Chef Wise

2016 has seen Ross & Ross Food launch another exciting range of foodie gifts and win another Business award for their continued growth and originality. Through their continued collaboration with fellow artisan producers in and around the Cotswolds, they now have an additional range of BBQ products on offer this Christmas. As a fine food company based in the Cotswolds, Ross & Ross Food have been specialising in handmade British food products and wedding & event catering since 2011. Using locally sourced, top quality produce, they supply delicious, fine food products for National and Independent retailers and have won both regional and national awards (including a Great Taste Gold Star and a BBC Good Food Show Bursary Award). While deciding on their top picks for Christmas, Ross Bearman, co-founder/Director of Ross & Ross Food, said: “We've been looking at the foodie trends this year so we have a good a idea of what will be heating up for Christmas. DI...

Premium milkshake brand, Shaken Udder, has recently grown its reach even further as its range of 330ml bottles hits more than 100 extra Tesco stores this month. Shaken Udder has enjoyed a long relationship with Tesco, supplying stores across the UK since 2011. This increased listing will see its range of premium milkshakes available in over 650 Tesco stores throughout the UK. “We are very excited to be increasing our contract with Tesco,” explains Jodie Farran, co-founder of Shaken Udder. “Tesco has been an incredibly supportive retailer of our brand over the years. This year we have seen a 22% growth in sales in Tesco, so it's fantastic this strong performance has led to larger distribution. It's also great to be able to offer our loyal customers the chance to get their hands on Shaken Udder more easily.” 2016 is proving another strong year for Shaken Udder Milkshakes, with a 35% year-on-year growth, which has been additionally bolstered by the launch of Ub...

Real, authentic vodka should be smooth, characterful and soft on the palate, which is exactly how you would describe Wild Knight Ultra-Premium English Vodka. Using Norfolk's finest barley and the purest water from Eastern England, Norfolk's new Wild Knight English Vodka is both authentic and delicious and perfect for Christmas whether given as a gift, served at a party or mixed into a delicious festive cocktail. Distilled by hand in small batches, Wild Knight is so pure that only a single distillation is needed. It is soft on the palate, full of character and has such a smooth, long finish meaning it can even be enjoyed neat at room temperature. For a vodka connoisseur it is the ultimate gift this festive season. Or, if you're planning on wowing your guests, why not try one of these delicious cocktails created by the Wheel Bar at Tuddenham Mill using Wild Knight? 'Hot Tuddy' Cocktail A warming and delicious combination that's perfect ...

English Wine Producers (EWP) are celebrating winning the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 'Consumer Campaign of the Year' for English Wine Week. Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of English Wine Producers, attended the IWC Awards Dinner and Presentation last night with EWP team members, Charlotte Marshall, who oversaw the campaign and Mags Gilbert, who supported Charlotte and Julia with the planning and logistics of English Wine Week. “We are over the moon to win the IWC 'Consumer Campaign of the Year' and delighted that our work in introducing more consumers to English wine has been acknowledged by such a prestigious competition. We have been supported by an ever growing and enthusiastic trade and wine industry and the fact that we've managed to reach a much wider audience gives us all a huge sense of pride and achievement. I am so proud of my team and would like to thank them for their commitment and sheer energy as demand for promotional materi...

Made using organic meat, from animals reared on their farm in Devon, Eversfield Organic is launching an exciting new range of delicious British organic charcuterie, Roam & Relish, which will be available nationwide from 15th July 2016.  Roam & Relish consists of twelve organic charcuterie products, including Pastrami, Salt Beef, Honey Smoked Streaky Bacon and Smoked Ham. Confirmed stockists include Ocado and Whole Foods Market, as well as a number of the country's leading independent deli's, and can also be bought direct from www.eversfieldorganic.co.uk (RRP from £3.85 – see full price list below). Amongst the first to create British organic charcuterie in the UK, the Roam & Relish range will include mouth-wateringly flavoursome beef and pork products. The beef range, all of which is organic and grass fed, includes Pastrami, Salt Beef, Roast Topside of Beef with Crushed Peppercorns and Roast Topside and Mustard. All of the products are produced u...

Oxney Organic Estate, a new vineyard and winery near Rye in East Sussex, has been awarded the Waitrose Rosé trophy for the Most Outstanding Still Rosé Wine at this year's English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition, the results of which were announced earlier this week. The award winning wine, Oxney Organic Estate English Pinot Noir Rosé 2015, is the vineyard's second vintage and made by winemaker Ben Smith with David Cowderoy as consultant winemaker.  The light pink rosé is described as “totally dry, very fruity and has a good acid balance”.  Clean and healthy fruit was harvested late October despite some challenging conditions during the end of summer 2015. The grapes were crushed and destemmed and left to soak in the press for twelve hours.  After fermentation the wine went through partial malolactic fermentation to naturally reduce the acids and add texture. “This trophy is an incredibly important endorsement of the work the team is doing in the w...

It's that time of year again, when we're all looking for gift ideas. But what do you give the person who has everything!? English Wine Tasting Tours have come up with the perfect solution.  A gift of a great day out tasting English Wine and fabulous food in the beautiful English Countryside, with an English Wine Tasting Tour Gift Voucher. An English Wine Tasting Tour Gift Voucher isn't your average Vineyard Tour and Tasting gift.  What makes it so unique is that they pick you up from central London (no one has to worry about driving) and take you for a full day tasting English Wine, with a small group of fellow wine lovers. The day includes a visit to two acclaimed English Vineyards for a tour and tasting, and the opportunity to speak to the wine maker with exclusive tastings such as comparing vintages.  Plus a very English inspired gastro pub lunch in the middle, and discount on all wines purchased. ''Our gift certificates are proving to be ...

This result shows that in a good year like 2010, an English red can out perform reds from some of the big name wine regions of the world. English Vineyard Wins Double Gold in International Wine Competition Sedlescombe, a Sussex based vineyard, has won 4 major medals at the recent ‘International Organic Wine Awards’ contested by nearly 1,000 wines from 20 countries. Sedlescombe Pinot Noir-Chardonnay Brut a 2013 vintage sparkling wine won a gold, and Sedlescombe 2010 Regent, an oak-matured Red wine became possibly the first English red wine to win a gold medal internationally. Two other wines from Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard, a white sparkling and a still rosé wine each won a Silver medal in their class. Under the direction of sensory expert Martin Darting, the 26-member jury of the 6th International Organic Wine Awards evaluated and documented the wines in three days (12th- 15th June 2015) of tastings according to the PAR evaluation system . Here are the  Resu...

As part of the celebrations to mark English Wine Week (23rd May - Sunday 31st May 2015) Saltwood on the Green restaurant, near Hythe on the south Kent coast, is to host a special gourmet  Wild food & Kentish wine   evening  on Tuesday 26th May, with Biddenden Vineyard. English Wine Week is a national campaign, designed to raise awareness of English wine across the country through retail outlets, including supermarkets, independent wine merchants, delicatessens, hotels, pubs, bars and restaurants. Vineyards across the country will also be opening their doors to welcome visitors, offering tours, tastings and special offers.   The special gourmet evening begins with a welcome Saltwood Spritz aperitif – with dandelion and burdock. The first course will be a Bittercress pannacotta, slow-cooked egg, cured meats, wild-leaf salad and will be accompanied by Bidenden's Bacchus, 2013. A plate of razor clams follow served with sea purslane, gourge pickl...

Bordeaux Quay in Bristol is hosting a trade wine tasting on Thursday May 28, led by Rebecca Hansford, owner of multi-award winning Furleigh Estate in Dorset. In celebration of English Wine Week, Furleigh Estate has partnered with South West Vineyards for this special tasting, which will showcase its 2014 vintage release. English Wine Week (May 23 – May 31) is a national campaign, designed to raise awareness of English wine, which typically sees vineyard owners, wine merchants and supermarkets across the country getting involved. The complimentary trade tasting takes place on May 28 from 1-4pm. This will be followed by a wine tasting for the general public from 5-9pm, costing just £10 per person, or £55 for those who choose to stay for a Winemaker Dinner at 7pm. Situated on Bristol's Harbourside, Bordeaux Quay ( www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk ) is a restaurant, brasserie, bar, deli, bakery and cookery school housed in an elegant, converted warehouse, offering the very b...

British Food Fortnight goes global as Love British Food team up with online supermarket British Corner Shop to celebrate worldwide. The organisers of the fortnight - the celebration of British produce that takes place in the UK each autumn - have joined with British Corner Shop to encourage ex-pats, travellers and others living outside of the UK to celebrate two weeks of Britishness in every corner of the world. “British Food Fortnight runs between 19th September and 4th October 2015 and we want it to be celebrated on tropical beaches, on mountain-tops, in deserts and in city centres worldwide. We are encouraging people to organise British themed celebrations in British Embassies, in their places of work, in their homes and in their communities, and to share their plans and their photos via social media,” said organiser Alexia Robinson. The initiative is working with the UKTI and British Embassy and is encouraging other Embassies and UK companies overseas to get inv...

The spring bank holiday weekend is rapidly approaching. Marking the start of the half term week for most schools, for many it is a time to escape the city and head south to unwind in Cornwall. This year, it also marks the start of English Wine Week (24th May to 1st June). The good news is that whether you're staying in the big city or making the trip down to the most south westerly county, you'll now be able to enjoy classic English wines from Cornwall's highly regarded Knightor winery. The elegant, light and immensely drinkable Knightor Madeleine Angevine 2012 and the much praised sparkling Knightor Brut NV are both now available to buy in one of London's leading fine wine merchants, Spirited Wines, and from their website www.spiritedwines.co.uk. Spirited Wines has 26 stores which are mostly positioned in London with a few in the surrounding counties.  It is their first venture into English wine and Knightor is the only producer which has had two of t...

Pat Newland or 'Pop' of Poppies, who has been serving fish and chips in the East End since 1945 "Poppies Fish & Chips in Spitalfields, London has been named as one of the UK’s best independent fish and chip restaurants as part of The 2014 National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish. Owned by Pat Newland, Poppies Fish & Chips will now fry off against 2 other finalists to learn who is the REEL deal: Page’s Fish and Chip Restaurant in Cwmbran, Wales and Quayside in Whitby, North Yorkshire.  Poppies is currently going through its final round of judging and will learn their final PLAICE next week, on the 22nd January. As the only representative from London and the South, they’re hoping become the SOLE winners of the prestigious award, heralding a victory not only for themselves but for the whole of London and the Southern UK.  Pat Newland of Pop’s has said ‘We are absolutely delighted at being named as one of the 3 finalists in the Nat...

This Christmas why not celebrate festivities with a bottle of the new, sophisticated Knightor Brut NV from award-winning Cornish winery Knightor. Sure to add sparkle to any occasion, Knightor Brut NV (rrp £27) makes a superb gift and is the perfect glass of fizz to serve at Christmas and New Year's parties.  It will also add the finishing touch to the much anticipated Christmas feast.   Lovingly crafted from vine to wine by winemaker James Thomas at Knightor, near St Austell Bay, Knightor Brut NV is a delightfully elegant sparkling wine. Knightor Brut NV is about pure fun and enjoyment. On the nose it is elegant, with light floral aromas, peach and apple like fruit, and subtle lees notes.  Despite the dosage being at the Brut level, it also has plenty of fruit flavour which along with its vibrant and fresh mousse makes for a fuller more jovial style. The wines fruity flavour emanates from Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir...

This Christmas why not try and do a little roast goose instead of turkey. I know that most people think it is hard to do and dry but so is turkey if you cook it wrong so try a little goose this year.    You will need 6kg/12lb goose, with giblets 2 or 3 onions 2 or 3 large carrots Salt and freshly ground pepper 1kg/2lb potatoes 2 or 3tbsp of  plain flour Glass of red wine Glass of white wine 450g/1lb peeled chestnuts, cooked and very finely chopped 110g/4oz smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped 25g/1oz  butter  4 level tablespoons chopped fresh parsley  1 level dessertspoon chopped fresh thyme  ¼ level teaspoon ground mace 225g/8oz best-quality pork sausage meat 450g/14½oz prunes 250ml/8floz port 2 garlic cloves 150g/5oz dried cranberries First you have to prepare the goose, now this is easy to do all you have to remember is to cover it well before you roast it so it does not dry out. You will need to ...

Now I do not know if the leek pudding is more a Northumberland thing or a Cumbria thing. But not knowing is a bit like calling a Geordie a Mackem and vice versa, you just do not do it. Now there will be loads of people who will read that and not understand it but if you do then I am sorry for what I am about to say. But I think Leek Pudding is more of a Cumbrian thing, I am sorry, I do not know. Now if you are wandering why I am in the slightest bit bother then you do not know the culture of the area and the very serous business of leek growing.  Now I have seen may kinds of lee pudding from what could be best described as a sort of dumpling to ones that have a load of bacon in them. All have been very good, but this is how I make it. You will need 225g/8oz self-rising flour A good pinch of salt A good pinch of fresh ground black pepper 100g/4oz Beef suet 1tbsp whole grain mustard Some cold water 500g/1lb chopped leeks Melted butter Start by making yo...

12 November 2012 From weeknight pastas to comforting Sunday stews, six new winter recipes from British Leeks will each feed a family of four for under £5 – using fresh, seasonal ingredients to help you stay healthy and save money at the checkout. Devised by Jane Hornby, BBC Good Food Cookery writer and author of 'Good Food: Budget Dishes', the new British Leeks 'Recipes for Under a Fiver' show the versatility of this subtle-flavoured vegetable, at its best during the coldest months of the year. Says Jane Hornby, "I'm a huge fan of good old British leeks and use them in all sorts of recipes over the winter months. In season now and great value for family cooking, leeks are an easy way to add home-grown flavour to your favourite meals. Better still, they're quick to chop and soften when I'm short on time. Brilliant." Check out the easy to prepare recipes by visiting www.british-leeks.co.uk where you will also find thrifty shopper ...

Now chicken pie is about as classic a dish as you can get. But for real flavour you really need to roast of the chicken first and use the bones and skin to make the stock. It might seem like a lot of work but I can assure you that it is worth all the effort in the end. 2 whole chickens 1.2lt/2pt water 500g/1lb shortcrust pastry 60g/3oz butter 30g/1¼oz flour 300ml/½pt full fat milk 3tbsp double cream 2tsp Dijon mustard 2 large leeks 70g/2½oz streaky bacon Salt and Freshly ground black pepper Fresh parsley First you need to roast of your chickens, but here is an idea. Now days most supermarkets have a rotisserie where you have roasted chicken, go at the end of the day and see if there are any on offer, they normally do. Now once your chicken is cooked and cooled you have to strip the meat from the bones. Put all the skin and the bones in a sauce pan. Cut the meat up into reasonable sized chunks for the pie and put them in the fridge. Now if toy ar...