Families all over town are talking in whispers about how worried they are about spending too much money over Christmas. Should we have the party? Can we really afford that bottle of expensive wine? How can we have a nice holiday without breaking the bank? Will we even have a bank next year? La Cucina Caldesi is coming in to save the day with their new “Frugal and Beginners Courses” for worried cooks.
It wasn’t long ago that David Hughes hand made his raspberry liqueur chocolates in a small upstairs room in his shop in Caerphilly, Wales. Minutes after the delicacies were ready for sale, they were brought downstairs for lucky visitors. This year, Hughes and his wife Susan moved their company into a 1,100 sq ft unit and increased their number of employees to five. They had to prepare for a large production increase after agreeing to supply forty-three Tesco stores with 12,000 chocolate bars a week. It’s the first time Castle Chocolates has agreed to sell their bars in a larger store.
You can be certain that a silverware company in business for three hundred years more than likely knows what they are doing. To celebrate this milestone, Sheffield manufacturer, Osborne Tableware, has created Magdalena, a 21st-century, contemporary design to hand down to generations. Also in celebration of their long-standing success, they are introducing a limited-edition range of cutlery. Can you guess the number of sets available? A clever three hundred. What fun!
Last year before Easter, Amnesty International expressed concern about the treatment of West African children forced to work on cocoa farms, in spite the world’s biggest chocolate companies pledging to eradicate forced child labour from their supply chain. With these sorts of unethical practices behind chocolate production, it makes sense to search out companies certified Fairtrade. Divine Chocolate, a UK Fairtrade chocolate brand, is offering some delightful products this year for you to give friends and family, knowing that a cooperative of 45,000 farmers have been paid fairly and own part of the company.
Everyone knows pistachios are delicious, but few people are aware of their health benefits. Containing only 3-4 calories each and more fibre and protein than any other nut, pistachios are a great, guilt-free snack. One 30g serving of Wonderful Pistachios contains more antioxidants than one cup of green tea and more lutein than three medium tangerines or a glass of orange juice. Wonderful Pistachios, the largest pistachios available from California, are rotary roasted and seasoned.
Mount Sushi is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to make delicious sushi in the comfort of your own home – plus loads of other Japanese and oriental food! Find Makisu Sushi Bamboo Rolling Mats priced at 80p – a saving of 27% – and Nagai’s Sushi Nori Seaweed for just £1.20, saving 25%.
London’s ExCeL centre in East London will be the setting for Gordon Ramsay’s ‘live” four-day Christmas theatre, a ‘Taste of Christmas.” Wine expert Olly Smith will start the entertainment, and Ramsay and his side-kick Sarge will bring lucky audience members on stage to sit at the tables of famous chefs.
If ever there was a time to really push the boat out and enjoy fine food at its best, Christmas is it. This year, truly satisfy the foodie connoisseur in you with family run Filippo Berio’s new Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil – the crème de la crème of oils.
Muswell Hill residents can find speciality foods in their own neighborhood now that owners of the Clissold Arms gastropub have opened a grocer next door. Sleepy commuters can stop by Clissold Grocer to pick up hand-roasted coffees and teas, breakfast pastries, homemade granola and freshly squeezed fruit juices.
Say goodbye to boring box lunches filled with sandwiches and potato crisps. At UP Box, menu items from twelve different countries offer city-workers an alternative to high-carbohydrate fayre. This week, Chef Ron Laity is adding a Japanese food box to the global menu.
