Food

Almost a quarter of a million pounds in grant funding is being made available to organisations that help provide struggling families with food. The city council is offering grants of up to £3,000 each via the Affordable Food Infrastructure Fund for 75 projects across the city, with £225,000 available in total.

This follows the Emergency Food Aid scheme which gave grants to food banks and other providers to buy food and other essential supplies.

If there’s one thing we all agree on, it’s that putting pineapple on pizza is one of the greatest sins ever committed in the name of cooking.

And that’s why one British waste company is launching a national campaign to have this culinary blasphemy deleted from takeaway menus across the country, and – if necessary – naming and shaming the guilty parties.

A restaurant in Madrid, in Span, known for its egg tortillas has temporarily closed after a salmonella outbreak - triggering a debate over how the country’s iconic dish should be cooked and how runny it should be.

The dish typically contains a mixture of fried potato and egg, often with onion, and is one of Spain's most widely eaten foods. Casa Dani is known for only lightly cooking the eggs, serving a particularly runny version.

Celebrate Mother's Day this Spring with Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly. The jewel in Luscombe's crown, organic Damascene Rose Bubbly combines Damascene Rose, Muscat grape juice and Sicilian lemons with sparkling Dartmoor spring water to create a delicious Champagne alternative, perfect for a springtime family gathering to celebrate Mother's Day with loved ones. 

On 31 January, a new Bottega Prosecco Bar was opened in the international departure area of Istanbul Airport. This is an extremely prestigious location, as it is located in the centre of the Luxury Hall and surrounded by the boutiques of the most famous fashion brands. It represents another step on the road to enhancing the value of Prosecco, which even today, despite having higher production costs, does not enjoy the same image as Champagne.

For many of us coffee offers a much-needed boost, but we may be getting much more - or less - caffeine than we bargained for at popular High Street coffee shops. Consumer group Which? measured the caffeine in drinks at five big chains and says it found "huge differences".

An espresso at Pret for example had six times as much as one in Starbucks's. A medium cappuccino at Costa Coffee has 325mg of caffeine - far more than rival drinks and equal to four cups of tea.

As of Wednesday 1 February, eggs laid and then sold through the British egg industry Lion Code label can no longer be labelled as free-range or free-range organic which means consumers will only see ‘barn’ or ‘caged eggs’ on their supermarket shelves.

However, whether free-range, organic or barn, RSPCA Assured eggs are always higher welfare.

Scotland's 'Best Seafood Establishment' of the year has launched a new 'pocket-friendly' menu to help foodies beat the winter blues. On selected days in January and February, East Coast Restaurant in Musselburgh on the outskirts of Edinburgh will be serving up a series of seafood classics and heart-warming comfort food for cost-conscious diners.

The UK MasterChef winner will also hold a special cooking demonstration at the resort for guests who want to learn culinary skills.

Specific dates will be confirmed shortly. Eddie, 31, from Beverley in Yorkshire, won the coveted TV accolade in May with MasterChef judge John Torode calling him a “culinary powerhouse.”

Internationally renowned Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has announced its return in spring 2023 – with the highly coveted tickets going on sale on Friday 27th January. Taking place from 26th April to 1st May, this annual celebration of Scotland's national drink has become one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world, bringing thousands of visitors to Speyside each year since its creation in 1999.

Qatar Airways celebrates the Lunar New Year with passengers travelling to and from far East Asia by introducing festive products and cuisine inspired by Chinese culture and the Year of the Rabbit.

Spreading the joy of the season, the World’s Best Airline will gift complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi codes, Qatar Duty Free discount vouchers and golden chocolate coins enclosed in beautifully designed traditional red envelopes - hóngbāo symbolising good luck and prosperity to its passengers.

The relocation of hit BBC show MasterChef to Birmingham moved a significant step closer today, as plans for a new state-of-the-art TV studio in Digbeth were given the green light by the City Council.

The BBC announced last February that it would be moving its flagship cooking show to the city. MasterChef's new home, featuring a sound stage, smaller studios, pre- and post-filming areas, and an outdoor filming area, will be the former Banana Warehouse located at the Warwick Bar site next to the Grand Union Canal.

Salford brewery Seven Bro7hers Brewing Co is to merge with Four Sis4ers Distillery. The link-up will put all 11 'McAvoy siblings' under one commercial roof, a move that allows customers and consumers access to a 'one stop' shop for craft beer, gin and rum. The takeover will see a rebrand of the craft gin distillery aimed at bringing the portfolio in line with the brother's lucrative core beers – targeting grocery buyers in the multiples and convenience stores.

Sandford Orchards is delighted to launch the 2023 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards. Now in its third year, these unique awards are free to enter and offer aspiring cider makers advice, guidance and guaranteed listings with the on and off trade. This year, the competition is open to cider makers making up to 50,000 litres a year. The closing date for applications is 28th February 2023. 

Evenings are still dark and there is nothing more romantic than a cosy night in! What is unromantic is spending all your time in the kitchen, so Mandira's Kitchen are determined to keep romance alive – and spicy without time out in preparation. 

Mandira's Kitchen have put together a romantic Indian meal for two that can be delivered frozen to any UK Mainland address.  It can be heated from frozen in just 4 minutes so there is no need to waste ages in the kitchen.

Single-use items like plastic cutlery, plates and trays will be banned in England, the government has confirmed.

It is not clear when the ban will come into effect, but it follows similar moves already made by Scotland and Wales. Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said the move would help protect the environment for future generations.