News
Non-stick mayonnaise packaging being developed
If not being able to get that last dreg of mayo or ketchup out of the bottle makes you get your rage on, then this product is a winner. Read on for info on the fancy non-stick coating that can be made entirely from food...interesting.
Deliveroo: Premium Restaurant Takeaway
If you regularly partake in a takeaway of a Friday night but would feel a little better about treating yourself if the food was a bit more decent, then look in the direction of Deliveroo. Type in your postcode to see if any of their local suppliers (or GBK) can deliver your way. There are some really great names involved in this, here's hoping it comes to the Midlands sharpish.
How sugar is hurting us
Remember Super Size Me? This is the sugar version with Australian actor and director Damon Gameau seeing how he fares on 40 teaspoons of sugar each day which is the average consumption for fellow Aussies. He's not guzzling down fizzy drinks and gorging on Haribo though, the sugar he consumes must be hidden in breakfast cereals, yogurts and the like, showing how easy it is to unknowingly increase your sweet intake. The film came out in the UK last Friday. Worth a watch I'm sure, if not to see Gameau slowly expand but also to witness the sneaky tactics the sugar companies use to get their products sold by the bucket-load. It's likened to the old shameless tricks of tobacco companies. Nasty.
Cool cuisine: what to eat in a heatwave
Every journalist and media peep in the land has jumped on the heatwave bandwagon this week; nonetheless this article is actually deserving of a mention. Its cooling recipes look delicious and insights into how actual hot countries deal with eating in the heat (ie. not frying in front of a sizzling bbq) make an interesting read.
Local News
MADE Birmingham 2015 - Food & Drink Festival in association with Digbeth Dining Club
The street food scene is thriving in the UK's second city at the moment with food festivals, markets and pop-ups all over the place. This event at the end of July sounds like it'll be up there with the best, just take a look at the line-up - lots of favourites including Buddha Belly, Habaneros, Savanna Grill, Delizie Italiane, and the other brilliant 13! But there's not only great food to get you going, they've thrown craft beer, real ale, gin and cocktails, live graffiti, retro gaming and music into the mix to further entice you to the Digbeth triangle. For anyone who is big into their electronic music, also check out the Saturday for its stellar set of DJs and live acts.
Recipes
Aubergine Parmigiana
I absolutely love this dish; it's one of my top picks at an Italian restaurant so I decided to recreate it at home this week to see if the deliciousness can be matched. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't quite as good as the best I've eaten but it was very very tasty. The charred flavour and silky texture of the aubergines, the savoury tang of the Parmesan and light sweetness of the juicy tomatoes, topped off with a breadcrumb crunch came together to make a meal I'd be happy to serve to anyone. Perfect as a solo main or as a side with meat or fish. As always, I added a little sugar with the chopped tomatoes and probs added more Parmesan that Jamie suggests. Between each layer I grated a small dusting of cheese and a grind of pepper.
The 20 best Spanish recipes: part 2
If you've already been on holiday or are gearing up to head off shortly then you might want to have a look at this feast of Iberian dishes if Spain is your chosen destination. The paella looks so good that it's worth a click for that alone. But there are also ham croquettes, garlic prawns and a couple of fish smashers, all from well respected cookery writers. It's time to recreate those holiday dishes! Just hydrate with a jug of sangria, sit outside in the heatwave and you could *almost* be there...
Quinoa, courgette and feta salad
Great healthy salad to accompany a bbq or just as a light summer meal. Quinoa is so damn virtuous you've got to give it a go. Feta, vinegar, parsley and sweet tomatoes take quinoa from blandville to lip smacking sparkliness in a mere 15 mins. Don't overcook the quinoa or it will be turn out to be pretty grim. Cook equal amounts of boiling water and quinoa for 10 mins then turn off the heat, cover and leave until the liquid is absorbed and you have fluffy grains.
Food for Thought
Big supermarkets: Put an end to misleading pricing
Which? has started a petition to stop supermarkets' sneaky discount tactics where it seems like you're getting a good 2 for 1 deal when in fact they've escalated the price of the item to ensure they make more money. Five stars for Which? for raising awareness of this pricing practice.
So this week has been a bit hot. We don't deal with 'extreme' weather that well over here, do we? A bit of snow grinds the transport networks to a halt and causes pipes to freeze; an extra shiny sun prompts such headlines as 'Killer heat blasts Britain' and talk of melting train tracks. Are we predestined to enjoy only mediocre weather? I loved Tuesday, the beautiful blue, cloudless skies and warm evening took me to holiday shores, but Wednesday was a little less pleasant. 32 degrees in my kitchen ain't nice. Hot hot weather always seems different here, probably because you still have to work in front of a computer all day, cook the dinner, get stuck in traffic and navigate through normal life; there's no cool respite in a shimmering pool or ice cold beer to accompany your sun-lounger reading. But it's better than rain, right?