Category: Uncategorized

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

British designer Tower have a range of appliances and cooking aids available this Christmas, including the 1.7 litre Digital Kettle in their Cavaletto range. We were sent this stylish conical-shaped, Italian influenced kettle with a digital display and all-round, 360-degree base which means the kettle can be heated up on the electrical element from any angle. If you’re left-handed, then you know how annoying it is to keep having to switch hands when using the kettle!

The Cavaletto 1.7 litre digital kettle’s most distinctive feature is the temperature control. Conventional kettles only have on/off buttons but the Cavaletto digital kettle has a touch control button which gives you temperatures up to 100 degrees. Starting at 40 degrees for delicate drinks and heating cups, the temperatures increase by 10 degrees with each touch and displays them on the kettle tab. The temperatures are useful because you can not only use them for making the perfect coffee (80-90C) but you’ll find other uses like warming plates before dinner, heating up a baby’s bottle or using the lower temperatures for cleaning.

The Cavaletto kettle has a capacity to boil up to 7 cups of water at a time and also has a 3 year guarantee to give assurance that it will last. The attention to detail on the silver trim sets off the Italian look nicely with the perfect pour spout. There’s also a filter inside for those of us who live in a hard water area but the workings don’t matter as it looks, and feels so stylish to use.  It’s a great looking bit of kit for the kitchen too!

Available from £59.99 at: https://www.towerhousewares.co.uk/kettles/mirage-17l-digital-kettle-16?_gl=1*1urjfz5*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA24XJBhBXEiwAXElO37prm8hiq6BRcwGMH0t2wcV3V30cuDodoIuklKKUXTZgOcChrrZ9EBoCeGwQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAACJWdGsn43ilYF7q9KiZb5Kv4xrw6

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

You could get Dad another pair of socks for Father’s Day, but why not buy him a new electric toothbrush that he’s actually going to use?

Spotlight Oral Care have brought out a state-of-the-art toothbrush that is also a tongue cleaner and has 4 modes for cleaning teeth; Gentle, Clean, White and Polish.  Setting up the toothbrush is easy too because the pack contains 3 brush heads and the whole kit fits into a neat travel case. There’s also a cable and magnetic click charger included so that you can charge the toothbrush on the go, and then plug in the charger to use as a battery.

The power button acts as a mode selector, so you can just press and go, with the lights below the brush head showing you 2 minutes on the automatic timer.  I particularly like changing the settings; when you press the Power button it remembers the last setting you used and times 2 minutes from there. If you press the Power button again, it changes to the next mode setting, but also give off a different tone. This is so that when you’re brushing and needing to change setting (or accidentally change setting as I do!) you can hear the difference rather than having to take the toothbrush away from your mouth to see!

The modes differ in terms of how many reps per minute they generate. The Gentle mode is probably good for children and those who have sensitive gums and teeth (30,000 reps) then Clean Mode has 40,000 which White Mode is more at 45,000. Polish Mode has 50,000 reps per minute to give a pearly white smile!

The brush is very lightweight despite having a power pack included, and it’s incredibly quiet.  The brush heads are soft bristle and the back of the brush head has the tongue cleaner so you can just flip the toothbrush over and use it whilst in a cleaning mode, or without there being a setting on if you want to be more gentle. The pressure sensor helps protect gums from being brushed too harshly and possibly receding.

Electric toothbrushes have come a long way in the last decade, and the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Pro toothbrush is no exception.  The ability to take it with you on holiday and charge anywhere is a big bonus too. The toothbrush cleans, polishes and whitens brilliantly and it’s easy to use. What’s Dad got to complain about?

Currently on sale for £149.99 at: https://uk.spotlightoralcare.com/products/sonic-pro-pure-white

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

We don’t give paper gift cards any longer, no do we tend to give the plastic cards. Today, the most tech savvy people give money using apps. Prezzee is an online app which can be accessed from your phone and even added to your supermarket app so that you have them all in the same place.

We were sent a link to a Prezzee gift card for Marks & Spencer.  The link was emailed, and by clicking on it, you either open an app on your phone or it takes you to a website. If you already have an account (as I do) then you simply log in and the link applies the gift card amount straight to your Prezzee app. If you don’t have the app, then the link takes you to a website to download the app, which is needed in order to use any of the Prezzee gift cards.

The Prezzee gift cards also need an app or website in order to send them. You can send £5-£500 worth of vouchers securely for stores such as Currys, Argos, B&M, ASK Restaurants, Café Rouge, Boots, Boohoo and more. The emails can be personalised to be specific to a birthday, anniversary and of course, as an alternative to chocolate at Easter!  

Using the card at the specific store is easy. Using the app, treat the barcode as a normal gift card and it can be scanned by the cashier or at the self-serve. The code is also able to be used online when making purchases too.  

The future is in technology, and Prezzee Gift Cards help save time and money with the app and sending money instantly. No more losing gift cards at the back of a drawer or worrying they will go out of date!

NOT SPONSORED

2 Whitehall Court London SW1A 2EJ

Afternoon tea is a pleasure best enjoyed whilst stopping off during a walking tour of London. The Royal Horseguards Hotel is just off of Whitehall (think Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament) on a quiet side road en-route to Charing Cross. The impressive hotel has a grand entrance into the reception, but the restaurant entrance takes you straight to afternoon tea, 1pm to 4pm every day.

We started on the Classic Afternoon Tea with a glass of Chapel Down sparkling wine and choosing our tea from the menu. You can have a coffee instead, but I prefer a proper pot of English Breakfast, and the server gave me an extra large pot but you can request as many refills of your tea as you like, as long as you stick to the same tea. Coffee is different; choose whichever iteration of coffee you please and there’s no limit there.

Our afternoon tea stand was brought over to us with the usual selection of 3 courses; sandwiches, scones and cakes. The sandwiches were smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese, egg mayo and ham and English mustard. The scones were two plain and two sultana scones with cream and strawberry jam.  On the top plate we had the cakes! Chocolate éclair, mini Victoria sponge, lemon meringue pie and a gin and lime pebble on shortbread biscuit.  At this point, I couldn’t eat many of the cakes having eaten my share of the sandwiches and scones but the staff very kindly bring boxes and a bag to take home your left-over afternoon tea, which adds to the service.

Speaking of which, the staff went above and beyond to serve every table; filling up tea and wine glasses (wine is an extra cost on this tea) and taking photos. The restaurant was almost full all afternoon with some people spilling over into the Equus Bar or admiring the glorious reception area where you can sit and ponder for a while before taking in the rest of Whitehall.

Afternoon Tea available from £55 at:https://www.royalhorseguardshotel.com/restaurants-and-bars/afternoon-tea-at-the-lounge

Disclaimer – We were sponsored for this visit but all thoughts and views are our own.

In the heart of Holborn, amongst the offices, sandwich shops and on the edge of the West End, the NYX Hotel sits on the edge of Southampton Row and Theobalds Road.  The hotel, which is part of the Leonardo Hotels group, has converted the top floor to the Glasshouse Bar.  With views across London looking north to south, the rooftop bar has some wicked cocktails to match.  We went to visit over the weekend (the Glasshouse is currently only open at weekends for the winter) and tried out the cocktails, and the views!

The entrance to the hotel is actually on Old Gloucester Street, then the bar is on the 9^th floor.  The ‘L’ shaped bar is on the corner of the building, with floor to ceiling windows all around.  The views are breath taking with the Oxo Tower, London Eye and Big Ben visible in a glance.  In summer, the windows open so that you not only get to bask in the summer heat, but see the view clearly.  Whilst we were there, the windows were opened for us, and immediately the rest of the clients in the bar came over to both see the views and take lots of photos.  There’s so much to see from this vantage point, it must be even better in the summer.  There are also glass ceilings which open up to show the stars at night and provide another backdrop for photos.

The bar has an array of well known cocktails and then a list of their own.  My colleague and I had a Cosmopolitan, then Mint Hint (Sapphire Gin) followed by a Caramel Pop and then I had a Sweet Escape – one of the mocktails on the menu.  You can also order wine and flatbreads, all of which are in the extensive menu.  We sat on comfy chairs around intimate low level tables but there are high bar stools at the windows to look out over the view, a corner sofa at the far end of the room and small tables dotted around.  The cocktails were delicious! It’s difficult to make a good Cosmopolitan but the bar staff nailed it.  

The Glasshouse is a fantastic way of viewing London from the rooftop, with some brilliant cocktails and a setting that makes it ideal for after work, after dinner or even apres theatre!

Pros

Breath taking views

Lovely cocktails

Cons

You have to enter the hotel via Old Gloucester Street, not Southampton Row

This visit was not paid for by a third party and was conducted without the knowledge of the restaurant.

It’s no mean feat being the oldest restaurant in London but Rules on Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, has survived over 200 years and even stayed open during World War Two, although only for a couple of hours and rationed portions.  The dwellers of West London could still consume unlimited amounts of rabbit, pheasant and grouse though as these were not rationed.

Rules caters for quintessential British cuisine with the aforementioned pheasant and grouse available still (and occasionally rabbit) depending on the season.  The theatre of the restaurant lies in the atmosphere and formidable history of the premises which has never moved since gaining foothold in 1798.

The lavish premises lies on a side road close to the main Covent Garden Market but has become pedestrian only since Lockdown.  Entering the door, the original roaring fireplace greets you second after the maître’d has locked eyes with you. It’s not often that you have fireplaces in restaurants anymore but then there aren’t many places to eat like Rules.  The seating area is arranged in tables and booths with the walls covered in London and Thames memorabilia, a history of the establishment lives above the diners in the form of plaques, photos, cartoons and artwork.  Upstairs there is a more secluded bar and just before Lockdown, The Winter Garden Cocktail Bar opened.

Along with cocktails and vast cellar of wines, the food is the most notable aspect. Presented on an oversized menu, there are everyday items such as their famous Rock Oysters and Dorset Crab, as well as London favourites such as Steak and Kidney Pie.  The menu changes with the season though, so don’t be surprised to find pigeon, grouse, pheasant and duck on the menu along with an array of different fishes. You won’t find chicken on the menu very often though, unless it’s the integral part of Rules’ famous Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Pie.

It’s impossible not to enjoy the authenticity of Rules, in both the food and the décor.  The food is very well cooked and served without garnish or drama but all of the original flavour is retained, enhanced by British-grown produce and often reminiscent of Granny’s handed-down recipe.  It wouldn’t surprise me if every single one of the dishes came about after past patrons passed on the family secrets to each of Rules’ head chefs and the finished product is today’s modern day menu.

If you’re not familiar with game, then I can recommend the pheasant.  On our visit, it was a special of the day with roast potatoes, onion, carrot and Yorkshire Pudding. Guests can also enjoy Roast Mallard, Daube of Venison and even sharing dishes such as Roast Rib of Beef for two. Of course, the traditional Salt-Aged Sirloin Steak is also there to tempt you when nothing else will do.

Desserts at Rules are just as exemplary as their game with British favourites such as Rules Sticky Toffee Pudding, Rules Golden Syrup Sponge and Bread & Butter Pudding. The dessert portions are ample and come with custard or ice cream but for the more adventurous, there are delights such as Chocolate Moelleux with Caramel Ice Cream and Honeycomb or Welsh Rarebit on Sourdough Toast.  There’s Cropwell Blue Stilton or Cheese Plate to sample as well, with their famous silver biscuit box filled with Digestive Biscuits.

Pros

• Beautiful surroundings and exemplary service
• Excellent, traditional food
• The Winter Garden Cocktail Bar is an added bonus for before or after eating

Cons

• Seasonal menu, a lot of British game on the menu so some dishes won’t suit everyone

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Not only is it Afternoon Tea Week (12-18 August) but Dalchini in Wimbledon is 25 years old this year and starting their anniversary celebrations! We visited this week to sample their new Indo-Chinese afternoon tea, and to see the beginning of the preparations for their anniversary year including their new Speakeasy which opened in May.

Dalchini (meaning cinnamon) opened in 2000 in its present location at 174 Arthur Road, Wimbledon, right opposite Wimbledon South on the District Line. Inside, the spacious restaurant is open 364 days a year with air conditioning.  We were seated by the large opening windows at the front of the premises – ideal for people watching!  The afternoon tea (£17.95 each or £34.95 for two) includes a choice of two sandwiches from a choice of 4 fillings, a choice between Crispy Chilli Garlic Paneer or Sesame Prawn Toast, Aloo Mutter Samosas, raisin and cheese scones with jam and cream and a selection of cakes and muffins including Chocolate Brownies, Fruit Tea Cake and Chocolate Muffins. The photos show the complete selection on the menu as a special taster but this was way too much for us, so the choice between the different sandwich fillings and savoury snacks is welcome.

The sandwiches are a mixture of vegetarian (Mediterranean vegetables and cheese & cucumber) and two types of chicken (pepper chicken and honey mustard chicken) use the Indo-Chinese spices to add delicious flavour that you simply can’t make at home!  We loved the prawn toasts too, which come with chilli sauce and like all the food on the Afternoon Tea, is made completely in house. In fact, even the bread is baked in house!  The samosas and paneer pieces are also fabulous, with a mint or tamarind chutney to accompany.

The two different types of scone (Cheddar cheese and raisin scones) are also freshly baked and you can really taste the freshness.  There’s strawberry jam and cream with them too. Finally, there are so many cakes it’s hard to keep up! The cakes are baked in house and include a chocolate brownie, dry fruit tea cake and vanilla and chocolate muffins. My favourite was probably the dry fruit tea cake which was full of almonds, nuts and dried fruits like raisins and currants.  There’s an impressive list of teas as well, where we opted for the traditional Flavoured Black Tea which is similar to English Breakfast, or the refreshing Fruit Tea called Granny’s Garden – made with fresh summer fruits and infused in a teapot to keep the flavour.

Along with the restaurant upstairs, there’s a new Speakeasy situated downstairs via a secret door too! Seating 40, the underground bar serves their own take on traditional cocktails and has their own beer on tap, along with Cobra and usual spirits. There’s a long table as well as a snug and it’s all air conditioned. Perfectly timed to help celebrate their 25^th anniversary and in the run up to Christmas.

Dalchini of Wimbledon add that something different to your Afternoon Tea this week, and with the celebrations coming up for their anniversary, you can be sure there will be more yummy surprises coming up!

£17.95 each or £34.95 for 2: https://www.dalchini.co.uk/afternoon-tea

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Bring on summer! Well, even if summer never falls upon us (it’s looking that way!) you can still enjoy these mocktails from Savyll which launched recently.

The cans of non-alcoholic cocktails in flavours Mojito, Bellini, Paloma and Moscow Mule have won the 2022 Great Taste Award for their taste. We were sent a selection of each flavour to try and thanks to their very low ABV, we enjoyed these over lunch!

The name Savyll came from the phrase, “To be savoured by all” and with these drinks being non-alcoholic, it means everyone can enjoy them.  The cocktails, which come in 250ml can size are each made of all natural ingredients, are vegan friendly, gluten free and have less than 5 grams of sugar per 100ml. Kept fresh in the cans, the drinks are all fizzy and faithful to the cocktail names they bear with the Bellini being my favourite.  Each of the drinks has the flavour and effervescence but none of the hangover the next morning – not that you would notice because each of them has that ‘kick’ that makes them a cocktail.

The Savyll cocktails make great accompaniments to picnics and days out, or for anyone who isn’t sure about a cocktail but still wants to enjoy the flavour.  They are a completely different alternative to the soft drinks on the market, which feel more grown-up, and look like alcoholic treats as well so you won’t feel left out. I felt that the flavours weren’t over powering like some mocktails are, and they had the carbonated factor which made them easier and more fun to drink.  They contain less than 0.5% ABV so are classed as non-alcoholic but have a very small trace which might be important to some people who want to avoid alcohol completely.

This summer, Savyll’s cocktails are there to help you celebrate, enjoy and savour the taste of good beverages and all without the alcohol.

Available from £8 for the selection pack: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/savyll-beverage-co-non-alcoholic-cocktails-4x25cl