Top 10 favourite picks from SIAL

I deserve a foot rub and spa. I have spent most of the day at SIAL, a major food trade show here in Paris. Where most would take a few days to explore and negotiate the eight halls of food and drink (it shuts on Thursday), I have foolishly done it all in one day….

Blondes have more fun

I’m clearly not cut out for blogging – it’s been a LONG while since my last post, but I’m not sure anyone missed me. At any rate, I should begin with a disclaimer: Valrhona is a client of mine. Having said that, just because they are, doesn’t mean I’d necessarily write about them. Except this…

Western mooncakes

I’m currently in Buenos Aires, a city I haven’t visited since I took a press trip here over 5 years ago. It’s a city full of contrasts: swanky high end boutiques nestle next to shabby chic and rundown buildings. I love the fact that there’s a constant smell of smoky asado in the air, but…

The munchies by any other name…

..would still taste as sweet. Following on from my trip to the Washington Summer Fancy Food Show, I have yet to add any new updates since my first post on the subject, so I’m typing this while sat on the naughty step. So what does the above title refer to? A new wave of sweet…

The Summer Fancy Food Show

Since 1955, the Fancy Food Shows have been North America’s largest specialty food and beverage marketplace. Between the Winter Show in San Francisco and the Summer Show in New York City, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade events bring in more than 40,000 attendees from more than 80 countries to see 260,000 innovative…

A Monster by any other name

In case you were wondering, this post is not about Lady Gaga, but as the name suggests, it IS monster related. I suppose I should really have this post queued for Halloween, but I’m really not that patient, and considering I’m not the first person to have discovered Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, I guess it’s…

Hitting the Sauce

For a brief, glorious moment the sun was shining. And naturally swathes of Middle England bared far too much lily white flesh, hit the Pimms hard and toyed with three quarter length trousers paired with statement footwear. I on the other hand, turned my thoughts to barbecue. Those of you who know me in real…

The New Provence

As popularised in Peter Mayle’s books, the English do seem to have a love affair with France, and in particular Provence. And of course, what’s not to like? Glorious weather (which I’m dreaming of having endured the umpteenth downpour in the UK’s wettest drought), great food and ingredients, and of course a seemingly bucolic lifestyle….

Show me the honey

Clearly I have yet to get the hang of regular blogging, so I’ll take time off the naughty step and (bees)wax lyrical for a moment about honey, considering it has been National Honey Week. We are now all aware of the plight of the honey bee, and  it is encouraging that there seems to be…

Gin Gin

Most people who know me, know that I’m not a beer drinker. The nearest I get is cider, which is especially lovely on a hot day with lots of ice. In fact my normal tipple of choice is Gin & Tonic, and while I’m no connoisseur, I’m quite happy to do extensive research into the…