PULPT Flare Cider (Tesco) By @SpectreUK

It's rare I write about cider. I have a pork belly roast tonight with crackling on top. Cider goes best with pork, so I have opted for this PULPT Flare - Cider without compromise.

At 4.6% in volume, the bottle states that this is a balanced and easy going cider. PULPT say Flare is not just any run of the mill cider. I hope they're right. This is not just any run of the mill dinner. Pork belly roast is one of my favourite meals, and I like my cider sweet, and definitely not too dry.

On opening the bottle there was a sweet apple cider aroma. Flare is a fizzy cider, not too fizzy, just an excitable buzz. On first taste Flare is sweet and mildly alcoholic. This cider is finely balanced with a touch of dryness into the aftertaste.

Flare went perfectly washing down my lovely pork belly meal, and I had lots of roast potatoes, veg, apple sauce and English Mustard on the side. Cheers.

Nescafe Classic Unsweetened Espresso Coffee Concentrate (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

As it was nice and sunny today, I decided I wanted to try a new cold drink. I remembered that I had picked up a bottle of Nescafe Classic Unsweetened Espresso Coffee Concentrate last time I was at the supermarket. I thought it might be useful for baking, but mostly it says 'for easy iced coffee' and that was exactly what I wanted today.

I checked the bottle, and it said to pour a 'shot 30ml' over 150ml of milk. My glass isn't huge but it almost holds a full can of pop, so I figured I needed to double everything. I measured 60ml using tablespoons, which is four, into the drink. It was only then I realised this precision and obsession with numbers is definitely a side effect of me being on the spectrum, and that most other people would have just guessed. You should try spending a day in my head.

Anyway, I gave the drink a stir and a taste, and it was lovely. There is no sweetness (there is a sweetened version available if you prefer) but this drink is all about the rich coffee. It was a smooth, creamy drink with lots of coffee flavour and it was perfect as a cooling treat on a warm day.

Next time, I will definitely add some ice and not worry so much about the measurements. I’ll just add a little until the colour looks right.

Rosa's Cafe Wolverhampton - Birthplace Of the Masala Bubble Waffle [@NLi10]

 When we want a smaller meal after work there are a couple of cafe's we can go to  - including Rosa's Cafe

My friend had the chicken masala bubble waffle, and I had Chaat with Batura.

Both were great, but we've not seen masala bubble waffles anywhere else so we have to keep coming back for those at least!

As a bonus - here's a rhubarb crème Brulé that I had in a gastro pub called The Angel in Pershore.  This was also home made and amazing.

Hula Hoops Smoky Bacon Flavour (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I haven't seen a new flavour of Hula Hoops for a long time. I love KP Snacks BBQ Hula Hoops flavour, and their regular flavours such as Ready Salted, Salt & Vinegar and also Cheese & Onion. There are quite a few Smoky Bacon flavoured crisps out there, so are these Hula Hoops Smoky Bacon Flavour going to be a contender in an already smoky bacon flavour full market?

On opening the packet there was a sweet and smoky bacon aroma from the Hula Hoops inside. On first crunchy taste these slightly orange coloured Hula Hoops Smoky Bacon Flavour crisps had a lip smacking sweet and slightly spicy, smoky bacon flavour. Very moreish indeed, I certainly liked these new Hula Hoops flavour and would definitely have them in again.

Information on the packet: The 24g bag contained 119 calories, with 5.8g of fat, less than 0.5g of sugars, and 0.36g of salt. Please see photograph for the ingredients.

Cadbury Twirl White Dipped (Texaco) By @cinabar

Years ago, I think it was the 2000s, an iconic chocolate bar appeared for a short time: the Snow Flake. It was a white chocolate flake, dipped in milk chocolate to hold it together. I remember having an Easter egg that came with one of those bars and absolutely loving it. There hasn’t been anything similar, until now.

Here we have Twirl White Dipped. This time, it’s the other way round: the flake inside is milk chocolate and the coating is white chocolate. I was still really excited to give it a try. I spotted it at our local petrol station, and as is tradition when we top up the fuel, we buy a chocolate treat, so this was absolutely perfect.

Once home, I opened the wrapper and found two white chocolate-coated bars. Inside, the flakes were the familiar milk chocolate. I gave it a try and loved the flavour. The usual Cadbury chocolate shone through, but the white coating made it creamier and even sweeter. It was a lovely combination. I have a sweet tooth, so I enjoyed every bite.

The only downside is that it’s labelled as a Limited Edition, which is such a shame. I can see this becoming legendary, just like the Snow Flake did. Let’s hope it stays around a bit longer.

Creme Egg Fudge (Fudge Town) By @Cinabar

We go to a lot of Comic Cons with work, and I try not to spend too much, but I am easily distracted by the sweet stands. One thing I can’t resist is unusual flavours, and the lovely people at the Fudge Town stand never disappoint. I wandered over to their stall and really couldn’t choose between Creme Egg and Oreo, but I ended up settling on this one and a bar of Battenberg for the stall holder who was behind us.

This bar is based on the Creme Egg and has a cute pattern with chocolate fudge sandwiching a creme fondant fudge filling. It did look pretty. The bars are quite hefty, so I cut myself a chunk and gave it a try. The fudge has a lovely texture, firm but soft. The flavour is firstly chocolate, followed by that distinctive sweet, sugary Creme Egg fondant taste. It was absolutely spot on and worked really well. Sure, the flavours are novel, but they are made really well and match exactly what they are supposed to taste like.

The stall holder who had the Battenberg let me try some, and that was yummy too, even down to having the squares in the pattern. I’ve made a mental note to treat myself next time I see the Fudge Town stall and to make sure I get that Oreo one.

Gu Cake Pots! Victoria Sponge [@NLi10]

 Gu make loads of nice deserts - and they put them all in little glass pots so they can't escape and you can't tell just how small they are.  We forgive them though - they are really nice!

And now - at a reduced price of £2.50 there are cake pots.

I chose Victoria Sponge

The cut away here is nice and clean but I forgot to take a pic of when I ate mine.  There was a lot more topping than sponge, but the highlight was the raspberry beneath

Overall though at £1.25 per serving even at the sale price you could have a whole Victoria Sponge to yourself. I think that's a better option, although maybe not as calorie controlled.

Luminous Nights Beer From 71 Brewing (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I love the moon. I like to see it on clear evenings and miss it on cloudy nights. I was born in July which makes me a Moonchild. So, you can see the appeal of the front of this can with the man sitting on the crescent moon.

At 7.4% in volume, Luminous Nights should give me some illumination. This beer was produced by 71 Brewing, in Dundee. The can states that it is a hazy beer with tropical and citrus hops.

On opening the can there was a lovely tropical citrus hop aroma. On pouring, this hazy golden ale had a rather excitable head. On first taste, Luminous Nights was big on crispy tropical and citrus hops from the start. There was a refreshing juiciness to this hazy beer, with sweet malted barley into the aftertaste. This was a lovely luminous beer on any evening.

Tetley Chocolate and Mint Tart Tea (Morrisons) By @cinabar

I can’t resist trying teas that are a bit different, and this one from Tetley sounded like fun. These are Chocolate and Mint Tart tea bags, and as someone who loves a choc-mint combo, I was definitely in. That said, I don’t think I’ve ever actually eaten a chocolate mint tart. Chocolate tart, yes, but not with added mint. I would if I saw one, though.

 

I opened the box and found the tea bags are round. The instructions said to brew for 3 minutes, so I put the kettle on and followed along. Interestingly, it also mentioned the tea could be served with a splash of milk, so I did. You’d never add milk to plain peppermint tea, so I appreciated the guidance.

Once it was ready, I gave it a sip and really enjoyed the flavour. There’s a mild sweetness from the chocolate, but the cocoa comes through more strongly, and the mint shines. It’s a very soothing drink, and I preferred it to plain peppermint thanks to that subtle chocolate twist. It would make an ideal after-dinner tea, peppermint to aid digestion and just enough sweetness to round things off.

It’s always good to try something new, and I’ll definitely enjoy the rest of these Tetley Chocolate and Mint Tart tea bags, a refreshing and unique treat.

Flying Fillet - Steak Ciabatta - Hay Book Festival [@NLi10]

 Hay Castle has a little book shop in the courtyard (of course) but I could smell fantastic things coming from the area so we popped in.

Turns out the chief suspect was the Flying Fillet - and they had steak Ciabatta for £12 so I took the plunge.

And it's tiny :(

But my goodness - it's packed.  And it was probably some of the nicest tenderest steak I've ever had - especially surprising for a little outdoor food place.  Well worth the cost of entry and more filling than I'd anticipated.  Seriously - I was recommending it to strangers, and the only thing that prevented me getting more was the fact that there were many more food stalls on the town and main site which I wanted to also sample.

Drinks were at another stand.

Gin Slushy at 12 O'Clock?  Tempting, but I had a coffee.

My partner had veggie tacos, which did look nice - but the steak was magical so I was happy.

Golden Wonder Chippies Gravy Flavour Potato Chips (Golden Wonder) By @SpectreUK

It's rare we get snacks sent to us to review. We had a few things sent to us here and there in the past, but not for a long time. So, it's really nice when we get something sent to us to try.

Golden Wonder very kindly sent us these Chippies to blog about. They come in three different flavours. Of course, we've already eaten them all. Chip Shop Curry flavour was excellent. We split the packet on the side with a cheese, bread and cold meats meal. They smelt just like chip shop curry sauce and tasted nice and spicy. They were very reminiscent of chip shop curry sauce.

The Golden Wonder Salt & Vinegar flavour chippies were easily one of the best salt and vinegar flavoured crisps I've ever had. I love my salt and vinegar crisps super salty with a tang a vinegar, and in my opinion, these Salt & Vinegar Chippies were perfect. I ate the whole packet to myself. No question.

Golden Wonder Chippies Gravy Flavour Potato Chips are new. They had a lovely beefy gravy smell on opening the packet. Again, we split them over a cheese, bread and cold meats meal. They had a luscious beefy gravy flavour and were super moreish.

I'd certainly recommend you try all these flavours. They're available in Home Bargains, Morrisons, Asda, and lots of various others stores. I'm already craving the Golden Wonder Salt & Vinegar Chippies flavour.

Pink Coconut Refresha Drink (Starbucks) By @Cinabar

We were on a road trip and stopped off to grab something refreshing for the journey. I went for the new drink being advertised, the Pink Coconut Refresha, which just looked so summery. To be honest, it was the picture that sold it to me: bright pink, with strawberries floating in the cup. I knew there was coconut involved, but I wasn’t entirely sure what else was in it until I got home and looked it up! (It’s a mix of strawberry and açai flavours, green coffee extract, and strawberry slices.)

The drink arrived packed with ice and plenty of sliced strawberries, and it looked lovely in the cup, a real summer treat. The flavour didn’t disappoint either. It was sweet and fruity, bursting with strawberry and berry flavours, and the creamy coconut came through nicely. It was absolutely spot on for a warm day, and I enjoyed every sip.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t pick up on the green coffee element at all. If it was there, I couldn’t taste it. That didn’t matter, though, because it was still a delicious, refreshing drink for a sunny day out exploring.

Nescafe Iced Caramel Latte (Iceland) By @Cinabar

As the weather warms up, the number of new chilled drinks on shelves is definitely increasing. Today I’m trying out a Nescafe Iced Caramel Latte I picked up at Iceland (the supermarket, not the country – lol).

First off, I love the cute carton. It's compact, and the size means it fits easily in the fridge. I did find it amusing that an entire side of the packaging is dedicated to explaining that you need to refrigerate the drink and pour it into a glass. Slightly condescending? Or maybe just filler text. I’m not sure – but I followed the instructions anyway and chilled, shook and poured it properly.

On tasting, I really enjoyed the flavour. The caramel is subtle, and it’s not overly sweet. The coffee is strong and lovely, with a creamy milk base that makes it smooth and refreshing. It was a perfect drink for a warm day.

I’d definitely buy it again, it’s one of those easy fridge staples for summer.

Taste Tibet - Hay Book Festival [@NLi10] @TasteTibet

 I'm not really into Food TV, which is probably surprising as I spend so much time thinking and writing about it.  My partner watches Bake Off and that's about it.  Taste Tibet had all the 'featured on the food shows!' signs, but more importantly I'd never had Tibetan food (despite formerly owning a Tibetan Terrier).

We spotted this stand - went to our two talks - then came back in the break.

The menu is deep and exciting, contains momo buns and branded merchandise with Chai Tea in - and there is an option to basically have it all for £22.50 which in hindsight is a little expensive I guess.  But it's a day out so I went for it.

New Work Mug Unlocked!

The Chai was great - if not a little small to share as was the plan

The Momo is a beef dumpling thing and absolutely amazing.  For £2.50 this transformed the meal and added so much texture and depth.

I could have gone back for more of these - except the curry was rich, meaty and incredibly filling.  It was not as spicy as I'd have guessed - but with the dahl built in had a great warming effect.  I did not require pudding from the pudding stalls at all.  I couldn't even fit another Momo after our final talk.

Totally worth the extra to have something truly special, and I can be proud to show off the camping mug and wonder if I'll bump into these at future food shows too.

It was a bit damp so we didn't use the more traditional outside food section apart from for photos.

Shark Bay Amber Ale (Lidl) By @SpectreUK

I love the movie Jaws, and we've also enjoying playing the board game. I've always been fascinated by sharks since I watched the Jaws films when I was young. The silent killer under the sea, and in shark documentaries they are shown to be a whole lot more.

This Shark Bay Amber Ale Was produced by Hatherwood Brewery for Lidl. At 4.3% in volume the bottle states that it's packed full of malts and spicy hops. It recommends trying it with battered seafoods or a good Sunday roast. I'm washing down a pizza, jacket potatoes, baked beans and cheese, with mushrooms and red pepper on the side.

On opening the bottle there was an amber malt aroma with bitter herbal hops behind it. Deep in sweet malted barley biscuit flavour to begin with, bitter herbal and lightly spiced hops followed, with further sweet caramel malts into the aftertaste. Very flavoursome indeed, this Shark Bay Amber Ale washed my dinner down a treat. Cheers.

Gu Victoria Sponge Cake Pots (Morrisons) By @cinabar

I’m always pleased to see new desserts from Gu. I really like the brand when I fancy a treat. They’re a little more expensive than some other options, but they always feel like a bit of luxury.

The new variety for summer is Gu Victoria Sponge Cake Pots. Inspired by the classic cake, they also feature Gu’s signature layer of mascarpone crème.

I opened the box, peeled back the wrapper, and the dessert looked lovely, topped with biscuit sprinkles. I gave it a try and was impressed by the flavour. I’d worried the sponge element might get lost, but it came through well: rich and creamy, like a slice of Victoria Sponge with plenty of extra filling.

The standout component is the zingy raspberry compote. It adds balance, a fruity freshness, and a sharp kick that cuts through the sweetness.

This is another delight from Gu, and definitely one I’ll be buying again.

Starbucks Cool Creamy Tiramisu iced drink [@NLi10]

 We went to see Mission Impossible, the last one, at the cinema yesterday and I wanted a cool drink that would last the three hours run time so chose the Oat based version of the Tiramisu

It was very expensive at £7 for a large

But it's a mighty drink, and tasty too - just enough strong coffee to excite - but enough Ice and choc to give you flavour.

And there is enough fluff and choc to give the drink a nice pudding like body.  And I liked it a surprising amount. I had some coffee chocolate ice still left for the credits and was happy enough with the whole thing.

The film was the ScreenX version and was good too.

Earlier that day I had a Tim Hortons coffee which was fine but not exciting.

And six doughnuts - the fillings are thicker than Krispy Kreme, but overall they were similar to me.  At 9.99 for 6 inflation has hit hard, these are not a buy a dozen for the office kind of vibe anymore!

Aero Peppermint Chocolate Muffins (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I can't remember the last time I had a muffin in my mouth. In fact I've forgotten the taste of a good muffin. Of course muffins come in all different shapes and sizes. And you often have to go out especially to find a good muffin in the first place.

 

Made by Cherrytree Bakery, these Aero Peppermint Chocolate Muffins sound like a tasty treat. They have an Areo Peppermint Bubble on top and are filled with a chocolate peppermint sauce. Cinabar spotted them in the local store and suggested we give them a try. I remember saying how much I like a good muffin.

After a curry and chips it can be important to keep your breath fresh. We had these Aero Peppermint Chocolate Muffins for dessert. On first taste, the texture of this muffin was soft and crumbly. The gooey chocolate peppermint centre was delicious. I had a pot of low calorie vanilla ice cream on the side. I left the Areo Peppermint Bubble until last for an extra treat.

Information on the box; Each muffin had 305 calories, with 12g of fat, 30g of sugar, and 0.21g of salt. Please see photograph for the ingredients.

Seabrook Limited Edition Tomato Ketchup Crisps (Morrisons) By @cinabar

There’s always a little thrill when Seabrook release a new flavour, especially when it’s a limited edition. This time, it’s Tomato Ketchup, a bold, nostalgic choice that’s bound to divide opinion, but definitely worth grabbing while you can.

First off, the texture hits all the right notes. These crisps are satisfyingly crunchy, with that signature Seabrook crinkle cut that not only boosts the bite but also catches every bit of seasoning in the ridges. It’s a smart design that delivers a more intense flavour with every mouthful.

Taste-wise, they’re a delight. The tomato is sweet and rich, instantly recognisable, but there’s more going on under the surface. A subtle warmth lifts the flavour, thanks to the paprika and pimento tucked into the seasoning mix. It’s mild, but it adds a depth that makes them more than just your average ketchup crisp.

The only thing missing? That sharp vinegar tang you’d expect from a classic ketchup flavour. It’s not a dealbreaker, though. These crisps are still packed with tomatoey goodness, and the slight spice more than makes up for it.

If you’re a fan of sweet and savoury with a hint of warmth, these are well worth hunting down before they vanish from the shelves.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bar White (Ocado) By @Cinabar

It’s always a bit of a thrill to spot a new Reese’s bar in UK shops, and even more exciting when it’s a sharing-sized white chocolate version.

As someone with a sweet tooth (okay, all the teeth), I’ve got time for most chocolate, anything from milky white to 70% dark. So I was more than happy to give this one a go.

This bar comes in chunky squares, each stamped with Reese’s signature ®. It feels surprisingly light in the hand, but the chocolate is a decent thickness and there’s a generous layer of peanut butter filling inside.

The squares snap off easily enough, though the soft white chocolate does crumble a bit against the also-soft filling. No big deal, it’s not a bar you’ll want to eat neatly anyway.

Taste-wise, it’s exactly what you’d hope for: very sweet, with that rich, nutty, unmistakably Reese’s flavour. I’d planned to eat just three squares... but went back for another three. It’s seriously moreish, sweet, creamy, and comforting with every bite.

If you’re a Reese’s fan or into white chocolate, this one’s definitely worth picking up.