We recently came across Tyne Bank Brewery, a Newcastle-based brewery that produces a range of unique beers including everything from a selection of pale ales to a lager and a milk stout.  The brewery brews an impressive 20,000 pints a week, which brewers work 12 hours a day to produce.  Visitors have the opportunity to go on a tour of the brewery and enjoy tasting sessions every weekend.

The range
Products include: 

• Mocha Milk Stout: An award-winning stout made with Brazilian chocolate and Madagascan vanilla pods
• Summer Breeze:  A pale ale brewed with Asian root ginger and lemongrass
• American IPA:  A hoppy, American style IPA
• Helix: A Czech style lager
• Strawberries & Cream:  A pale ale with hints of English strawberries
• Mango IPA: An Indian pale ale with hints of mango
• Silver Dollar: An award-winning pale ale brewed with American Centennial and Amarillo hops
• Rhubarb & Custard: A pale ale brewed with Yorkshire rhubarb

Our verdict
If your flavour preference leans towards seriously fruity ciders, then the flavours within this range may be too subtle for your liking, but if you're looking for an interesting new beer that deviates from the usual offerings you can find anywhere, then it's worth giving it a whirl.  With the Bank Holiday in full swing, now's the perfect opportunity to try something new. 

The details
A selection of beers within the range can be found at Booths supermarkets across the Northwest of England.

www.tynebankbrewery.co.uk

Ashley Miln

We're a big fan of condiments as they have the power to liven up a variety of dishes quickly and easily.  So, we were excited to hear about the launch of The Sweet Beet, a range of innovative condiments that are certain to jazz up your recipes! Founded by Lizzy Hodcroft, a Texas-raised chef turned restaurant manager and now food entrepreneur, the range takes its inspiration from the bold flavours of Texan cuisine.

The range includes five scrumptious variants including Texas Beer Jelly, Oak Smoaked Apple Butter, Maple Bacon Jam, Strawberry Chipotle BBQ and our personal favourite, Habanero Lime Jelly (a bit like sweet chilli sauce but thicker) and it tastes amazing on baked salmon, fresh tuna tacos or burgers.  The clever cats at The Sweet Beet have even developed a Texas Beer Jelly Margarita, which we can't wait to try during the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend!

The Sweet Beet is available www.thesweetbeet.co.uk (RRP £4.50-£4.95).

Ashley Miln

Japan’s national drink is more versatile than people might think. An increasingly popular alternative to wine, sake is turning business around for Japan’s 1,800 sake breweries.  

​John Gauntner, the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert, shares his top tips on how to choose a sake and his recommendations for the best food pairings with sake.

How to select a sake
Selecting sake is like selecting wine; every sake is different. Sake is made from rice, so the more finely milled it is, the more refined it will be. Sake is fairly priced in that the more you pay, the better the sake – at least technically.
 
There are two words to look for when choosing sake:

• Ginjo - This indicates the sake was made with highly milled rice and craft-laden methods
• Daiginjo’ – This is a subclass of ginjo and is basically ‘ginjo to die for'

When serving sake, most premium sake is better slightly chilled, like a white wine. But there are exceptions to this, and the world of warmed premium sake is one of endless fun and satisfaction. With so many options to hand, the best way to educate your palette is to try a variety of sake brands and grades to see what you like best.

We love quality chocolate (who doesn’t?), so we were excited to hear about the launch of MIA, a range of luxurious Madagascan single-origin chocolate bars ‘Made In Africa’.

Set up by a group of foodies with a shared passion for the continent, its people, wildlife and natural ingredients, each MIA product is crafted from start to finish in Madagascar with 1% of MIA sales donated to development projects in Africa.
 
The Criollo, Amelonado and Trinitario cocoa used is sourced directly from independent farmers in the Sambirano Valley of northwest Madagascar. The range includes six delicious variants:

• 100% Cocoa
• 75% Dark Chocolate 
• Candied Orange
• Coconut
• Almond & Coconut
• Hazelnut & Cranberry 

We tried the intense 100% cocoa, the slightly milder 75% cocoa and the candied orange chocolate bar, which contained candied orange pieces. All were mouth-wateringly delicious and we loved the gorgeous gold-embossed packaging they came in, which made each bar feel like a special treat as you unwrapped its goodness. With their intense flavours and stunning aesthetics,  they're the perfect gift for any chocolate aficionado.
 
MIA chocolates are available from BoroughBox (www.boroughbox.com) and Cocoa Runners (www.cocoarunners.com) for £4.00 (for a 75g pack). 

Ashley Miln

Trundling through the verdant English countryside on a train headed for the Cotswolds is always a welcome escape from London, but when it's married with an invitation to cook up a storm at the Daylesford Cookery School, it makes the journey all the more worthwhile. 

Pulling up to Daylesford’s Cotswolds estate, one gets an inherent feeling that an enjoyable time will be had. From the moment I visited on a drizzly grey February morning, I was sold on the Daylesford life. The estate is comforting, homely and wholesome.

From its beginnings as a family farm in Staffordshire and then the Cotswolds more than 40 years ago, today the Daylesford empire encompasses the organic farm with its on-site shop - packed to the rafters with everything from fresh produce and handmade cheeses to a beautifully-crafted lifestyle range - as well as a stunning restaurant, a year-round calendar of hands-on workshops, the luxuriously indulgent Bamford Haybarn Spa, on-site accommodation in the form of the Daylesford cottages and, of course, the eponymous Cookery School, which was established in 2010.

Since all I care to do when I arrive in a city is eat my way round it, Eating London Tours - which can also be found in Rome, Florence, Amsterdam and Prague -  is my kind of tour.
 
During the 4-hour tour of the London Old Docks, knowledgeable and spirited tour guides lead intimate groups off the beaten track of London’s tourist trail to eat and drink as the locals do and have done for hundreds of years. It’s an immersive experience full of conversation, stories, laughter and discovery, making it the most agreeable way to to learn more about London’s rich culture and fascinating history.
 
The Mayflower Pub, Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe, which was once a bustling trading hub of London. was the perfect place to start our tour of London’s docks, the now eerily quiet streets a far cry from its dramatic and chequered past. We headed to the iconic Mayflower pub, where we raised a pint of aptly named ‘Scurvy’ ale and dug into bangers, mash, black pudding and gravy alongside passionate locals.

As we dined, we learnt of the history of Brunel’s Rotherhithe Tunnel and how when it opened in 1843 millions flocked to what was referred to as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. It certainly made our short tube journey through it to get to our next watering hole more interesting!
 
The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping had a sinister past - its deck still bears an ominously suspended noose from the days of public hangings, and there are rumours that it's haunted - food for thought over good old fashioned fish, chips and mushy peas all washed down with Truman’s craft beer.
 
Turners Old Star
After a leisurely stroll along the canals, we found ourselves in the charming Turners Old Star, one of the longest standing traditional East End taverns, which was converted by painter Joseph Turner in the 1830s for his then mistress.  What else would the landlady whip us up but a hearty steak and ale pie with a London Pride chaser?!

​The Captain Kidd
This riverside pub offered us great old-school pork scratchings, a Samuel Smith’s Porter rich with molasses, a gorgeous view and the perfect setting where we were told tales about the ‘mudlarks’ who scavenged the banks of the Thames. 

After our time at the Captain Kidd, we set off on a picturesque riverside walk to head to the Dickens Inn, our final destination on the tour.
 
Dickens Inn
This flower-adorned 18th century warehouse in the regenerated St Katherine’s Dock Marina was the perfect pit stop for a cheeseboard and a refreshing cider - a great end to the day after exploring one of London's most fascinating yet overlooked neighbourhoods.

So, if you're looking for a marvellous day out that will fill your stomach and put a smile on your face, you can't go wrong with this unique tour.

Luci Lyne

Quality starts with stringent standards
 
It doesn’t just start with the curing process, though - the pigs have to meet exacting breeding and feeding standards before they can go through the remaining processes that earn them the PDO Guijuelo stamp. For starters, they must be 100% or 75% Iberian breed.
 
The stringent requirements that the ham must meet to earn the PDO certification continue after the salting period. Once the hams have been washed to remove the salt from its exterior, they’re left in climate-controlled conditions for two to three months to help draw the salt well into the flesh. They’re then hung for between 18 and 24 months, exposed to the unique conditions of the Guijuleo region to cure naturally, before being transferred to a cellar to age for at least 12 months or more often an average of 18 months.
 
There are around 70 family businesses (many of which are fourth and fifth generation producers) within the PDO region. Within this designated territory, which includes Castile Leon, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia, the pigs snuffle about freely, munching on meadow grasses and, during the October-March season, enjoying flavourful, nutrient-rich acorns.
 
We’re all familiar with the importance of ‘free range’ and most of us probably also know that, even aside from animal welfare concerns, “free to roam” animals just taste better. In the case of these Iberian pigs, their wandering lifestyle means that their muscles develop and the fat from their diet works its way deep into their flesh, which is what gives the ham its ‘melt-in-the-mouth’ marbling, flavour and silkiness. 

What to look for before buying Iberian ham
 
Next time you’re looking to buy an Iberian ham, look out for the different coloured labels, each of which gives further insights into the provenance and diet of the pig. Black and red labels both denote that the pigs have been acorn fed and that the hams are, respectively, 100% and 75% Iberian, while a green label means that the ham is no less than 75% Iberian and that it has been fed on “cebo de campo’ (cereal and legumes) and natural grasses.

Popcorn Shed is an award-winning, family owned and operated gourmet popcorn company. Their moreish popcorn is lovingly handcrafted, using carefully sourced, natural ingredients, meaning it's free of any nasty preservatives or additives.
 
The popcorn range includes three classic flavours including Pecan Pie, Salted Caramel and Rich Chocolate, making it a great choice if you like your popcorn on the sweet side!  We also loved the cute packaging, which represents the garden shed where the brand was born.

To find the nearest Popcorn Shed supplier near you, visit: https://popcornshed.com/pages/stockists or order online
https://popcornshed.com/collections/our-shop​.
​
A.A. Miln

Venchi is an Italian family-run business renowned for its decadent chocolates and luscious gelato. Based in Piedmont, Italy, Venchi was founded in 1878 by Silviano Venchi. Today, its 140-year Italian legacy is as vibrant and innovative as ever as it continues to expand across the globe, delivering moments of pleasure to the masses in more than 70 countries.

Venchi is ‘artisan’ at its best, showcasing the traditional Italian heritage of chocolate making while continuing to expand their luxurious range of products – currently they have 350 chocolate products and 90 gelato flavours (including seasonal flavours such as mango and pineapple and coconut sorbets for the summer months). It’s safe to say the world has fallen head over heels in love with their unique products and the integrity of their brand.

Naturally delicious chocolate

All ingredients are ethically and intelligently sourced with an emphasis on quality. Venchi sources pistachios and almonds from Sicily, olive oil from Liguria and cocoa beans from plantations in Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. The chocolates are then produced in Piedmont – the birthplace of Italian chocolate. The chocolates are free from artificial flavourings, colourings, hydrogenated fats and palm oil and are light on sugar, free of gluten and full of natural flavour.
​
Chocolate spreads and hot chocolate are made with the same care and attention as the finest praline. There really are no compromises made in their vow to “allow everybody, every day, to enjoy a simple and genuine moment of real pleasure - a piece of the Italian lifestyle”.

It’s easy to see why Venchi has become so popular as you savour the most intense chocolate buttons with all the aroma of jasmine flowers or other chocolates with a distinct fruity hit. Some of their most popular products include the traditional Giandujotto and the Cremino, which features pistachio and elegant crème brulée.
​
During my recent visit to Venchi, which included a chocolate tasting from GB Mantelli the guardian of Venchi’s recipes, I tasted the 100% cocoa chocolate, which took me by surprise as its savoury taste lingered in my mouth in a way no chocolate has ever done before; reminding me of the tannins in a good red wine. 

Handmade, small-batch gelato
Venchi makes it gelato fresh each day in their ‘gelato laboratory’, using local English milk to avoid using long-life milk.  During my visit, I enjoyed a medley of the highly revered gelato – nougatine followed by Cuor de Cacao adorned with chocolate grains and finally a strawberry sorbet to cleanse my palate – which rounded off my experience beautifully.

​For ease of preparation, you can shake your matcha tea in a handy, glass bottle with a neoprene cover to keep it hot or cold (£15.00).

So, if you're an active person who wants to feel revitalised, while giving your body the essential nutrients it needs, quickly and easily, you'll love this range of teas.

T-Tox is available at http://t-tox.com.  

A.A. Miln