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.
Plant Kitchen from Marks & Spencer
M&S has launched a collection of more than 60 vegan meals, salads, snacks and more. I attended the supermarket’s recent “Plant Kitchen Street Food Festival” in Soho for a taste of the new range. Among my favourites were the Cauliflower Popcorn (£3, 200g); Sticky Teriyaki Tofu (£3.50, 350g); and a BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Pizza (£3.50). These were flavoursome dishes, with a good number of my “five a day” and with a lot less ‘science-y’ ingredients than too much “free from” and “plant-based” products on the market. I’d be inclined to eat all of them again and reckon I might start buying that jackfruit pizza on a regular basis.
Men-ü Citrus & Mint Shower Gel
Men-is a new “ultra concentrate” men’s grooming range with products sold in containers designed to provide “accurate dosage” for maximum usage while taking up less space and reducing plastic. I’ve been using the brand’s Citrus & Mint Shower Gel over the past week or so. It comes in a 500ml bottle and is supposed to last half a year. It really like it. It smells fresh and zesty and indeed seems to be lasting longer than comparable gels I usually use. Look for the gel (RRP £26.85) and more Men-ü items at Boots, Mankind as well as on ASOS and the Men-ü site.
Metcalfe’s Corn Chips and Mini Rice Cakes
“Skinny popcorn” maker, Metcalfe’s, has added two new snacks to its low-calorie lineup: corn chips and mini rice cakes. As with all Metcalfe’s products these snacks all come in at under 100 calories. The puffed corn chips are available in two flavours: Nacho Cheese and Sizzlin’ BBQ. There are three varieties of mini rice cakes (served in packets of four): Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate with Orange. Corn Chips are stocked at Tesco, W H Smiths, BP and Shell. Find the rice cakes at Bidvest, Booker, Brakes, Boots, Caffe Nero, Spar, Superdrug, WH Smiths and Wilkinsons. Both corn chips and rice cakes have a recommend retail price of 75p.
Thyme is an online frozen food brand that has recently introduced a vegan meal box plan. The Thyme to Try Vegan Box provides 3 meals and 3 sides for including Blackbean & Sweet Potato Chilli, Butternut Squash & Chickpea Curry, Roasted Root Vegetables and Crispy Chilli Potato Bakes all for only £10. It’s a handy option for health conscious folks tight on time and with little culinary skill. I sampled some dishes and sides recently. I loved the crunchy nugget-sized Spinach Bites and the Mixed Root Vegetable Fries. Items can be ordered individually as well.
ZeroWater is the only water filter brand on the market in the UK to deliver the equivalent to purified bottled water from your own home tap. Developed with a pour-through system with an aim to deliver the best filtration possible with premium five-stage ion exchange technology, this filter removes virtually all total dissolved solids – something no other filter jug or dispenser brands can claim. I’ve got ZeroWater’s 10 cup/2.35 litre jug (£34.99). The water filtered through it tastes so good, even resulting in tastier coffee!
