Food and Drink

  • Q&A: TOLLGATE BREWERY

    *Original publication date December 2017* Discerning consumers are becoming increasingly interested in the provenance of food and drink on their table. Personally, I love knowing where ingredients have come from – is that chicken from the farm down the road? Is that beer from my local brewery? It is time to champion local producers, which…

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  • HOFMEISTER HELLES LAGER Q&A: RICHARD LONGHURST & SPENCER CHAMBERS

    *Original publication date November 2017*  As party season gets underway and we get into the spirit (sorry I couldn't help myself), we start to think of delicious drinks to imbibe. After reviewing Hofmeister earlier this year, it is one of the beers that has made my "To Drink" list when I'm out and about. (See my original…

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  • REVIEW: HOFMEISTER HELLES LAGER

    *Original review date October 2017* If you’re a beer lover, then Hofmeister is probably on your radar. Or was on your radar before the beloved 80s brand ceased trading due to declining sales. The beer with the cuddly bear (whose questionable fashion sense endeared him as a Hofmeister champion) was originally a lager feted for…

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  • EXCLUSIVE Q&A: CHEF HARI GHOTRA

    *Original publication date August 2017* Do you have any food heroes? I have a couple (James Martin, Simon Rogan, Aiden Byrne, Elizabeth David are just a few off the top of my head). The latest addition to my food hero list is Hari Ghotra, chef and entrepreneur who is based in London and whom I…

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  • Q&A: ALEX BOND, HEAD CHEF & OWNER, ALCHEMILLA, NOTTINGHAM

    *Original publication date July 2017* In just over three weeks (yes I'm counting, bite me), one of the hottest restaurants opens in Nottingham. I have written about Alchemilla Nottingham several times and I don't think it can ever be enough. I was lucky to catch up with Alex Bond, whose dishes make me want to…

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  • MY TOP 3 COOKBOOKS FOR WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2017

    *Original publication date April 2017* Henry Ward Beecher: Books are the windows through which the soul looks out. A home without books is like a room without windows. During our monthly meeting at Derby BookCake Club earlier this week, the talk invariably strayed from our book discussion (The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde, more on…

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