The SLMan Food & Drink List
THE COOKBOOK: Cooking on the Big Green Egg by James Whetlor
Big Green Egg has a cult following among BBQ experts and top chefs thanks to its sleek looks and high-performance cooking. Now a new cookbook by award-winning author James Whetlor tells you everything you need to know about getting the most out of the BBQ, including instructions for cooking on the grill or plancha, oven roasting, smoking, baking, cooking directly on the coals, or taking it low and slow. The book also features 70 recipes for cooking basic meats and joints, plus whole fish, vegetables and feasts.
Visit Waterstones.com
THE COCKTAIL: Black Cow Negroni
Black Cow is justly famous for its vodka made from the milk of grass-grazed cows in west Dorset. Now the brand has introduced its first ready-to-serve cocktail. Developed during lockdown, the Black Cow negroni is Black Cow vodka, Campari, vermouth and a secret blend of natural bitters. The cocktail is designed to be sipped outdoors, with little preparation: simply pour over ice and give it a stir. For a longer drink, top up with soda water and finish with a slice of blood orange.
Visit BlackCow.co.uk
THE BBQ ACCESSORY: Hot Smoked
Devon-based Hot Smoked has everything you need to take your BBQ game up a notch. Food smoking offers the chance to experiment with different flavours while cooking, but it doesn’t need to be nerdy. If you’re new to smoking, the brand’s Smoke & Spice Kit has everything you need – just add the wood chips to your BBQ and the aromatic wood smoke will infuse your ingredients. Each box contains pear chips – for a spice-edged fruity smoke flavour – and whisky barrel chips, which impart a heady oak-smoked punch, together with a piri piri hot spice rub and a stainless-steel smoker box. The kit also comes with recipes for the likes of BBQ sharing platters and smoked cauliflower steaks.
Visit HotSmoked.co.uk
THE CONDIMENT: Hot Sauce 02
Copenhagen distillery Empirical has created Hot Sauce 02, an earthy condiment that offers balance and complexity over spice and heat. Made using pasilla mixe chilli, beetroot and galangal, the sauce takes a classic cheese toastie up a notch or two, as well as working excellently when brushed on meat and veggies before grilling.
Visit Empirical.co
THE DELIVERY: Dickie’s
Richard H Turner – the man behind butchery Turner & George, meat festival Meatopia and restaurants Hawksmoor, Pitt Cue Co and Blacklock – has launched a meat-focused delivery concept. Available in south London only for now, Dickie’s delivers free-range and ethically reared meat-based meals such as burgers, ribs and all the trimmings. The food is both messy and indulgent: think a ‘Cheesesteakburger’ piled high with Ogleshield; chipotle caramel wings; braised short rib with buttery mash; and five-cheese mac ’n’ cheese. The team has also created a collection of cocktails in cans (such as a ‘Dickie’s Corpse Reviver’) to order alongside classic beers and wines.
Visit DickiesAtHome.com
THE COCKTAIL CABINET ESSENTIAL: The Original Pick-Me-Up
DR Harris & Co is a St James’s chemist and perfumer that’s been around since 1790. It’s recently recreated its Original Pick-Me-Up in collaboration with Bob’s Bitters. Originally a remedy, the pick-me-up has been reimagined in bitters form, pairing its classic flavours of gentian, clove and cardamon with new ingredients such as ginger, milk thistle, ginseng, calamus root and honey. The bitters can be used to create a restorative drink – ideal after a big night – by mixing 10-15 dashes into 60ml of water and an effervescent vitamin tablet, but is even better as a flavour enhancer in cocktails such as negronis, manhattans and G&Ts.
Visit OriginalPickMeUp.co.uk
THE SUPERMARKET FIND: Pret’s Frozen Croissants
Need a WFH pick-me-up or a weekend treat? Pret has launched a bake-at-home range of croissants. Available from Tesco, the frozen pastries have the same flakiness you’d expect from a fresh batch and come in three variations: Classic All Butter, Chocolate and Vegan. The croissants are designed to be warmed up from frozen and are ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
Visit Tesco.com
THE PICNIC ENHANCER: Max’s Picnic Book
Max's Picnic Book is the follow up to Max's Sandwich Book. Both books come from the team behind north London institution Max’s Sandwich Shop. The new one’s an ode to the art of eating outdoors and entertaining friends, as Max Hally and Benjamin Bento aim to redefine what the picnic is and celebrate its true potential. Including ingenious hacks – such as flavoured salts for dipping eggs and soft-serve with a shot of espresso – as well as twists on familiar favourites, the book also draws inspiration from an eclectic line-up of picnic fans, including Hunter S Thompson, Mary Berry and Snoop Dogg.
Visit Waterstones.com
THE WEEKEND ESSENTIAL: Provenance Village Butcher
BBQ season has begun and – new for 2021 – Provenance Village Butcher has levelled up with a same-day BBQ delivery service and a fresh range of BBQ boxes and luxurious cuts. The new collection includes classic cuts of high-quality, pre-marinated meats along with side dishes and monthly bundles, which celebrate flavours from around the world, starting with this month’s Mexican BBQ box. Portable grills and ready-to-drink cocktails are also available and can be delivered the same day – ideal if the sun decides to make an unexpected appearance.
Visit ProvenanceButcher.com
THE SUBSCRIPTION: Fairfields Farm Crisp Box
Fairfields Farm has launched two monthly subscription boxes: the Potatoes & Crisp Box and the Pick & Mix Crisp Box. The former contains a huge array of potatoes and eight bags of Fairfields crisps for £35, plus recipe cards and all the guides you need. The Pick & Mix Crisps Box offers eight 150g bags or 24 40g bags of hand-cooked crisps in any combination of flavours you like for £22 per month. Flavours on offer include Roast Rib of Beef, Bacon & Tomato and Sea Salt & Aspall’s Cyder Vinegar.
THE BEER: Beavertown Luchanaut
Beavertown has launched a new beer to celebrate the return of outdoor meetings with friends. Luchanaut is a crisp, refreshing lager with added lime, designed to be enjoyed at a picnic in the park or a garden BBQ. The brew is a zesty radler-style beer that’s 4.4% ABV and is available to buy as a single can or as a six-pack and cooler bag bundle – ideal if you’re on the go this weekend.
Visit BeavertownBrewery.co.uk
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