Category: FOOD & DRINK

What’s the right way to drink Australian MILO, anyway?

Milo

When you think about the fact we drink cow juice, it’s enough to make you gag, so why wouldn’t you want to disguise the taste with something chocolatey, delicious and – as it turns out – completely and divisively contentious? Aussie MILO, of course. They took a poll recently and according to its results, turns out that in order to do so as an authentic Australian drinker; you do it cold. For two months, Australians fought it out, debating whether drinking MILO hot or cold is best, then taking it to a vote. The debate was settled today, with MILO cold emerging as the Aussie favourite with 65% of votes. The discussion took the nation by storm, as the equivalent of nearly one in four Australians got involved in 6 million interactions across social media, and ultimately, almost 90,000 people voting, for #MILOTeamCold – 58,199 votes – or #MILOTeamHot, with 31,388 votes. So, how do you make it like a natural? Heap a few tablespoons of the good stuff into the bottom of a tall glass. Fill it with cold milk. Add more spoonfulls of MILO on the top. Then, eat it by the spoonful from the top, mix the rest, eat what’s left and guzzle the milk. See more at the MILO website

Forget ‘bougie’, it’s all about the boozie staycation this winter

Cocktail bed

Because you can’t do anything for what’s looking increasingly like the rest of 2020, it’s officially become the year of the backyard holiday! Of, if you’re feeling fancy, the staycation holiday at such stunning digs as the QT Hotel Sydney and QT Hotel Bondi. With nice everything, compete with in-room service as normal, they’ve turned it up a notch by introducing the Sydney cocktail masters, the Cocktail Porter. The rooms now come stacked with premium handcrafted bottled cocktails AND when you stay, you can enter into a comp to win the ultimate hide and seek QT Sydney Staycation complete with a Cocktail Porter in-room cocktail bottle hunt, fully stocked mini bar and dinner for two at Parlour Cucina. Up your alley? Why not! Not like you’re doing anything else. To enter visit the QT Sydney and QT Bondi competition pages.

Get saucy with Manu Feildel this Bastille Day

Manu's beef wellington

French chef, restaurateur and all-round nice guy, Manu Feildel loves his sauces. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t? And with Manu’s new range of French-inspired sauces –  ‘The Sauce By Manu’ – you can now bring a little bit of France home. No need to fuss about, trying to get the sauce just right, as Manu has taken care of this for you. All you need to do is simply focus on pulling together the rest of the meal.  If you’re planning to celebrate Bastille Day with a French dish, why not take Manu up on his offer to give you a helping hand. Manu currently has six sauces available from Woolworths (RRP $5): Peppercorn, Lamb & Rosemary, Mushroom, Red Wine, White Wine, and Mustard Sauce.  To kick off the celebrations, why not try Manu’s delicious Beef Wellington recipe. Beef Wellington & Manu’s Red Wine Sauce “My delicious version of a classic French Red Wine Sauce. Made with shiraz, veal and beef glace, onions and classic herbs and spices. I love whisking in a knob of butter just before serving. Magnifique!” INGREDIENTS (serves 4) 800g-1kg Beef Eye Fillet 20ml Olive Oil 8-10 Very Thin slices of Prosciutto 1 Sheet Careme Butter Puff Pastry Or 2 Sheets Of Puff Pastry 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 X 150g Pouches The Sauce By Manu – Red Wine Sauce 400g Swiss Brown Mushrooms, coarsely chopped 3 Golden Shallots, coarsely chopped 3 Cloves Garlic, crushed 6-8 Sprigs Thyme 30ml Olive Oil 30g Butter 50ml Madeira Or White Wine METHOD 1. Line… Read More

Celebrate World Chocolate Day with limited-edition lamingtons from Koko Black x Tokyo Lamington

Koko Black lamingtons

Could there be a better way to celebrate World Chocolate Day than with a packet of limited-edition lamingtons from Koko Black and Tokyo Lamington? All we can say is, thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing this incredibly decadent offering to chocolate lovers for one day only.  One of Australia’s favourite chocolate brands, Koko Black has collaborated with Tokyo Lamington, which was co-founded by Eddie Stewart, the mastermind behind Black Star Pastry, the creators of the famous Strawberry and Watermelon cake.  For one day only, you can get your hands on these delicious lamingtons on World Chocolate Day, which is on Tuesday 7th July. But be quick, as there is a limit of one pack per person (which contains three lamingtons) and they will only be available for one day only for $21 per pack at the following Koko Black stores: VICTORIA: Carlton, Chadstone, Como Centre, Doncaster, Highpoint, Town Hall, Royal Arcade, The Glen. NSW: Strand Arcade & QVB While Tokyo Lamington is based in Tokyo and Singapore, there are plans for more collaborations on the horizon in Australia, so hopefully, we’ll see more of Tokyo Lamington in the near future.  Here’s some more mouth-watering details about each lamington: Caramelised Coconut Lamington: Celebrating a Koko Black favourite, the Caramelised Coconut Praline, this decadent lamington features almond and caramelised coconut cremeux coated in delicious white chocolate with a caramelised coconut finish. Davidson Plum and Sao Thome Lamington: This unique lamington delivers an exquisite sweet and sour flavour, combining Australia’s native, sour Davidson Plum, with Koko… Read More

Now you can enjoy your Starbucks in your jammies without leaving the house

Starbucks at home

With the launch of the Starbucks At Home range, coffee lovers will now be able to enjoy cafe-quality coffee without having to leave the house.  You can now grab five new premium coffee styles from your local supermarket, which includes Roast & Ground, Whole Bean, Premium Instant, Premium Coffee Sachets, and Starbucks By Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule options, which builds on the existing Starbucks By Nespresso range.  Starbucks At Home Roast & Ground and Whole Bean (RRP $9.00) The Roast & Ground varieties can be extracted through pour-overs, drip filters and coffee presses, while the whole coffee beans allow for customised grinding. Both recreate the signature freshly-brewed taste of a perfect Starbucks brew at home. Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee 90g (RRP $9.95) is a duo of high-quality soluble coffees created by Starbucks master blenders. These premium coffees use the same high quality 100% Arabica beans as the Starbucks coffee houses.  Starbucks By Nespresso Pike Place 10pk (RRP $6.90) is the newest addition and seventh variety of expertly-roasted Starbucks coffee encapsulated in Nespresso’s authentic aluminium capsules. Starbucks At Home Premium Coffee Sachets (RRP $5.90) is a new range of sachets inspired by several iconic coffee house favourties and include the following flavours: Cappuccino, Latte, Caramel Latte and Caffe Mocha.  Starbucks By Nescafé Dolce Gusto (RRP $8.50) is a new range of Starbucks capsules filled with high quality 100% Arabica beans with specific roasting and taste profiles used in Starbucks coffeehouse staples that can be made from a NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto machine in the comfort of your… Read More

Flavoured gin liqueurs are tipped to be the next big gin lover’s obsession

Grenall's Gin

Once upon a time, G&Ts were the drink of choice for older members of the family (think, Grandma) but over the last few years, we’ve watched the world reignite its explosive love affair with gin and now Grandma is looking pretty cool and way ahead of her time.  And there’s no sign of the gin revolution slowing down with one of Britain’s’ oldest distillers, Greenall’s, introducing two fruity flavored gin liqueurs that are guaranteed to entice established and new to gin drinkers to try something a little different.  Greenall’s Green Apple and Hibiscus Gin Liqueur: A modern flavour profile, this liqueur perfectly balances the crisp green apple, which is synonymous with English summers, with the sweet-sour tanginess of hibiscus.  Greenall’s Blood Orange, Fig and Ginger Gin Liqueur: Balancing the intense blood orange with the luscious sweetness of fig and the zest spiciness of ginger, this liqueur offers new gin consumers a taste of gin with modern and appealing, complementary flavours. The new liqueur-style gins are designed to be served with soda water; on the rocks; or with sparkling wine, adding a fruity twist to champagne cocktails. The liqueurs are only 20% alcohol as opposed to the Original London Dry Gin which is 37.50% alcohol. The Blood Orange liqueur is available for your drinking pleasure at Dan Murphy’s ($33.99) and select BWS stores ($35). At this stage, the Green Apple liqueur is only available at Dan Murphy’s. Greenall’s Green Apple Collins 50ml Greenall’s Green Apple and Hibiscus Liqueur 25ml fresh lemon juice Soda water Mint garnish… Read More

Take the stress out of baking with these super fun kits by Baker’s Box

Rocky road cupcakes Baker's Box

Your bestie just called and asked whether you’d like to come over with a few other gal pals for an afternoon of baked festivities. Oh, and bring a plate! The truth is, you’re not regular baker, so the chances of you having all the staples in the pantry are next to zero.  You look in the pantry and your suspicions are confirmed. You’re pretty much out of everything you need to whip up a  batch of brownies or cupcakes. And that means going to the supermarket and spending a bomb just to restock the pantry. And let’s be honest, the standard supermarket cake or brownie mix isn’t going to cut it, either, so that’s not an option.   This brings us to Baker’s Box, a clever and new way of baking at home. This innovative business beautifully assembles baking kits that contain pretty much everything you need (minus perishables such as eggs or milk) so that you can create mouth-watering baked goodies such as cakes, cookies, and slices at a whim. Plus you can take all the credit for baking such glorious looking treats.  Kits contain pre-measured ingredients so as long as you’re able to follow a recipe, you shouldn’t have any problems pulling together a plate of baked goods that will knock the socks off your guests. And you don’t have to be an experienced baker – beginners will also find the kits extremely user-friendly. Because the ingredients are pre-measured to the exact amount required for each recipe, this not only helps save time, but… Read More

London: Get your drinks and cocktails delivered during lockdown

Drinks drinking cheers

There’s not much to do during Covid-19 lockdown than eat, sleep, drink, repeat. So, why not do it in style? Here are four top options in London when it comes to ordering your favourites right to you, making your proclivities a lot more enjoyable. Read on… Double Dutch Producer of award-winning premium tonics and mixers, they’re pumping out Summer Spritz Packs, Isolation packs, Family Fun and Virtual Party packs, perfect for quarantine. They include everything from hand sanitiser and games to spirits and Double Dutch mixers for making the perfect G&T at home! Learn more about it here Moore House Cocktail Company  Bringing the bar to you, Moore House Cocktail Company is serving-up single 100ml bottle servings from £8.50 or 250ml bottles, easily providing three cocktails, from £16. All you need is your favourite glass, ice, shaker, and garnish. See more at their website Hattingley Valley Get your hands on the latest Hattingley 2019 Vintage Rosé, the brand’s first premium still wine. Furthermore, for a special drinks delivery and to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Hattingley Valley, the winey has launched a special mixed case of wines for £127.80, including a 40% birthday discount. Find more at the Hattingley website Mariage Frères teas No one said drinks have to always be alcoholic. The iconic French tea emporium located in the heart of Covent Garden is ensuring customers can still get their favourite teas via the online shop while its doors are closed. See more on their website

Pitango Goodness Bowls are the answer to your cooking conundrum

Pitango

Some days, you really just want a wholesome meal like a comforting risotto or hearty, homemade soup but don’t have the time or energy to make it yourself. We hear you!  So the next best thing is a home-style cooked soup or meal for those on the go. Using only the freshest ingredients, Pitango have added a new range of products to their already established line up of wholesome soup and risotto – the Pitango Goodness Bowl.  All free-range, gluten-free and high in protein and fibre, the Goodness Bowls come in three internationally-inspired flavours: Free Range Butter Chicken with Brown Rice, Free Range Mexican Pulled Pork with Quinoa and Beans and Free Range Thai Green Chicken Curry with Brown Rice. Yum, right!  These handy-sized bowls of goodness can be cooked in as little as three minutes and are perfect for lunch or dinner. So what kind of ingredients are used in each bowl? To give you an idea of the quality produce used for the Butter Chicken bowl, here’s a full list of the ingredients used: 37% vegetables which includes tomato, tomato paste, pumpkin, onion, red capsicum, carrot, garlic, water, brown rice, 10% free range chicken, 9% coconut cream, stabilisers (xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan), yoghurt, date syrup, ginger, spices, sunflower oil, coriander, salt and fenugreek. No nasties here.  Pitango was born in 2002 when Yasmin and Ofer Shenhave identified a gap in the market for quality, home-style cooked soup. They began distribution from the back of their soup van and the rest, they say, is… Read More

Disaronno and Diesel: When two iconic Italians collaborate

Disaronno

You can drink it straight, add a dash to your coffee, make cocktails with it and even add a splash to your G&T. With its almond base, Amaretto is one of those liqueurs that divides people. You’re either a fan, or not. And that’s okay, because that in itself is a great conversation piece over a tipple. But for those who love a traditional sweet Italian almond flavoured liqueur, you’ll want to consider having a bottle of Disaronno in the cabinet for those times you feel like a hit of sweet, sweet Italy.  Rich, but delicate, Disaronno is flavoured by a combination of herbs and spices that are then soaked in apricot kernel oil. And for something a little different, there is now a “Disaronno wears Diesel” – Limited Edition bottle run – with a bold, ironic style that shows Disaronno’s instantly recognizable logo wrapped in Diesel’s signature denim pattern. The design is a reflection of the brands shared approach towards creativity and originality.  While this isn’t the first Disaronno x Diesel partnership, there is a newly created ‘Disaronno wears Diesel’ cocktail to celebrate their latest collaboration.  INGREDIENTS: 50 ml Disaronno 20 ml Jamaica Rum overproof 30 ml Lime Juice 20 ml Passion Fruit syrup 8 Mint leaves Crushed Ice Mint sprig and raspberry METHOD:  Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint leaves and a single raspberry.