentine’s Day.’Love Crunch’ is just what cupid ordered, packed with sensuous and healthy organic ingredients to lift the libido and nourish the heart. And all this goodness comes delivered in specially designed ‘l love you’ packaging.

Thorntons have added to their hugely successful range of Chocolate Blocks with a limited edition honey & chilli bar launched for Valentines Day. If you fancy spicing things up on the most romantic day of the year then the chilli chocolate block in its colourful packaging is ideal. The fruity overtones of the intense, single origin 66% Mexican dark chocolate, perfectly complement the subtle warmth of the real chilli infusion.