Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Review

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Frostie

The best way to let someone know just how much they mean to you is with chocolate. Well, that is what we think anyway. This gourmet chocolate pizza is not only unique, but it also tastes great and can be personalised. There are a few different ones to choose from and it comes in a cool pizza box. Made with Belgium chocolate and topped with other delicious ingredients…Frost loves.

Chocolate choppers assemble and indulge in a devilish delight you will adore. This all new range of Gourmet Chocolate Pizzas are every food fanatics dream.

Snack on a scrumptious slice, these pizzas can be used for every occasion. So say it in style with Birthday Pizzas, Congratulations Pizzas, and even Personalised Pizzas – give the gift with a difference this year.

These beautiful and delicious pizzas are the tasty treat for every chocolate lover. The novelty pizza takeaway box, keeps your mouth-watering dish fresh and fun looking!

Made with gorgeous Belgium chocolate and topped with a number of ingredients from white chocolate curls, to handmade chocolate hearts, and sweet treats you can virtually have any combination you choose.

This flavoursome food is for everyone! Ranging in Heavenly honeycomb, Crunchy Munchy, Jelly Bean Jumble, Yummy Scrummy, Must-have Marshmallow and Delighfully Dark – we’ve all the fantastic flavours you can imagine.

With up to 24 characters to personalise your pizza, you can create a message like never before, with the unique, handmade plaques your gift will not only be distinctive but delicious.

Delivered straight to your door by www.prezzybox.com only for great prices from £11.95 to £16.95

George Clooney, Rande Gerber And Mike Meldman Host Launch Of Casamigos Tequila Spain

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

On Sunday 23rd August 2015, Casamigos Tequila Founders Rande Gerber, George Clooney and Mike Meldman, along with their wives Cindy Crawford and Amal Clooney, attended the official launch of Casamigos Tequila in Spain at UP!, Ibiza Sky Society, the rooftop bar at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel.

“Brought To You By Those Who Drink It”, the best-tasting, smoothest tequila was shared and enjoyed with friends of the Founders and movers and shakers of Ibiza at UP!, Ibiza Sky Society magnificent rooftop at Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel, flagship hotel of the Palladium Hotel Group.

The private event for 120 people saw guests enjoy Ushuaïa’s signature cocktails, the ‘Unexpected Casamigos’ and the ‘Espresso Casamigos’ as well as the founders favourite Casamigos Reposado on the rocks.

In true Ibiza style the founders kept it casual with linen shirts and jeans whilst the leading ladies dazzled, Amal Clooney in a magnificent gold metallic Vionnet dress and shoes by Dior, and Cindy Crawford in a Botegga Venetta black dress paired with Alaïa heels.

As the sun began to dip and the night began to cool, guests feasted on sumptuous canapés created by the hotel’s Head Chef as they watched the sun set over the mountains from the rooftop while listening to Balearic beats. Fire-breathers, acrobats and dancers wowed the founders and other guests, circling around the tables and providing mesmerizing entertainment for the night providing the perfect intro to the nights later festivities. Old friends Rande Gerber and James Blunt – a local Ibiza resident, caught up over a few tequilas whilst Cindy was ensconced in a fashion royalty conversation with Sam Knight and Mario Testino. Amal caught up with friend, another Ibiza resident, Charlotte Tilbury as they reunited after Charlotte did the make-up for Amal on her wedding day. Surround by their Ibiza House of Friends, at 10pm the party drew to a close and the group moved down to the VIP table to watch superstar DJ AVICII play his resident Sunday night set. Surrounded by Casmigos Tequila, the owners decided to open up their ‘House of Friends’ by sending all other VIP tables a bottle of the award winning Casamigos Tequila to enjoy the show.

The VIP attendees included:

George Clooney, Rande Gerber, Mike Meldman, Cindy Crawford, Amal Clooney,

James Blunt & Sophia Wellesley, Charlotte Tilbury, Mario Testino, Sam McKnight, Taio Cruz, Karmen Pedaru, Marpessa Hennik

The guests enjoyed cocktails

featuring the Casamigos brand:

‘Casamigos Espresso’

‘Unexpected Casamigos’

Casamigos Reposado on the Rocks

Chefs prepared accompaniments, showing their culinary skills using the elegant tequila…

* Grill loin rib marinated with tequila Casamigos Añejo

* Foie Mid-cuit over brioche and jelly tequila Casamigos Reposado

* Cube Lamb confit with tequila Casamigos Añejo, cinnamon and yuzu sauce

* Hamachi ceviche with lemongrass and white Tequila Casamigos · Passion fruit gazpacho with white tequila Casamigos foam

* Osmosis cherry rested white tequila Casamigos style, covered with sanguine orange snow

About Casamigos Tequila…

Brought To You By Those Who Drink It. Privately owned by George Clooney and longtime friend, bar and restaurant mogul Rande Gerber, and Discovery Land Company CEO & founder Michael Meldman, tequila-filled nights with friends is how Casamigos was born. Launched in the UK in March 2015, these small batch, ultra-premium tequilas are made from the finest hand-selected 100% Blue Weber agaves grown in the rich red clay soil and cool climate of Mexico’s Jalisco Highlands for a minimum of seven years. Casamigos Blanco is crisp and clear, with subtle hints of vanilla and a smooth finish, Casamigos Reposado is smooth and clean with hints of caramel. Casamigos Añejo is aged 14 months and has a beautifully pure and refined complex aroma, with soft caramel and vanilla notes.

Casamigos is available in the United States, Bahamas, Canada, Hong Kong, and the UK, and has garnered the highest accolades from the spirit industry’s most well respected authority figures. Awards and ratings include the highest rated gold medals from Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The Beverage Testing Institute, The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, The Spirits of Mexico Tasting Competition and many more. Additionally, Casamigos was rated “Excellent, Highly Recommend” by The Ultimate Spirits Challenge, received the coveted 5 star rating from BevX Magazine, “A perfect tequila,” A rating, from Good Spirit News, named “Best Tequila in the World” by Men’s Journal magazine and Oprah Winfrey lists Casamigos as “The Smoothest, The Best.”

In the UK the brand can be found at top establishments like Nobu, Zuma, Groucho Club, Soho House, 5 Hertford St, Chiltern Firehouse and the Maybourne Group, to name but a few.

Casamigos Tequila is available to purchase at Selfridges and online at www.selfridges.com from £62.99

About Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel…

Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is a luxurious 417-room hotel comprised of two buildings: The Ushuaïa Club, featuring an amazing poolside stage, and The Ushuaïa Tower, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Ushuaïa is dedicated to providing the best outdoor entertainment venue coupled with a modern, cutting-edge hotel experience, designed for the discerning traveller seeking the fun and entertainment associated with Ibiza.

For more information, visit www.ushuaiabeachhotel.com.

About Bedrinks…

Bedrinks is a new brand of Zumos Naturales S.A., a company with over 45 years of history on the island of Ibiza that began by producing shakes, juices and soft drinks, and currently distributes some of the most important national and international beverage brands.

Casamigos is distributed exclusively in Spain by Bedrinks.

corinne@frostmagazine.com

@ladycdtt

www.corinne-modelling.co.uk

7 Days of Champagne at Gaucho

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Frostie

With a week of bespoke master classes, dinners and even a special film club, Gaucho will be celebrating the finest of all sparkling wines: Champagne.

Gaucho’s Champagne masterclasses will be hosted by brand ambassadors from some of the most acclaimed Champagne’s, including Mumm and Ruinart as well as having their very own Director of Wine and Head Sommeilier lead guests through the history and making of brands such as Veuve Clicquot and Moet & Chandon.

Those attending can expect to sample Champagne at its best, both as a stand-alone glass of bubbles or in specially developed Champagne cocktails. The masterclasses will leave you with the kind of knowledge that is guaranteed to impress at any celebration or gathering. In true Gaucho style, guests will be given a selection of signature Argentine appetizers during the masterclass.

As well as master classes, Gaucho are also hosting dinners that are set to be an evening of pure opulence with Gaucho’s unrivalled wet-aged steak to accompany these exquisite Champagnes.

EVENTS

Master Class with Ruinart – Gaucho Piccadilly – Monday 7^th September, 6.30pm (£25)

Madame Clicquot Master Class – Gaucho Leeds – Tuesday 8^th September, 6.30pm (£25)

Argentine Sparkling Vs Champagne – Gaucho Smithfield – Wednesday 9^th September, 6.30pm (£25)

Master Class with G.H. Mumm – Gaucho Manchester – Thursday 10^th September, 6.30pm (£25)

Moet Hennessy Dinner – Gaucho Chancery – Friday 11^th September, 7.00pm (£75)

Pernod Ricard Dinner – Gaucho Broadgate – Saturday 12^th September, 7.00pm (£75)

Gaucho’s Film Club Special: Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Gaucho Charlotte Street – Sunday 13^th September, 12.00pm – 2.30pm (£45)

For more information or to book please visit: http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/

Franco Manca Southfields

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

Living in such a nice little community here in Southfields its great to have so many cool places to eat. This amazing pizza restaurant gets a big thumbs up from us as its totally delightful and serves up exceptional and unusual dishes. It was the first time we have come across sweet potato pizza. Yep you read that right…Sweet potato slices nestled on top with bubbling mozzarella made this possibly the best pizza I have ever had. We will totally be recreating this at home.
We ate amazing freshly cooked food and drank perfect coffee. Sat and chatted about work, social media and all the new and exciting projects lined up for 2 Boxes Photography. We have some rather brilliant events coming up, and we are getting very excited about shooting at Chester races for Chi Chi London this weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for a rather fabulous article coming next week!

One last feast before a diet starts to slim into those stunning dresses….Just take a look at that beautiful pizza. Have you ever seen something so delightful? And yes I ate the lot! I really can’t tell you how delicious it was. I am going to have to avoid this place for a while if I want to get into my wardrobe! Buffalo mozzarella and cheese ravioli was incredible. I was way too busy with my amazing pizza to even try it sadly. One reason to go back don’t you think…but not too often as I really could be busting out of my skinny jeans!!

If you live near Southfields Francos is well worth a visit and we are sure you will leave very satisfied and keen to go back time after time.

Visit their website www.francomanco.co.uk for more info.

Meat Porter Online Artisan Butcher Review

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Frostie

Online shopping has really taken off in recent years. Now, finally, food has caught up with the trend. Our busy lives demand convenience and our good taste demands quality. Enter Meat Porter. An online artisan butcher who source their meat from the same place as the high end restaurants in London. High end meat delivered straight to your door, sounds good to us.

I can’t pretend I wasn’t excited when our box of meat came. I was even more excited when I opened the box. The meat comes in an insulated box and in the box is a good range of well-packaged meat. There is also a sheet of paper with lots of meat tips on.

Now for the meat: it is delicious. It keeps us going for weeks and is very high quality. The burgers are sublime, the sausages tasty. There is chicken in a delicious sauce that makes everything easy; some glorious rump steaks and some diced pork and pork belly to round it off. There are a number of different boxes to choose from on the Meat Porter site, or you can make up your own. They even do gluten free options.

The box that we reviewed was their BBQ box which costs £50 and has 30 serving. It contains

I cannot recommend Meat Porter enough. The idea is brilliant, the website is easy to navigate and the food is delicious. It may seem expensive but the meat is free range and the price is very reasonable if you consider it on a per meal basis. Get shopping, now.

There is a lot of great recipes on their website.

Meat Porter. www.meatporter.com

Chilled Salmon, Cucumber and Dill Soup

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Christian Gott

It’s summer and I’m thinking of soup, not thick heart warming, winter wonders, but something light, delicate and chilled. You have probably tried Gazpacho the rich, Spanish blend of tomato, day old bread and good olive oil or Vichyssoise the classic cold combination of leeks ,potatoes, chicken stock and cream, but my recipe today is Chilled Salmon, Dill and Cucumber Soup. This is a lovely starter for a relaxed summer dinner party or a fabulous light lunch, particularly with a nice glass of chilled Riesling or a crisp ,New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Chilled Salmon, Cucumber and Dill Soup serves 4

Around 400 gr Salmon Fillet, skinned, boned and cut in one inch cubes

( ask your fish monger to remove any of the dark flesh from underneath the fillet )

2 large English Cucumbers, peeled

1 bunch of Spring Onions, washed and trimmed, cut in 1 inch slices

750 ml quality Fish stock

150 ml Double Cream

50 ml Pernod or Vermouth

100 gr Butter

60 gr Plain Flour

A good pinch of English Mustard Powder

Juice and zest of 1 Lemon

A handful of fresh Dill

Sea Salt and fresh ground White Pepper

Remove the seeds from the cucumbers and reserve until later, then cut the cucumbers into half centimetre dice. Heat half of the butter in a medium sized, frying pan and quickly sauté for two minutes. Lightly season and pour on the Pernod and remove from the heat and leave to chill. In a medium sized pan bring the fish stock to a gently simmer and remove from the heat. Heat the remaining half of the butter in a large, heavy bottomed pan and add the spring onions. Cook for five minutes without colouring then add the flour, cook out the flour for two minutes, over a gentle heat, stirring continuously to prevent sticking and browning. Add the hot stock, stirring all the time and bring up to the boil. Turn the heat down and add the salmon pieces, lemon zest and cucumber seeds. Simmer over the lowest possible heat for fifteen minutes regularly stirring to prevent the soup sticking. Add the cream and cook for two or three more minutes.

When the salmon is poached in the soup base remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the lemon juice then using a hand blender or food processor blitz the soup. Pass the soup through a very fine sieve into a bowl and stir in the cucumbers and Pernod. Finely chop the dill and add to the soup. Check the seasoning, remembering when chilled the seasoning will be less prominent. Cover and thoroughly chill. Serve in bowls garnished with a little more freshly chopped dill and some salmon pate on toast.

Shiraz Rosé Jacob’s Creek Wine Review

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Frostie

I have to point out that I am partial to a Rosé. In fact, it is one of my favourite types of wine. That does not mean that all Rosé is equal however. This Shiraz Rosé from Jacob’s Creek is the official wine of Wimbledon. It is fresh, fruity and well balanced. It goes well with strawberries and cream of course, otherwise it would have no place at Wimbledon. This is a crisp wine with characters of fresh berry fruit. It has a finish of tempered spice and quince. This is a perfect summer rosé you can’t go wrong with. It is dark in colour which usually means the rosé is very sweet but this is not the case here. Great taste and well balanced.

Alc. 11% vol.
8.3 UK Units

Wine of Australia

Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week Italian-style

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Aidan

Afternoon Tea Week is coming – it’s on 10-16 August – and it’s a very good idea to prioritise this wonderful English tradition. But it’s an even better idea to add an Italian slant to that tradition, which is exactly what the gorgeous rustic Italian restaurant Cucina Asallina, in London, has done.

English sandwiches? Pah!

Forget those sandwich fingers with the crusts cut off and with a slithers of cucumber inside. The savouries in this exquisite afternoon leave English sandwiches in the shadows. Just look at the bottom layer on that fine tea stand pictured above. We’re talking homemade focaccia courgette, sun-dried tomato and pesto; and homemade crunchy ciabatta with smoked salmon; and Stracchino cheese; and behind those lurks another ciabatta with bresaola, rocket and Parmesan. The bread is made on the premises. And the fillings are, wait for it… filling! All too often afternoon tea is altogether too sticky affair in which you move onto the sweet stuff because, quite frankly, the savouries are not good enough. And this is not the case here. This afternoon tea is a meal.

Unforgettable amaretto

When you do finally move on to the sweet delicacies, you will be faced with classic scones, clotted cream and jam and home-baked amaretto biscuits which make the packet versions seem like digestives. These amaretti are not so full of almond flavouring and are beautifully soft and light, with a very gentle crunch.

On the top layer of the stand you will find a variety of exceptional sweet treats, but my favourite was the one with the Italian touch – the blackberry tiramisu. It’s mild and fruity and tastes a bit like an elegant mini trifle.

Tea brewing perfection

There’s an impressive choice of teas. I tried Chai (smoky and refreshing) and followed up with Palace Blend (which was very like English Breakfast). And here Cucina Asallina has a nice touch. They brew the tea to the right strength and serve it in the pot, having taken the tea out. The result: no stewing! You will very much appreciate that on your second cup.

Find it hard to eat all of the sweet stuff and don’t want it to go to waste? The gorgeous Italian staff offer a takeaway box. Perfect.

Turn afternoon tea into lunch

Italian Afternoon Tea at Cucina Asallina is served at daily between 1-5pm. Price £29 per or £35 with a glass of proseccio. My recommendation: go at 1pm: this is a delightful lunch. Cucina Asallina, Me London Hotel, 336-337 The Strand, London WC2R 1HA; 020 7395 3445. http://togrp.com/afternoon-tea-at-cucina-asellina

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