Food

The number of UK vegans and vegetarians continues to soar, with a staggering 25% of all Brits predicted to be vegetarian by 2025 and already an estimated 14% of vegetarian and vegans in Great Britain are aged 65 or older. 

That's why Vegetarian for Life (VfL), a charity that supports older vegans and vegetarians will be launching a free self-advocacy pack to mark National Older Vegans and Vegetarians Day this October. 

A country rich in ethnic diversity, the UK is undoubtedly one of the greatest countries in the world for food.

In celebration of this, as part of National Rice Week, Tropical Sun hosted a rice tasting event at the Wanis International Food headquarters in Leyton, East London.

A new Jamaican rum has been developed by rapper Kano in partnership with Duppy Share Caribbean Rums, headquarters in London, England.

The new Duppy White Rum represents Duppy Share Caribbean Rums' first 100 per cent Jamaican rum and Kano, who has Jamaican lineage, foray in the rum business. The rum is a vibrant celebration of Jamaica and its influence on the world. It’s 100 per cent Jamaican white rum with flavours of mango, pimento and fresh thyme for an authentic Jamaican flavour.

McDonald’s UK&I has announced a trial for its first ever plant-based burger – the McPlant – which delivers the same great taste and experience you would expect from a McDonald’s burger, whilst enabling customers to choose a plant-based menu option.

McDonald’s UK&I has spent three years on research and development to bring a delicious plant-based offering to British and Irish customers, and every element of the McPlant was designed with taste and quality top-of-mind – from the plant-based patty co-developed with Beyond Meat^®, to innovative vegan cheese based on pea protein that tastes just like McDonald’s iconic cheese slices, and a new vegan sauce. 

Roast dinners, strawberries and cream, fish and chips – the UK is clearly a nation of food lovers.

But new figures show that we are also a nation of food wasters, with the average UK family throwing away around £350 of food each year. Divert.co.uk, the food waste collection company that hates waste, thinks that it’s time for the UK to stop throwing away so much food and find new ways to use up all of our produce.

The Grand Hotel Savoia in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which is part of the exclusive Radisson Collection hotel selection, is a 5-star facility of great charm, made unique by the breath-taking panoramic view over the Ampezzo Dolomites.

In this elegant and refined setting, Bottega has customized the large terrace, where they celebrate the ritual of the aperitif or lunch, admiring the profile of the most spectacular mountains in the Alps. The logo of the Treviso-based winery and distillery characterizes the counter, where the barmen prepare signature cocktails and serve glasses of Prosecco Gold or other sparkling wines from the Bottega collection.

Pastry fans at a Worcester pub will be treated to the upper crust of pies at a weekly theme night starring Mad O’Rourkes Pie Factory. The new link-up between the iconic Tipton eatery and The Maple Leaf pub will see the Canada Way watering hole sell a range of Mad O’Rourkes’ pies in a bid to offer something extra special to their punters.

It is the latest in a series of new ventures for Mad O’Rourkes, after the Hurst Lane restaurant launched their Pies by Post scheme in lockdown, which sees the firm sell their tasty treats to pie aficionados and Black Country expats all over the UK. 

Pioneering Maldives icon, Huvafen Fushi, is proud to announce that Executive Chef Ashish Domee has become the first Maldives-based member of the prestigious World Master Chefs Society; a leading global honours society for exceptionally skilled professional chefs. Establishing him the same company as Michelin-starred talents such as Daniel Clifford and Paul Croasdale, Chef Ashish’s trailblazing induction is testament to the exceptional quality of the culinary offering he leads across Huvafen Fushi’s tantalising array of restaurants. 

The collective expertise of the World Master Chefs Society’s highly qualified founders, patrons and life voting members guarantees its reputation and recognition as an authority by the hotel and catering industry. Membership is based strictly on high qualifications, career achievements and managerial recommendations, and aims to cultivate a vibrant union of talented professionals who are dedicated to advancing the culinary arts.

Hollywood star Tom Cruise was spotted in a curry house, in Birmingham, where he was spotted ordering the delicious delicacy – twice - whilst he was shooting a film in the UK

The Top Gun star, in Britain filming Mission: Impossible 7, was seen eating two Tikka Masala dishes at Asha's in Birmingham.

For more than 100 years, no whiskey distillery has called Manhattan its home. That changes this summer as Great Jones Distilling Co., Manhattan's first and only legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition, opens its doors in NoHo. 

Akin to other New York City architectural projects, Great Jones Distilling Co. is a feat of ingenuity. The six-year construction journey has overcome rigid city regulations, centuries-old fire codes and a global pandemic to deliver a new spirit to the city and give New Yorkers their own whiskey distillery. 

Children living on a Birmingham development of new homes are set to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon, thanks to their housebuilder’s £1,000 donation.

Claire Johnson, a resident at The Oaks in Selly Oak, successfully applied for funding through Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions scheme, an initiative that makes two donations a month to local charities and good causes. The money will go towards The Oaks’ annual Big Lunch, now in its fourth year, which is an opportunity for all residents to come together to celebrate the new community that has been created.

The melodious sounds of clinking wine glasses and superheroes music will be filling the Atrium at Millennium Point in Birmingham on Saturday 25 September 2021. 

The ‘Superheroes Symphonies’ music and wine tasting event brings together live music performed by The People’s Orchestra and Tony Elvin, a qualified Sommelier from The Wine Events Company. 

The latest edition to Bantock, House Museum and Park’s Courtyard Café menu is proving popular with visitors.

Since June 2021 the café has been offering visitors a special dining experience which has received top reviews. Afternoon Tea has been added to the menu and is available for any occasion such as, meet-ups, birthdays, young children’s parties and wedding receptions.

For anyone who fancies themself as a social media influencer but don’t have the extravagant lifestyle to help break the internet, well, Cadbury Snack! is on the hunt for fans who are just as ‘wonderfully ordinary’ as its tasty chocolate biscuits, to bring them on board as its latest social ambassadors.

As the weather heats up, Cadbury World’s talented chocolatiers have teamed up to create an incredible beach-scene, all made from chocolate.

Produced by Dawn Jenks and Donna Oluban over two days, the impressive display weighs 10kg – the equivalent of 222 standard bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Displaying an array of chocolate creations, the beach features a traditional ice-cream van, beach hut, sandcastle and an assortment of the attraction’s iconic Chuckle Beans who are enjoying a day out at the beach.

The creative scene includes sand crafted from a mix of white and milk chocolate, plus a 3D wave sculpted using chocolate mixed with blue cocoa butter, with white detailing. The ice-cream van includes yellow and white chocolate stripes piped by hand, plus a handmade cone sitting atop it. The beach hut features a wood-effect finish and the Chuckle Beans have hand-piped detailing which includes sunglasses, swimwear and even a sun hat.

Six Chuckle Beans can be spotted within the scene, catching waves, sunbathing under a parasol and enjoying a treat from the ice-cream van. The creation will be on display for guests to see throughout the summer holidays in Cadbury World’s Chocolate Making zone.

Cadbury World is home to 14 chocolatey zones that showcase the history, making and magic of Cadbury. From catching the talented chocolatiers in action in the Chocolate Making zone and practising your piping skills in the Have A Go zone, to learning about the history of the cocoa bean through the Aztec Jungle and riding on the Crunchie Rollercoaster in the 4D Chocolate Adventure, there’s plenty for visitors of all ages to enjoy at Cadbury World this summer.

Gerrard Baldwin, General Manager at Cadbury World, commented: “With so many families unable to make it to the beach this summer, we decided to bring the beach to Birmingham for everyone to enjoy. Taking our incredible chocolatiers two days to create, the beach scene will be available for visitors to see in our Chocolate Making Zone for the next six weeks.

“Cadbury World offers everything you need for a fantastic day out this summer, from an assortment of chocolatey zones, a brand new circus-themed stage show starring Freddo, plus our outdoor African Adventure Play Area. We look forward to welcoming visitors, whatever the weather.”

The summer heatwave might be over for now but McDonald’s is still bringing those BBQ vibes with the launch of the brand-new BBQ Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

Made with 100% British & Irish beef, two slices of melted cheese, fresh onions, pickles and the delicious combination of ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce, it’s a must-try for all QPC fans. What’s more, the delicious new creation will also be available as a Double BBQ Quarter Pounder - so meat lovers can really get their fix.

Cheese lovers can wave goodbye to Mozzarella Dippers and say hello to the delicious Garlic Cheese Bites, which will be available in both a single portion of five – or a Sharebox (£5.09) for those feel-good summer sharing moments. It’s also time for two new McFlurry flavours with Aero Chocolate and Aero Mint McFlurry departing to make way for the delicious Twix and Mars McFlurry to return.

People can take their pick this summer with smooth dairy ice cream, swirled together with your choice of Mars or Twix chocolate pieces and a caramel sauce. Both will be available in Regular and Mini sizes.  For those who don’t know, the iconic McFlurry turned 21 this month – having first joined the UK menu back in 2001.

The new additions join the McSpicy which launched on July 14 and is currently selling FAST. Made from a thick, succulent chicken fillet with a spicy coating, on a bed of crunchy, cool lettuce and mayo, between toasted sesame seed buns – The McSpicy has been heating up the summer after appearing ‘Live & Direct’ in the music video for AJ Tracey’s new 90s inspired track ‘Summertime Shootout’.

Fans that want a taste of the new limited-edition McDonald’s Summer line-up, will have to move fast as it’s only around for four more weeks - or until stocks last.