The SLMan Food & Drink List
THE LIMITED-EDITION BEER: Byron Pickle Beer
Byron Burger has created a beer using one of its signature ingredients: the humble gherkin. With a saison beer base, the eye-catchingly packaged Byron Pickle Beer combines a natural dry tart acidity with a subtle herbal infusion of fresh dill. The brew’s clean crisp flavour – complete with tangy finish – has been matched to accompany the chain’s beef, chicken, veggie or vegan burgers. The bottled beers can be added to any orders at the restaurant or ordered via Deliveroo.
Visit Byron.co.uk
THE BREAKFAST ENHANCER: Rogue
Rogue produces handmade jams, marmalades, sauces and chutneys – all designed to take breakfast to the next level. Originating in south Wales and now based in east London, it sells its jars in Ocado, Waitrose and Getir. The vegan, all-natural brand’s latest flavours include Blood Orange & Vanilla Marmalade and a Dark & Stormy Marmalade made with Duppy Share rum. Its hero products are the as-good-as-they-sound Negroni Marmalade, Espresso Martini Marmalade, Kickin’ & Smokin’ Sauce and Bravado Chilli Pepper Jam. Each is designed to mix up mornings – add them to porridge, pancakes, toast, waffles or eggs – though the savoury options taste just as good in sandwiches, as marinades or alongside a cheese board.
Visit EnjoyRogue.com
THE FRESH LAUNCH: Guinness Cold Brew Coffee Beer
Fancy bringing something a little different to your next BBQ? Guinness has unveiled its Cold Brew Coffee Beer. Having hit the US last year, it brings together two distinct flavours to create a smooth, refreshing beer. The blend mixes coffee – which has been steeped in cool water instead of brewed with boiling water – with Guinness alongside roasted barley flavours to balance the delicate notes of coffee, chocolate and caramel. With approximately 2mg of caffeine per can – the same as a decaf coffee – the beer, which we find is similar to a punchy milk stout, is best served ice cold.
Visit Tesco.com
THE BRAND TO KNOW: Smokin’ Brothers
Originally from Italy, Vincenzo, Alessandro and Iacopo are on a mission to transform the way the UK serves smoked salmon. The fish the Smokin’ Brothers cure are sourced from the last family owned salmon farm in Scotland. Following the methods of a traditional Norwegian smokehouse, in the team’s Cotswolds smokery each side of salmon is hung and smoked in a blend of beech, oak and juniper using a ventilation system to emulate traditional Nordic winds. Each side of salmon is then sliced using a sashimi slice before being wrapped in fully sustainable packaging. Available natural or whisky-and-soy glazed, the fish can be bought whole or as smaller tail or belly fillets. There are also weekly, fortnightly and monthly subscription boxes.
Visit Smokin-Brothers.com
THE COLLAB: Grilla IPA
North London’s Two Tribes Brewery has created Grilla, a Scandinavian-inspired IPA, in collaboration with Niklas Ekstedt, the award-winning chef behind Stockholm’s Michelin-starred Ekstedt and London’s Ekstedt at the Yard. Grilla is a light Swedish pale ale, with Two Tribes’ founder Justin working closely with Niklas to champion ingredients he would typically forage or use in his cooking. Drawing on Scandinavian flavours such as elderflower, the beer has a delicate, hoppy taste and smoky notes that nod to open fires. The result is something sessionable and refreshing enough to cleanse the palate – making it the ideal match for rich, fired meat.
Visit TwoTribes.co.uk
THE RESTAURANT MASH-UP: Burger & Lobster X Max’s Sandwich Shop
Burger & Lobster has been serving its lobster rolls for a decade. Now the team has partnered up with sandwich king Max Halley of Max's Sandwich Shop to create two limited-edition rolls. Served until 6th June, the ‘Lobster Cocktail Roll’ comes piled high with fresh-picked lobster claw and knuckle meat dressed with a retro Marie Rose sauce that's finished with a dash of tabasco and brandy. Garnishes take the form of iceberg lettuce, avocado, cucumber, a squeeze of lemon, finely chopped tarragon and crushed prawn cocktail crisps. But our pick is the ‘Fish & Chip Lobster Roll’, which features chunks of lobster meat bound with tartare sauce and garnished with lime pickled onions, a pea and mint purée, shredded baby gem lettuce, finely diced gherkins, and crushed salt and vinegar crisps.
Visit BurgerAndLobster.com
THE WINE DELIVERY COMPANY: Marlo
Marlo offers a concise selection of hero wines accessible via your phone and quickly couriered to your door. On the site, you’ll find top names, old vintages, cult classics and big bottles – and as the team has worked in the wine trade for decades, you’ll also find them at decent prices. The endeavour is an online retail concept created by the team at Richard Dawes Fine Wine, a traditional, well-respected wine merchant. While stock tends to change depending on what great bottles are available, right now we love the look of the Craig Hawkins zinfandel for £9.50.
Visit Marlo.Wine
THE COOKBOOK: Kin Thai by John Chantarasak
Growing up in the UK with his Thai family, chef John Chantarasak’s knowledge and understanding of Thai ingredients and flavours was built from a young age. From learning the basics in his Thai grandmother’s kitchen, John went on to train at Le Cordon Bleu in Thailand and worked his way up in professional kitchens before launching acclaimed restaurant Anglo Thai. In his debut cookbook Kin Thai: Modern Thai Recipes to Cook at Home, John showcases 60 recipes that shine a light on lesser-known Thai cuisine as well as popular classics. Among the snacks, relishes, curries, stir-fries and salads, we’ve got our eye on the roast duck and lychee red curry, and stir-fried minced beef with holy basil.
Visit Waterstones.com
THE NEW SPIRIT: Cotswolds Distillery Single Madeira Cask
Cotswolds Distillery’s Single Madeira Cask is ready to hit shelves. After maturing in a single French oak cask which was previously filled with madeira, it’s been bottled at 59.5% ABV and is both naturally coloured and non-chill filtered. The Cotswolds Distillery's first whisky, Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky, was launched in October 2017 and has since gone on to win Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and was one of only two whiskies to be given two stars in the 2019 Great Taste Awards, so we’re expecting great things from this new launch.
Visit CotswoldsDistillery.com
THE SUMMER ESSENTIAL: ProQ Flatdog BBQ
Portable BBQs were a godsend for anyone with a balcony during lockdown. Now, with a more normal summer ahead, these grills can become just that – portable. Enter grilling and meat smoking kit maker ProQ, which has launched The Flatdog. Folding down as thin as a laptop via its instant opening mechanism, it quickly opens into a high-spec BBQ. The Flatdog claims to have the largest cooking surface of any fold-flat BBQ – with space for food for up to 12 guests – with the efficient airflow design allowing for an even cooking experience. Easy to carry to the beach or on a camping trip, the Flatdog slips easily into the back of a car – and best of all – can cool down in just 10 minutes.
Visit ProQSmokers.co.uk
THE LOW-ALCOHOL LAUNCH: Decem
Decem is a range of light alcohol spirits crafted with a blend of ten high-quality, natural ingredients. Founded by MasterChef 2016 finalist Billy Wright, the brand began in 2019 when Billy decided to create a more natural, British version of Aperol. While exploring the history and traditions of aperitifs, he decided the drinks world was missing light alcohol alternatives to traditional spirits. The new range – which comes in bottles that would look good on any home bar – is ideal for summer evenings and includes three light spirits crafted to 10% ABV: London Dry, a gin made with distilled botanicals; Spiced Blend, made with Caribbean rum; and Aperitif, a lighter version of Aperol.
Visit DecemDrinks.com
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