Food and drink news

Our editor introduces her pick of the latest products, with more than a few award winners among them!

Lemony loveliness
Nothing beats Delia’s lemonade on a hot day, but if you haven’t got time to make it the next best thing has to be Gran Stead’s Traditional Still Lemonade (which is also available with a zing of ginger, which I loved). You won’t believe how quickly these lovely still drinks disappear; enjoy them with plenty of ice...or even a shot of vodka! Not surprisingly, the lemonade – which contains just water, sugar and lots of lovely Sicilian lemon juice - won gold at last year’s Great Taste Awards; buy it at farm shops, delis or Fortnum & Mason or from www.GranSteadsGinger.co.uk (£2.15 for 75cl or £27.50 for a case of 12 x 75cl bottles, including p&p).

 Just So!
A Surrey company has put together a range of fabulous condiments, called Just So Jellies. I loved their rosemary jelly with lamb chops, but my absolute favourite was chilli – a gorgeous, orange-coloured jelly with flecks of chilli suspended in it; it proved to the be the most brilliant addition to a top-quality sausage (see below) in a baguette for lunch. Try them – you won’t be disappointed. £3.50 from specialist shops and online at www.justsojellies.co.uk

 Sausages that hit the spot
Those who’ve read my latest blog will know what my credentials are when it comes to a good sausage: natural casings, meaty texture, plenty of flavour and juicy succulence. These sausages from Edwards of Conwy (The Traditional Sausage Company)are a Wales the True Taste Award-winner and offers 30 sausage varieties: whether you choose Pork and Cracked Black Pepper or, my favourite, Pork and Chilli, they will be ideal for those summer barbecues, and you can rest assured that you’re eating quality meat with no ‘nasties’. £3.32 for 454g pack; order on 01492 592443 or from www.edwardsofconwy.co.uk

 A sweet idea
Monty Bojangles’ sweets took me straight back to childhood, when it was a Sunday afternoon treat to visit the local sweetshop for ‘a quarter of this’ and ‘a quarter of that’. (My favourites were toffee bonbons and teacakes.) This new, retro-style range includes such old-timers as Cola Cubes, Sherbet Pips and White Mice (from £1.19), brought bang up to date with stylish yet retro packaging, pink-and-white striped paper bags and a metal scoop to complete the nostalgia trip. Would be great for a child’s party or ironic addition to an adult one: just serve bowls of sweets on the table after dessert and let everyone ‘pick’. Available from Waitrose. Visit www.whoismontybojangles.com

Restaurants set to make UK a global leader in sustainability
Until now, it has been hard to know how much restaurants are doing to address the issue of sustainability, but the recent launch of the independent Sustainable Restaurant Association has already attracted a raft of leading eateries including Carluccio’s, Benares, Le Manoir au Quat’Saisons, all of which are keen to stress their ethical credentials, focusing on the sourcing and transportation of the foods they cook. Food services and restaurant industries are responsible for a staggering 3 million tonnes of food waste annually, whilst restaurants throw out an incredible 600,000 tonnes of glass bottles a year. Seems this brilliant initiative couldn’t have come sooner. For more info visit www.thesra.org

 Duck for the barbecue!
Gressingham Duck is a unique breed known for its high quantity of breast meat along with a rich gamey flavour. I made Rick Stein’s Duck braised in Orange Juice, in which you slow-braise the duck with orange juice, lemongrass, star anise, chillies, garlic and ginger but it would also be brilliant for the barbecue, as it boasts a lower fat content than other breeds and thin, crispy skin: serve barbecued duck breasts in a bap, or cut the meat into chunks for juicy kebabs. Divine... £6.99/kg for a whole duck (Sainsbury’s and Tesco); £4.25 for 200g mini breast fillets from Sainsbury’s.

Starbucks, instantly...
I am not usually a fan of instant coffee, but was pleasantly surprised by the new Starbucks VIA TM Ready Brew 100% natural roasted coffee, which come in single-cup sachets. More finely ground than most instant coffees, they’re available in two varieties: medium, smooth Colombia and full-bodied, bold Italian Roast. Because they’re easily soluble the sachets are also great to use in cooking as they dissolve easily in hot or cold water, milk and cream. Give them a go – very useful if going away on a camping weekend and want to travel light. Introductory price: £1.20 (30p off) for a three pack or £4.45 for a pack of 12.

 A flat winner
Le Creuset has just added a 24cm crepe pan to its highly successful range of Toughened Non-Stick cookware, designed for easy, everyday cooking and even heat distribution. Unlike anything else I’ve ever used, the crepe pan has a completely flat surface, more akin to a griddle. Brilliant for pancakes, drop scones and Welsh cakes, it performed perfectly and, being non-stick, was easy to clean afterwards. Another winner for this popular brand. £61.30 from all good cookshops.

 In the black
Jersey Black Butter is well-known in the Channel Islands, but it was a new one on me as it’s just launched into the UK market. More like a damson cheese than anything else, it’s actually a preserve made from Jersey apples, cider and spices at the La Mare wine estate and won three Gold stars at last year’s Great Taste Awards. Use it in both sweet and savoury recipes – it made the most wonderful glaze for pork chops, and was also fantastic with clotted cream on home-baked scones. The range also includes chocolates, fudge and biscuits all of which had plenty of flavour. Visit www.jerseyblackbutter.com

 Bubbles galore!
Galaxy® is well-known for the smooth creaminess of its chocolate which makes it the perfect choice when chocolate cravings hit, but fans can now enjoy the wonderful Galaxy® Bubbles. Soft, creamy chocolate partnered with airy bubbles – a real treat at just 52p per bar. For further indulgence go to www.galaxychocolate.co.uk

 Grow your own dinner party with the National Trust
The National Trust has added a new app to its site - Grow your own dinner party – which helps first-time growers through every stage of growing their own, providing regular advice and seasonal recipe ideas as well as blogs and a Facebook page. A range of free Food Glorious Food events will be run at National Trust properties across the country to help people pick up the knowledge and supplies to kick-start their home-grown dinner party ideas - this will include giving away over 170 million free seeds and seedlings. To find your nearest property or to start your own dinner party visit www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk