Woking for 1000

img_7839

Today, Frost were extremely privileged to have spent the day making meals for the capitals food banks alongside 200 others with School of Wok. Wok for 1000 is the first of it’s kind, large scale cookery class helping to create 1000 meals in just one day. This incentive is a collaboration with charity, Plan Zheroes, who are an online database helping to put food businesses in touch with participating shelters. For the past two years the School, based in Covent Garden, were inviting corporate parties to cook double the portions which totalled somewhere near 800 meals in total which then supplied Passage, a non profit homeless shelter in Victoria. Pang then explains that if he can double the portion through his cookery school, why not hold a mass cookery class for corporate parties and try and make 1000 meals in a day! So, this morning that’s exactly what we did. 200 participants from small businesses took their away day for a three hr cookery class in London’s Borough Market and not only did we enjoy a lesson in Chinese cookery from Jeremy Pang himself, we also got to enjoy the meal whilst creating meals for those in need. When setting up this incentive, what most food businesses quickly realise is when trying to get this off the ground was that getting charities to accept food in the first place is the hardest part. Having spoken to other eateries in cafés in the past, there is a lot of red tape when dealing with food liability and even the differing amounts which could be donated day to day.

img_7833

With the help of Plan Zheroes, Wok for 1000 could not have been possible. They are the superstar charity with an online system in place which links food businesses and their food waste to participating shelters. In the UK alone, we waste 10 million tonnes of food per year so we think that’s enough to sustain the people that are in desperate need of a meal. As well as all guests enjoying an incredible cookery class in their corporate teams, this was a fabulous team building experience with wonderful community spirit. In turn, Wok for 1000 helped to feed a number of different homeless charities, as well as, care homes for the elderly, mental health trusts and children who have been affected by the refugee crisis.

img_7836

School of Wok were extremely lucky to have had some incredible sponsors for the event who helped to make it extra special for participants and also to those who donated ingredients, space, appliances and of course TsingTao for their beer. With Wok for 1000 being such a success they are hoping to continue this incentive annually but there are also other ways you can help to end food poverty in the country. Sarah from Plan Zheroes explains, there are many ways to lend your support, firstly, you can ask shops of food businesses to donate surplus food through Plan Zheroes, you can donate food yourself or you can continue to fundraise for this worthy cause.

We think that it’s the little things that help, so even by becoming aware of this issue, gradually, we can start to combat food poverty in the UK. School of Wok continue to run their corporate social responsibility incentive and you can find out more here:

https://www.schoolofwok.co.uk/events/cook-for-the-homeless

Ecoffee Cup – The Natural Reusable

ecoffee-biodegradable-cup

Looking for a stocking filler? The perfect choice  for the Secret Santa? For an original, beautifully designed, practical gift, look no further than Ecoffee Cup. After all, how many of us grab a coffee on the way to work? With over 100 billion single-use coffee cups going to landfill every year globally the Ecoffee Cup is the perfect choice for those looking for Christmas gifts with a conscience.

Made with natural, organic and biodegradable bamboo fibre, the Ecoffee Cup is sturdy yet light, is naturally sterile, has a resealable and ‘drip proof’ lid and is fully dishwasher safe.

The cup will last for years if treated nicely (it can split if stepped or sat on). However, it is not suitable for microwave use.

Created with the world’s fastest-growing, most sustainable crop – naturally organic, bamboo fibre – and non-GMO corn starch, Ecoffee Cup is BPA and phthalate free. It’s the Natural Reusable.

The Ecoffee Cup feels a bit like thick, yet light cardboard. Nice to hold and gorgeous to look at.

And if that wasn’t enough the cup is biodegradable; when it has reached the end of its lifecycle – simply crush it, soak it in boiling water and bury it with organic compost. So no more faded plastic cups lurking in your cupboards or sitting for years in landfill.

Available in a wide range of fun, vibrant designs; from block colours, striped or spotted, to geometric, feather or floral patterns prices start at £9.95.

ecoffee-biodegradeable-cup

We particularly like the recently launched William Morris collection with 14oz cups priced at £11.95

We tested it here at the Frost offices and happy to say the Ecoffee Cup doesn’t taint the coffee, unlike many plastic reusables. It looks great, feels good to hold and is easy to store in your bag.

For more information or to purchase your Ecoffee Cup, go to www.ecoff.ee.

Bimbamboo Children’s Dining Sets From Ecoffee

And if you are looking for something to delight the little people in your life why not take a look at the Bimbamboo dining range for children.

bimbamboo-kids-dining-set-balloons

Perfect for tiny tots. It looks and feels great, the designs are colourful and cheerful and our little band of testers enjoyed using them. Designs in the range are Owls, Robots, Transport, Hot Air Balloons and Animals.  Made from the same natural, organic and biodegradable bamboo fibre as the Ecoffee cup, they are kind to the environment and look so much better than many of the plastic versions available.

bimbamboo-kids-dining-set-owls

Each set includes a divider plate, a bowl and handled cup.

They’re also naturally sterile – making them the ideal surface for serving kids’ food. We loved them.

Priced at £15 per set

Four Fun Gifts For Young Children This Christmas

Groov-e Kiddiez

groov-e-kiddiez

A pair of fun over-ear headphones designed for children. They feature volume limiters to protect young ears from hearing damage. They have soft ear pads and an adjustable headband.

Groov-e Kiddies Headphone with Volume Limiter – Pink/Purple available here. 

 

Hape Dumper Truck

dumptrucktoy happdumptruck hapedumptrucktoy happtoydumptruck happtoy

This was a huge hit. Fun and high-quality. The Hape Dumper Truck is made from tough and resilient materials. Built to last using wood from sustainable sources, and water based paints. Highly recommended.

Hape Dumper Truck is available here.

 

Jojo Mamen BéBé Sammy Stegosaurus.

jojobebemamansteggie steggie

This cute dinosaur was a huge hit with the Frost toddlers. From www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

 

Jojo Mamen BéBé Fishing Boat Shape Sorter

jojomamanbebeifhsingboatshapesorter boatsorter

Well made and with a lovely design. The children loved this. Extra bonus points for the learning aspect. From www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

 

The Best iPhone Cases For Christmas

Gear4 D30 Oxford Bookcase for iPhone 7

oxfordbookcaseiphonegear4bookcaseoxford oxfordbookcasegear4foriphone

A great multi-tasker. We love this phone cover. It looks great and protects well. It felt a little tight to begin with, but the give happens quickly. A great-looking iPhone case that is functional. It is a mobile wallet with credit card slots. You can get rid of your wallet or purse. It also has a viewing stand. It closes well and secure, keeping valuables safe. It also has the D30 smart material that offers the highest performance impact protection. £34.99 from www.gear4.com

Cygnett RealCurve for iPhone 7

cygnettrealcruveiphone7 realcruve

Looks great on the phone. 3D curved glass. Offers impact and scratch protection.

CYGNETT Realcurve 3D 9H Curved Glass Screen Protector for iPhone7 is available here.

 

X-Doria Revel for iPhone 7

xdoriarevel revelxdoria iphone7case

Beautiful and fashionable. Has hard outer shell to shield against impact and raised front bezel helps protect your iPhone screen. We love the design. This one is a husky, but there are others.

iPhone 7 Case, X-Doria (Revel) Case for iPhone 7 is available here.

 

Scuderia Ferrari Fragrance Spray Hard Case for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s

ferrariphonecase

It is an iPhone cover and a fragrance spray. The spray is refillable. Stylish and perfect for racing fans.

Ferrari Hard Case Scuderia 3D for iPhone 6/6S is available here.

 

Cygnett UrbanWallet for iPhone 7 

urbanwalletfor-iphone7

iphonecase2

A stylish genuine leather iPhone case. The internal card pockets mean you can streamline your life and get rid of your wallet. Just slip your credit card in. It has two credit card slots but you can put more than two cards in.

CYGNETT Flip UrbanWallet Genuine Leather Case for iPhone7 is available here.

 

X-Doria Defense Lux for iPhone 7

defenselux phonecase

Survives a drop test of 2 metres. This no bulk military-grad machined metal protective case combines luxury and durability. Great design. Stylish and protective. What more could you want?

iPhone 7 Plus Case, X-Doria (Defense Lux) Case for iPhone 7 is available here.

 

 

This Month’s Top Picks

Welcome to November. The month of cosiness and fireworks. While you Hygge (look it up) let us bring you some of our top picks for the month.

Katie Flynn An Orphan’s Christmas

katieflynnanorphanschristmas

An Orphan’s Christmas is a great and relaxing read that will help you get into the Christmas spirit.

 

Nancy Revell The Shipyard Girls

theshipyardgirls

The Shipyard Girls is a great tale of friendship and war.

 

Only Fools and Horses The Peckham Archives

onlyfoolsandhorses

Only Fools and Horses: The Peckham Archives is perfect for fans of the series. Stick it in their stocking.

 

J.D Robb Apprentice in Death

jdrobbapprenticeindeath

Apprentice in Death is another great novel from the prolific crime writer.

 

Egyptian Magic

egyptianmagic

Egyptian Magic Cream is a huge hit with celebrities. It is a great all-purpose cream that really moisturises skin.

 

Milton Sterilising Fluid

miltonsterilisingfluidreview

Milton Sterilising Fluid is a convenient way to sterilise your children’s things, keeping them germ-free. Available at Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, John Lewis, Mothercare, Ocado and Superdrug.

 

Excilor Protector 3 in 1 Spray

excilor

Excilor  3-in-1 Protector Spray For Feet provides a water proof barrier protecting your feet from a dreaded fungal infection. Great stuff. It works.

 

 

Ah, Christmas approaches…        

pic-1-port-png

One of our toughest jobs here at Frost Magazine is to taste the alcoholic samples we are sent. Oh how we complain, how we hate it… And if you believe that, then what can I say?

Looking for grown-up stocking fillers? Graham’s Ports could be the answer: Graham’s 10, 20 and 30-year-old Aged Tawny Ports are now available in attractive contemporary glass 20cl bottles. Or if you’re looking for the perfect tipple for your Christmas dinner party, this range is great for those wanting to try something new and pair with different dishes.

Available from Harvey Nichols: 10 Year Old (no tube) – £7.49. 10 Year Old in tube – £8.49. 20 Year Old (no tube) – £11.99. 30 Year Old (no tube) – £19.49

They are also available in larger sizes. For instance Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port (75cl) retails at £20.00 from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s & Ocado

There is an impressive range of other ports, and sizes. Ideal for Dad, Mum and Uncle Tom Cobley and all. For instance:

Graham’s Six Grapes: With its flavour of festive plums with hints of cedar and tobacco this shout Christmas. The Drinkshop.com (75cl) RRP £15.00

pic-4-the-macallan-gold-1

 

I’m not a whisky fan so Richard Graham, and ex-submariner known to enjoy a single malt, gave these a whirl, and liked them. He thought them honest and true to the single malt ethos.

The Macallan Gold showcases the single malt’s natural colour, with a hint of vanilla, and a great oak aftertaste. Available in multiple retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Saninsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons. RRP £35. www.the macallan.com

Highland Park 12 year old would go a treat with your Christmas pud. It is apparently at the heart of the Highland Park’s core range and Richard found it sweeter, but also smokey, but not too much so.

Available at multiple retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op: RRP £35 www.highlandpark.co.uk

Finally

pic-2-rampur

 

Rampur Single Malt Indian Whisky from the Himalayas has launched in the UK.

This whisky is handcrafted and aged in the foothills of the Himalayas. Distilled in India’s oldest distillery this premium malt whisky is excellent. The distilling location of the Himalayan foothills exposes the whisky to polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year (something my son can attest too, having been caught in a freak snowstorm not so long ago). This gives the flavour of Rampur an added dimension and depth. Try it. It’s truly is excellent.

Available from: The whisky Exchange www.thewhiskyexchange.com £41.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steripod Review: Why You Should Protect Your Toothbrush & Put The Seat Down When You Flush

steripod-review-keep-your-toothbrush-cleanIt is the season for colds and flu. Viruses are rife in the winter. These can be passed on via infected droplets lurking in the air or on shared objects and surfaces.  A major culprit for contamination is our toothbrushes so what can we do to guard them against germs? According to a recent study at the University of Manchester, there are more than 10 million bacteria on your toothbrush right now. That means there are considerably more bacteria on your toothbrush than your average toilet seat – which has 50 bacteria per square inch, or average public lavatory floor – which has 2 million bacteria per square inch.

Most people don’t realise that every time you flush the loo, an aerosol spray of tainted water is released with droplets able to land as far away as 10 feet. Researchers from the University of Alabama found that brushes stored in the bathroom – in other words all of them – are contaminated with faecal matter lingering in the bristles. Toothbrushes aren’t particular about whose faecal matter it is, so it’s likely it won’t just be your own that is going into your mouth every time you clean your teeth. (I expect you will never flush the toilet with the lid up again!).

It is likely your toothbrush will be exposed to numerous invisible contaminants in the months that you use it, including a high proportion of pathogenic nasties such as E.coli and Staphylococci. Airborne bacteria are not the only pollutants which sully your toothbrush.  Germs and bacteria can pass from surface to surface, spreading the likes of oral herpes (cold sores), candida (oral thrush) and the HPV virus.

Protect it

Fortunately, you can safeguard your toothbrush with a Steripod toothbrush protector which clips on to any manual or electric toothbrush, creating a protective ‘pod’ (rather like a crash helmet) which surrounds the brush head and shields it from both airborne and cross contamination.  Steripod is designed to safeguard a toothbrush, protecting it against environmental contamination, the use of thymol encapsulated in plastic dotted with tiny holes releases vapours providing a fresh environment in which to keep your toothbrush.

Steripod has been specially designed so that air can circulate freely which means your toothbrush can dry naturally – contaminants require a moist atmosphere to multiply most effectively, so the drier your brush, the lower the risk of bad bugs on your bristles.  It does not require batteries or cables, meaning that it’s easy to protect your brush.

Here are dentist Mervin Druin’s top tips to ensure your brush remains as hygienic as possible.

  1. Don’t flush where you brush 

If you store your toothbrush near your toilet make sure you close the lid when you flush to minimise the dispersal of contaminated water droplets.

  1. Rinse thoroughly after use

Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly under running water after use, making sure that all toothpaste has been removed. Shake off as much excess water as possible.

  1. Store it upright

Store your brush in an upright position – never in a bathroom cabinet where air cannot circulate as this could promote bacterial growth.

  1. Replace your toothbrush regularly

Make sure to replace your toothbrush and Steripod every 3 months – buy them at the same time. If like many of us you need a reminder www.steripod.co.uk can send you a gentle email nudge every 80 days to remind you that your pod and your brush need an update!

And if you’ve been suffering with a cold or flu it’s a good idea to replace your toothbrush rather than risk reinfecting yourself.

  1. Don’t share it

Never be tempted to share a toothbrush, even with your loved one. And avoid contact with other toothbrushes that may be stored in the same vicinity.

Get your pod on   

Steripod comes in a wide range of colours so you can identify your brush from other bathroom sharers. A pack of two gives six months protection and costs £4.99 from larger Boots stores, Boots.com, Amazon.co.uk, Superdrug, ASDA, Boyes Stores and selected independent pharmacies.   For more information visit www.steripod.co.uk

It is almost Christmas and this great little gadget would make a perfect stocking filler. The smell was a bit strong when we first opened it, but it subsided. It is a great idea and it really works. In fact, tt is such a great idea we are not sure how no one thought of it before.

 

Preventing Food Poverty with Wok for 1000

jp-with-kh

Studies have shown that we are becoming increasingly aware of the negative effect food wastage is having on the environment. Not only is this causing a massive blow to our economy, but we are also wreaking harm to the environment by increasing our green-houses gasses significantly. As well as this, a study has shown that approximately 870 million people go hungry each day so as well as food wastage being detrimental to the environment, we also find ourselves in a moral dilemma. Remarkably, the wonderful team at School of Wok have come up with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to help us make some small differences to combat this downward spiral we find ourselves in by making sure this doesn’t have to be a laborious task.

Following on from their previous (CSR) initiative which invited guests to cook double the portion to donate to food banks, Wok for 1000 is the follow-up, one of kind, very first large-scale cookery event and will be showcasing this Tuesday November 1st at Borough Market. Hosted by Jeremy Pang and his School of Wok, they are inviting you to sign up in groups of ten, if you’re part of a small business or incentive, and help to produce 1000 meals. This event is designed to build awareness of the ongoing issue of food poverty across our country and demonstrate how we can work to address this issue in future. The most wondrous part is that you not only get to enjoy a cookery class with Jeremy himself and enjoy your meal after, you will also be producing 1000+ meals which will be delivered across the capital to various different food banks.

The event will feature;

3 hour cookery class with Jeremy Pang and School of Wok expert Chefs.

A sit down meal for all participants

Prizes, goody bags and give-aways from participating sponsors

Following on from the lunch, 200 or so charity beneficiaries will also be invited to Borough to enjoy the freshly cooked meal. Participants will be welcome to stay and volunteer here as well.

Prices will be £100+Vat and ALL Proceeds will go be donated to charity Plan Zheroes working to achieve zero food waste and hunger.

Find out more about Plan Zheroes here: https://planzheroes.org/#!/

For more info for Wok for 1000 visit;

https://www.schoolofwok.co.uk/partners/wok-for-1000