Food

A new survey commissioned by Tesco into Brits' cooking habits has found the humble Chinese stir fry is the most well-known dish people know how to cook from scratch, with 81% of people knowing how to cook one without having to resort to a recipe book. Spaghetti Bolognese came a close second with 80% knowing how to cook the Italian classic, while 77% of people can cook a traditional Sunday Roast Dinner unaided, bringing the British favourite home in third place.

The British cherry season is well and truly underway with a record breaking 4,500 tonnes of the sumptuous fruit predicted to be produced in 2015. And it seems that the younger generation of savvy farmers are tapping into this ever-growing industry. The stone fruit has enjoyed record-breaking sales and this summer is predicted to reach in excess of £32 million whilst demand continues to grow. In 2014 4,000 tonnes of cherries were produced, a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.

A bigger and permanent weekly market will return to Tottenham Green this summer boasting the best independent food and drink after the huge success of a six-week Haringey Council trial last year. The revamped Tottenham Green Market will run on Saturdays throughout the summer, with dozens of stalls offering everything from sumptuous street food to local produce and arts and crafts.

Handcrafted marshmallows and chocolate, gourmet risottos, artisan dressings and luxury cocktail sorbets are just some of the delicious new products waiting to be discovered at a unique 'pop up' marketplace. The creations are being retailed at London's Old Street Station as part of the first ever Artisan Springboard - a unique project from Kitchen Table Projects, which aims to launch the next generation of artisan producers.

Popularised by celebrity chefs such as Nathan Outlaw and Raymond Blanc, and having hit national papers due to their breakthrough into supermarkets, The Cornish Seaweed Company is one of Cornwall's fastest growing startups. Their commitment to sustainability is evidenced by the company's harvesting policy.

Cornwall is gearing up for another moment in the spotlight as the dates are announced for the biggest annual celebration of the county's storming food and drink scene. The Great Cornish Food Festival is the largest event anywhere dedicated 100% to Cornish food and drink and it will take place this year from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September.

Brett Graham and his team at The Ledbury have scooped the coveted top spot for a fourth year running as they top the definitive list of London's top 100 restaurants. The 2 Michelin star, Notting Hill restaurant adds yet another trophy to the already heaving award shelf, this time it's to celebrate topping the All In One Ultimate Restaurant List for an incredible fourth year on the trot.

Growing consumer interest in beer styles and heritage, along with ever-higher expectations of quality, are prompting more pub and bar operators to sign up their staff to training courses run by the Beer Academy. Along with a 20% year-on-year uplift in bookings onto its range of beer appreciation courses, the leading global beer education body is increasingly responding to requests from operators to run bespoke training courses tailored to their specific beer range and service style.

The Birmingham-born Balti is the favourite curry amongst males in the Midlands with the spicy Madras as a close runner up.  Milder curries Korma and Tikka Masala topped the survey as popular amongst females. The One Poll survey, commissioned by Patak’s, identified Indian cuisine eating habits amongst diners in the Midlands.

Planet Hollywood on London's Haymarket is the place to be seen this Fourth of July. The beers are cold, the soda is buzzing and so is the all-American atmosphere! It's hard to believe this is London when seated, surrounded by over 80 pieces of true Hollywood Memorabilia like the Hoff's red swimming shorts, a real Storm Trooper's helmet and a life size model of Arnie from Terminator ll.

Did you know, that currently, 15 million tonnes of food is wasted in our homes each year, most of which is still perfectly edible? On average, food waste is costing households £470 a year, increased to £700 for a larger family… the equivalent to a holiday or even a new piece of technology to add to your home.

First our children now our pets. Research by Fetch, the online pet store shows the UK has no idea what they are feeding their four-legged friends. According to a survey conducted by Fetch, the online pet store from Ocado, one in three Brits (35 per cent) admit to feeding their pets scraps directly from the dinner table, putting their health at risk. 

Midlands-based, Aston Manor Cider, has been awarded four medals, including gold, at the acclaimed, International Cider Challenge 2015. The UK’s largest independent cider maker secured their best result to date at the highly-prized competition with four ciders from their portfolio being celebrated for their quality and taste.

For seven out of ten Brits, picnics are the staple of a great British summer and, to celebrate National Picnic Week, convenience food specialists Pork Farms has released the results of a survey targeting British picnic lovers. The findings revealed that the majority of Brits would choose to enjoy a summer picnic in the Lake District, eat pork pies with chutney and would invite Cheryl Cole and Boris Johnson to join in with their picnic fun.

In the unique historical setting of The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York (the UK's 'Chocolate City'), Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier added yet more accolades to the already burgeoning trophy cabinet.

It's the tipple that is arguably creating the biggest stir in the beer industry since the arrival of lager in the mid-1960s. In the last few years golden ale has not only become the UK's fastest growing beer variety but has been instrumental in helping change the beer tastes of the nation and convert lager drinkers to ale.