Heather’s Food & Drink Hot List
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THE COCKTAILS:
Moth Cocktails
Sometimes a lazy Friday night calls for an easy-to-make cocktail, and Moth makes some of the best canned ones out there. These days, there are eight Moth cocktails to choose from: Margarita, Espresso Martini, French 75, Mojito, Piña Colada, Aperitivo Spritz, Negroni and Old Fashioned. My favourites are the almost sherbet-y French 75, which is a pretty pink colour and feels celebratory, and the Aperitivo Spritz, which is already getting me in the mood for summer. You can get packs of six, 12 or 24 cans delivered to your door.
Visit MothDrinks.com
THE MIDWEEK MEAL HACK:
Stocked
I’ve recently discovered Stocked, a colourfully packaged collection of award-winning, chef-cooked, nutritious meals frozen into perfectly portioned blocks. Ready to eat in just three minutes, think of them as batch cooking without the hassle. Each pack contains eight portioned blocks made using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Some of my hero dishes in the range include Chicken Tinga, Sausage Arrabbiata and Harissa Jackfruit, which are each enough for two to three meals – with zero waste.
Visit StockedFood.com
THE AFTERNOON LIFT:
Trip
Need an afternoon energy lift in the office? Look to Trip’s CBD-tinged canned drinks. Non-alcoholic, gluten free, vegan and with no added sugar, each drink is refreshing, lightly sparkling and infused with natural adaptogens for a chilled lift. If you’re new to the brand, try the mixed case, which includes all three flavours: Elderflower Mint, Peach Ginger and Lemon Basil. The latter is my favourite, thanks to subtle, herbal basil notes that add an extra hit of freshness.
Visit Drink-Trip.com
THE NON-ALCOHOLIC OPTION:
Arva Spritz
Arva has launched a pair of non-alcoholic spritzes which contain no artificial flavours, colours or caffeine. The yuzu and pear spritz offers a refreshing sip thanks to the layered, tangy notes of Japanese yuzu juice, oil and essence, whereas the lychee and hibiscus spritz has a bold flavour profile with slightly bitter floral notes. Elegantly bottled, both are best served chilled – give them a light shake and pour over ice into a pretty glass.
Visit DrinkArva.com
THE SNACKS:
Olly’s
Olly's is fast becoming my snack brand of choice. I particularly love its pretzel thins, which are a delicious, healthier alternative to crisps, with flavours including original salted, sweet chilli, sour cream and onion, and cheese. For a weekend treat, the white chocolate-covered pretzel thins offer that unbeatable sweet-and-salty combination. Some will also know Olly's for its snack-sized packets of olives – I love the lemon and thyme flavour, which are the perfect accompaniment to an at-home martini.
Visit Ollys-Ollys.com
THE CHIC CIDER:
Showerings Cider
This season, Showerings has launched a luxury triple vintage cider. Produced in Somerset, the home of British cider making, this is an elegantly dry, gently carbonated cider created using techniques requiring as much experience and attention to detail as those used in the creation of fine wines. Naturally golden in colour with distinctive bittersweet flavours complemented by notes of hazelnut, cedarwood, red apple and apricot, each bottle combines the complexity of wine with refreshing character of cider – making it a great dinner party pairing with a twist.
Visit ShoweringsCider.co.uk
THE GADGET:
Zwilling Milk Frother
Zwilling has introduced a stylish milk frother to its range. Quick and easy to use, the gadget comes in a sleek silver or black finish. Best of all, it can be used with plant-based milks and for making both hot and cold drinks. The frother comes with two interchangeable attachments for stirring and foaming milk for lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates, milkshakes and mochas. At home, I’ve been using it to make excellent matcha lattes on lazy Sundays.
Visit Zwilling.com
THE CELEBRATORY LAUNCH:
Ottolenghi 20th Anniversary Tin
It’s 20 years of Ottolenghi this month. Yotam and the team are marking the milestone anniversary with a collection of limited-edition products, dishes and sweet treats, available online and in all Ottolenghi sites from 12th April. The Ottolenghi 20 Celebratory Tin, designed by long-time collaborator Ivo Bisignano, will act as a colourful keepsake, purchasable alone or filled with a selection of special products created by head baker Verena Lochmuller – think black lime truffles, white chocolate clusters, and black and white sesame seed milk chocolate brittle. The centrepiece is an eye-catching Ottolenghi Battenberg – a strawberry and sumac sponge and pistachio and cardamom sponge, sandwiched beneath a thin layer of marzipan and pistachio paste.
Visit Ottolenghi.co.uk
THE CROCKERY:
Dishoom
Dishoom has released a crockery collection featuring vintage-style plates, bowls, teacups and saucers in the familiar blue chintz design on which the group’s famed breakfast has been served for more than a decade. As well as being available to buy as individual pieces, a set of two plates will be available in a bundle alongside Dishoom’s much-loved breakfast naan kits. For every kit bought, Dishoom donates a meal to Magic Breakfast in the UK and The Akshaya Patra Foundation in India.
Visit Store.Dishoom.com
THE COOKWARE:
HexClad
I first heard about HexClad when I interviewed David Gandy about his favourite interiors buys earlier this year. He really sold the brand – and now I have one of its next-level pans of my own. HexClad was founded in 2017 with a mission to ‘help every chef feel badass’ and create the world’s most durable and sustainable hybrid cooking pan – that didn’t flake, chip or peel like existing non-stick products. The pan combines the performance of stainless steel, durability of cast iron and convenience of non-stick pans, meaning home and professional chefs – like Gordon Ramsay, who’s also a fan – have access to a reliable product that stands the test of time (each comes with a lifetime warranty). Best of all, the pans are dishwasher and metal utensil safe.
Visit HexClad.co.uk
THE CAFFEINE FIX:
The Libra
Artisan Coffee Co’s newest launch, The Libra, is the brand’s first half-caff coffee, delivering all the flavour but with half the caffeine – ideal for anyone prone to coffee jitters. Sharing the same intensity and complexity as the existing range, The Libra combines 50% Swiss-water decaffeinated beans and 50% Artisan’s caffeinated speciality bean blend. The decaffeination process is chemical free, using only water and temperature to gently filter out the coffee without diluting the coffee’s original characteristics of milk chocolate, hazelnut and caramel. As the perfect 50:50 balance between caffeinated and decaf coffee, The Libra is designed to be enjoyed well into the afternoon.
Visit ArtisanCoffeeCo.com
THE POP-UP:
Ivan Ramen
Ivan Orkin – otherwise known as Michelin-starred Ivan Ramen – has opened a pair of ramen pop-ups in the UK for the first time. The Chef’s Table star has launched his Ivan Mazemen menus at Neighbourhood (formerly Sessions Market) in Islington and Shelter Hall in Brighton. Mazemen is a broth-less ramen which has been a staple at Ivan’s Tokyo and NYC outposts. His latest must-try menu includes triple chicken triple garlic mazemen (fresh garlic, roasted garlic, garlic oil, paitan broth and chicken), katsu curry mazemen (panko breaded chicken breast, Japanese curry, thick rye noodles and assorted fukujinzuki) and cold sesame noodles (chilled szechuan chicken, roasted peppers, preserved chilli and coriander). I’ve been back twice for the triple chicken and it keeps getting better.
Visit Sessions.co.uk
THE COOKBOOK:
Salad Pizza Wine
The team behind the award-winning Montreal pizza joint Elena is set to release Salad Pizza Wine, a new cookbook full of easy-to-make takes on modern Italian dishes, including pizza, pasta, sandwiches, desserts. There’s even a chapter on natural wine. Readers will learn how to make two versatile doughs and use them to create fresh pasta and pizza at home. Best of all, perhaps, you can also learn how to make those excellent extras that really enhance a meal – from crunchy toasted breadcrumbs and multipurpose sauces to simple pickles and homemade cheeses.
Visit Amazon.co.uk
For more food, drink and restaurant ideas, follow Heather at @SteeleHeatherrr
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