At long last we’re managing to experience a few sunny days, and the fruit and veg in the garden are starting to ripen.
Here are a few recommendations of products I’ve recently discovered:
Taste the Med with Unearthed
Unearthed® products are always reliably excellent, and the company has a new deli range that’s perfect for al fresco dining and picnics.
Available in major supermarkets, unearthed® Mediterranean deli range includes foodie discoveries including; olives, meats, antipasti, seafood, tortilla, sausage, pate, pastas, sauces and desserts. We’re fast becoming addicted to these chilli anchovies.
With the entire range, 1p per pack sold is donated to Action Against HungerUK. unearthed® products are widely available at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Co-Op and Ocado.
Look out too, for the new Pastel de Nata dessert products (in the freezer cabinets) and recent research by the company has indicated that the famous Spanish dish, paella has been voted the best loved holiday food of all time according to a poll of 2,000 Brits by unearthedⓇ.
Tempting Tempeh
Have you tried Tempeh?
It’s a brilliant plant based protein, as it’s made from natural, whole, fermented soybeans, making it gut-friendly and packed with prebiotic fibre.
It’s a great health hack to supercharge and augment your favourite dishes e.g. crumbled into bolognese, blended into pasta sauce, grated into smoothies, or chopped into stir fries and curries.
I recently tried Better Nature Tempeh and had great fun trying it in different recipes – it’s very tasty and versatile, widely available from Ocado, Tesco and Asda nationwide and very reasonably priced at around £2.70 a pack
Available in Smoky, Mediterranean and BBQ too. There are lots of recipe ideas on the website here
Infused with Wellness from Whittard
Whittard of Chelsea has launched a wellness botanical infusion range which features new blends that are infused with added vitamins and minerals.
Perfect for an energised morning kick or a nighttime soother, there’s something for everyone in the new line which includes Sleep, Glow, Defence, Digest, Relax and Boost.
£6 a pack from Whittard of Chelsea
Top Gin from Tesco Finest
I was delighted to discover that Tesco has an own-label gin that compares very well indeed with many of the artisan gins, but it is considerably lower in price.
Tesco Finest The Melodist is a London Dry, a blend of botanicals sourced from around the world; notes of classic juniper, coriander seed and angelica work in harmony with top notes of yuzu and green tea for a distinctive, characterful spirit.
It’s crafted in partnership with the Master Distiller at The Two Tykes distillery.
Serve with tonic water over ice with a slice of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary.
It’s great value at £21.25 for a 70cl bottle, but currently on offer to clubcard holders at just £18
Hello Sunshine with Vina Sol
Torres Vina Sol is one of my favourite white wines.
It’s so reliable and, for me, brings happy memories of holidays in Mallorca.
Crafted from grapes grown in the sun-kissed coastal vineyards of Catalonia in the North East of Spain, award-winning Viña Sol wines truly capture the spirit of summer.
But until recently I’d only tried the original blend, the one that’s been a crowd pleaser since 1962.
There are now two new varieties and they are fab: Torres Viña Sol Rosado Rosé 2023, £8.99 from Waitrose has a delicate raspberry hue and notes of redcurrant.
It’s ideal for barbecues and sunset sipping and stands out amongst other rosés with a pink peppercorn finish that complements seafood, fish and rice-based dishes.
Torres Viña Sol Sauvignon Blanc 2022, £7.75 from Tesco and Morrisons, is perfect for enjoying with friends at the end of a long day.
A pale yellow colour, with subtle golden highlights, it’s delicate on the nose, revealing aromas of passion fruit. The palate is light, pleasant, fresh, and silky.
Gelato Perfetto
It was National Ice Cream Day the other day, so the chance to have some Venchi gelato was too good to miss.
The story of Venchi dates back to 1878 when Silviano Venchi, a 20-year-old chocolate enthusiast from Turin, spent his savings buying two bronze cauldrons to experiment with chocolate.
Today, Venchi is internationally recognised, with over 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gelato flavours, sold in more than 70 countries through over 180 stores worldwide… including, of course, Richmond.
Venchi makes gelato on site in the stores the traditional Italian way, using fresh milk, Venchi’s own chocolate, PGI Piedmont hazelnuts and DOP Bronte green pistachios (transporting you to Sicily in one taste).
Venchi gelato is also totally free from artificial colourings, flavourings, preservatives and palm oil. Venchi’s gelato flavours include Cremino, Nougatine, Stracciatella, Tiramisu, Mango, Cappuccino and so many more – and there are vegan options too, such as Extra DarkGianduiotto gelato flavour.
Price-wise, Venchi gelato is surprisingly reasonably priced for the quality, and the perfect treat on a hot day.
Fun Fizz from Cawston Press
Rhubarb is quickly becoming a trending flavour for 2024, due to its unique tartness and vibrant pink colour, and is included in this year’s Kerry Taste Chart as one of the fastest growing flavours.
Rhubarb has also become popular in alcoholic drinks and cocktails, now being found in cocktails in 34% of bars, up from 18% in 2022.
Cawston Press blends pressed juice to make the very best tasting fizzy Rhubarb drink, one that you can serve chilled on its own, or as a Rhubarb mixer, served with vodka or gin on a summer’s day when making a cocktail. It’s also perfect for mocktails.
Inspired by British summertime flavours, it’s made with natural ingredients and contain no artificial sweeteners, colours or preservatives. Naturally gluten free, it’s suitable for vegans, and only 70 calories a can. Around £1 per can and widely available.
Top Notch Chocs from Cox & Co
I’m a dark chocolate aficionado, and having judged The Academy of Chocolate Awards for many years, can recognise quality.
I’ve found a great new single origin dark chocolate brand: Cox & Co. It’s available in 100% paper packaging, making it not only a delicious choice, but an eco-friendly one.
It’s also Great Taste Award-winning, and vegan-friendly.
There are three flavours in the range: Bee Pollen & Honey, Miso & Caramel and Mint Crunch.
Available from coxandcocacao.com, Ocado and Amazon from around £3-4 for a 70g bar
