Food and Drink

With January well and truly under way and New Year's resolutions already starting to crumble, now is the time we really struggle to keep our diets up. New research has revealed boredom, expense and will power are among the top reasons for giving up a diet, with chocolate, alcohol and fizzy drinks the hardest treats for women to give up or cut back on when watching their weight. The study, commissioned by SodaStream, found a whopping 83 per cent only last an...

Set within 123 acres of rolling Surrey parkland, a stone's throw away from Ascot, the training ground of the England Rugby Team and the prestigious Wentworth golf club is Chef Michael Wingall’s two Michelin starred restaurant. Pennyhill Park is an exclusive hotel and spa that showcases an eclectic mix of grandeur and rustic naturalist architecture. Ivy climbs the walls turning a deep shade of crimson as it peaks below the pointed turrets of the building. The sprawling greenery planted in the...

The Vegan Society has today warned that a dairy milk crisis could be imminent as sales of plant-based milks increase exponentially and consumers demand healthy and compassionate alternatives to traditional milk. The retail price of milk has now slipped below the cost price and is lower than some bottled water, signalling that its production is becoming increasingly unmanageable. The largest dairy firm First Milk has delayed payments to farmers as the price of a four-pint carton has slipped to £1 with...

The Happenstance is the sixth restaurant venture from the Drake & Morgan group since opening The Refinery in 2008, and the welcome is pretty impressive, with floor-to-ceiling window frames views of St Pauls. But could the venue live up to its glorious neighbour? Well, just about. When we visited it was a Wednesday evening but it was already pretty busy. The bar area seemed pretty popular with after work drinkers. My guest and I were taken into the large restaurant...

By Simon Bennison - Food writer Located to the north of Edinburgh city centre, Stockbridge is home to some of the finest independent businesses, acclaimed gastropubs, cycling cafes serving their own coffee roasts, and an eclectic array of record, clothing and book shops. It’s an area of character, one that you would take visitors to for a feel of real life in the city. Housing some of Edinburgh’s best places to eat, it is a competitive place to run a...

Cous cous, prawns and kale are among the foods which millions of Brits consider as ‘posh’, a survey revealed. The detailed study also found risotto, pesto and fajitas made the list as did hummus, sushi and sea bass. Italian cheese mozzarella, rocket and even beetroot are also now considered up-market. The study showed that eight in ten Brits feel that certain foods are seen as ‘trendy’ now and that like everything thing else, foods come in and out of fashion. It also...

Jack Peat's honest review of Honest Burgers  If we're to accept the premise that blaming the noisy f*ckwits on the table next to me on Honest Burgers would be unfair, then I would have to conclude that this is a pretty spot on burger joint. Nestled behind Oxford Street amongst a group of likeminded eateries Honest Burgers is an evolution of an artisan festival burger stand that turned semi-pro in Brixton Village (all good things turn semi-pro in Brixton) before...

By Steve Taggart Pretty much everybody likes a tipple at xmas and one drinks manufacturer has decided to personalise their drink offering. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel offer the chance to engrave a name, unique message, or simply ‘Happy Holidays’,  on a personalised bottle of this rare and crafted whiskey. It could make the perfect xmas present, if you can't think what to buy a loved one, or even a secret santa, if the budget stretches that far. Every so often, the Jack...

By Tom Gore - Executive chef @ The Brewery Here are my top tips for catering parties over the festive period. It doesn't have to be stressful and following these points should make it easy and fun, which is all you want at xmas time! 1.Keep it simple: Simple, but effective. If you’re catering a large party for the first time you need to consider everyone’s tastes and specific requirements, and may want to use a previously tried and tested...