FOREVA Dubai Style Pistachio Chocolate [@NLi10]

 Dubai style chocolate is all the rage.  Which is unusual, as it's essentially chocolate coated Baklava 

And it's not usually made in DubVegas but imported - this one from Turkey.

Having the German on the pack inspires confidence - they are selling chocolate to the experts so clearly it's the good stuff

So far - so luxurious.  Clearly designed to survive travel and heat.

And like Dubai itself it's not actually as green as you'd expect.  This is surely just a normal chocolate bar!

All the green is on the inside!  

This is crispy 'bombay mix' style noodles - infused with pistachio and covered in remarkable Lindt-like chocolate.

And it works really well.  It's far too sweet, which I think is the intention, and we shared this one cube on a 30 degree day and were satisfied.

I've put the rest in the fridge to see if that makes the flavours pop a little more, but as it stands it's a very nice luxurious treat.

I'd probably still rather walk to my fresh Baklava shop, but if you don't have access to those on your high-street then this works too. 

7UP Pink Lemonade (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I haven't had pink lemonade for quite sometime, probably since last summer. 7UP's new summer drink this year is pink lemonade. 7UP is my favourite lemonade to have with rum. Not that this blog is going to be about me trying pink lemonade and rum, that's for after.

7UP Pink Lemonade had a sharp raspberry, lemon and lime aroma. Pink on pouring, this pink lemonade had a very crisp refreshing flavour of raspberries with the traditional lemon and lime flavour of 7UP. It was perfect for a hot summers day like today. Now where did I put my bottle of Captain Morgan's Spiced Gold?

Nesquik Chocoballs Yoghurt (Iceland) By @Cinabar

While searching for new milkshake flavours to try this summer, I did an online grocery shop and used a few key search terms. I looked up Crusha, but only the standard options came up. Then I tried Nesquik. There weren’t any new milkshakes available, but I did spot these Nesquik Chocoballs Yoghurts and added a pack to my basket.

When they arrived, I found there were four yoghurts in the pack. After removing the outer wrap, I noticed all four had a slightly damp patch on the lid in the bottom left corner. The seals didn’t look broken, but I wondered if the yoghurt might have rested on its side during transport or storage. As they were all still sealed and had a long best-before date, I decided to give them a try.

Each yoghurt pot contains a plain yoghurt base with a small section of chocolate cereal balls. I tipped the Chocoballs into the yoghurt and gave it a stir. The yoghurt itself wasn’t too sweet, it had more of a sharp, tangy kick rather than a rich, creamy texture. The Chocoballs were the highlight, adding a nice crunch and a hit of chocolatey sweetness.

They were decent enough yoghurts, but not amazing. Probably healthier than some, due to the lower sugar content, but honestly, I wouldn’t have picked them up if it wasn’t for the Nesquik branding. In the end, they weren’t quite what I was hoping for in terms of a fun new summer flavour.

Kettle Brie and Caramelised Onion (Ocado) By @Cinabar

After really enjoying the Kettle Chips Honey Dijon Mustard crisps recently, I found myself adding another bag to my Ocado order, and spotted this new Brie and Caramelised Onion flavour alongside them. These are part of a range designed by Rachel Khoo, who I vaguely recognised. A quick Google told me she’s a food writer and presenter. I never know who celebrities are!

We opened this bag while sharing snacks, and there was a gentle aroma of cheese and onion, subtle but inviting. The crisps themselves are quite thickly cut, more so than standard ones, but not overly hard or crunchy.

Flavour-wise, they were a bit of a let-down. The onion came through nicely; sharp, tangy, and well balanced, but the cheese missed the mark. I was expecting a bold, creamy hit of Brie, with its distinct edge, but instead got a very mild, generic cheese taste. It wasn’t unpleasant, just underwhelming. If you handed me these blind, I’d have said they were standard cheese and onion.

They’re decent crisps, just not £2.40-a-bag decent. I wouldn’t rush to buy them again, especially when the Honey Dijon Mustard variety is still calling my name. Now that’s a flavour worth stocking up on.

Judi Love is a National Treasure - Braised Beef & Butter Bean Pie [@NLi10]

 My partner picked me up a Judi Love's Braised Beef & Butter Bean Pie on a rare Sainsbury's trip - and even took some photos for me as I was at work!

Much more artistic than my usual snaps

For those not in England, this isn't a lady called Judi who loves pie (although lets face it - we all do) it's a celebrity whose name is Judi Love.  She shows up on things, and comes across as someone genuine and that would be a laugh to hang out with.  If she invited you to dinner you'd go, and you'd make an effort with your dinner gift.

Here is a picture of Judi presumably preparing for an interview.  I'd have said Passport photo, but you aren't allowed to smile in those anymore.  Maybe this is to indicate that she's taking the pie seriously.

So far so good - meat & bean pie.  Not exactly common - but sounds good.  Higgidy always deliver too so this should be good.

And spicy? Yes please!

Raw version

Cooked version - with olives because everything needs olives.

Pie is a little more spacious on the inside than some luxury pies - but no less filling.  The meat is insane quality - I mean this isn't pie meat.  This is more like when my dad makes pies and finely slices steak and top cuts of pork.  Full marks. And the beans are whole too - and have had space and time to soak up the sauce.  

The spice level is more of a two chilli level. I can't give this pie to my sister without her exploding, but for me this is spot on.  Probably more suited to a few potatoes and some winter greens than garlic bread that needed using up - but we will know for next time.

For there shall indeed be a next time.  Hopefully this isn't a limited time thing, and hopefully they got Judi to make a whole range.  She's a great comedian, and now great at getting Higgidy/Sainsbury's to make exciting pies.  A national treasure for sure.