I would be the first to admit that the humble chickpea has every reason to remain humble, and equally that it is hard to get over excited about Hummus.

And yet Truffle Hummus is a marriage made in heaven that rewrites the rules. If you are trying to eat healthier this, and their new snack pot, could be for you. Personally, I will be buying in a supply of Truffle Hummus for Christmas, as I like show off my latest finds over the holiday period. I know I should get out more, but it has become expected of me, that I will have those tasty treats unknown to most.

As a vegetarian I may well add this to my vegetable Wellington, the centrepiece of Christmas lunch, especially as it is also suitable for vegans, and I am sure that it will make an appearance, as a part of my Boxing Day Buffet.

Quite often foods advertised as ‘Truffle’ have very little truffle taste, so that one wonders why they bothered, but with this the taste of truffle is sufficiently strong, yet well balanced, with the Hummus to tickle the most tired of tastebuds. The texture is velvety smooth, and the truffle comes through to the last mouthful.

In true ChicP fashion, the Truffle Hummus follows suit of the core range by using surplus vegetables, whole foods and locally sourced produce where possible. All ChicP products are 100% natural, rich in protein, fibre and healthy fats, completely free from additives and suitable for vegans.

Not content with this alchemy ChicP has come up with a UK first.An ambient snack-pack of ChicP’s velvety hummus and breadsticks. It has a 12 month shelf life and requires no refrigeration. The packaging alone took seven months to design to ensure the hummus stayed at the highest quality without the need for chilling and to keep its shelf-life long. So, people can pop the snack pack in their bag, perfect for travellers, commuters, families on-the-go or those who love to stay active – hiking, camping, cycling etc. It’s high fibre+high protein but low fat, sugar and salt. 

Like a healthy hummus Dairylea Dunker has just launched on Amazon and I suspect will be a boon to parents making up a healthy lunch box and office workers who would prefer to snack without resorting to junk food.

ChicP Truffle Hummus is stocked in Ocado, Planet Organic and 21 Selected Booths Stores – Burscough, Clitheroe, Garstang, Hale Barns, Hesketh Bank, Ilkley, Kendal, Keswick, Knutsford, Longridge, Longton, Lytham, New Poulton, Penrith, Penwortham, Ripon, Scotforth, Settle, St Annes, Ulverston and Windermere or online at chicp.co.uk

A few of the Frost Magazine team decided to sit themselves down to a bit of a lunch break to try what they had been told were the most delicious pheasant burgers, created by Frank Butchers in Thirsk. Editor, Margaret Graham, lives there, and takes her food very seriously, oh yes she does.

But what to drink with the pheasant burgers? Ho hum. Well, Margaret had been sent the Greasy Fingers luscious red so yes, she bagsied that though it was pointed out firmly, by the team, that it must be shared. Others chose the Buttery Chardonnay. Both wines are tailored for accompaniment to indulgent but casual greasy burgers, or any casual food really.

First they laughed and laughed because the screw tops show greasy drips – do look closely, which totally set the mood, down went the shoulders, work was forgotten. The chosen few were off, eager to taste both the burgers and the wine. The pheasant burgers were delicious and just that little bit different, but not greasy, of course. ‘Top quality, and original,’ came the cry.

The wine? Ah, the Greasy Fingers wine… What an adventure, from the innovative screw top bottles and their no fuss labels which truly set the mood, to the wine. How did each work with the burgers?

Margaret thoroughly enjoyed the Greasy Fingers Luscious Red 2022. A medium-bodied blend of Shiraz and Grenache, featuring luscious cherry and strawberry notes with soft, approachable tannins. It was beautifully velvetty, and is said to be great with a good cheeseburger or buttermilk fried chicken. But what did the Frost Magazine team say: try it with pheasant burgers too – a sublime coupling, a match made in heaven.

And the Big Buttery Chardonnay? Margaret of course had to taste it, and agreed with the team that there were hints of peach, vanilla, and cinnamon spice, with a deep buttery feel. It is a soft wine, ripe and oaky with lower acidity making it the ideal match with portobello mushroom burgers or lighter meat. It would also suit the pheasant burgers. I know I’m going on, but one has to face the facts.

The team feel that, in a world where wine consumption among the under 34s is dwindling, this hoot of wine packaging, together with the quality of the wine must surely appeal to those unaware of the sheer delight of a casual wine, with casual food. Come on, Gen Z, give it a try. Margaret knows she doesn’t have to encourage the existing wine ‘enjoyers’ amongst Frost Magazine’s readers. They’ll be out at the supermarkets or ordering through Amazon or Ocado tomorrow.

Just read what Lucy Bearman, Wine & Champagne Portfolio Director for Pernod Ricard UK had to say: “With Greasy Fingers, we’re returning to the heart of wine, which is pairing it with food, but in a way that resonates with the next generation of wine drinkers who adore gourmet fast food**. We know that over a third of wine occasions centre around indulgent moments*** and we’re making that possible for everyone with this fresh and innovative wine launch.”

Greasy Fingers is available now in Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons, with e-commerce options through Ocado and Amazon.

Venison Burgers are Available from Frank Butchers, Thirsk.

I would like to begin with an apology, because the opera on which this review is based was fabulous but, unfortunately, if you haven’t seen it already then you have probably missed it. Keep reading, though, because there is still the rest of the programme to enjoy.

Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catan – taking its reference from the works of Gabriel Garci Marquez, is sung in Spanish, and is a treat for the eyes as well as the ears. The puzzle is, if this beguiling opera first appeared in 1996, how has it passed me by? The singing is sublime and successfully marries first class puppetry and ballet; comedy and pathos. The scenery and puppetry immediately transport one to a tropical rainforest complete with animals: a monkey, a shoal of piranha fish, a crocodile are just some of the characters we meet on this journey up the Amazon, which rather contrasts with the miserable weather conditions that greeted my arrival at the cinema.

Miserable conditions in New York? Nope, for rather than crossing the Atlantic, I enjoyed this at my local cinema but that is the whole purpose of live streamed performances, of which Live from the Met is one of the best.

I would not pretend that the cinema experience is the same as sitting in the Met (or the Royal Opera House or La Scala). However, for the price of a cinema ticket around £18.00, you can feel as though you are sitting in the orchestra stalls or even on the stage itself. As you take your seat the audience in New York are taking theirs, and when the lights dim, that same feeling of anticipation manifests itself on a cold rainy December evening in the UK.

I had been invited to review three operas, and whilst making my selection I discovered another advantage. Thanks to the low cost and the proximity of the cinema to home, one can afford to be a little adventurous. My first selection was first staged at the Metropolitan Opera House 10 years ago so, I thought, if this was going to be revisited it must have merit. My second choice, the aforementioned ‘Florencia en al Amazonas’ was an opera completely unknown to me, but I could afford to take a chance, which is a luxury I can’t permit myself when the tickets are around the £200 mark. If priced lower, I am invariably sat somewhere close to the roof. (Please note this is not a criticism of the cost of tickets for the opera. When you see what is involved it represents value for money but is not an amount that I am willing to risk on an unheard-of (to me) opera.)

So, if you get the opportunity to experience, ‘Florencia en al Amazonas’ snap it up. Believe me, you will not regret treating yourself to a ticket. If, however, you are kicking yourself for missing this gem, check out what operas are still to be beamed live into a cinema near you.

The next opportunity to enjoy a ‘Live from the Met’ performance is on January 6^th and it is the classic Verdi’s ‘Nabucco‘, an opera I last saw in Verona, I know it is one I will hugely enjoy – just as well it’s not too long a wait.

Images courtesy of the Met

The 2024 performances are as follows:

 Nabucco (6th January)

Carmen (27th January)

La Forza del Destino (9th March)

Roméo et Juliette (23rd March)

La Rondine (20th April)

Madama Butterfly (11th May)

https://metliveinhd.co.uk/

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Sometimes the old traditions are the best aren’t they? And what’s more traditional than clutching a post-Christmas lunch Baileys whilst puzzling over your elderly uncle’s silent contortions, which apparently depict either a book, film, TV or song – AKA Charades of course. Personally I just love it, particularly after a second or perhaps third large Baileys. But what about the kids? After all Christmas is about the kids too, isn’t it?

Fear not, that marvellous games company, Cheatwell has produced a solution – Kids Charades. Staying true to the original game, the only real difference is that the categories are child-friendly and the category tokens are brightly coloured with easy to read numbers. How great, as it means that the kids can feel part of the fun too, and improve their reading, self-expression and confidence in the process.

Recommended ages are six and above (and that does include adults too). There are a choice of six categories on each card, ranging from very easy mimes such as ‘washing the car’ or ‘hamburger’ to the more challenging ‘The Wizard of Oz” or “Free Kick’ so even the younger children can find something they can mime. The rule book also includes tips on how to help the most junior family members join in, which is useful.  

The game comes with three decks of category cards, a sand timer, dice, tokens to collect for each category and rules. The first team to guess a mime in all six categories wins.

Of course I had to road test this with my seven and four year old grandkids and I can confirm it is a lot of fun. Oh, and the grandkids enjoyed it too. The seven-year old did a great impression of a unicorn (I think you can imagine) and whereas the four year old’s portrayal of eating spaghetti was somewhat abstract, fortunately Grannie was able to make an inspired ‘guess’ due to the fact that she’d helped him to read the clue in the first place, but that didn’t seem to detract from his pleasure.

So I can really recommend this fabulous game, for Christmas day, kid’s parties or any family gathering. Whilst six-year olds could handle it easily with adults present, they’d probably need to be a little older to play it completely amongst themselves. Available from the Cheatwell website for £17 it makes a lovely stocking filler.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.