All posts by EPR Food & Beverage News

Bread, Cooking, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Sandwiches

Help Young Carers with Christmas Sandwiches

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Customers will be able to help young carers across the UK this Christmas, by purchasing special festive sandwiches from The Co-operative Group.

The Co-operative launched three own-brand Christmas sandwiches on 10 November which enable consumers to give charity donations simply when buying their lunch. When purchased, 10p from each sale will go towards funding an online support service for young carers.

YCNet – part of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers – is the only dedicated website and online support service for children and young people under the age of 18, who help to look after someone in their family with an illness, disability, drug/alcohol addiction or mental health problem. Some of the young carers are only five years old.

Earlier this year The Co-operative Group, launched its multi-million pound Inspiring Young People campaign. This is part of its ongoing support and commitment to helping young people in communities across the UK.

The three delicious sandwiches – all £2.50 – include a traditional Turkey, Stuffing, Bacon & Cranberry variety, featuring seasonal food such as butter basted turkey, pork, sage & onion stuffing with a sweet cranberry chutney, mayonnaise and smoke flavour sweetcure bacon on soft malted bread; a Wiltshire Ham & Braised Red Cabbage sandwich with apple and raisin chutney, mayonnaise and spinach on malted mixed grain& seed bread, and a Christmas Dinner Triple, which includes prawn cocktail, turkey & stuffing and cheddar cheese & chutney variants.

Helen Shaw, Sandwich Buyer at The Co-operative, commented: “The young carers’ online service – YCNet – provides a much-needed lifeline for many of these brave and inspiring young people across the country. We’re proud to be raising both money and awareness for this vital service, and this initiative is a great example of The Co-operative’s ongoing commitment to young people.”

Via EPR Network
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Cooking, Food & Beverage, Health Food, Oil, Organic Food, Weightloss

Organic Coconut Oil – Your Best Friend

The health benefits of extra virgin organic coconut oil is a great way to look and feel your very best. It can be used for a variety of things you need in your life. You can get rid of costly products and avoid side effects. The organic nature of it means you won’t have to deal with any ingredients that aren’t good for you either.

Many people with serious skin problems including psoriasis have been able to benefit from coconut oil for skin. The deep layers of skin are reached when you use coconut oil. As a result your skin starts to repair itself from the inside out. The moisture will be retained too so you can say goodbye to dry skin once and for all.

If you want smooth skin you should use coconut oil as it will help to exfoliate the damaged and dead skin cells. What remains is soft and silky with a very pretty tone and color to it. Should you be seeing fine lines and wrinkles on your body the use of coconut oil can help to make them disappear.

We do lots of damage to our hair from the wind, the sun, coloring it, and styling. Coconut oil for hair though leaves it soft and manageable. It can also help to stop the itchiness and dryness of the scalp. That can often be the result of harsh chemicals found in most shampoos. The nutrients in coconut oil will also help your hair to grow faster and to have a lovely shine to it. If anyone in your household gets lice this can also help to kill the eggs and the adults quickly.

When it comes to your diet, you should use coconut oil for cooking due to the nutritional benefits. You can enjoy delicious tasting foods but without using lots of fats. The foods you prepare will taste amazing too so you will want to continue to use it for all of your cooking needs. If you are interested in eating healthy but also enjoying your food then coconut oil is the way to make it happen.

Via EPR Network
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Cooking, Events, Flavors, Food, Food & Beverage, Marketing, Meat, National Cuisine, Services

Cairo Hosts Unique Catalogue Exhibition For Food And Drink Industry At The End Of November 2010

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DirectRooms.com announces that the Egyptian capital of Cairo will feature some of the key businesses in the food and beverage sector as part of a special trade event taking place at the end of November.

Being held to target the attendees of the Middle East Agro-Food summit taking place in the city, the Agro Food Catalogue Show comprises a collection of catalogues and promotional material from businesses in the food and drink industry.

Suppliers of all ranges of food products will be included at the event along with manufacturers and distributors of equipment used for preparing food and drinks.

The displays will be split into three sections including Animal Tech Expo, Dairy and Juice Tech and the Global Fish exhibition. Animal Tech is a collection of material from meat suppliers, egg producers and farming equipment used to protect and breed animals.

In addition, Dairy and Juice Tech will cover all types of drinks equipment from processors to fruit washing machines and coffee makers to refrigerators used for storing dairy produce.

Visitors can also view the latest developments from fish suppliers in the third exhibition, from fresh to canned fish as well as new technology used in fish breeding systems.

Attendees to the event staying in a Cairo hotel will be making their way to the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Centre where the summit and stands run from 29th November to 1st December 2010.

Via EPR Network
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Baked Goods, Baking, Cakes, Cheese, Chocolates, Confectionery Products, Cooking, Fish, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Meat, National Cuisine, Pie

Foodie Festivities at the Forman & Field Open Day

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Saturday 2 October saw another successful and very well-attended open day held by Forman & Field. Their east London premises, directly opposite the Olympic Park, were opened to the public, who could attend for free. The fine food mail order company organise an open day every year, showcasing their work. Those who came were able to explore the company’s Fish Island premises and find out about many of the small artisan food producers who supply Forman & Field with their many high-quality products.

There were many different things to see and do on the day. Forman & Field’s trademark product, their London Cure smoked salmon, played a big part, with attendees able to see the smoking process from start to finish on a tour of Fish Island. The company’s very own world record holder gave demonstrations throughout the day of his skill in carving salmon, which won him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The Food Theatre gave people the opportunity to see demonstrations from many independent producers, as well as to hear talks about their work. Then, there was the chance to try and buy at the Producers’ Market. There was a great choice of produce on offer from the Forman & Field family of food producers, with many people buying lots of food to take home as well as taking advantage of the tastings on offer.

The British Food Fortnight, which the Forman & Field open day is part of, takes place annually (from 18 September to 3 October this year). It brings together food lovers from across the country, who take part in thousands of different events.

Via EPR Network
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Cooking, Drinks, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Marketing, Online, Services

5pm.co.uk Announces That Nominations For The 2011 Scottish Restaurant Awards Are Now Open

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5pm.co.uk, the restaurant reservation and reviews website, and free business newspaper Business7 have announced that nominations for The Scottish Restaurant Awards 2011, which take place on Monday 28th February 2011 at the Glasgow Science Centre, are now open.

Dining out is a multi-million pound industry in Scotland and a big part of daily life, with the restaurant trade a vital component both as an employer and as a service provider to millions of customers every year. The Scottish Restaurant Awards celebrate and reward Scotland’s very best eating establishments, whether they offer fine dining or simple, good value family meals. The awards span sixteen categories, allowing the best restaurant in each field to stand out and be recognised. Nominations are invited from both the restaurant trade and diners to help potential contenders gain the exposure they deserve.

The awards, now in their 4th year, reflect the outstanding creativity, customer service and top-quality dining that is on offer throughout Scotland. The 2010 winners reflected the culinary diversity of modern Scotland and covered a wide geographical spread, with representation from Edinburgh Glasgow, Perth, Inverness, Fife and many other parts of the country. The top accolade of Restaurant Of The Year was won by The Peat Inn in Fife, while its chef/proprietor, Geoffrey Smeddle was handed the hotly contested Chef of the Year crown in a double victory for the establishment.

Via EPR Network
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Baked Goods, Baking, Cakes, Cheese, Chocolates, Confectionery Products, Cooking, Fish, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Meat, National Cuisine, Pie

Forman & Field Helps You At Christmas Time

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Respected fine food mail order company Forman & Field is requesting that online customers make their premium food decisions in advance of the busy Christmas season. Through its simple website, the food delivery firm ensures a reliable process of ordering quality food, gift and hamper options.

Forman & Field has been delivering fresh, premium foods from independent, small British producers for eight years and is well prepared to handle the high influx of Christmas orders.

Forman & Field provides a huge selection of food gifts and hampers. Its line of luxury food products includes champagnes and wines, cheeses, foie gras, smoked salmon, caviar, pies, biscuits, cakes and coffee.

The company also offers a wide choice of deluxe food hampers for online customers looking to host a special occasion, such as Christmas. There is the Forman & Field Gift Hamper, which offers a varied selection of top-of-the-line food items at great value. The Hamper for Two, with its custom array of fancy food products, can cater to couples looking to spend a highly memorable Christmas together.

The Cheese Round gift basket consists of a round of delicious creamy cheese – the Colston Bassett Stilton – chutneys, oatcakes and a bottle of Pinot Noir. Seafood lovers would be delighted to feast on the H Forman & Son’s Smokehouse Crate during the end-of-the-year festive season. Delectable smoked salmon, tuna and potted lobster products make up this hamper.

The Gourmand Gift Box would help make any upcoming Christmas party a success. With its selection of fine caviar, foie de canard, smoked salmon, pâté, L’Artisan chocolates, cider brandy and more, this hamper is all about freshness and quality.

Forman & Field guarantees these seasonal foods will be delivered at their freshest. About Forman & Field

Forman & Field has been delivering seasonal, fresh luxury food items to satisfied customers since 2002. The online company shares its east London headquarters with its parent company, H Forman & Son, an eminent 100-year-old family business that provides smoked salmon, caviar and other deluxe seafood items to high-class hotels and restaurants. The company’s online customers truly enjoy receiving a Forman & Field gift hamper. Visit Forman & Field’s website for more information on a specific Christmas hamper or gifts for other special occasions.

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Cooking, Drinks, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Marketing, Online, Services

5pm.co.uk Gets A Makeover

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5pm.co.uk, the country’s top restaurant reservation and review site has been given an exciting makeover and sees the launch of its brand new Health & Beauty section.

For almost ten years, 5pm.co.uk has enabled it’s users to dine out for less in restaurants across the country. Now the site will show consumers that less is most definitely more in the world of health and beauty by offering exclusive offers, discounts and deals on treatments at top spas and salons.

The health & beauty offers will initially be in Glasgow only but will be rolled out across the country in the coming months. Some of the top brands and salons that have already signed up are: Isis Crowne Plaza, Russell Cowie Hairdressing, Aveda @James Dun’s House, Aveda @ Mar Hall, 29 Royal Exchange Square and Beti Reilly.

The site will feature profile pages for salons and spas with descriptions of facilities and photographs meaning people can feel more relaxed about trying somewhere new because they’ve been able to have a peek inside. Users will also be able to review and rate their experiences on the site to gain loyalty points in the same way that they currently can with restaurant bookings.

Gillian O’Hara, Health & Beauty Manager at 5pm.co.uk said: “Everyone likes to look good and whether you’re going for that long needed trim or treating yourself or a loved one to a spa day, you no longer need to break the bank. We have partnered with some fantastic establishments to offer an incredible range of deals and we will be adding to them over the coming weeks.”

The innovative new section is yet another development in the already booming business of 5pm.co.uk headed up by Chairman Charles Shaw, who commented: “5pm.co.uk has always been a simple business model that works extremely well for both restaurateurs and consumers. Restaurants fill tables that would otherwise be empty and consumers can eat in great restaurants every day of the week for less money.

Via EPR Network
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Baked Goods, Baking, Cakes, Cheese, Chocolates, Confectionery Products, Cooking, Fish, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Meat, National Cuisine, Pie

Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery at Hackney Wicked

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The Hackney Wicked Art Festival had its third successful year of operation this month, and taking part was one of the local area’s most successful companies, H Forman and Sons. Their premises opposite the Olympic park house the Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery.

The Hackney Wicked Art Festival has become a firm fixture on the London summer calendar, despite only having operated for three years. More than 30,000 people are thought to have attended this year, the highest yet seen at the festival. There are numerous art exhibitions, theatre and cabaret performances all over the Hackney Wick area, as well as interactive family events and markets. The emphasis this year, as ever, was on including local businesses and the local community.

Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery is open all year round, but it put on a special exhibition for the festival called ‘I see myself there, where I am not’. Rather than being a single artist exhibition, this included ten different artists’ work, all based around a theme – exploring ideas of heterotopias and ‘the other’. The gallery was the venue for the launch of the whole festival on Friday 30 July, hosting a successful opening night with lots of enjoyment to be had by all attendees.

The gallery continued to be very popular over the weekend – and not just for the art. After enjoying the gallery, many visitors chose to take in a meal at the brasserie, which operated all weekend, or take home some gourmet foods to enjoy later. Kids loved the family drawing day, where they got to take part in a competition to draw a picture of the Olympic stadium.

Via EPR Network
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Cooking, Events, Flavors, Food, Food & Beverage, Marketing, Meat, National Cuisine, Services

Head to Cebu For An Entire Day Of Feasting On 15 October 2010

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The Filipino island of Cebu sees a feast of celebrations to pay respect to the island’s patron saint, reports DirectRooms.com.

The Halad Festival is an annual event that sees worshippers paying respect to Saint Teresa of Avila in the form of a feast to the prominent Spanish nun.

Visitors to the Philippines looking to watch the festivities should head to Talisay City, which is named after the Mantalisay tree that grows throughout the area. On Friday 15th October 2010 the city will play host to a continuous street procession featuring local residents and artists.

The streets will be lined with a series of colourful displays including traditional dances and music, all performed in a variety of cultural costumes.

One of the highlights of the event will be the opportunity to sample one of the city’s most famous dishes called lechon. This is a meal of spit roasted pig served with a unique blend of herbs and spices. Talisay City claims to have the best lechon in the country and there’ll be a special competition to find out just who serves the best variety of this Filipino delicacy.

In addition to the lechon, visitors can sample a variety of other national dishes from cooking demonstrations and a large food fair that is being included as part of the feast for the celebrations.

The evening will go on to witness more performances and variety shows including the popular competition to find Ms Talisay City Tourism.

The popularity of the event with locals and overseas visitors means that people searching for a hotel Cebu could find occupancy higher than normal around the time of the event.

Via EPR Network
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Baked Goods, Baking, Cakes, Cheese, Chocolates, Confectionery Products, Cooking, Fish, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Meat, National Cuisine, Pie

Fine British Food to Buy Online

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There is increasing interest in traditional, fine British foods from small producers. Supermarkets dominate the market for food in Britain, but more and more people are appreciating the value of using small companies that aim to produce high quality food using artisan methods passed down between generations. Forman and Field, a London-based mail order food company, specialises in providing this kind of food.

Founded in 2002, Forman and Field aim to provide traditional foods from small British suppliers in an ‘online farmers’ market’. Their suppliers all use high quality ingredients and traditional recipes and methods. The company is part of H. Forman and Son, a traditional salmon-smokers and supplier of smoked salmon, other fish and seafood to some of the best restaurants and chefs in London. H. Forman and Son is a family business in operation in East London since 1905.

Many people have an unfounded, poor view of British food, and Forman and Field seek to rectify this. They provide a wide range of traditional foods, which would be regarded by many as among the finest in the world. The company is committed to ensuring that traditional methods of production survive. The salmon smoked by H. Forman and Son is a good example, using their famous ‘London Cure’, a recipe invented by Harry Forman, the company’s founder, in 1905. Many of their suppliers use similarly traditional methods to produce their products, and many have been recognised by various awards.

Via EPR Network
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Biscuits, Cakes, Candy, Chocolates, Cookies, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Food Aditives & Chemicals, Food Byproducts, Food Processing, Gourmet, Ice Cream, Online, Pastry, Services, Sweets

Popular Malaysian Sweets in Focus at Kuala Lumpur August Expo

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Tens of thousands of trade and public visitors are expected at Kuala Lumpur’s popular Malaysian Sweets Expo, with hotel rooms filling up fast.

The Malaysian Sweets Expo is slated from 6 to 8 August at Kuala Lumpur’s Matrade Convention and Exhibition Centre, providing confectioners with a unique opportunity to showcase their products to tens of thousands of visitors. The rapidly growing domestic market and confectionery sector international contacts are expected to be successfully accessed by exhibitors.

On show will be everything from processing equipment, packaging, refrigeration, ingredients and raw materials, marketing tools and manufacturing control technology as well as the sweets themselves. The aim of the event is to generate leads, create product awareness, build business relationships, network and make immediate sales.

Visitor profiles include buyers and production managers from the international confectionery industry, packaging designers, product developers, local retailers, wholesalers and international food retailing executives as well as the general public. The result for exhibitors will be a boost to their businesses during the coming years.

According to DirectRooms.com, major trade shows in cities popular as visitor and business destinations often result in shortages of suitable nearby hotel accommodation. They advise those who need to book rooms in cheap Kuala Lumpur hotels during expo week to do so well in advance.

Via EPR Network
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Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Food Aditives & Chemicals, Food Byproducts, Food Processing, Online, Services

Guangzhou Food Festival 2010 Tempts Tourists

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DirectRooms.com has recently confirmed the dates for the Guangzhou International Food Festival 2010. The popular annual month-long event will be held from September 1st to the 30th.

Guangzhou is the perfect location for an international food festival, as the region boasts one of China’s four major cuisine types. The Guangzhou festival is entering its 23rd year, having first begun in 1987.

This year, the Guangzhou Tourist Administration promises fantastic dishes, refreshments, and traditional delicacies provided by local restaurants and hotels. There are also food recommendations, cooking demonstrations, performances, and much more for visitors to see and experience.

The festival combines fine cuisine with live entertainment, commerce, and tourism, and draws domestic and international tourists and professionals. Over its impressive history, the Guangzhou International Food Festival has become one of China’s most prominent international folk celebrations.

The main festival venue is the Mingsheng Plaza; additional locations throughout the region also host various festival activities and events. Visitors will find dozens of vendor booths and hundreds of corporate exhibitors offering product samples, information, and delicious food items.

As the longest running food festival in China, the Guangzhou celebration has grown into one of the most popular gourmet festivals in all of Asia, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

Lek Boonlert, head of marketing for DirectRooms.com, suggests booking Guangzhou hotels well in advance to ensure availability and the best rates.

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Baked Goods, Baking, Equipment, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Marketing, Online, Services

South West Bakery Auction

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West of England Bakeries in Plymouth shut its doors after 25 years, making 50 of its staff redundant, while another six jobs were lost when D&G’s head office closed. The contents of the bakery based in Plympton, Plymouth will be offered for sale by auction on 29th July 2010.

Almost 60 jobs have been lost after D&G Food Group called in administrators and put its four bakery companies up for sale.

An advert in the Financial Times reported that The West of England Bakeries turned over £2.4m.

The bakery auction specialists, Pro Auction will conduct the sale and will include Double D ovens and Spooner travelling tunnel oven, mixers, bread plant and proofers / proovers, Rondo pastry sheeters and Konig roll plants.

A viewing day prior to the sale will be held on site and on the day of auction, bidding will also be enabled via webcast at www.bidspotter.com

In addition to the bread & biscuit production lines on offer is an Ibonhart bread slicing line and several packaging machinery including a very modern Record Packaging Scorpion Flow Wrapper, morning roll flow wrappers, metal detection and labelling machinery.

Mark Flynn, managing director of Pro Auction, says: “We have a good range of commercial baking equipment available, including various rotary and deck ovens, which are likely to attract interest, along with some excellent walk in chillers and freezers. Although we have a few specialist bakery online auctions lined up, opportunities to purchase first class equipment such as this, at a significantly reduced price, will be limited”.

The Derbyshire-based bakery Aldreds the Bakers Ltd, has been acquired by Frank Roberts and Sons Ltd , in a deal that will retain all 62 staff at Aldreds. Mike Braddock, managing director of Frank Roberts and Sons said: “This is a very positive move for both companies. Roberts is a successful business and we are very excited to have the opportunity to develop it further through our alliance with Aldreds, which is well known and respected in the industry. With a long heritage, plus a good reputation for customer service and product quality, Aldreds shares many similarities with our business. We are delighted to not only invest in Aldreds future, but also to provide job security for its loyal team of staff.”

For further information, contact ProAuction on 01761 414000 or email info@proauction.ltd.uk.

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Baked Goods, Baking, Cakes, Cheese, Chocolates, Confectionery Products, Cooking, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Meat, National Cuisine, Pie

Traditional British Pork Pies Are One Of Life’s Simple Pleasures, And Forman & Field Provide The Solution For Those Looking For Some Of The Highest Quality Local Produce

Now that the UK general election has been and gone, it’s time to think of something other than politics. Yet politics have always gone hand-in-hand with a few porky pies, so it’s perhaps apt to turn our focus to more gastronomic issues.

Traditional British Pork Pies Are One Of Life's Simple Pleasures, And Forman & Field Provide The Solution For Those Looking For Some Of The Highest Quality Local Produce

Traditional British Pork Pies are one of life’s simple pleasures, and Forman & Field provide the solution for those looking for some of the highest quality local produce. Widely regarded as the country’s leading supplier of fine food by mail order and online, Forman & Field stocks Traditional Pork Pies f r o m Norfolk made by Silent Partners f r o m gloriously tasty pure breed Old Spot Rare Breed porkers. These handmade traditional pies are perfect for a cold lunch or starter. Another choice recommendation for fans of good ol’ fashioned porky pies is Mrs King’s Pork Pies: genuine, thoroughbred Melton Mowbray pork pies.

Speaking of simply delicious pies, pie addicts are sure to go pie-eyed over Forman & Field’s range of Simple Simon’s Pies. Made with the freshest, natural ingredients on shredded potato encased in flavoursome pastry by chef Bernard Alessi, these pies come in a wide variety of new and exciting flavour combinations. The value-for-money Best Sellers Selection Pack contains 1 x Organic Beef & Mushroom, 1 x Chicken and Tarragon, 1 x Smoked & Fresh Haddock with Creamy Leeks.

Forman & Field, launched in 2002, is considered by top food writers as the country’s leading supplier of fine food by mail order and online. The company is regarded to be a pioneer in quality seasonal British Foods, including such delicacies as three-bird roast, fine ham, cheese and desserts, such as culinary masterpieces f r o m Nadell’s chocolate cake selection.

Forman & Field’s parent company, H. Forman & Son was founded in 1905 by Harris Forman, great-grandfather of present owner, Lance Forman. Regarded to be the UK’s oldest and best-known salmon smoker, H. Forman & Son is the choice of top chefs and hotels in London and around the world, including the Dorchester, Sandy Lane, Barbados, Fortnum & Mason, and Waitrose.

About Forman & Field: Forman & Field was established in 2002 as a national home delivery service for private customers wanting to order H. Forman & Son’s fish as well as gourmet foods f r o m other speciality producers. They are widely regarded as the country’s leading supplier of fine food by mail and online order.

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Cereals, Food, Food & Beverage, Health Food, Products, Weightloss

Kellogg’s Reveal What Women Want – Chocolate

Kellogg’s reveal through new research that women think about it all the time, enjoy it most after a bad day and would choose it over any other pleasure in life – chocolate that is.

Kellogg's Reveal What Women Want - Chocolate

The research* by Kellogg’s has revealed that over 20% of women in the UK say they would kiss goodbye to their sex lives before their chocolate fix and over a quarter would give up their chardonnay and Chanel.

In fact according to the report it seems women have a one track mind for chocolate as 30% confessed they thought about their treat most during the day, compared to just 18% who said they think about sex**.

A bad day at work is the main reason women turn to chocolate for comfort with over half of all women admitting this is when they indulge the most, while a third do so after an argument with their partner.

Ladies in Yorkshire are the most likely to be driven to the chocolate cupboard by their hormones with 40% saying they turn to chocolate to relieve PMT.

The research shows chocolate is a woman’s ultimate guilty pleasure with 2.3m admitting they eat it more than 3 times a day however, 70% of women said they felt guilty for doing so, with health, weight and dirty looks from their partner the top reasons for guilt.

Women also use chocolate as a reward with 41% saying they treat themselves after eating healthily including healthy snacks all day and 20% after exercising. This could start with a healthy breakfast at the beginning of the day and feeling the chocolate has been earned by the end.

Via EPR Network
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Cooking, Drinks, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Gourmet, Marketing, Online, Services

5pm.co.uk Announce Joint Promotion With Bunnahabhain Scotch Whisky

5pm.co.uk, Scotland’s leading online restaurant reservation site, has announced its new promotion in conjunction with Bunnahabhain Single Malt Scotch Whisky which gives 5pm diners the opportunity of sampling a free dram of Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Malt Whisky as they dine.

The promotion is running at 75 Glasgow and Edinburgh restaurants from 30th April 2010 to 30th May 2010.

Bunnahabhain, from the Isle of Islay, is quite distinct from the other single malts from the area, given the unique, wonderfully gentle and delicate taste profile for which it is known. It has been created using lightly peated malted barley in a time-honoured distillation process and takes advantage of the pure spring water that flows freely underground away from the peaty moorlands.

Charles Shaw, Chairman of 5pm.co.uk said: “This Bunnahabhain promotion gives our diners even better value from the already great 5pm deals. Diners booking through the 5pm.co.uk site get the opportunity of trying one of Scotland’s finest 12 Year Old Malt Whiskies. When booking online all the diner has to do is indicate the number of complimentary drams they’d like – one per diner is available – it’s that easy.”

The 5pm trial and tasting mechanism is revolutionary in the sector as it is effectively a promotion which is run by the consumer.

For Bunnahabhain the joint promotion with 5pm.co.uk offers it the opportunity to have its brand tried and tasted in the best ambience; when diners are in the right mood and have the whisky served to them in style, thus keeping the customer’s attention for a longer period than other traditional tasting promotions would allow.

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Cakes, Candy, Chocolates, Food, Food & Beverage, National Cuisine

Is Belgian Chocolate the ‘King of Chocolate’?

For a small landlocked country nestled within the folds of Europe, Belgium has a big claim to fame. Talk chocolate, and Belgian seems to be the adjective that springs to mind when it comes to describing the absolute top quality.

Is Belgian Chocolate the ‘King of Chocolate'?

From the chocolate bars available in shiny wrappers at supermarkets to the expensive candies and pralines that can be bought at exclusive downtown chocolate boutiques, the range of chocolate available on the market is as varied in taste as it is in the country of origin. But in Europe, the debate over where the best chocolate in the world is produced is a topic of heated debate and much discussion.

Belgians proudly claim to have the finest range of chocolates, considered by many chocolatiers to be the gourmet standard by which all other chocolates are measured. The French, on the other hand, hold up their centuries old tradition of making chocolate to support their claim to supremacy. Swiss chocolates, which are famous world over for their quality, often lose their way in the debate when the question comes to the basic recipe, for the Swiss love to make exotic and deliciously eccentric chocolates, a passion said to have been borrowed from the Belgians and French. Germany and Austria also both have a stake in the chocolate industry, but Belgium generally still comes out on top.

“I have always been a huge fan of Belgian chocolates. And while Godiva and Neuhas have some mouth-watering concoctions, my favourite chocolate holiday in Belgium was a two week trip through the country, tasting chocolates made by smaller chocolatiers and some very distinct and wonderfully flavoured chocolates. I believe the Belgians create the same magic with chocolate that the French do with their wines”, says Nicolas Vernaire, a chocolatier who runs an exclusive boutique in Oxfordshire.

Like Nicolas, many chocolatiers believe the Belgian chocolate is made unique by the quality of ingredients used and a fanatical adherence to Old World chocolate making methods. “Mass production of chocolates is sacrilege for a Belgian. And much like wineries, you can walk into chocolate shops in Belgium and take part in taster sessions and classes on chocolate making”. Like everything good, the best chocolate also happens to be among the most expensive, and that is precisely the reason why, when you look up a dessert menu and see a chocolate cake that seems a little bit more expensive than you’d expected, remember to ask the waiter if the chocolate used is from Belgium. The chances are that it could have some mouth watering praline or truffles in it, making the extra pounds that you have to shell out worth every bite you take.

Via EPR Network
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Alcoholic Beverages, Beers, Beverage, Brewing, Drinks, Events, Online

Beer Universe Announces Launch of iPhone App

Beer Universe, Inc. (www.beer-universe.com), a leading online community / e-commerce website that revolutionizes the online experiences for beer enthusiasts, has announced the official launch of the Beer Universe iPhone / iPod Touch app, creating a unique mobile solution for beer lovers on the go.

Beer Universe Announces Launch of iPhone App

Through the launch of this first-of-its-kind app, Beer Universe is able to bring its proprietary beer recommendation system to users when they most need it – at the store or their favorite bar / restaurant. The Beer Universe app not only provides users with a huge database of beer profiles for users to explore, rate, and review, but truly outpaces other similar applications by offering tailored recommendations and predictions based on each user’s individual preferences. The app’s beer list also syncs with the Beer Universe website (www.beer-universe.com), keeping it up to date with the website’s ever-growing database of beers.

Commenting on the launch, Co-Founder and President Heath Gray said, “At a time when the craft beer world is steadily expanding, and our number of choices as a consumer are growing exponentially, the Beer Universe app fills a major void in the marketplace and provides an invaluable service for beer lovers. The feedback we’ve received so far has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited about the service we’ve been able to offer to all types of beer fans.”

Features of the App Include:

• Database of over 3,000 beers
• Ability to review / rate beers and share opinions with others
• Power to keep track of favorite beers with easy to use Favorite Beers list
• Beer recommendations based on reviews / ratings
• Predictions for how high users will rate beers based on personal preferences
• Regular synchronization with the Beer Universe website, keeping it up to date with new ratings and beer profiles

The application is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch from Apple’s App Store at http://www.itunes.com/appstore/

Via EPR Network
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5pm.co.uk Announces The Scottish Restaurant Awards To Honour Culinary Stars

The stars of Scotland’s restaurant scene have battled it out to take home a culinary Oscar from the third annual Scottish Restaurant Awards in association with the country’s top online reservation and review site 5pm.co.uk.

5pm.co.uk Announces The Scottish Restaurant Awards To Honour Culinary Stars

Hosted by food critic & broadcaster Tam Cowan at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, the Scottish Restaurant Awards were set up to celebrate the outstanding creativity, customer service and top quality dining on offer throughout Scotland.

The top accolade of Restaurant Of The Year went to The Peat Inn (Fife), while its chef/proprietor, Geoffrey Smeddle was handed the hotly contested Chef Of The Year crown.

The Best Fine Dining title was given to Edinburgh restaurant Martin Wishart, while the Best Pub Grub award was won by The King’s Wark. Both venues are based at The Shore area of Leith proving that it has an excellent chance of picking up the title of Google’s Top UK Foodie Street this year.

The gong for Best Newcomer went to Rocpool Reserve Hotel (Inverness) and the coveted Best Customer Service tribute was won by Hotel Du Vin (Glasgow).

But it wasn’t just restaurants in the two biggest cities that took home prizes. The Best Rural Restaurant honour was bestowed upon Cail Bruich. Perthshire was represented by Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant, the winner of Best Hotel Restaurant, and Opus One was named Best Urban Restaurant.

Initial nominations for restaurants were made by diners, restaurateurs and suppliers online, with the shortlist and eventual winners being chosen by a prestigious judging panel. The panel comprised: Sunday Mail Columnist, Alison Craig; Beverly Payne, director of The Collection Ltd; Gordon Muir, Head of Marketing at Matthew Algie; Debbie Nelson from Health at Work; Neil Thomson founder member of the Federation of Chefs; Ronnie Somerville MD of 5pm.co.uk; Gio Benedetti from Wallace Cameron Ltd; Fran James from the Edinburgh Restaurateurs Association; Charles Shaw chairman of 5pm.co.uk; David Maguire chief exec of the Glasgow Restaurateurs Association; Steven Doherty of The Cook School Scotland; Charlie Lockley head chef at The Boath House Hotel; Jonathan Trew Travel & Food Writer.

Charles Shaw, Chairman of 5pm.co.uk said: “The culinary standard in Scotland gets better and better every year. As the country’s favourite online reservation and review site, 5pm.co.uk is delighted to support the recognition of these fantastic chefs and restaurateurs.”

5pm.co.uk is co-sponsor of the The Scottish Restaurant Awards with Business 7.

The full list of finalists is available from www.scottishrestaurantawards.co.uk.

Via EPR Network
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5pm.co.uk Announces Great Results Following January Sale

5pm.co.uk, a website dedicated to restaurant deals and reservations, has made a fantastic start to the year after filling a record number of seats in the restaurant sector.

During 5pm’s January sale, which saw the company offer deals for two or three courses in some of the country’s top-rated restaurants for £12 a head, the company saw an increase of almost 30% on the bookings made in a similar deal offered in 2009. The promotion saw 35,000 bookings at more than 80 Glasgow and Edinburgh restaurants alone and the success of the deal has seen it extended until the end of February.

Restaurant offers on the website are available for eating establishments all over the United Kingdom.

Charles Shaw, the chairman of 5pm.co.uk, said: “The 5pm.co.uk offering is ideal in this economic climate, as it allows 5pm users the luxury of still being able to eat out at a fraction of the price. Consumers are ever more careful with their money and are constantly looking for deals that won’t break the bank and 5pm is delighted to be able to offer this.”

The 5pm website is free to join and members are given access to all the latest deals as well as a resource that allows them to book tables from a number of different restaurants. Users are allowed to rate the places they’ve eaten and leave restaurant reviews, giving other members a fuller picture of the place they’re going to eat.

To book, users simply need to search for a restaurant – by name, location or type of cuisine – and a few clicks later they could have a reservation in their name at any one of the participating restaurants.

The most popular restaurant bookings in Edinburgh during the sale were for Blonde, Café Andaluz, Calistoga Central and Channings while Glaswegians opted for Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, Soho, Stravaigin 2, Rogano and the Bothy.

Via EPR Network
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