"foodanddrink" news and stories

The annual big splash that is the Family Winemakers Tasting is coming - Sunday, August 20th to be precise. This year the venue is Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center with tickets for the general public set at $35 in advance; $45 on the day.

Originally, the Tasting was seen as a trade-only event but since 2004 has been open to all (one day for consumers the other for trade only). It is an unique opportunity to sample the delights of Californian wine.

Advice from an old hand at the tasting game - 250 wines in a session, which certainly beats my 100 or so - is Alder at Vinography who offers this advice to attendees "get a good night's sleep the night before, eat lunch before you arrive, drink lots of water, wear dark clothes, and for Pete's sake, people -- SPIT! You don't want to be one of those stumbling fools that the rest of us responsible wine lovers mock all afternoon"

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Inevitable I suppose - the hot weather has led directly to a lower than normal wheat harvest. Combine this with rising fuel costs and the price of bread is set to rise in the UK. It is not a huge increase - just 3 or 4 pence per loaf.

The National Farmers Union has warned for several weeks that the shortages of crops, wheat especially wilted in the extreme July heat, would result in higher prices for consumers. BBC reports that the UK's two largest millers - Rank Hovis, which owns eight mills and ADM Milling, which has nine, are both raising the price of flour. This is likely to hit the smaller craft baker more than the own-label ranges pushed out by the supermarkets.

As a side note - did you know that there is a Flour Advisory Bureau in the UK? Me neither. But the site has recipes, conversion charts, sandwich ideas etc etc.

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Bodo Sperlein products do not come cheap - but you can't deny the quality and desirability of their creations.

Bodo's designs are described as "subtle and clean, capturing the essence of the modern with the substance and beauty of the classic". Which basically means they look damn good! ". Handmade china is never cheap and these, from the UK, join a range of products including lighting, furniture, gift and tableware.

For such high quality products the website fails to display them in the most advantageous way. I mean these plates - with a black berry design - are boringly photographed on a dull grey background. A small plate costs £30, the larger £59. Complete the set with napkins holders, vases, salt and pepper sets etc etc. (I hate the flower light though)

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Brownies are not really the most difficult thing in the world to bake - come on even I can make them! But sometimes, well, wouldn't it be nice to receive a beautifully wrapped package of rich and luxurious brownies that "melt in your mouth"?

Coco à Moi, a highly regarded Local Food Hero, use the finest ingredients – the chocolate in the brownies has 70% cocoa solids so they have "a wonderful rich chocolate flavour" while the chocolate chunks have 52% cocoa solids so they "have a nice bittersweet contrast". The chocolate is made with a blend of different West African cocoa beans carefully selected by a chocolatier to give a consistently high-quality product. All this results in brownies that "are soft and fudgy, as real brownies should be". Is your mouth watering yet?

An indulgent treat or as a gift these little boxes are sure to delight. They even post overseas (they are based in the UK). A standard box costs £7.50 including delivery.

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There is an artisan bakery in the Cotswold area of the UK that happens to specialise in cakes. And most generously can delivery them to your door. Meg Rivers Cakes, has received a host of recommendations over the years for the quality of their cakes. While perhaps an indulgence for yourself they make superb gifts. Using the freshest ingredients they bake in small batches to ensure consistent quality.

They run a cake club which ensures a fresh cake is delivered each month for a year. "This has to be the ultimate treat for any true cake fan."

Cake Club members receive a parcel of delicious Meg River's goodies every single month with the cakes dispatched at the middle of each month, UK mainland members' cakes by overnight courier, overseas members' go via Royal Mail. They produce exclusive cakes for club members using seasonal, local produce. These have included an Elderflower and Gooseberry cake, a Rhubarb and Ginger cake, and a Carrot cake.

Tempted? A years subscription is £149.95.

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