The concept
La Belle Assiette was founded in Paris in 2012 by friends Stephen and Giorgio. The concept, which consists of hiring a chef to host a dinner party in your home (including sourcing all of the ingredients, preparing the meal and doing the washing up afterwards) was a resounding success and they are now Europe’s leading chef service with more than 800 chefs on their books.
 
As a child, I always had lofty aspirations that one day I’d be in the financial position to have my own private chef (a girl can dream, right?!), however, as an adult, I realise that it’s just not feasible unless I win the lottery, so to be able to get a taste of the life of the rich and famous – even if it’s just for an evening – is a winner in my book. Plus, it provided a great opportunity for me and my friends to get glammed up for once, which is always fun!

How it works
You start by visiting the La Belle Assiette website, where you can read about the available chefs and their speciality dishes.  After you select your chef and the date / time for your dinner party, the La Belle Assiette team gets in touch to confirm the details and to arrange a chat with your selected chef who can discuss any special requirements you might have.

The chef – Fabrizio Ricotta
 
We selected chef Fabrizio Ricotta who specialises in my favourite cuisine - traditional Italian. Coincidentally, he also has a pretty fabulous surname for a chef! Fabrizio has always had a passion for food since a very young age; one of his fondest memories is spending afternoons podding peas with his grandmother.  Fabrizio has more than 10 years of experience in hospitality working for renowned restaurants such as Novikov, The Darwin Brasserie and Texture, currently holding 1 Michelin star.

As our dinner party was scheduled for 7:30pm, Fabrizio arrived at 6:15pm to begin set up. He came armed with a portable cooler (which held all of his ingredients), his own knife set and of course, chef whites, to ensure he looked the part! We provided use of our kitchen including all of the pots, pans and dishes he needed to prepare and serve the food.
 
After Fabrizio laid out his ingredients, he talked us through the courses he’d be preparing later on, all of which sounded superb. It was nice to be involved in the process at every step of the way and to learn about each of the dishes he was preparing and the provenance of the ingredients.

The food
 
When my guests arrived, we enjoyed a glass of champagne and a cheese board, while Fabrizio busied himself preparing the starter - fresh bruschetta made with bulls heart tomatoes. Although it’s a simple dish, the tomatoes were gorgeous and the grilled sourdough was a nice touch.
 
Starter: Handmade tortellini filled with spinach and ricotta, served with sun-dried tomato pesto
We loved this dish, which was perfectly cooked al dente and you can never go wrong with tomato pesto, in my opinion. 

Mains: Roast loin of pork with a red wine jus served with roasted tenderstem broccoli and mashed potatoes
Pure comfort food at its finest -  this was a hit with all of the guests and it was lovely paired with a medium bodied red wine.

Dessert: Cannolo with ricotta cheese, chocolate and pistachio
I love desserts, however, I found this one a bit heavy going, but the few small bites I had were lush.

The verdict
 
Having a chef prepare a meal in our home felt like the ultimate extravagance but it was also very convenient as it meant we didn’t have to leave our home to enjoy a restaurant quality meal, or source a babysitter for our children (although they did crash our dinner party a couple of times throughout the evening)! Good thing they're cute!

While the service isn’t cheap (starting from £45 a head), it is a lovely option for a special occasion when you really want to treat yourself and would prefer to stay in rather than hit the town.
 
We’d definitely recommend La Belle Assiette for anyone looking for a wow-factor foodie experience that’s certain to impress your guests.
 
The details
To book your dinner party, visit www.labelleassiette.co.uk. For more information on chef Fabrizio Ricotta, view his profile: 
https://labelleassiette.co.uk/fabrizio-ricotta

Ashley Miln

While the Christmas party season is gearing up in full swing, many people have cocktails on the brain, but we think it’s just as good a time to enjoy some non-alcoholic tipples to create a bit of balance.
 
We recently discovered Borrago, a naturally delicious ‘non-alcoholic spirit’ that makes a great base for a variety of mocktails, which let’s be honest, beats drinking soda and juice when you don’t want to imbibe, but would like something a little bit more festive.
 
Designed to be mixed rather than drunk straight (it has a slightly odd taste on its own), it has a heady mix of floral and herbaceous notes that make it great for mixing with a wealth of different flavour combinations.   If you're not sure what to mix it with, it's recommended to use it as a base for mocktails you would typically enjoy with either vodka or gin.  Bursting with citrus and spice, we think it works really well as a base for citrus flavoured mocktail recipes.

We served our Borrago with fresh grapefruit juice, which was fabulous and would make a refreshing summertime drink. Other alternatives if grapefruit's not your vibe, include Borrago and tonic, (their signature serve is 25ml Borrago with  200ml tonic), or their ‘Windfall’ mocktail, a blend of Borrago, lemon juice, elderflower syrup and cloudy apple juice.  With so many options to choose from, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to discovering your favourite Borrago concoction.
 
Borrago is available from www.borrago.com for £19.99  (500ml bottle).
 
Ashley Miln
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Olive oil is a staple ingredient in any cook's cupboard thanks to its versatility and its simple yet delicious flavour.   From drizzling it over salads or freshly baked bread, to marinating meats, the culinary possibilities are endless. 

When it comes to choosing olive oil, there is a dizzying range to choose from, but this one really stands out thanks to its strikingly elegant black and gold packaging and its fabulous taste.  We normally hide our olive oil away in the cupboard, but with looks this good, it seems a shame, so I'll be keeping it proudly displayed on the counter top!

Morocco Gold is an ultra-premium natural, extra virgin olive oil from Morocco made using Picholine Marocaine olives, which are hand harvested and cold pressed within 24 hours.  The flavour profile combines green fruitiness, with hints of almond and herbs and a peppery aftertaste with a clean finish.

To test its versatility, we prepared two recipes using Morocco Gold - salmon with fresh dill, garlic and lemon and chicken thighs with fresh lime and coriander, both of which were  superb.  If you're looking for a fantastic olive oil that goes with pretty much anything, you can't go wrong with Morocco Gold.

We're always looking for mixers and non-alcoholic spirits to help us up our cocktail and mocktail game, so we were thrilled to come across these two fab new products guaranteed to elevate your drinks to the next level.

Caleno
Inspired by South America, this non-alcoholic spirit tastes deceivingly like a G&T when mixed with tonic - but without the hangover.   Flavours of juniper, inca berry and and citrus make it highly sippable and pleasingly refreshing - in essence, the perfect poolside drink. Available from Sainsbury's (£24.99 for 70cl).

Tipplesworth
If you're a fan of seriously sweet cocktails, than the Tipplesworth Passionfruit Martini mixer will be right up your street. Simply add vodka and you're set! Alternatively, add soda for a tasty non-alcoholic cocktail that's just as fabulous. Flavours of passion fruit, guava, pineapple and lime, with notes of French vanilla and marshmallow will have you planning your next exotic holiday as you enjoy all of it's sweet goodness. Best of all, it doesn't have any artificial flavourings. ​Available from Ocado (£6.99 for 500ml).

Cheers!

Ashley Miln 

We recently had the pleasure of visiting the charming city of Parma, long renowned as a city of gastronomy, to see first-hand how Parmigiano Reggiano, one of the world’s most famous artisan cheeses beloved the world over for its distinct taste, is produced.

​The making of Parmigiano Reggiano
Every day the master cheesemaker begins at dawn, when the milk from the morning milking arrives. The milk from the previous evening has been resting in steel tanks, resulting in natural separation, which thickens the milk, which is then skimmed. The milk is then poured into massive copper vats the size of hot tubs, where it slowly coagulates with the addition of rennet and whey. The milk is brought up to 55C to encourage curding and the cheesemaker then breaks up the curds, using a spino. The cheese that forms is wrapped in muslin and is hoisted out of the steel vats by two cheesemakers (given its heavy weight). I could see why all of the cheesemakers we saw during our visit were quite fit given the laborious nature of the job at hand!
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After the cheese is removed from the copper vats it is weighed down and put into a mold to give it its characterstic wheel shape. Afterwards, it’s moved to the maturation room where it matures to perfection (if only they had a room like this for husbands!)

​Only the best cheese gets the stamp of approval
To ensure the utmost quality of every wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, there is a protection body, The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, which includes all producers who process the milk into cheese. At 12 months, every wheel of cheese is quality tested and only if it passes stringent guidelines, will it be branded with its selection mark.

​Parmigiano Reggiano on EVERYTHING
During our visit to Parma, we feasted at several fabulous restaurants, where we were treated to dinners featuring Parmigiano Reggiano in each and every course. Some of the dishes were quite inventive (Parmigiano Reggiano ice cream, anyone?) and we also enjoyed sampling three maturations of Parmigiano Reggiano paired with a selection of chutneys – a new addition to our cheeseboard next time we’re hosting a dinner party!

Our favourite restaurants we dined at over the course of the weekend included: Les Caves, Antica Moka, Croce di Malta and Ristorante Inkiostro.  Each restaurant had superb service and delicious traditional Italian cuisine, which combined made for a special experience.

After learning about how much love and care goes into producing Parmigiano Reggiano, I have gained a newfound respect for it and for the people who pour their heart and souls into keeping the tradition of years bygone alive, making it taste even sweeter.
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www.parmigianoreggiano.com
www.parmacityofgastronomy.it
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Ashley Miln 
*During my visit I was hosted by the lovely teams at Parmigiano Reggiano, Antica Moca, Ristorante Inkiostro, Les Caves, Croce di Malta, and Grand Hotel de la Ville, Parma. All opinions and photography are my own. 

Crosta & Mollica, which means 'crust and crumb' in Italian, produces a tasty range of authentic fine Italian baked goods made with simple ingredients. Think traditional piadinas, breads, savoury biscuits and seasonal products such as pannetone and pandoros.  

We loved the tarallini (Italian snacks with the texture of a breadstick) and also their piadina (Italian flatbread, which looks and tastes a bit like a tortilla).  To get the best flavour out of the piadina, we baked it in the oven for the recommended five minutes, and they came out warm, lovely and flaky. We used ours like tortillas and found they were great for making a wide variety of sandwiches and even as an alternative to tortilla shells for tacos. The verdict - we'll definitely be switching our tortillas out for piadinas moving forward as they're so much tastier!

We love any excuse to try new chocolate, so when the team at Doisy and Dam asked us to give  their delicious vegan and gluten-free chocolate range a whirl, we couldn't wait to give them a taste test!  The high cocoa content of these single-origin Colombian chocolates ensures intense flavour in each and every bar.

The chocolates are available in two formats: 'Snaps', which are grab bags filled with snapped off bits of snacking chocolate, or mini chocolate bars. We personally loved the snaps option, but be warned, once you start, it's nearly impossible to stop as they are so tasty!

We love the stylish packaging and the unique dark chocolate flavour combinations: maca, vanilla and cacao nibs; goji and orange; coconut and lucuma; maple, toasted rice and pink salt (our personal favourite). They also have two varieties of milk chocolate: Date & Himalayan Pink Salt Organic and Crunchy Almond Butter Single-Origin. With so many scrumptious flavours and ethical creds to boot, we're hooked.

Grab yours at www.daisyanddam.com.

Ashley Miln

Everyone has a foodie on their list that loves to indulge in the best food and drink products to be had. With this in mind, we've compiled our Christmas gift guide for foodies. Enjoy!

A CHEESE HAMPER

Who doesn't love cheese? Apart from the lactose intolerant, of course!  We for one LOVE cheese and we're big fans of London cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield, which in our opinion, has the best range of gourmet cheeses.   Their Glorious Gluten Free Hamper, is perfect for the gluten-free foodie on your list.  This fab hamper includes: A fig ball, Cote de Duras red, Cote de Duras white, multi-seed and pepper cracker bakes, apricot, date and sunflower cracker bakes, cheddar pounder, caramalised onion chutney, stilton waxed min and Celtic soft. If this won't impress your foodie friends, we don't know what will.

​ORGANIC TEA

Everyone loves curling up with a good book and a cup of tea when the temperatures start to plummet and we're no exception.  We love the range of innovative, award-winning teas from Joe's Tea Co.   Bursting with flavour, they're perfect for warming the cockles on a dreary day and the beautiful packaging makes them a great option for a stocking stuffer or a Christmas hamper gift. 

The range includes a variety of playfully named black teas, white teas, green tea, caffeine free tea, classic teas and organic and herbal fruit infusions. Our two favourite caffeine-free teas within the range included: Feisty Turmeric Guru (a fiery ginger flavoured turmeric) and a very trendy tea at the minute for those of you who like to post your tea pics on Instagram, and the Rest-Repeat Rooibos (a rich, smooth full-bodied organic rooibos). Available from Joe's Tea Co.  priced from £4.25.

A FOODIE ESCAPE
For the foodie who deserves an extra special treat, you can't go wrong with a visit to the new Laura Ashley Tea Room at Highbullen, Hotel Golf and Country Club.  Located in North Devon, Highbullen Hotel enjoys panoramic views across North Devon’s Exmoor and Mole Valley, an oasis of tranquillity with manicured lawns and meadows that stretch out to the edges of this 128-acre estate. In the heart of this beautiful countryside, Laura Ashley the Tea Room brings together the timelessness of afternoon tea and elegant country living.

The menu offers a traditional Devon cream tea as well as full afternoon teas and Laura Ashley’s own special tea blend – all featuring an array of locally sourced produce, home-made sandwiches and jams, buttermilk scones, cakes and other sweet treats. There is also a savoury afternoon tea for those without a sweet tooth, and finger sandwiches, chocolate treats and candyfloss for children.

We love all things Italian, so when we discovered this gorgeous savoury hamper from online Italian deli Diforti, we fell in love!

Containing all of the staples you need to create a tasty Italian party platter, the 14" wicker hamper includes a bevvy of beautiful Italian goodies:
1x Carnaroli rice (500g)
1 x gluten free penne rigate (400g)
1 x sweet red peppers stuffed with cheese (215g)
1x Nundja spread jar (190g)
1x Taralli with extra virgin olive oil (200g)
1x tuna loins in oil (200g)
1x truffle oil (250ml)
1x salamino Toscano (125g)
1x jar of Sicilian pesto (180g)

With so many tasty delights , it's certain to be a hit with any foodie on your Christmas list. Better yet, buy it for yourself and you'll be prepared for any unexpected guests that drop by for drinks and nibbles during the Christmas party season!

The small savoury hamper is available from Diforti for £50.00.