Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Gin isn’t always associated with Dad for Father’s Day but there’s no reason why Mum has to have all the fun! The Guards London Dry Gin from Hawkridge Distillers was developed by an ex-Guard to be exceptionally smooth and let’s face it, it appeals to Dads, doesn’t it?
Made in Great Britain, it was inspired by a serving officer in the Guards between 2021 and 2022 and has the branding of the Household Division with the busby helmet but also the distinctive red tunic for a label. The Household Division is made up of five regiments of the Foot Guards and are some of the most decorated in the world. You might recall seeing them at the recent King’s Coronation and they’re a common sight around London.
The distinctive busby fur helmet of the guards adorns the top of The Guard’s gin bottle, complete with chin strap chain to make it look more authentic! Although a gimmick, it makes for an interesting centre piece or gift for someone who was in the guards.
The gin itself is exceptionally smooth. At 40 ABV it’s bound to be, and this is a gin for gin lovers after all. It’s won the London Spirits Competition Gold place in 2023 and I’m sure it will win more as the year goes on. It’s well bodied with a slightly sweet after taste, so goes well with any mixer.
It’s worth noting as an added bonus that some of the proceeds from each bottle sold will go to regiment charities, supporting veterans and their families.
The Guards London Dry Gin makes a beautiful gift for Father’s Day, especially for any vetrans or anyone interested in the military. Gin lovers will be more than happy with The Guards too!
Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Everybody loves cake and with Father’s Day just over a week away it is the perfect opportunity to treat your Dad to some delicious brownies from Sponge.
Sponge are an online cake shop who make the most fantastic cakes which are suitable for any occasion. They have a great selection which includes large cakes, sharing cakes, pinata cakes, brownies as well a range of letterbox cakes which fit nicely through your letterbox, removing the need to factor in a trip to the post office to collect your cake. The cakes from Sponge are incredibly well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box so there is no need to worry about the cakes arriving in less than perfect condition – very important when you are buying them as a gift.
The Father’s Day Baby Brownie Gift Box contains 4 delicious brownies (choose from standard, gluten-free, or vegan) as well as gift wrap and a card.
The brownies are miniature versions of the popular full sized brownies and the gift box includes the following flavours
Raspberry & White Chocolate
Chocolate Orange
Triple Chocolate
Hazelnut Praline.
The brownies are nice and thick and are incredibly moreish! Soft and fudgy, they are full of flavour but not too dry like some brownies tend to be and the toppings make then just that little bit more special. Delicious hot or cold they have been a big hit in our house and just the thing to spoil Dad with on Father’s Day.
A pack of 4 costs £13.25 and cakes can be delivered all over the UK with next delivery if you place your order before 3pm.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
National Picnic Week is 19th – 26th June this year, a time when the weather should hopefully be good enough for us to plan venturing outside to eat, or going on family trips to the seaside. When we do get the good weather, Brits are the best at planning the picnics and making the most of summer.
Joe & Sephs have sent us some delicious sharing bags of popcorn to try for this summer; Toffee and Sweet & Salty. Available on the website soon, they’re not there yet for you to be able to buy them but they are going to be available soon!
Joe & Sephs started making popcorn in 2010 from their artisan kitchen in London. Starting with the same few flavours, they have now grown to have multiple flavours, different sizes and types of bags and even chocolate covered varieties. During Christmas and Easter and at times throughout the year, there are limited additions and products such as presentation boxes and even a Christmas advent calendar!
The sharing bags of Toffee and Sweet & Salty flavours are your typical popcorn favourites, except this is gourmet popcorn so they’re not too sticky, don’t have annoying kernels which get stuck in your teeth and there are no un-popped corn pieces at the bottom of the bag! The 60gram bags are made in small batches to foster a better taste overall, and contain no palm oil, are gluten free and have no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. The popcorn pieces are bigger than usual and coated with buttery toffee which is a light touch but still sweet enough to eat nearly the whole bag in one sitting! The Sweet & Salty bag is also lightly flavoured but you have the sugary coating juxtapositioned up against the slightly salty taste to give a less saccharine flavour compared to the Toffee variety.
Another hit from Joe & Sephs, these bags are great for going on picnics because they appeal to both adults and children and don’t have the preservatives and additives of other popcorns. There’s no wastage in these packets either, thanks to the way they are produced so you get the full benefit of the sharing bag and not just the sticky flavourings left in the bag at the end!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
It can be tricky coming up with the perfect Father’s Day gift but if your Dad has a sweet tooth then a delicious tin of biscuits and cakes will go down a treat and if you are lucky he might even share them with you!
Lottie Shaw’s is a Yorkshire family business that began 100 years ago with Lottie’s great aunts, Mary & Edith Harrison. When Lottie’s parents were running the business Lottie spent a lot of time in the bakery enjoying the treasured family recipes and decided to revive one of her favourites – The Yorkshire Parkin cake. This cake was traditionally enjoyed at bonfire night and Lottie, convinced the cake was a winner then created the Lottie Shaw’s brand.
If you look at their website, you will see that Lottie Shaw’s have lots of fantastic gifts and the Cyclist’s Treat Tin will make a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys cycling. The individually wrapped flapjacks are perfect for putting in your pocket when out cycling and will give you a welcome energy boost when you are climbing those hills. The tin has a beautiful decorative card sleeve depicting a couple of cyclists enjoying the countryside which has been drawn by Yorkshire artist Eleanor Tomlinson. I especially like the detail in the picture, look closely and you’ll spot a couple of Lottie Shaw’s biscuit wrappers! Open the tin and you will find a souvenir card along with a selection of Lottie Shaw’s award winning treats and the all important Father’s Day card.
The cakes and biscuits inside the tin are
5 x Yorkshire Parkin biscuits 135g
4 x Triple Chocolate Biscuits 140g
2 x Millionaire Shortbread 70g
1 x Traditional Oat Flapjack 100g
1 x Oat Flapjack with Chocolate Chips 100g
All the cakes and biscuits are individually wrapped and have nice long best before dates – although there was no chance of them lasting that long in our house! They all looked delicious, the hardest part was deciding which one to try first! In the end we decided to try the triple chocolate biscuits and settled down with a cup of tea! The biscuit was nice and chocolately and just melted in my mouth and I was unable to stop at just one!!
My favourites had to be the flapjacks which were flavoursome and incredibly moreish – they were moist and satisfyingly crumbly.
I love Parkin but had never tried a Parkin biscuit before and these Yorkshire Parkin biscuits absolutely scrumptious, they have the warming, spicy flavours of ginger, black treacle and syrup along with the flecks of oatmeal that I love in the cake but are in a biscuit form. My husband described them as a cross between a ginger biscuit and a Hobnob which sums them up quite nicely and of course they are great for dunking in a cup of tea!
I was extremely impressed with the Cyclist’s Treat Tin, all the treats were absolutely delicious and I think it is a lovely gift to purchase for someone special. I really like that it came with a Father’s Day card and the beautiful illustration which I have already framed.
At a cost of £19.95 it’s an excellent price for such a fantastic gift and I would definitely recommend it for your loved ones.
Lottie Shaw’s gifts range from £12.95 for Letterbox treats all the way through to £100 for seriously good large baskets and all gifts come with a personalised gift card.
If you subscribe to their newsletter you can also get 10 % off – what are you waiting for!!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Father’s Day is Sunday 18 June, and everyone, without fail, struggles to find something that’s perfect for Dad! Every year he says there’s nothing he wants, knowing that he’ll get another supply of socks or beer like every year, but secretly, I’m sure all Dads would like something that’s more of a thoughtful treat for them.
The Letter Box Hamper company cater for all sorts of hamper treats throughout the year, and this year have sent us a lovely Father’s Day hamper. Keen followers will see that we also have one of these Father’s Day hampers as a competition prize too, so I’ll do my best to give you the low down!
At £32.95 this is a great price for a gift on Father’s Day. It’s not too expensive, but it shows that some thought has gone into this present and isn’t just picked off the shelves. In fact, you can only buy it online on the www.letterboxhamper.com website and have it delivered, so not everyone is going to have one. If you don’t fancy the Father’s Day Hamper then there are loads of other lovely ones for other occasions on their website too.
As the name suggests, the letter box hamper fits through the door. You don’t need to be home to be able to receive it and there’s nothing breakable inside to worry about as it hurtles through the air and onto your doormat. The box itself is lovely and resembles a hamper/suitcase of old and when you open it, there’s a personalised message in there for Dad too so he knows who it’s from! When the hamper arrives through the post, it is parcelled up with lovely wrapping paper and string and looks so special, so there’s no way Dad can miss it.
As for the box, it has loads in it;
5 Classic tea bags from Tregothnan (the tea grown in England)
A pack of 2 Scottish shortbread fingers from Shortbread House of Edinburgh
3 chocolate truffles from Charbonel et Walker
A traditional oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s
A bar of 61% dark chocolate from Coco
A bar of hazelnut and raisin dark chocolate from Willie’s Cacao
If you do the simple maths, there’s five tea bags and 5 snacks in total so that’s tea and a snack for every day of the work week!
Starting with the tea if you’ve never had English grown tea before (thanks to global warming there are plants all over the UK now) then this medium/strong tea is a great delicacy and probably something you wouldn’t expect as a gift given how local it is. The chunky oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s is Yorkshire baked and delicious, particularly good for when you need a heart pick-me-up in the afternoon or if Dad has been working in the garden. I’m a big fan of shortbread anyway so the House of Edinburgh shortbread fingers are particularly nice and not too grainy!
The other snacks are all chocolates. If you’re familiar with ‘posh’ chocolates then you’ll recognise Charbonnel et Walker as being one of the premium brands sold in their custom shops and when you eat their truffles, you’ll understand why. Made with the finest chocolates and ingredients, they are to die for! Willie’s Cacao also feature with their Peruvian dark chocolate flavoured with hazelnut and raisin. The taste is so subtle and actually very grown up so I wouldn’t imagine children would enjoy this, leaving it for Dad. The final chocolate bar is the Coco Colombian dark 61% chocolate. Again, this is great for adults as it has the distinct dark chocolate taste that goes so well with strong tea or coffee.
The Letter Box hampers all have a variety of items in them so you feel like there’s more there than just a quick bite to eat or a cheap snack, and plenty of choice if there’s something in them that you don’t happen to like. This Father’s Day hamper is a hit with the whole house too with a lovely selection of different snacks and the personalised note makes it a special holiday treat.
Excuse me whilst I make another brew and tuck into some more chocolate… or another shortbread finger…
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Gin has become incredibly popular over the last few years with plenty of small distilleries starting up, each with their own unique gin flavours. Being a gin fan myself, I do enjoy sampling all the different types and when it comes from a city close to my heart it’s even better.
Manchester Gin was created back in 2016 by Jen Wiggins and Seb Heeley who met in a Manchester bar. They both shared a love of gin so decided to take the plunge and create their own starting distilling in their dining room. Fast forward to 2019, the couple opened a brand new distillery, bar and restaurant under railway arches in the centre of Manchester, where you can not only sample the gin but see it being made too.
Made in the heart of Manchester the aptly named Manchester Gin Signature is distilled in a copper still and is one of the most awarded gins in the country. It is a citrus-led gin with 12 botanicals including orange, lemon and dandelion and burdock. The gin is spicy and sweet and makes a very refreshing G&T.
I served the gin with a premium Indian tonic water and plenty of ice, adding lemon and lime slices to make the perfect G&T. This is a very refreshing crisp flavoured gin, having a real juniper punch and a delicate sweetness from the liquorice.
Once I had tried a traditional G&T it was time to hit the cocktails and I found it worked well in the classic Gin Fizz or add fresh lime juice, homemade lime syrup and mint for my favourite – the zingy Gimlet cocktail.
If you are heading up to Manchester any time soon you can book a distillery tour where you can see the process and taste their gin for yourself. For gin connoisseurs you can even create your own gin. If you can’t get up to Manchester then the 42% proof gin is available from The Whiskey Exchange at a very reasonable £34.95.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
With Father’s Day less than a month away we will be sharing some great gift ideas to help you find the perfect Father’s Day gift for your loved ones. First up are some great treats from our favourite popcorn brand Joe & Seph’s
The Budweiser gourmet air popped popcorn is coated in smooth buttery caramel and infused with 17% real Budweiser beer. It is light in colour and incredibly moreish so be warned!! It is best eaten in handfuls to get the full effect of the flavour. If you are polite and only put one piece in your mouth at a time then the main flavour tends to be caramel but once you start eating a few together the Budweiser flavour really starts to come through. The combination of popcorn, smooth caramel and Budweiser is such a genius idea and this sweet gourmet treat is perfect for anyone who enjoys popcorn and beer.
Marmite is one of those flavours that you either love or hate – I’m well and truly in the hate camp but as I love popcorn I decided it was worth a try. The Marmite air popped popcorn is darker in colour than the Budweiser one and is coated in smooth caramel and marmite. Despite being covered in caramel it really doesn’t taste sweet, the Marmite gives it a meaty taste which was actually quite a nice change. Like Marmite you’re either going to love or hate this popcorn but if you have a Marmite lover in your family it makes a great quirky gift.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whenever I am invited to a picnic I to take something a little different and these Purely plantain chips were a real hit this week. Founded by Stefania Pellegrino and Mark O’Sullivan Purely’s aim is to save the world from boring snacks and spread the love for the awesome power of the plantain!
A staple food for many in South America, plantains are members of the banana family, but whilst they look like large bananas, they are starchier and lower in sugar and aren’t usually eaten raw.
The chips are available in three different flavours, Sea Salt, Nice & Spicy and Wild Garlic and they all taste delicious. My favourite is the Sea Salt, it has just the right amount of crunch and saltiness, making it the perfect snack for picnics or sat watching a film.
So what do plantain chips taste like – well they are thicker than normal crips, have a satisfying crunch and are incredibly moreish. As they have 30% less fat than potato crisps, they are a much healthier choice too.
The chips are available in a 75g sharing bag (although they are so moreish you may not want to share!!) as well as 28g bags which are perfect for lunchboxes.
Purely Plantain Chips are available to buy directly from Purely and you can also find them in Selfridges, Holland and Barrett and Ocado.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
With the whole country looking forward to the Coronation on the 6th May we’re planning a fantastic long weekend of celebrations. With a street party, a family party and a community event in our village it’s certainly going to be a fun packed weekend and one we’ll remember for a very long time! The Union Jack bunting is ready to go up and we’re going with a red, white and blue theme for both decorations and food.
If like us, you’re looking for a patriotic touch for the food, then you need to look at Sponge – the online cake company – they have the perfect showstopper cake for any coronation celebration. The Coronation Pinata chocolate cake looks just like any normal chocolate cake, but this rich and indulgent chocolate sponge cake is hiding a patriotic surprise in the middle! Four layers of delicious chocolate sponge are sandwiched together with chocolate buttercream and when you cut into it you will discover red, white and blue chocolate beans and edible golden crowns. The cake is covered with flakes of chocolate and is lovely hot or cold with a pouring of cream or ice cream. It is light and fluffy and the chocolate beans were a hit with both children and adults. It would make a lovely centrepiece on the table of any Coronation party and is perfect to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.
The cakes from Sponge are incredibly well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box with bio-degradable film so there is no need to worry about it getting squashed in transit. Once opened the cake should be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container and any leftovers can be frozen – although there’s not much chance of that at my house!!!
Sponge caters for all types of dietary requirements, and the Pinata Chocolate cake is also available as a gluten free cake. They make all their cakes from scratch, using only high-quality ingredients and they deliver all over the UK.
There is still time to order one of Sponge’s show-stopping pinata cakes – so what are you waiting for???
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
With the Coronation only a week away have you given any thought to buying any Coronation memorabilia? The Swizzels Love Hearts Coronation gift box makes a lovely keepsake and once the sweets are eaten the box can be kept as a souvenir of the day – something to show the grandchildren in years to come! With the official Coronation logo on the top and a strong magnetic fastener the box is the perfect size to be used as a trinket box.
Inside the box is a commemorative coin along with 5 mini packs of Love Hearts, each with a blue heart and coronation themed wording, either Charles, King, congrats or an image of a crown. The gifts are nestled in patriotic red, white and blue packaging.
I think these are a great little gift and will be very well received by children and adults alike.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Raising a glass of the Royal British Legion Champagne to a Coronational New Era
Decorations are in full swing and the celebrations for the Coronation are starting this week. Most of us have never seen a Coronation, but we have all heard what it was like in 1953 and how the world has changed since then.
The Royal British Legion have released three champagnes in partnership with Eminent Wines to celebrate the King’s Coronation. As the King is the head of the Armed Forces, there is no better time to release the Champagnes with 10% of each bottle sale going towards the charity.
The trio, fit for a King, includes;
Reveille (Brut) – A name inspired by the music which follows The Last Post and Two Minute Silence at Remembrance services. £45.00 per bottle. Recommend accompanying smoked salmon blinis.
Centurion (Blanc de Blanc) – A name, quite simply, in reference to one hundred years of the Royal British Legion. £55.00 per bottle. The top of the range, fit with all coronation food!
We were sent a sample of the third Champagne, a rose named Champs de Fleurs – translates from French to ‘fields of flowers,’ in reference to the fields of poppies that flourished on the Western Front following the First World War, which lead to the red poppy becoming a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. £55.00 per 750ml bottle. Fantastic with strawberries dipped in chocolate! This is a slightly sweeter champagne and suitable for anyone with 12% vol. Produced in France, it is 75% Chardonnay, 12.5% Pinot Noir and 12.5% Pinot Meunier.
The label itself looks lovely on the table with the poppy design and soft blush colours. This would be an amazing addition to the Street Party table, especially with the Royal Legion connection and knowing that there is also a contribution towards the charity to benefit more people.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Continuing with the celebrations around the King’s Coronation, LINDOR have released and excellent Limited Edition Coronation Milk Chocolate Box, fit for a king!
The 200 gram box of pure milk chocolate LINDOR truffle chocolates are found in a Union Jack box, perfect for sharing whilst watching the ceremony, or to adorn your table at your Coronation street party.
LINDOR have been making chocolate since 1845 and pride themselves on making any moment a LINDOR moment. Each chocolate is a shell of finest pure milk chocolate, encapsulating a similar chocolate truffle which upon reaching room temperature, melts ever-so-slightly to create a rich filling. Alternatively, you can keep the LINDOR truffle chocolates in the fridge and create a whole new experience when biting into them! If you’re partial to a LINDOR truffle, then try one of their other flavours including new LINDOR Blood Orange, LINDOR Strawberries & Cream or LINDOR Salted Caramel, all priced at £6.00 for 200 grams and available in shops or online.
I’ve always been a fan of good quality chocolate so trying these LINDOR Limited Edition Coronation truffle chocolates wasn’t a chore. Sure, they are the same milk chocolate truffles you can buy in the shops but they aren’t branded for the Coronation like these ones are! If you’re looking for more to share with your loved ones for the Coronation, then LINDOR also have the Lindt LINDOR Pick & Mix tin with a Union Jack design which is also available online or in shops. At £25.00 for the tin, it contains flavours such as Pistachio, Stracciatella and Raspberry & Cream.
The Lindt LINDOR Limited Edition Coronation Milk Chocolate box is available for a limited time from the end of April for £6.00 from Sainsbury’s, WH Smith, Tesco and www.lindt.co.uk.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Crisps are the staple savoury snack for buffets, parties and family get togethers. With Coronation parties being planned up and down the country you can guarantee that the nation will be chomping on crisps throughout the festivities. Crunchy and packed full of flavour they go with pretty much everything from sandwiches, cheese or even a pint.
I’m in charge of the buffet for The Review Studio Coronation party so was really pleased to receive a couple of bags of Tyrrells crisps, the regal sounding Coronation Chicken and the Tomato & Chilli Chutney flavour.
The Coronation Chicken crisps have been relaunched as a limited edition to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. Packaged in celebratory packaging featuring plenty of colourful Union Jack flags, the crisps are made with the finest potatoes and hand cooked & spun for exquisite taste. Combining roast chicken with a subtle curry kick these crisps are nice and crunchy and incredibly moreish! I’m not always a huge fan of spicy crisps as I find that they can be a little strong but the bite of the curry was perfect and really complemented the roast chicken flavour without being overpowering.
With a RRP of £2.75 the 150g bags are currently available in Booths, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda and WHSmith Travel and will be available at BP from 2nd May.
The brand new Tomato & Chilli Chutney flavour crisps have a warm chilli flavour with a hint of smokiness. These crisps are packed full of flavour with a perfect crunch and are the perfect addition to any picnic or Coronation party this summer.
The 150g bags have a RRP of £2.75 and are currently available from Asda and Waitrose and look out for them in Tesco from 21st March.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There’s a new cheese in town! The award winning artisan 1912 Blue Stilton is made by the famous Long Clawson dairy who have released a recipe for a stilton crown to commemorate the King’s Coronation this month. We were sent some stilton to try and the recipe below for a regal Coronation Crown fit for any Royal party, or street party!
Stilton has long been the subject of love vs hate due to the strong taste and slightly gritty texture. The blue mould veins put off a lot of people and children are particularly averse to trying it. However, once you get over the obvious issues, Stilton has a taste like no other, and in combination with other flavours it makes a fantastic ingredient. I still love to eat it on it’s own, straight out of the fridge but then I’m a cheese lover so I always do this!
The 1912 Stilton isn’t as strong as other Long Clawson cheeses but still has the ripe taste of a blue cheese. It’s creamier as well, with less of the ‘grit’ that other cheeses have and I found it crumbled less when cut which makes it easier to handle. Marketed as The Real Deal, 1912 Blue Stilton has been granted DPO, which stands for Designated Protection of Origin, so you know it’s certified as a bone fide blue cheese.
If you’ve never tried blue cheese before or are put off by the taste or aroma, you could do worse than try 1912 Blue Cheese. If you’re not so sure about trying it, start with a recipe that uses 1912 as an ingredient. There are a lot of recipes on their website (the Stilton Pasta looks particularly appetising) or this recipe below is for the 1912 Coronation Crown for King Charles’ Coronation!
1912 Coronation Crown
2 x puff pastry rolls
1912 cheese
1 egg
Bunch of red grapes
1 packet of pecans
1 pomegranate
Method
Grate the cheese.
Spread out the puff pastry and sprinkle one half of the party (lengthways) with the grated 1912 cheese. Fold over the pastry (lengthways) and press down so that it is securely stuck together. Cut in half lengthways so you are left with two wide strips and then cut them in half again so you are left with 4 strips. Repeat with the other puff pastry.
Pick up the strips of pastry and rotate from each end until you have a lovely twist all the way down. Repeat for all the strips.
Line a baking tray with some greaseproof paper. Place a large upturned Perspex oven proof bowl onto the lined tray.
Tear 4 large pieces of tin foil. Mould each piece into a ball that can sit on top of the Perspex bowl. You’re creating the base for the pastry to sit on to look as close to a crown as possible.
Cut a small piece of greaseproof to go on top the tinfoil Perspex bowl so the pastry doesn’t stick.
Grab a strip of pastry and lay it over the top of the bowl so either side reaches the bottom of the bowl. You want to create a cross on top, so grab another strip and lay over the top of the other strip. Push down the pastry in the middle where the two pastry strips lay on top of each other.
Get another strip of pastry and lay it around the base of the bowl. Take another strip and lay it on the other side of the bowl so that they two pastry strips meet and you have a circle. Press together so that they join securely. Repeat with another two pastry strips that goes on top, so it’s a double layer. You’ll have a few strips left over, just pop those around the empty space on the tray.
With a whisk egg brush the pastry all over.
Pop the tray with your crown into a preheated oven 180C for 30 minutes or until golden brown and nicely risen.
Once cooked get out the oven and let it cool. Once cool then separate the crown from the bowl.
With your large 1912 cheese place onto a tray or chopping board whatever you have that is big enough and lay your crown of pastry over it!
Now time to adorn your crown with pecans around the base of the crown. Add red grapes on top of the cheese and pomegranate jewels all over the crown. And enjoy!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The brand new Sea Animals Collection from PLAYin CHOC is here in time for the Coronation weekend! The sustainable and ethically sourced chocolate is accompanied by a cut out toy of a sea animal along with an information card to educate children about the world around them. If you remember Kinder Surprise as a child, then this is the modern, environmentally friendly version for the 21st century.
PLAYin CHOC was created by Mum Maya back in 2016 in her kitchen at home where she wanted to make simple chocolate for her family which was just cacoa, coconut and vanilla. Crucially, it was also dairy free chocolate, hence there’s no milk or cream involved in the process, just coconut products.
With the help of her two children as ‘chief testers’, Maya perfected the Peruvian, fairly traded organic chocolate and created the PLAYin CHOC brand. Their mission is to create healthy chocolate treats without plastic, and to promote environmentally sensitive topics. Among other projects PLAYin CHOC have featured are Endangered Animals, Woodland Animals and even a whole dinosaur set! At Christmas and Easter they produce Advent Calendars and gift boxes and this year PLAYin CHOC have produced the Sea Animals Collection.
We were sent these three boxes to indulge ourselves. Opening the boxes, we found an orca, seahorse and swordfish. You can’t tell what’s in the box until you open it so it’s a great surprise for children. The box contains two pieces of chocolate (in recyclable plastic), a cut out of each animal which children can put together to create a toy and an information card about the animal, some facts and their personalities. There are 18 different animals to collect in all and the toys, which are made out of durable cardboard, can be used again and again, along with the cube boxes the chocolate and toys come in!
Although the chocolate is coconut based and vegan, it doesn’t taste very different to everyday chocolate so the kids won’t notice the change. It is 100% plant based though so it will appeal to everybody – these make great gifts in children’s party bags or to keep them quiet on car journeys and whilst travelling.
With so many toys to choose from, healthier vegan chocolate and fair trade, what is there not to like about the PLAYin CHOC range, especially for the Coronation?
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The Coronation is the perfect time to bring out the best in treats. If you’re having a street party, or even just a gathering over the Coronation weekend, why not try something different?
The chocolate company FATSO have created the King’s Ransom Chocolate bar for the Coronation in the special flavour of mint, pistachio and cocoa nibs. I’ve never tried that combination before so along with the fact that the Big Bar chocolate is single origin, Columbian 60% dark chocolate this was going to be an education.
I’m not a fan of pistachio so I wasn’t expecting to like this, but actually, the combination of the flavours means you don’t taste the pistachio or mint on their own, and the texture you normally have with pistachio flavoured chocolate is not the same. There are no ‘chunks’ to work your way through, and the flavours are subtle so you won’t be overpowered by the mint, for instance. The main texture and taste that comes through is from the chocolate, which at 150g per bar is dense and very rich, but not bitter like some dark chocolate. If you’re into the more refined chocolates, rather than the traditional ‘candy’ chocolates you used to buy as children, then this is a gourmet variety which adults will enjoy tasting.
It is worth pointing out here that the quality of the chocolate makes a big difference to your experience. You can taste that it’s better excellence of ingredients, especially with the chocolate which is so smooth that you can’t eat more than a mouthful at a time. It’s very satisfying as both a snack and for the flavours that come through as you eat it, making it something which you can enjoy and yet still don’t need much of to get the full effect.
I hadn’t seen FATSO chocolate before, but the website has a range of flavours including Morn’n Glory (cornflake, toast and marmalade), Nan’s Stash (peanut, toffee and Digestive biscuit) and Home Run (salted pretzel, whole almond and honeycomb). There’s also a bundle of bars available, all online!
Available online from £6.50 at: https://sofatso.com/paytheransom/
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Lovingly Artisan produce home delivered sourdough bread, and like the name suggest, the bread is not your run-of-the-mill baker’s lot. Their sourdough loaves are created with organic ingredients near Kendal, in the British Lake District. Their slow fermentation method with heritage flours and unique flavours create some delicious breads which can be posted to your home.
For the King’s Coronation this year, the Dark Chocolate Malt Loaf with Orange. This unique malt loaf is made with Mediterranean orange peel, Belgian Chocolate and chocolate malt. Marbled into a loaf shape, it’s a hybrid of bread and malt loaf with a deep crust and soft, almost gooey centre which is sweet, chocolatey and punctuated with citrus lemon.
I had a one loaf delivered early on Saturday morning, fresh from the Kendal bakery and beautifully presented! Cutting a piece for myself, I could either eat it as it was or slather it in butter, which is my preferred method. Eaten on its own, it tastes more like a cake, but with butter and the thick crust, it makes for a tea-time treat when you add butter. You could add jam as well but I think it would detract from the taste and become too sweet. You can really taste the Belgian chocolate pieces and candied orange peel with each bite and it’s not heavy either. It has a texture more like a patisserie than bread, probably due to the lighter flour used and good quality ingredients.
I don’t usually eat bread and when I do, I make it at home so it’s a treat to have artisan bread delivered that I didn’t have to work for! I would never be so adventurous as to make a sourdough bread with added chocolate and orange but it really works. Even children would love this bread, and with the added advantage of the sourdough being good for tummies, especially with organic, heritage flour used for baking.
If you’ve never seen the Lovingly Artisan website before, have a look at the other sourdough breads including their artisan range, all of which is delivered to your door.
Celebrate the Coronation with the Lovingly Artisan Dark Chocolate Malt Loaf with Orange this May and discover the perfect sourdough you’ve been missing.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Most of us have never seen a Coronation in the UK so this year is special. Joe & Seph have launched a range of limited edition popcorns to commemorate the Coronation in a few weeks, and we’ve been reviewing them to find out what they’re like!
The two flavours which were sent to us are Bakewell Tart and Salted Caramel. Bakewell Tart, the very British dessert cake made from almond and jam is a British classic, notably from Derbyshire originally. As a lover of popcorn as well as desserts, this was an easy win for me to try and I wasn’t disappointed! The popcorn has a slight almond flavour to it, very similar to the Bakewell Tart which also has the slightly sweet, nutty flavour of almonds but without the marzipan power. I’m not a fan of marzipan so this was a fair test of how well the popcorn would favour. There’s also the sweet cherry jam flavour to the coating too, which blends in well as a delicious dessert-like taste.
The second flavour is Salted Caramel. Probably one of the most popular flavours for cakes and desserts these days, this flavour translates well into popcorn. It’s slightly sticky, and the caramel flavour comes through first, followed by the savoury sea salt. This flavour appeals to those who prefer the sweeter tasting popcorn, and this would work really well with salted caramel ice cream or in place of a dessert.
Both flavours are iconic, and popcorn has come a long way from the cinema-type of buckets we had growing up. If you’re a fan of popcorn or know anything about the Joe & Seph then these are lovely flavours to add to your store cupboard, and I think you’ll be impressed with how likeable they are, as well as different to the normal High Street shelf flavours. As ever, they are very addictive though, so stock up on these flavours whilst they’re still available!
The handmade popcorn is gluten free, has no artificial colours or preservatives and is suitable for vegetarians. Popped in London artisan kitchens, the Joe & Seph’s team have toiled to create the best popcorn they possibly can. Check out their website and social media to find out more about the flavours available, and the snacks they have which can be found in a range of stores or online.
These two flavours of popcorn are great snacks or after dinner instead of a dessert. They would be PERFECT for around the Coronation party table though, it’s just a shame that they are limited edition!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Since 1999, Bensons the Juicers have been making juice drinks, with a range that includes ice lollies, ciders, pressed fruit juices and juice water. This week they sent us some pressed juices and fruit infused still water, which they call, ‘Joosed Fruity Water.’
With pressed juiced flavours Apple, Mango & Apple and Raspberry & Apple, Bensons the Juicers have a range fit for summer. The bottles, incidentally, are screw top glass bottles of 250ml which are not only recyclable, but can be reused for picnics or storing drinks in the fridge at a later date. Other flavours available include Orange, Mulled Apple & Cinnamon and Elderflower & Apple.
The pressed fruit drinks are deliciously authentic with a slight sharpness to them, which would be expected from a mainly apple-derived selection of drinks. There’s a lot of fruit packed into each bottle, and there’s something very British about these drinks which isn’t surprising when most of the fruit is grown on their Cotswolds farm. The apple juice and mixed fruit juices are great for children, store easily in the fridge (they arrive in crates of 6) and can also be enjoyed with adults as mixers for cocktails and spirits!
The cans of fruit water are still water, each of 250ml but arrive in cases of 24. You can either order a whole case of either Apple flavour or Blackcurrant and Apple or a mixed case of both. The water is similar to cordial but with the added bonus of actually being one of your 5-a day! Each of the flavoured waters was quite sweet, so I made sure I had them with a meal and that they had been in the fridge for a while to be cold. On the outside of the can it says ‘shake me, I’m still’ which I did for the first can but I did find that even though it wasn’t carbonated, the drink went everywhere, and left a sticky residue, so I made sure not to shake up the second can!
Both drinks had their own merits and were totally different. The pressed juices were more for children or to have as mixers with alcoholic drinks as they are richer and more filling. The still waters were great for taking out and about and for adults to have as one of their 5-a-day and to keep hydrated. As summer comes around, these pressed juices and water drinks will be invaluable!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Chocolate Lovers listen up… there’s a new chocolate in town (the Welsh town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire) where the team at Wickedly Welsh have created a fabulous chocolate hamper for Father’s Day, which you wont’ be able to resist!
You can be the biggest chocolate lover in the world and still find some joy in this hamper. The starring role goes to the varied chocolate flavours which is what Wickedly Welsh are famous for. Boasting three large slabs of chocolate, two whisky bite sized chocolates and two love spoons, there’s plenty here to keep Dad happy, and saves you putting together a gift hamper of your own!
Starting with the chocolate slabs, the three flavours are Moreish Milk Chocolate, Coffee & Biscuit and Welsh Sea Salt & Caramel, each of about 90grams in weight. If your Dad is Welsh, then he’ll love the Milk Chocolate slab with the Welsh Dragon design, but all of the slabs are one piece, not squares. We suspect this is so that Dad doesn’t have to share them with anyone else! We loved all flavours, but the Sea Salt & Caramel was a particular favourite. The sea salt is actually Halen Mon Sea Salt, a locally sourced ingredient to make it a Welsh taste sensation.
Also in the hamper are two Milk & Dark Love Spoons. Welsh Love Spoons are a symbol of love, and these 40 gram bars are no exception. If you don’t want to tuck into a large slab of chocolate, or want to take a snack with you, these Love Spoons are a brilliant choice.
Lastly, the pack also contains two of Wickedly Welsh’s most popular individual chocolates in a cute presentation box. If you’re new to Welsh chocolate or the way Wickedly Welsh present their wares, you’ll do worse than try these first. They’re stunning, and so moreish I bet you, or Dad, won’t be able to stop at just these two. They’re great tasters for the rest of the range that’s available online, and not just on Father’s Day.
The quality of the chocolate is superb with the ingredients sourced locally and all are 100% natural. Whether or yourself or as a gift for someone else, Wickedly Welsh chocolate is an excellent gift choice.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This is an alcoholic drink and is not suitable for children.
You don’t often find the words ‘unicorn’, ‘marshmallow’ and ‘gin’ in the same sentence, so when they’re all combined to create the Manchester Drinks Co Mystical Unicorn Gin Liqueur, there has to be some kind of pink magic involved too!
You are not hallucinating, and it is not every day that I get to try gin with added glitter, but the Manchester Drinks Co have created a range of gins with flavours like Bubble Gum, Toffee Apple and this enchanting small batch gin which is infused with candy floss and marshmallow to create a sweet, fruitful liqueur. There really is glitter in this concoction, which you can see when you shake up the bottle.
The Mystical Unicorn Gin Liqueur has a 20% alcohol volume and can be drunk on its own or with lemonade and ice. You can try it with other mixers or as a substitute in cocktails, which the bright pink colour and sparkly glitter texture lends itself to very well. When drinking this on its own though, it’s strong! The sugary taste really goes to your head quick so I would suggest drinking it with a mixer, or having just one before you go out one night! It looks particularly good on the table after dinner, and girls will love this for Hen Nights or Girls’ Nights Out.
Have a look at the range of other gin liqueurs from Manchester Gin Co available online, and I can guarantee you’ll be adding them to your cocktails soon.
Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own
Whenever anyone asks me what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas I always struggle to come up with anything. I’m not one for trinkets or jewellery and unlike a lot of people I know I am actually quite happy with something practical like kitchenware. I really enjoy cooking so it is nice to be treated to better versions of the small kitchen appliances that I use regularly. Wahl recently sent me a selection of kitchen appliances from their James Martin range which look super cool in my kitchen and are a welcome upgrade to my existing kitchen gadgets. My food processer is at least 20 years old and well past its prime and my hand mixer is even older so it was really exciting to discover both of these products in the parcel from Wahl.
The 300W electric hand mixer is a substantial and reasonably heavy little mixer. It comes complete with stainless steel beaters, dough hooks and a whisk which all came in useful when I was making lunch on Easter Sunday. The beaters were used for the batter for Yorkshire puddings and for making chocolate brownies, the dough hooks for hot cross buns and the whisk for the whipped cream.
The mixer is a good weight, not too heavy to use, but just heavy enough that it feels solid in your hands. It has a rubberised handle which makes it comfortable to hold and is a huge improvement on my old mixer. The mixer has 5 speeds plus a turbo boost and is a fantastic little gadget. It has a button to press for the quick release of the beaters which saves you getting your hands covered in cake mix, you can just eject them into the washing up bowl or they can go in the dishwasher.
RRP £32.99
I wouldn’t be without a food processor, mine is a real work horse making light of chopping, grating, liquidising and making vast quantities of pastry. With a houseful at Easter the James Martin Compact Processor with Spiralizer Attachment really came into its own and I’ve spent the last few days slicing, mixing and juicing to create a range of culinary treats that went down a storm with my family. Delicious soups, buckets of coleslaw, healthy smoothies, even crushed ice for drinks, this little workhouse was the star of the show making mundane tasks like chopping vegetables and grating cheese a breeze. The spiralizer was an added bonus and any vegetable that went near it was spiralized by my son!! This was an innovative way to encourage him to eat more vegetables!!
The set includes a processor bowl with stainless steel blade, a disc for slicing and grating as well as a spiralizer attachment and a 1.5L blender with filler cap and easy to clean removable blades. The blender is a good size and perfect for making smoothies and liquidising home made soup. The parts are all dishwasher safe which is a huge plus.
The food processor is nice and sturdy and sits nicely on my worktop, it has suckers on the bottom which help it stay firmly in place when in use . I use mine a lot so I keep it on top of the worktop but it will easily fit in a cupboard.
It has a powerful 500 watt motor with two speeds and a pulse setting and the compact size means it is doesn’t get in the way when it is sat on the worktop not being used.
RRP £74.99
The James Martin by Wahl Grind and Chop is such a handy little gadget and I don’t know how I have managed to overlook this piece of kitchen equipment. It’s one of those products that once you start using one you don’t know how you managed without it – especially good with a houseful of guests!
Stylish and powerful it has a 70g capacity and is perfect for grinding coffee beans and making curry paste with a simple press of the lid. With a 200W motor it makes short work of smaller jobs – instead of throwing away bread that is past its best, I use this to make breadcrumbs which I can pop in the freezer for my next recipe.
Use the grinder for dry ingredients and the chopper for wet or oily ones, no need to worry about working out which cup is which as they are both marked up. It comes with a handy recipe book with spice mixes to grind and accompanying recipes. The Spicy Tandoori mix was a favourite with my family.
There is no fiddling with this gadget as the blades are fixed in the cups and all you need to do is sit it on the base, pop the top on and press it down to start chopping. I like how easy it is to use – it can be operated with just one hand. Once you’ve finished chopping you simply lift the top off and use your ingredients.
The Grind and Chop machine looks very smart on the worktop, the brushed stainless finish being very on trend right now. To carry out basic chopping and grinding with no fuss you really can’t beat this gadget.
RRP £36.99
Whan you have a houseful of guests extra cooking facilities are a big boost and the James Martin Healthy Table Top Grill has been invaluable to help feed all the hungry mouths. With a variable temperature control and ridged and flat cooking areas it sits nicely on the work surface and has been used most of all for bacon butties at various times of the day as well as grilling chicken and meats for sandwiches and buffets.
It has a good sized cooking area and can easily cook enough food for a family in one go. It has a drip tray for excess oil and non-stick removable grill plates and it makes cooking easy and healthy.
Cleaning up afterwards was effortless thanks to there being less burnt-on grease on the non stick plates and the fact that the grill plate can be removed so it can be washed in hot soapy water by hand.
I can see this being an incredibly useful gadget and it will be great to take away in the caravan this summer so we can cook healthy meals outdoors.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Whenever I buy Joe & Seph’s Popcorn, my friend Lisa always asks me, “Have you got any more of that posh popcorn?” so when we were offered the Joe & Seph’s Ultimate Night In Gift Box, I knew we had to review it!
The box is priced at £12.50 with three different flavours of popcorn; Salted Caramel, Caramel & Belgian Chocolate Popcorn and the slightly different Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites. The Bites are different because they are cups of chocolate with a piece of popcorn set in them. These were particularly nice because the chocolate and popcorn worked together well, and we had them in the fridge as little snacks to eat throughout the day! The chocolate was particularly good quality too which made them more of a treat.
The Salted Caramel and Caramel & Belgium Chocolate Popcorn were for us to enjoy after dinner on a Friday. Both of the flavours are favourites of mine so I was keen to try them. The Salted Caramel is not as ‘salted’ as you might think, but more caramel. I love Joe & Seph’s popcorn because it’s not sticky at all, and the Salted Caramel flavour is no exception. You can pick it up and hold the popcorn without it melting in your hand or feeling sticky which makes it much easier to handle as well as easier to share. The quality of the popcorn itself is much better than your cinema popcorn because there are minimal kernels and unbaked pieces of corn. In fact, there’s no un-popped corn pieces at the bottom of the bag, so all you get is proper, fluffy popcorn!
The Caramel & Belgium Chocolate Popcorn was my favourite of all the flavours. Layered in a light coat of chocolate, you can taste the Belgium chocolate straight away, and the second flavour is the delicate caramel. The see-through grab bags are easy to share, but just as easily pour into a bowl due to the shape of the bag.
The Joe & Seph’s Popcorn Ultimate Night In Gift Box arrives in a presentation box to your doorstep, after being handmade and packed in London, but the boxes can be sent to anywhere in the country. Ordering on the website, you can also add a 60 character message, which makes it a great gift for anyone who loves popcorn, chocolate or snacks in general. I think this Ultimate Night In Gift Box works as either a Girls’ night in with some Prosecco, a movie and a bit of gossip, or as a gift for a teenager’s birthday, along with the Amazon gift card they all crave!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I’m a big fan of cereal bars. They’re great for snacks at home, or in your bag to go to work and children love them. KIND have a variety of cereal bars of different flavours, but all of them are high in fibre, high in protein and have no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. They’re gluten free too!
The team at KIND send us a box of their new Caramelised Biscuit Nut flavoured KIND bars to try, which have the same high fibre, high quality ingredients. The main food factor in these Caramelised Biscuit Nut KIND bars is nuts making up 81% of the bar overall. They actually contain peanuts, almonds and cashews with added spice biscuit and caramel. The result is a sweet, slightly sticky cereal bar with a honey coating and nutmeg and cinnamon flavouring. Despite the cinnamon, they don’t taste ‘Christmassy’ at all, more like the coffee biscuits you get in cafes when you order a latte.
I really enjoyed the KIND Caramelised Biscuit Nut bars and found them really filling as either a snack or part of a lunch. They have the added bonus of being high in fibre and have all the nutrients you find in nuts but with all of the flavour. The bars are great for protein too, although at 226 calories it’s not really a health bar, but will pack in the energy if you need a sugar rush in the afternoon.
As with all KIND bars, these became addictive! Everyone in the office loved them for both their flavour and texture, which is more for adults than children due to containing nuts. If you’re a fan of KIND bars, you’ll love these too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Anyone looking for chocolate gifts will love the PLAYin CHOC organic chocolate range. Made from Peruvian Cacao it has no dairy, no gluten, no nuts and is totally vegan. The business was started by Maya back in 2016 when she wanted to create dairy-free chocolate using the simplest ingredients; cacao, coconut and vanilla. Maya also wanted to promote awareness about the planet’s biodiversity and offer an ethical alternative, so all of the PLAYin CHOC products are plastic free.
Beyond how award winning this chocolate is (It has won the Great Taste Award in 2022 for both their dark and milk chocolates, among other accolades), the range is something to behold in terms of fun. Just a quick look at their website and you can see the chocolate gift boxes available, all of which include their winning chocolate, but also have models which children can build based on the theme of the gift box. There’s Endangered Animals, Woodland Animals, Dinosaurs, Rabbits and a Christmas box. There’s some lovely 12 and 24 day advent calendars available at Christmas time too!
For the adults, PLAYin CHOC also have 60gram tablets of 6 pieces of chocolate. We were sent the Peruvian Cacao Milk Chocolate and Peruvian Cacao Dark Chocolate to try. Each chocolate is wrapped in compostable material (it looks like plastic but it’s not) so you can store them easily or even add them to a lunchbox for a quick chocolate treat.
My favourite was the Dark Chocolates. You can really taste the cacao in them, and there’s a strong flavour from the coconut as well. I really enjoyed the fact that there were no added extras to the chocolate, it’s a chocolate lover’s worse nightmare to be deterred from the real chocolate by additives, preservatives and unnecessary flavourings. The dark chocolate has a stronger chocolate flavour,, but the milk chocolate is milder if you’re not a big fan of dark.
If you’ve never tried PLAYin CHOC, have a look at their website for chocolate for both chocolate for the kids, as well as yourself!
The Review Studio 