Food

Years of hard work and dedication were rewarded on Thursday evening when Gabriel David, founder and chairman of the leading artisan soft drinks maker Luscombe Drinks, was named Devon Life's 'Food Hero' in its prestigious food and drink awards at Sandy Park, Exeter.

A brand new bistro restaurant and cocktail bar ‘The Littleton’ has opened in The Hub, an £11m community business and sports venue recently launched by Walsall College on Littleton Street West. The Littleton combines luxurious surroundings and friendly service, with a lively, vibrant atmosphere.

The Co-operative Food has launched an innovative online platform that will enable its members and shoppers to interact directly with Fairtrade producers across the world. A first of its kind interactive website, www.growingstories.coop, will bring UK consumers in contact with Fairtrade farmers and workers to hear first-hand of Fairtrade's impact on them and their communities.

The Royal Shakespeare Company has launched a brand new range of non-alcholic mocktails specially designed for children at its restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon to coincide with the run of its family show Wendy & Peter Pan. The national theatre, based in the heart of the Midlands, is offering children three mocktails inspired by its forthcoming family show – Wendy & Peter Pan at its Rooftop Restaurant Bar. 

Your favourite cup of coffee is now even more enjoyable thanks to a new partnership between Percol Coffee and Cancer Research UK. Percol Coffee Co. has partnered with Cancer Research UK, to launch its new '100%' instant coffee, which will see 100% of this great tasting new coffee's profits go straight to the cause.

The Food Porn Awards™ has launched its search to find the best looking food from restaurants, pubs, bars and eateries across the region. Chefs in the North West are being encouraged to enter images of their most mouth-watering dishes via the award's website www.foodpornawards.co.uk to be in with a chance of securing a coveted award for themselves and their establishment.

Newcastle to Norwich, Gwynedd to Glasgow, Princes food has launched a search for the best of Britain’s local and regional recipe variations of the Corned Beef Hash, with the winning recipe scooping a £1,000 cash prize.

Kitchen Trotter launches in the UK at the end of October, with the aim to deliver the culinary world straight to your door. Each month, Kitchen Trotter kits offer a culinary journey through a menu full of mystery, delicious products and authenticity. In their kits, subscribers learn how to cook the traditional recipes of a secret kept country.

At the final meeting of the judges at the close of National Curry Week®, Bradford was named Curry Capital of Britain® for an amazing fifth time in succession – making six in total. Close on their heels was old curry rival Glasgow, the curry capital of Scotland, who were just five points behind, with top southern challenger, Brighton, taking third spot.

What better way to spend a weekend afternoon than gathered with friends around the fire and two very British institutions - afternoon tea and beer. Smell the woodsmoke, taste the delicious home-made fayre and wash down with some of the very best flavours beer has to offer. 

Chefs from Sidmouth in Devon and Skegness in Lincolnshire have been named finalists in the Seaside Chef of the Year competition, organised by FOOD Award 2014 'Best Bistro in England' winner, Aspect Bar and Bistro in Morecambe.

New research carried out for National Curry Week reveals that Chicken Tikka Masala is still the nation's favourite - but only just - as curry fans become more and more aware of regional dishes. Of the specified dishes, Jalfrezi has now moved into second place, indicating the desire for slightly hotter dishes but Vindaloo does not even make the top ten.

Pizza Hut Restaurants are honouring National Curry Week (12-18th October) with a food fusion made in casual dining heaven: the naan pizza. Two versions of the special edition dish will be available to enjoy at Birmingham’s Star City Hut – Chicken Masala and vegetarian Chana Masala – as a week of 'currying favour' gets underway.

Ever wondered how a blind person bakes a cake? Gemma Stafford, host of one of YouTube’s most popular baking shows ‘Bigger Bolder Baking’ has teamed up with blind beauty blogger Lucy Edwards and sight loss charity RNIB to show how being blind doesn’t need to get in the way of cooking up a treat in the kitchen.

Leading Asian chefs will compete in a dramatic cook off to determine the winner of this year's  'Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year' in the Asian Curry Awards 2015. The country's ten top chefs, voted for by members of curry loving public, will go head-to-head in the competition being held at Pillars Restaurant at the University of West London in Ealing on Monday 5th October.

Poppadoms play an important part in National Curry Week (12-18th October) and are used in three of the major events: The World Poppadom Tower Challenge, The Speed Eating Challenge and The Poppadomathon©. The record for the National Curry Week's World Poppadom Tower Challenge is held by Tipu Rahman, from Tamarind in Northampton, who managed to stack an amazing 1,280 poppadoms, measuring 5' 8" (172.72cm).