Food News June 2011
Urban grapes, very good veal and an ingenious new food app are just a few of the things that have caught Delia Online editor’s eye this month. By Jo Hill.
Chateau Tooting?
As someone who lives in Tooting, I was intrigued to learn about this wine, so went along for a tasting and was pleasantly surprised to find how quaffable it was. The idea behind The Urban Wine Company is a fun one: the company is a bit like a cooperative, with people supplying grapes from across London, grown in their gardens and on allotments. The grapes are harvested then taken to a professional vineyard to be turned into wine, which members then receive a share of (with personalised labels). If you’ve got a glut of grapes and live in London, then get in touch with them at www.urbanwineco.com
A very fine malt whisky
Sticking with booze, I recently tried a new single malt whisky from Glenmorangie, recreating a whisky that dates back to the 1900s when it was served in the American bar at the Savoy Hotel in London. Finealta means ‘elegant’ in Gaelic and this lovely whisky certainly is, with definite vanilla flavour as well as caramel citrus notes, plus a hint of peat. The second in Glenmorangie’s Private Edition series, it retails at £65.99 from specialist retailers. A great choice for Father’s Day and beyond...
Very good veal...
For years I eschewed veal on the grounds of animal welfare, but have become a recent convert now that it’s responsibly farmed. Donald Russell (www.donaldrussell.com) has introduced a range of tender, succulent veal steaks, all hand-selected from farms where welfare and quality come first. All vacuum-packed, the veal comes in various forms: 4 rib-eye steaks, £30 (introductory offer £27); 2 T-bone steaks, £18 (intro offer £15) and 2 veal club steaks, £16 (intro offer £13). Brilliant for the barbecue, but I pan-fried them instead and they were really excellent.
Top tomatoes from Italy!
Did you know that CIRIO is Italy’s leading tomato brand? I didn’t either, but when you taste their products the depth of flavour really shines through. The tomatoes are harvested from 10 Italian regions and are available in a variety of formats. Passata – recently launched in 3 x 200g single serve packs as well as 1-litre bottles – is ideal for bakes and dishes such as aubergine parmigiana, where the thick passata provides a rich sauce. The CIRIO range also includes canned chopped and peeled tomatoes, tomato puree - available in tubes and NEW 4 x 70g single serve pots - and a really good Garlic & Onion Salsina, which is a brilliant alternative to pizza sauce. All products are available from major supermarkets.
Sweet treats, supersized!
MILKYBAR buttons are now available giant-sized, in a sharing bag, great for sharing with friends, giving this popular white chocolate bar a new dimension. I have to say, they didn’t last long in my house...yum! £1.89 for 150g.
In Rude Health
Rude Health is a favourite brand of mine as their cereals are so delicious as well as being free from all additives etc. They’ve recently introduced a new granola, which is a blend of barley, oats and spelt, baked with honey and date syrup with crushed strawberries and raspberries added. Soil Association certified as organic, it’s a range well worth getting to know. £4.99 for 475g. It is also available online at www.rudehealth.co.uk and from independent health food shops and delis across the country.
Cheddar to gorge on...
As dieters will know, cheese in general is a bit of a no-no if you’re trying to shift a few pounds. As a cheese lover, I was therefore delighted to try new Davidstow Cornish Classic Lighter, which has a massive 30% less saturated fat than full-fat Cheddar. It doesn’t compromise on taste or texture though, offering a full, rounded, nutty flavour and good crumbly texture; £3.99 for 345g from Tesco and Dairy Crest milkmen. For more Davidstow news, head to http://blog.davidstowcheddar.co.uk/
Can I eat it?
SuperMarketOwnBrandGuide has launched an app for the iphone that offers a unique food and drink barcode scanner, allowing shoppers to check the suitability – on religious, dietary, ethical or health grounds – of over 50,000 products from all supermarkets. You simply enter your personal criteria then when you scan an item, you’ll see either a thumbs up or thumbs down image. Can I eat it? also has a special VoiceOver accessibility function for the blind and visually impaired. Available from the App store for £1.79, this ingenious app is already in the best sellers lists in several categories.
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