Since the publication of the best-selling and word-of-mouth phenomenon LEON: Ingredients & Recipes two years ago, Leon has continued to revolutionize fast food as we know it. Challenging the perception that fast food can’t be healthy, delicious or fun, they continue to push boundaries by producing seasonal, invigorating dishes, which taste good and can be made with ease, speed and a smile. (more…)

Whether you’re watching Wimbledon from Centre Court or your armchair this year, you’ll need something to keep up your strength in the heat of match-point tension. Stand out from the crowd by unwrapping a grilled French goat’s cheese mini-log and walnut pesto ciabatta from the Easy Cheesey Chèvre recipe created by top chef Sophie Wright – the real perfect serve. (more…)

The Guild of Food Writers have announced the winners of their much- coveted annual Awards. Colin Spencer presented the beautiful engraved trophies to some of the industry’s finest writers and broadcasters. Amongst the 12 winners there were some familiar names and some new ones to add to the roll of honour. (more…)

Calling all school cooks! You could win a glittering night out at Claridge’s in Mayfair. (more…)

Taste food straight from the fields at the new Riverford Travelling Field Kitchen restaurant this summer. Starting in May, the Riverford Travelling Field Kitchen will bring fresh produce and inspiring cooking to people up and down the country. (more…)

We tend to think that the French and Italians have the lead when it comes to tarts and pies made with tomatoes and onions. But think again: those ultra-health conscious Finns have a food culture all of their own and here is a simple and very versatile Finnish recipe from the Fruisana Kitchen. Finland, after all, is the home of Fruisana Fruit Sugar, so it’s not surprising to find that it is being used in this recipe to bring out the maximum sweetness and flavour of the tomatoes. (more…)

Slow Food UK was honoured to hold a reception hosted by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Highgrove in Gloucestershire last Tuesday 4 May 2010. The event, which included lunch and a tour of the Highgrove gardens, was to celebrate the achievements of Slow Food in the UK and to set out our vision and plans for the future to the 150 international VIP guests in attendance. (more…)

Yorkshire is fast becoming the foodie capital of Britain, says a leading chef – and he’s going on national TV to prove it.

Tim Bilton is so sure of his county’s cuisine that he’s pitting it against all comers on the BBC2 series Great British Menu. (more…)

The first visitor centre in Scotland dedicated to chocolate, its origins, and the wondrous ways of turning cocoa into the most sought after and adored of all confections, has opened in Highland Perthshire at a beauty spot by the River Tay. (more…)

A new summer food event is being planned for June, The Richmond Food & Drink Festival. (more…)

The historic market town of Malton, North Yorkshire has established a reputation as a gourmet destination and the return of the Food Lovers Festival on Saturday, 22 May signals fine local food and drink will be the order of the day. (more…)

Now even more Europeans will be able to explore the culinary versatility of mushrooms following the launch of the UK version of the website www.mushroomidea.co.uk. The website is packed with useful information on how to make the most of one of nature’s great delicacies. (more…)

Iconic British mustard brand Colman’s is sponsoring this year’s British Pie Awards, which will take place on Wednesday 19 May in Melton Mowbray. (more…)

Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight by tucking into these Surprise Chocolate Brownies which have Fairtrade dates, bananas and cocoa in them. The recipe is below so give them a go. (more…)

A new report released today by leading herbs and spices company, Schwartz, in collaboration with experts from the European food community, has identified the major European culinary trends and top flavour pairings for 2010, which will lead the way for what’s on UK menus in the year ahead. (more…)

Food giant Birds Eye has dropped the words ‘Great British Menu’ from its packaging in what is being seen as a huge victory for a farmer’s Honest Labelling campaign. (more…)

Now in its second year, the True Taste Welsh Produce Market is back, bigger and better than before, bringing fresh produce from Wales’s farm gates to Londoners’ plates. The market will be held on Friday 26 February 2010 between 11am and 7pm at Golden Square, London, W1 (just off Regent’s Street). (more…)

Some of Britain’s food producers are duping supermarket shoppers with fake food – hiding the real source of ingredients and using underhand tactics to confuse the buyer, a leading food expert has revealed. (more…)

Fish4Ever, the small British company which sells sustainable and ethically produced canned fish, is thrilled to have another wonderful contributor to its website and newsletter with the Environmental Justice Foundation joining the growing number of contributors to this useful resource. (more…)

RETAILERS and companies are being urged to back Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 (22 February – 7 March) by making it easy for shoppers to choose Fairtrade goods. Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 has the theme of ‘The Big Swap’ and will encourage shoppers to swap everyday shopping basket items such as tea, coffee, chocolate, cotton Tee-shirts, bananas, cakes, sugar and a host of other products for Fairtrade ones. (more…)

Tory party leader David Cameron has praised Britain’s £3.5 billion curry restaurant industry for showing what can be achieved when communities come together. (more…)

MasterChef Live is giving visitors the chance to develop their culinary expertise with an exceptionally wide variety of workshops, masterclasses, tasting sessions and demos: (more…)

“Moore Than Food”, a new radio cooking show, is set to hit the airwaves on 2GB 873, from 7pm Tuesday 10th November 2009. Presented by Celebrity Chef Michael Moore, chef/owner of the Summit Restaurant and radio and television personality Glenn Wheeler, “Moore Than Food” promises to tantalise the taste buds, stir the senses, educate and entertain you. (more…)

October 2009 – Campaign for Real Ale’s research shows that 50% of all adult drinkers have now tried real ale, compared to just 35% in 2008. (more…)

Over three quarters of people (77%) are not aware that bread and breakfast cereals are among the top salt-contributing foods in our diet, reveals a new Food Standards Agency survey.

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With local food all the rage, a new survey reveals that over three quarters of those asked are proud of the locally sourced food and locally inspired dishes available in the UK with Scotland the area proudest of its local offering and most strongly aware of its regional specialities. (more…)

London, UK – Food connoisseurs, mark your calendars! A star-studded line-up of award-winning Indian chefs is coming together for the first time ever to cook up a five-course feast for charity.
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National Vegetarian Week 2010 will take place from Monday 24 May to Sunday 30 May.
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The Vegetarian Society is pleased to announce the shortlist for its 2009 awards. Consumers voted for the overall best vegetarian product and the best caterer. Plus, new for this year, is a range of awards focusing on products which meet the Vegetarian Society’s strict criteria and, therefore, carry its approved trademark.
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Celebrate the apple

Start buying british to help home varieties to survive.

It all started with Eve’s first tentative bite back in the Garden of Eden. But, far from being forbidden fruit, as proffered by the serpent, the apple has become a symbol of wholesome natural goodness. (more…)

Say cheese!

Few things go together better than French cheeses and wines. Here we recommend some special combinations.

French cheeses and wines are steeped in tradition, and there are many strict rules surrounding their manufacture and production. Oh, and they taste good together, too! We’ve gathered up a (more…)

A healthy option...

Rhubarb! rhubarb! rhubarb! A vegetable that most people think is a fruit. Prior to television programmes such as ‘Home Front’ and ‘Ground Force’, and the current vogue for decking and water features, many gardens had a crown of rhubarb lurking somewhere, usually behind the shed or compost heap. Often the garden’s owner never even realised it existed. (more…)

Atul Kochhar, Michelin chef.

A new culinary tour offers Masterclasses with Atul Kochhar and a magical discovery from Bangalore to Cochin. Food lovers can discover the sights, sounds and flavours of Southern India on a new tour from Indian Odyssey hosted by Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar. (more…)

Elin Jones, Rural Affairs Minister.

The ‘ultimate guide’ to Welsh food and drink was launched at the Royal Welsh on Tuesday July 21st, 2009. Compiled by the Welsh Assembly Government, the 96 page Directory contains listings for more than 500 food and drink producers as well as information on farmers markets, food festivals, and business support organisations. (more…)

Here are some great barbecue ideas perfect for a party.
Enjoy the company of your friends and give them something to remember, light up the barbecue, and try out these unusual ideas on them, why not cook it outdoors and eat in, or put on a jumper and brave the elements.
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Afternoon tea is pouring back into fashion! The most traditional of British rituals once associated with aristocrats and the elderly is back en vogue thanks to fashion glitterati, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Madonna having all been recently spotted enjoying this afternoon indulgence. What’s more, it’s not just celebrities who are enjoying this British tourism institution: findings from a new consumer report revealed that six out of ten* Britons will also be planning to enjoy an afternoon tea this summer.
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Are we finally coming to terms with the need to know more about the food we eat?

To judge by the rising popularity of the farmers’ markets now to be found in almost every county in the land, it would seem consumers are at last taking notice of the quality and origin of produce entering their kitchens.
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With supporting performances by Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards

Akshay Kumar, India’s A-List Bollywood actor continues to be in a unique league of his own bridging the gap between Indian cinema and its western counterpart Hollywood.
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by Michael Sheridan
Newsflash: there is a world beyond olive oil

Virgin olive oil

Look, I like olive oil as much as the next person and I use it extensively in my cooking. However there are alternatives and there are very good reasons for using some of them. But let’s just stay with olive oil for a second or two longer.
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Weber – the barbecue experts – are giving one lucky Funkyfogey the chance to win a stylish One Touch Silver 57cm barbecue in grey, worth £109.99.

With over 40 different charcoal, gas and electric models, priced between £39.99 and £2,199.00 (RRP), Weber has a distinctive barbecue to suit every type of barbecuer and lifestyle.
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Franco Taruschio OBE, the founder of the legendary Walnut Tree restaurant, and exciting young executive chef James Sommerin of the Michelin-starred Crown at Whitebrook and winner of the recent BBC 2 great British Menu Welsh heat, will be teaching hands-on cooking at the Chefs’ Room, the new fish and cookery school in Blaenavon, South Wales.
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Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, a mother of three, promises to revolutionise the lives of the 600,000 people in Britain who are gluten intolerant. Genius is the first ever fresh gluten and wheat free bread – available in the supermarkets – which looks, tastes and feels every bit as good as a freshly-baked traditional loaf.
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A family firm in the heart of the Peak District is campaigning to give the original Bakewell Pudding a national day of recognition. Despite British staples such as the farmhouse breakfast, the sandwich and the chip each having their own week dedicated to them, the traditional Derbyshire pudding plays second fiddle to the more commercial Bakewell Tart.
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Global warming, health concerns, widening waistlines, shrinking budgets… like never before, people are open to embracing more plant-based eating. Problem is, they don’t know how, or they think it’s too boring, bland or complicated. That’s where greenappetite.com comes in – the new site dedicated to spreading the joy of eating green. In return, we’re rewarded with better health, a happier planet and much less work to do in the kitchen.
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Hrishikesh Desai with Michel Roux

Hrishikesh Desai, a 29 year old chef working at one of the UK’s leading country house hotels, has clinched the UK’s top title for young chefs. Hrishikesh, (known to his friends as Richi) who works at Lucknam Park in Wiltshire, became the 2009 Roux Scholar at a glittering awards ceremony this week in front of the great and the good of the UK culinary world. (more…)

According to the latest data from TNS Worldpanel the retail frozen food market is now within touching distance of the £5 billion mark. The market continues to accelerate in growth and now enjoys an impressive 7.0% annual growth rate.
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UK sales of organic products present a mixed picture, according to a major report published by the Soil Association.

Organic food sales have been hit across all sectors, as consumers tighten their belts in the face of the economic downturn. Although overall UK sales of organic products increased by 1.7 per cent in 2008 to over £2.1 billion, this statistic must be seen in the context of overall food price rises rather than sales volume increases.
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The Covent Garden Real Food Market makes its long awaited return to the piazza, every thursday, April 16th – September 24th 2009

Following the huge success of 2007 and 2008, Covent Garden is excited to announce the return of the West End’s only real food market, where Londoners and visitors can enjoy a delicious, gourmet bite to eat on the Piazza and buy fresh produce to prepare at home.
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Take a large helping of restaurants, a generous serving of local producers and add a huge dollop of entertainment – you’ve got the perfect ingredients for Taste of Birmingham 2009!

Tickets are on sale now! for the four day outdoor food and drink festival in July.
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Celebrity Chef and Food Archaeologist, Alan Coxon has launched his critically acclaimed Historic Food range in Japan this month at the FOODEX JAPAN 2009 in Tokyo. The Historic Food range is a sumptuous reproduction of the flavours and ingredients that once adorned tables of the mighty Roman Emperors, Medieval Knights and Ancient Greek temples.
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Today on a stunning private beach at Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, British celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson took on Jamaica’s top jerk chefs in an audacious bid to prove he had taken the island’s signature dish to a new level. (more…)

Make a fresh start this summer – National Vegetarian Week 18-24 May 2009 sponsored by Cauldron Foods. Better for you, better for the environment and better for animals.
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Calling all caterers, restaurants and businesses: Make a fresh start for summer

Make a fresh start this summer – National Vegetarian Week 18-24 May 2009 sponsored by Cauldron Foods. Better for you, better for the environment and better for animals.
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The NEC, Birmingham, 10-14 June 2009

This year’s BBC Summer Good Food Show will take place at The NEC from 10-14 June and will be offering visitors a great value package to set them up for a sizzling summer of fabulous family meals and light and delicious seasonal dinner party menus.
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Heinz Tomato Ketchup is the household brand British mums refuse to go without, according to a new survey. Despite falling on hard times, 52 per cent of mums won’t give up on their favourite branded products in light of the credit crunch. In fact, Heinz appears three times in the top 20 list of best household brands, with tomato ketchup at number one, baked beans at two and tomato soup at number seven.
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