Little Miss Foodie

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What Shall I Take With Me To That Dinner Party? August 21, 2009

Filed under: World of Wines — LittleMissFoodie @ 12:38 pm
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Who doesn’t want to feel different, special, and comfortable when you go to a dinner party, and really what can you bring with you If not another bottle of Shiraz or Rioja, chocolate or flowers?

This year you can defiantly surprise – not another Shiraz or Rioja – you want to be deferent, to have an opening to start that conversation – Rimon, What a unique idea! Go to that special dinner or to their party, add it to your Christmas hamper – be deferent – She will absolutely love the dessert, he will love the port style, and they will all enjoy the turkey with Rimon dry one.

Discover the world’s only 100% pure pomegranate wine this festive season

Add Rimon to your Christmas hamper Together with dark chocolate… add it in your cooking, on top of ice cream, even add it make your fevered cocktail! Just add it!

Not only is Rimon wines delicious on its own – you can mix it to make your favourite cocktails. It is known you cannot mix a grape wine any cocktail, Rimon is the only wine in the world that can be mix to make a cocktail! – Just add it to your favourite dish and cocktail. Add Rimon for a unique pomegranate Mojito, add to Champagne or sparkling wine to create a delicious ‘pomegranate kir Royale’. For the first time, thanks to Rimon Winery, we can now enjoy the ancient crimson fruit in the form of world-class, wines made from 100 percent pomegranate juice that retain the succulent flavours and healthful properties of the pomegranate fruit even after they have been fermented into wine.

Rimon Winery is the exclusive producer of the world’s only 100% pure pomegranate wine. Since 2003, father and son, Gaby and Avi Nachmias have been producing a unique pomegranate wine from their orchard located on a mountain in Upper Galilee.

Waitrose Wine Buyer Ken Mackay is the youngest master of wine in the world and the first one to open his hands and mind to pomegranate wine “Pomegranates are a big hit with Waitrose shoppers, so we are pleased to be the first UK retailer to offer Rimon Winery’s Pomegranate Dessert Wine. This wine is a perfect after-dinner drink for the autumn. It matches well with fruit puddings, such as crumble, and will be a delicious accompaniment to a cheese board.”

The Nachmias family have cultivated a “super fruit” that is sweeter, deeper in colour, and richer in vitamins and antioxidants than other pomegranate varieties.

Having cultivated this special pomegranate themselves, they registered a patent for it called ‘NG’, after Gaby’s full name of Nachmias Gabriel. The ‘NG’ is famous for its high juice content, soft tannins, sweetness and rich flavours, to which the father and son team attribute their phenomenal success. The health-giving properties of the fruit are also still contained in this unique wine, it has three times the antioxidant power of normal red wine or green tea, as well as a wealth of vitamins and minerals.

Michael Dalal, Europe exclusive representative for Rimon Winery, “Rimon has perfected the art of making pomegranate wine. It is gold medal winning have been very well received around the world and we are very pleased to finally be able to share them with the UK wine enthusiasts. We think they’ll agree, they are some the most innovative and impressive wine products on the market today.”

 

The Wine Gang – Chance To Win The Life Of A Wine Critic Competition August 17, 2009

The wine gang is launched by 5 of the UK's most respected wine critics.

The wine gang is launched by 5 of the UK's most respected wine critics.

If you have ever wanted to experience the life of a wine critic, to travel to exotic regions of the world and taste incredible wines – read on, and you may.

To celebrate their first full year of gang life, five of the UK’s most respected wine critics – who collectively form www.thewinegang.com – have unveiled a very special competition offering one lucky subscriber just such an experience, with an exclusive Rioja wine tasting holiday prize as their guest.

www.thewinegang.com is a revolutionary online wine compendium which gives subscribers access to the unseen views of five of the most respected national wine writers in the UK today, on virtually every wine listed in the UK.

Comprising of the seriously well-tasted Olly Smith of BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and Live Magazine; Tom Cannavan the creator of wine-pages.com; Anthony Rose of the Independent Newspaper; Tim Atkin MW of the Observer and Joanna Simon of Classic FM Magazine, www.thewinegang.com offers a fascinating insight into the interiors of some of the world’s most important tasting rooms.

To celebrate twelve months since the gang first posted their exclusive unpublished thoughts online, this special competition is a real treat for wine enthusiasts – offering a true one-off prize.
Open to existing subscribers to the website, and to those who subscribe to www.thewinegang.com during August 2009, the competition offers the chance to win an all-expenses-paid break for two to Rioja in Spain. This amazing prize includes flights, car hire and 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Rioja, on a half board basis.

However, as you’d expect from The Wine Gang, there is an added level of uncommonly good news with this announcement.

The highlight of the trip will be an exclusive visit to the top Rioja house of Dinastía Vivanco and its stunning Museum of Wine Culture, with lunch at its fantastic restaurant. Oh, and depending on agreeing a suitable date for the trip, one member of The Wine Gang will meet the winning party for a special tour and tasting – with no lesser guide than Rafael Vivanco himself!

For more information, simply log on to the website before the end of August 31st 2009 and take out a subscription to the Wine Gang. http://www.thewinegang.com/news.php.

Ten lucky new August 2009 subscribers, picked at random, will also be in line to receive a bottle of delicious Rioja Reserva, worth £12.99.

Said Tom Cannavan

“This is a fantastic prize and we are very grateful to Dinastía Vivanco for agreeing to host this special tasting. Just like the original intention of the Wine Gang, this prize will give one lucky subscriber a real opportunity to gain access to an unseen side of the wine world very few experience.

“The Wine Gang was borne out of a frustration we have as wine writers. Although we are spoiled in the UK with what has to be the world’s greatest array of wines available to buy, nevertheless the limited coverage given to wine falls short of the amazing diversity of wines we come into contact with. We wanted a place to post all of our thoughts on all the wines we taste – and rate.

“We wanted to better inform people about the amazing wine choices on their local independent and chain store shelves. It’s empowering for the wine gang, and for our subscribers.”

 

Michelin-Starred Chef Cooks Up A Storm With G.H. Mumm At Cowes Week August 17, 2009

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Guests at the official evening reception and prize giving for Ladies Day at Cowes Week were treated to a sensational assault on the senses at the G.H. Mumm Champagne bar. Local Michelin-starred chef Robert Thompson served up an impressive outdoor cookery demonstration, preparing a range of dishes for all the top names in the sailing world including Dee Caffari, Sam Davies and Shirley Robertson to showcase the food-matching potential of the G.H. Mumm range.

Working in a temporary kitchen set up on the Harbourside in the centre of all the Cowes Week action, the Head Chef/ Proprietor of The Hambrough in Ventnor prepared three different dishes using locally-sourced ingredients to pair with and highlight the quality of G.H. Mumm de Cramant, G.H. Mumm Rosé and G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge.

Annabelle Kuhn, Head of Marketing-Champagnes at Pernod Ricard UK, commented: “The gastronomic spectacle marked a fitting end to what is now probably the most popular day at Cowes Week. Even though the sun didn’t shine the mood was buoyant as the great and the good of the sailing world mixed with the crowds and our handsome Champagne G.H. Mumm water butler delivered bottles of Cordon Rouge to the most adventurous and stylish ladies’ crews on the water.”

G.H. Mumm has been the official champagne of Cowes Week for 15 years.

 

Love Film – Then You’ll Adore Bordeaux August 17, 2009

Film lovers and lovers of fine wine are in for a treat this September when they shop for Bordeaux wines at Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Co-Op, Asda and Somerfield stores nationwide. A partnership between Bordeaux Wine Council and www.lovefilm.com begins in September offering exclusive free membership to the online film library, and Bordeaux wine gifts, for those collecting the special on-pack promotion.

Entitled Free nights in with Lovefilm.com, the promotion offers 30 days free subscription to www.lovefilm.com with an additional £10 voucher to redeem against any DVD in the website’s own store. The deal includes a free wine tasting kit incorporating a ‘waiter’s friend’ corkscrew, a drop-stop pouring aid and a special guide to Bordeaux wines. To take advantage of these offers, consumers should access the website featured on the neck collars of promotional bottles of Bordeaux wine.

600,000 neck collars will be placed on 55 different Bordeaux lines sold in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, CO-OP, Asda and Somerfield. This offer will start appearing in store from the beginning of September and is valid until 31st March 2010.

Douglas Morton, Consultant to the CIVB says, “Research confirms that many people enjoy a glass of wine at home in the evenings and the combination of a good film and a nice bottle of Bordeaux adds to the experience.”

 

Kevin Pietersen Goes Batty For Whyte & Mackay August 17, 2009

Filed under: Booze News — LittleMissFoodie @ 4:56 pm
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Kevin Pietersen goes batty for Whyte & Mackay

Whyte & Mackay is the Scotch whisky of choice for England’s leading batsman Kevin Pietersen as he plans to entertain Indian competition winners at London’s prestigious Cinnamon Club restaurant on 21 August 2009.

Kevin Pietersen – one of the world’s most exciting batsman – will swop his bat for skewers as he cooks up kebabs for 10 Whyte & Mackay competition winners flown in from India.

The Cinnamon Club’s top chef Hari Nagaraj will then serve a tantalising three-course meal complimented by the Whyte & Mackay range for all the guests.

Philip McTeer, head of brand for Whyte & Mackay, comments: “We are very excited about Kevin Pietersen agreeing to spoil our competition winners who will not only get this golden opportunity to visit London but to meet with one of the greatest cricket stars.”

Cinnamon Club Menu

Starter (following the kebabs)
Tandoori breast of chicken with mace and cardamom
Served with Jura 10 – light notes with vanilla and spicy overtones. The whisky brings the cardamom to life and is a great match to the smokiness and intensity of the tandoor.

Main Course
Slow braised lamb curry with chillies and corn, pilau rice
Whyte & Mackay 13 – the smooth rich tones assert themselves before giving away to a pleasing warm aftertaste much like the chillies within this dish. The key to creating a good blended whisky is ensuring all component parts work in harmony together and that is exactly what the chef has done with all the ingredients within this curry.

Dessert
South Indian rice ‘kheer’ and caramelised milk dumpling
MaDalmore 12 – hints of spices, almonds and vanilla prevail to compliment the sweetness of this dish.
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Bulldog Gin Commissions A Series Of Eight Expertly Made Cocktails In An Exclusive Partnership With Leading US Mixologist Somer Perez And Launch Their Very Own Summer Of Love April 7, 2009

Filed under: Cocktail Cupboard — LittleMissFoodie @ 4:51 pm
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Ultra premium BULLDOG GIN welcomes in their very own BULLDOG SUMMER OF LOVE with a series of specially commissioned aphrodisiac cocktails created by leading US mixologist SOMER PEREZ. The exclusive partnership has resulted in a series of eight expertly made and aptly titled cocktails with inspiration taken from BULLDOG’s unique blend of twelve exotic botanicals, including the natural aphrodisiac Dragon Eye an ancient Chinese remedy said to improve sexual stamina.

Somer Perez, a New York based mixologist and consultant is an industry heavy weight and her breeding pedigree. Having worked in the business for around ten years Somer trained under ‘Cocktail King’ Dale DeGroff and became one of the city’s youngest Beverage Directors. Her cocktails combine classic methods with seasonal, gastronomic ingredients, teaching drinkers that there’s more to the world of cocktails than settling for the average. The eight unique cocktails exclusively created for BULLDOG GIN by Somer Perez include Bulldog Gin Fizz, Berry Bulldog, From London With Love, English Breakfast, Summer Crush, British Bulldog, Puppy Love, Raspberry Rouge and are part of a seasonal campaign run by BULLDOG GIN. Try your hand at one of Somer Perez’s recipes such as From London with Love and unleash yourself with BULLDOG GIN.

From London With Love
1 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Clover Honey
1 Egg White
2 oz Bulldog Gin
1.5 oz Ginger Beer

Method:
In a mixing glass combine all ingredients, except for ginger beer and shake. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and top with soda. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

The eight cocktails are also available at top end style bars across the UK and are part of a specially curated summer season that includes a launch party at premium erotica boutique Coco de Mer, Kensington on the 18 June.

Housed in a smoked-grey tinted bottle with deep-purple hues, broad shoulders and an iconic and spiked collar. BULLDOG is a London dry-style, quadruple distilled, triple filtered gin, infused with the taste and aromas of its twelve selected botanicals using traditional copper pot stills which result in the natural and unmistakable essence of this ultra premium spirit. As a result of its painstaking distillation process. it exudes a smooth and harmonious texture with a distinctive flavour, while its seductive notes of fruit and citrus lend it a refreshingly crisp character and supremely balanced finish.

‘Respect its Spirit and it will Remain Forever Loyal’

*Drink responsibly.

 

My Cup of Tea introduces tasty new herbal tea blends for children April 6, 2009

Filed under: Delicious Drink — LittleMissFoodie @ 5:04 pm
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London, UK — My Cup of Tea, Britain’s only tea company, has added a new range of teas for children to its herbal tea selection. Tea is the UK’s favourite drink. Most parents offer their children a first cup of tea between one and two years of age, according to the UK Tea Council who recommend a milky cuppa with low caffeine levels for young children.

So the perfect introduction is Little People’s Tea from My Cup of Tea. This strawberry cream fruit tea is perfectly natural, caffeine free and so much better for little teeth than sugary drinks. Perfect hot or cold, blended specially for children, big or small.

Made of hibiscus, rosehip and apple with natural Strawberry flavour it is rich in vitamin C and has a calming nature.

Emma Cumberland, a mother that bought Little people’s tea said :

“I tried the childrens tea. I think it is a very sweet idea-my daughter loves a cup of tea and these are perfect when friends come over she feels very grown up. I love the actual bags the tea is in-they use similar in pret a manger and is so makes the tea taste better!
I would love you to make a children s caffeine free English breakfast type tea one day. Thank you!”

Available from leading UK independent retailers and wholefoods shops as well as online, the new fruit tea range for children is priced at around £3.29 per box of 20 crystal tea bags.

 

El Faro and H&H Bancroft present the wines of LAN on the 16th April April 5, 2009

Filed under: World of Wines — LittleMissFoodie @ 5:45 pm
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Wine Tasting hosted by Trinidad Villegas from LAN

 

Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN was named after the initials of the 3 provinces in the Rioja Designation of Origin: Logrono (La Rioja), Alava and Navarra. Bodegas LAN has a privileged 70 hectare estate on the banks of the Ebro River called Vina Lanciano, growing 60 hectares of the Tempranillo, and 10 hectares of the Mazuelo grape variety.  LAN prides itself in achieving an optimal mix of artisanal methods and advanced technology to achieve its award-winning wines. To achieve the characteristic plenitude, roundness and sharpness of the LAN wines, American, Allier French and central European oak casks are used in the wine-ageing process.  

 

SELECTED AWARDS:

LAN CRIANZA and GRAN RESERVA – Silver Medal at Challenge International du Vin du France.

LAN CRIANZA – “Best Wine from the Old World”, The Wine Trials, USA

LAN RESERVA – Gold Medal at London International Wine Challenge. 

Gold Medal at London International Wine Challenge and at Challenge International du Vin du France last year.

 

WINES:

SANTIAGO RUIZ White wine
LAN CRIANZA 2005 Red wine
LAN RESERVA 2004 Red wine

LAN EDICION LIMITADA 2005  Red wine

LAN GRAN RESERVA 2001 Red  wine

VIÑA LANCIANO 2001 Red  wine

 

FOOD MENU

ACEITUNAS, BOQUERONES & GAMBAS AL AJILLO   Olives, anchovies and king size prawns cooked in virgin olive oil with garlic and chillies

TERRINA DE IBERICO RELLENA DE VERDURITAS Y SU SALSA

Pan fried Iberian suckling pig terrine stuffed with vegetables

arroz cremoso de PATO, JUDIAS Y ESPARRAGOS
creamy rice with duck, beans and green asparagus

RULOS DE LECHAL CON CAVIAR DE BERENJENA

Baby lamb rolls with aubergine caviar

carrilleras de cerdo iberico con emulsion de patata trufada Iberian pork cheeks with potato emulsion and black truffle

SOLOMILLO DE BUEY A LA PARRILLA, Y HIERVAS PROVENZALES CON PASTELITOS DE PATATA Y QUESO Grilled Northern Spanish fillet-steak served with ‘potatoes and cheese’ mini cakes

 

WINE TASTING

The wine-tasting evening for this prestigious ‘bodega’ will commence at 7pm with the serving of canapés and wine. The presentation of each wine and the service of the meal will begin at 7.30pm.  The host will introduce and discuss each wine individually and each will be accompanied by a carefully selected dish designed by chef, Javier Capella to enhance the flavor and character of the wine.

 

VENUE                                                                                                                             

eL fARO Restaurant (Private Function room)

Tlf: 02079875511

3 Turnberry Quay

LONDON E14 9RD

 

PRICE £55.00 p.p. (Limited places. Advanced payment required.)

CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR PLACE – 02079875511

 

Noses At The Ready – Let The Judging Commence The Re-Launches Its Quest To Find The World’s Top Wines (14 April) April 5, 2009

Thousands of corks will be pulled and screw caps twisted at the Barbican on the 14 April as the International Wine Challenge (IWC) begins its meticulous annual task of selecting the world’s best wines.

Now in its 26th year, the internationally renowned competition will judge entries from 41 countries, with particular interest from Japan as evidenced by a 20% increase in Sake entries year on year. Surprise new players for 2009 include Holland and Russia, both keen to make their mark globally.

During the contest, over 9,000 wines will undergo the competition’s unique and thorough judging process that will see each medal winning wine individually tasted at least three times by expert panels (over 400 judges take part). The competition’s sheer scale has made it the biggest wine competition in the world.

The IWC’s credibility is largely built upon the quality and expertise of the judging panel that includes Co-Chairmen Tim Atkin MW, Sam Harrop MW, Charles Metcalfe, Derek Smedley MW and guest Co-Chairman for 2009, US Wine & Spirits Magazine Editor, Joshua Greene.

This year, the IWC has introduced new measures to benefit the environment.
Andrew Reed, Managing Director of William Reed Business Media, says: “The IWC is leading the way in green initiatives among UK wine competitions by putting the environment high on our priority list. All opened wine will be donated to catering companies for culinary use and all bottles/cardboard will be efficiently recycled.”

The IWC has an unsurpassed track record for identifying and rewarding quality wines, earning its reputation as a reliable and independent guide to quality wines for consumers around the world. The IWC assesses wines for their faithfulness to variety, region and vintage, independent of price.

The results of the competition will be announced at the London International Wine Fair at Excel in May and will be available to view online from May 12th by visiting www.internationalwinechallenge.com  

 

Celebrate Easter’s Festivities With Tanqueray® Gin Cocktails March 10, 2009

Filed under: Cocktail Cupboard — LittleMissFoodie @ 5:43 pm
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The makers of Tanqueray® gin have teamed up with some of the country’s leading style bars to produce a range of Easter cocktails. Each cocktail is easy to make at home and benefits from the intense flavour of Tanqueray®. The cocktails will be available throughout the Easter period.
Visit the following bars or make them at home by following the guidelines below.

‘Charles’ Easter Treat’ (1.6 units alcohol)
Brookes Cocktail Bar, Cardiff, CF10 1BR

Ingredients
• 37.5 ml Tanqueray gin
• 25 ml of Coriander infused sugar syrup
• 5 ml of Elderflower cordial
• A splash of fresh lime juice
• ¾ fresh raspberries

Instructions
Muddle the raspberries, lime juice and coriander infused syrup, add the elderflower cordial and the Tanqueray gin and shake. Fine strain into a chilled margarita glass.

Sugar & Spice Cocktail
‘Sugar and Spice’ (2.2 units alcohol)
Rick’s Bar, Edinburgh, EH2 1LH

Ingredients
• 50 ml Tanqueray gin
• One handful of red grapes
• 3/4 sage leaves
• 20 ml lemon juice
• 20 ml sugar
• Tonic water

Instructions
Squeeze and drop grapes into a shaker, rip sage leaves and add all ingredients except tonic. Shake with ice, pour all ingredients including ice into a long glass, top with tonic water and garnish with sage leaves or grapes.

‘Tanqueray triple chocolate’ (2.6 units alcohol)
Massis Bar, London, W2 6HY
• 35 ml Tanqueray gin
• 25 ml Godiva white chocolate liqueur
• 15 ml dark crème de cacao
• 50 ml milk and double cream
• Yolk of one egg
• Bar of milk chocolate

Ingredients

Instructions
Shake all ingredients (except chocolate bar) vigorously. Double strain into a martini glass. Garnish with coarsely grated chocolate on the top.

‘Tanqueray Honeysuckle’ (2.3 units alcohol)
Menzel Bar, Sheffield, SN11 8NX

Ingredients
• 40 ml Tanqueray gin
• 10ml Aperol
• 3ml Crème de Peche
• One spoon of honey
• Squeeze of Pink Grapefruit
• One egg white (optional)

Instructions
Shake all ingredients and strain. Serve in a chilled Martini Glass.
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Tanqueray RRP: £20.99 for 1L and £16.49 for 70cl, both available at most major supermarkets and specialists.
Visit www.drinkaware.co.uk for information and guidance on responsible drinking.

For more information visit www.tanqueraygin.com

 

 
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