Good stuff and lots of it!
Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip, savour and more – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.
Edited by Luca Massimo Barbero and due to be published by Skira in March, Ettore Sottsass: The Glass is a large (24x28cm, 328 pages) hardbound book with hundreds of vivid photographs of glasswork and crystal productions by Italian architect Ettore Sottsass. It’s a lovely read and quite a vibrant statement piece for the coffee table. Marking the 100th anniversary of Sottsass’ birth, the book features never before seen photos and in depth analysis of his craft and practice. Recommended price is £58.
Antonion Forcellino’s Leonardo: A Restless Genius (translated by Lucinda Byatt) has been called one of the best bios about Italian inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci. It’s a fun read too (feels more like a novel than a work of non-fiction). I really enjoyed perusing my advanced copy. Leonardo is set to be published by Polity Books in May, available in hardback at a recommended retail price of £25.
They may call it “skinny” but the folks at Metcalfe’s have some big flavoured popcorn. I especially like their Salted Caramel (114 calories) and Sea Salt (87 calories) flavours. By the way, proceeds from sales of Metcalfe’s Sea Salt popcorn goes to raise funds for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families.
Nush Dairy-Free Nut Milk Yoghurt
Nush’s almond and cashew yoghurts made with vegan probiotic cultures are yummy and have a silky, creamy texture. I loved getting to try recently a sample of the range. The Banoffee flavour was particularly tasty as was the natural almond. Look for Nush in 125g pots priced at £1.99 at Whole Foods, As Nature Intended, Planet Organic, independent shops and online at Ocado.
Boundless Activated Nuts and Seeds
Newly launched snack brand Boundless offers germinated (activated) nuts and seeds in a variety of flavour combos, including cayenne and rosemary; tamari and aleppo;
and – my favourite – orange, ginger, and maple. The nuts and seeds are soaked in water to remove phytic acid and then lightly roasted, creating an easily digestible snack for both vegans and coeliacs that is high in protein and fibre. Find them at Whole Food Market, indie shops and online at Ocado at a recommended price of £2.20 per 30g pack.
Oranic VerMints pastilles come a number of flavours: peppermint, ginger mint, chai, and cinnamon. They’re 100% organic and mad with plant-derived sugars such as tapioca, maple syurp and cane sugar. Find them at Holland & Barrett and Whole Foods Market in attractive retro tins (£2.99 for 40g containers).
