This weekend I had a few friends over, we sat back to watch a film and smoke a nice Cuban cigar, I wondered what in my drinks cabinet should I offer my guests?  usually we drink a Cuban rum to go with the cigar but I happened to have a brand new bottle of Kraken Rum the gorgeous looking jet black liquid just screamed drink me!

My friends had not heard of Kraken before but I can tell you when I poured the black liquid over ice into their glasses I could tell they were already impressed, this was no ordinary Rum this was something special.

Swirling the rum around a glass creates distinctive tentacle-like drips as the rich liquid seeps back to the depths.  The thick, caramel-like, taste lingers long after the last sip, it tastes devine, a cut above usual go to rum, my friends are sold I of course was already a covert.

The Kraken has an ABV of 40% and an RRP of £22.99 for a 70cl bottle.  It is available nationally in good off-licences, supermarkets and stores such as Sainsbury’s, Harvey Nichols, Majestic, Selfridges and, in Scotland, Peckham’s delicatessens.   It is also available on-line via thedrinkshop.co.uk.

Alternatively, you’ll find bottles in some of the UK’s finest bars, hotels and restaurants – as well as some far less reputable harbour-side taverns.

Sailors and Captains beware…the Kraken wakes…

While Mary Portas moans about us leaving the high street in droves I doubt even she could find fault with Chocolate by post!  which is exactly the service Montezuma offers with their  Real Chocolate Club.

The innovative British firm has created a fantastic ‘chocolate by post’ concept – one that requires no signature (or inconvenient trips to the post office) as it comes in a nifty box that simply slips through the letterbox!

For just £19.99 pcm (inc. postage), a whopping 600g of delicious chocolate bars and truffles will land on the doormat.

People can sign up – or be signed up – for just one month, but a year’s subscription works out at only £4.99/week.   There’s no obligation or ‘catch’ and there are 3 options of membership – Rolling, Fixed Length Personal or Fixed Length Gift.

In each box, there’s 3 different flavoured bars, plus 3 individual sets of truffles – exciting new creations that recipients will be the first to taste, before they go into the shops…if at all!

Each month sees the Montezuma’s team dream up new flavours – often inspired by a particular ‘foodie’ theme.  November’s box had a strong ‘pudding’ angle to it, featuring an Eton Mess truffle; an apple crumble and milk chocolate truffle; as well as a dark chocolate lemon meringue truffle.  These were complemented by a beautifully rounded milk chocolate bar with salted peanuts and butterscotch; a treacle tart milk chocolate bar and a dark chocolate one with orange and whole hazelnuts.

An ideal Christmas present or for any occasion really, I certainly will be putting  a order in for my usually impossible to shop for mother.

For more information on Montezuma’s  Chocolate club head over to  http://www.montezumas.co.uk/theclub

Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop in Mayfair , London for over 300 years. For a great many years in fact I have recommended Berry Bros  for their fantastic quality and selection which is why I was excited when I heard they were releasing through Waitrose their No.3 Gin.

The Gin is is named after Berry Brothers’ home, No.3 St. James’s Street and the merchant’s 3 centuries of heritage, through to its   use of just 3 fruits and 3 spices (the ‘botanicals’ which flavour every gin), the significance of the number to this premium gin is inescapable.

Led by the holder of the world’s only PhD in gin flavour, Dr. David Clutton, the Berry Bros team deliberately set out to make No.3 taste ‘as gin should’ – without the use of an excessive amount of ingredients and distilled in traditional copper pot stills without any over-elaboration.

So, with classic simplicity the goal, the experts placed a robust helping of juniper – the key ingredient in any gin – at the ‘heart’ of No.3. This striking juniper quality was then cleverly complemented by just 5 other fruits and spices; namely, sweet Spanish orange peel, grapefruit peel, Angelica root, Moroccan coriander and, finally, cardamom seeds

Limiting the ingredients bucked the current multi-botanical trend (anywhere between 8 and 12 is common) and instead harked back to a traditional taste of gin – fittingly, given its maker’s impressive history.

The mix of these fresh and crisp flavours, led by juniper and combined with a strength of 46%, has resulted in an end product that Berry Brothers call the ‘last word’ in gin for the classic Dry Martini – as well as that ‘everyday’ gin cocktail favourite, the G&T.

No.3 comes in a handsome high-shouldered green bottle with a metal key set into its glass. The inspiration for the key comes from that used to open the door of ‘The Parlour’ – one of the oldest rooms in the Berry Brothers’ shop, which has stood in St. James’ since 1698.

I am massively impressed with No.3 , its a no nonsenses man’s Gin I will now proudly order over my previous go to Bombay Sapphire which compared to No.3 tastes sadly dated and middle of the road.

No.3 is now available at Waitrose stores nationwide; RRP of £33.65 for a 70cl bottle.

As a child on occasion my dad would give me a ginger beer as a treat, I felt all grown up thinking I was having a beer , now I’m all grown up but I still love ginger beer which is why I’m excited about Stones new Ginger Joe alcoholic Ginger beer.

Light and refreshing, with subtle yet spicy ginger notes,  Ginger Joe offers a thirst-quenching alternative to the usual offerings in the bar. The alcoholic ginger beer really tingles the taste-buds; providing the perfect tipple on a cold winters night.

For more information visit www.gingerjoe.co.uk or join the fan site at www.facebook.com/gingerjoeuk and check out the new tache-tastic Facebook app.

We all should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and most of us don’t eat enough, me being one of them so its good news that Ocado have launched a new fruit, veg and salad box range.

Inside Ocado’s new Organic Fruit, Vegetable and Salad Boxes you’ll find the freshest ingredients – everything from rainbow carrots and red Robinta potatoes to succulent Conference pears and juicy apples, all available to order now from just £17.99

Ocado’s Veg and Salad Box includes 11 healthy vegetables and salad ingredients that will feed your household’s weekly ‘five-a-day’ needs for just £17.99. Even hungrier households can opt for Ocado’s bumper Fruit, Veg and Salad Box, offering 13 of the freshest fruits, vegetables and salad items for £24.99.

All of Ocado’s produce, grown to strict Soil Association standards, has been personally selected and packed to perfection. Upon ordering, Ocado’s friendly drivers will whisk them straight to your kitchen table in a handy one-hour time slot.

I like the idea of these boxes, you get to try a variety seasonal of fruit and veg and don’t really have to think too much about it, just select the box in your on-line basket and its done.

Visit Ocado’s website (www.ocado.com) to find out which delicious weekly items are up for grabs in each organic box, and to take a sneak-peak at what’s expected inside the following week’s offerings too.

Ocado, the online supermarket have  announced that they now stock the delicious Reflets de France range from Carrefour, offering over 100 items from a huge selection of  French favourites, from cured meats and tasty cheeses to fruity jams and rich pates, to UK shoppers.  Add a few of these in the online shop will certainly impress the girlfriend!

www.ocado.com

Onkens Fat Free range of Yogurts have been a staple part of my diet for a while now which is why I’m excited to hear they are adding  ‘Mango & Apple’ Fat Free to their range.

The new flavour is not only deliciously fruity but totally fat free so can be enjoyed completely ‘guilt free’ this Springtime!

The infusion of exotic mango and juicy apples gives a refreshing flavour without tasting like its lacking something. So, if you’re spring cleansing your diet as well as your home or wardrobe, then this light and tasty new Fat Free big pot is the perfect choice for you.

Onken’s unique blend of bio cultures gives this gorgeous yogurt that light and tasty, fresh and fruity taste, use at breakfast time, poured over cereals, enjoy as a dessert or even a snack! Simply pour onto chunks of your favourite fruit for a delicious take on the classic fruit salad; the possibilities are endless!

Fat Free Mango & Apple joins the rest of the delicious, no.1 big pot range from Onken*, which includes Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Coconut, Mango Papaya & Passion Fruit and Rhubarb & Vanilla.

Onken’s Fat Free Mango & Apple yogurt comes in a 450g big pot and is available from all major retailers, RSP £1.15

For more info head over to www.onken.co.uk

Pot Noodles are and have been a staple in every single mans cupboard for years, maybe because they are quick require no preparation or cooking skills other than boiling the kettle or maybe because they are just damn tasty either way my cupboard always has a few and I’m sure yours does whether you admit it or not!

Up until now Pot Noodles have been meat free, but that’s all about to change with the launch of Pot Noodle GTI. Each pot has real meat in the pot and now doesn’t even require the boil of a kettle! simply peel back the lid, nuke, stir and scoff! ….. Its just the right amount of food before a night out.

There are four flavours – if you’re a smooth Italian on the road then Spaghetti Bolognese is for you. If you like it hot and spicy and wheel spins are your thing, then grab the Tikka Masala. If it’s all about the spoiler and exhausts then get stuck into the Mexican mayhem of Chilli Con Carne, and finally if you like a smooth sweet ride then  Sweet and Sour is the one for you.

To celebrate the launch of Pot Noodle GTi, the Pot Noodle GTi hummer is going on a tour of the country. The Hummer will roll into each city at 1pm on the dates in question, and Pot Noodle GTi fans will participate in a series of challenges, which are all about getting ready for the ultimate night out and the person with the highest score on the day will be crowned the Pot Noodle GTi winner, receiving an Ultimate Night Out worth a grand for them & their mates! The winner & their mates will get fully fuelled up with Pot Noodle GTi, get picked up and taken to a top night club, and receive free entry, reserved seating, and a bar tab to keep partying into the small hours. While you’re down there, you can sample the Pot Noodle GTi, and also jump into the Pot Noodle GTi hummer for a pre-night prep session – a fashion blitz, a brand new haircut, a styling, or to check out your chat up lines! You might even be lucky enough to get a pair of the limited edition Pot Noodle GTi lucky pants… You’ll have to head on down to find out how!

Head over to www.facebook.com/potnoodle for more info and check out the tour dates on the map below, and get down there early and register for the competition as only the first 15 people will qualify to enter which takes place between 3-4pm at each venue.

With an ever increasing urge to cook more healthily without compromising on taste, the need to create tasty dishes  that don’t add to the ever increasing waistline, I’m often searching for inspired new recipes that don’t take hours to prepare. Many of us use mayonnaise as a condiment to accompany a main meal, but Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is brimming with some of the best quality ingredients which make it a deliciously versatile ingredient to cook with too.

At the heart of Hellmann’s Mayonnaise are three simple ingredients – free range eggs, vinegar and rapeseed oil, which naturally contains Omega 3 and mono-and polyunsaturated fats. Combined, this gives Hellmann’s Mayonnaise a smooth creamy taste. Free from preservatives, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is easy to cook with and to proove that Hellmanns have come up with some low calorie recipe’s using their Mayonnaise.

The food experts at Hellmann’s have devised a series of uncomplicated nutritious recipes to inspire people to get creative with their dishes by using Hellmann’s Mayonnaise as a healthy and tasty ingredient, to satisfy even the most discerning eater.

Mash potato is a  favourite dish of mine– it’s easy to prepare and goes with almost everything.  When made with butter however, it has 85% more saturated fat than when it is made with Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, I made this today and it works exceptionally well  :

LOVED-UP MASH (85% less saturated fat than when made with butter)

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

700g cooked potatoes

25ml milk

6 dollops* Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise

*A dollop is one level tablespoon of Hellmann’s mayonnaise (15ml)

Method:

Cook potatoes in boiling water.

When the potatoes are cooked mash them.

Add milk and mayonnaise.

Mix well and serve.

Serving suggestion:

Delicious served with chicken and mixed vegetables.

Heres a few more of Hellmanns recpies :

PARADISE PASTA SALAD

Serves 4

Ingredients:

400g Italian short pasta (rigatoni, penne, farfalle, fusilli)

150g cherry tomatoes

100g tuna in spring water (drained weight)

60g fresh rocket

100g fresh mozzarella

50g green olives

A few basil leaves

7 dollops* Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise

*A dollop is one level tablespoon of Hellmann’s mayonnaise (15ml)

Method:

Cook the pasta ‘’al dente’’ in boiling water and cool.

Clean and cut the cherry tomatoes, the fresh rocket and the basil.

Cut fresh mozzarella into cubes and add the green olives.

Mix all the ingredients together with the mayonnaise and tuna and serve.

FISHY DELISHY

Serves 2

Ingredients:

200g white fish

125ml of your favourite tomato pasta sauce

1 clove of garlic, crushed

1 tbsp chopped parsley

2 dollops* Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise

1 courgette, thinly sliced

*A dollop is one level tablespoon of Hellmann’s mayonnaise (15ml)

Method:

Take the tomato sauce and pour into an ovenproof dish.

Scatter over courgettes and place fish on top.

Mix the garlic, parsley and mayonnaise together and spread over the fish.

Bake at 180’C for 20-25 minutes or until fish is cooked.

Serving suggestion:

Delicious with a mixed green salad and penne pasta.

For more inspiration visit www.hellmanns.co.uk.