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.

Tayto Smoky Bacon flavour crisps (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

After an afternoon in the sun at a school summer fete, I must admit I didn't fancy a beer tonight. I did fancy bacon and fried egg sandwiches though, which are pretty much the only thing I can cook.

I figured these Tayto Smoky Bacon flavour crisps would go well with the sandwiches. I also had beans with hot sauce added to them in bowl. On opening the bag, there was a smoky bacon aroma from the slightly orange crisps inside. On first crunchy taste, these crisps had a sweet and smoky bacon flavour, which was certainly very moreish indeed, and I really enjoyed them.

Information on the bag; The 25g bag contained 134 calories, with 8.2g of fat, 0.8g of sugar, and 0.4g of salt.

Yazoo Birthday Cake Flavour Milkshake (Tesco) By @Cinabar

I’ve noticed this summer seems a bit thin on the ground for new milkshake flavours compared to last year. I always keep an eye out for fresh, fun varieties, but pickings feel slim. Still, I did spot this Yazoo Birthday Cake Flavour Milkshake, so decided to give it a try.

Last year’s lineup was much more playful, ranging from caramel latte to Flumps marshmallow. This “Birthday Cake” offering had potential, though. On opening the bottle, the aroma was pleasantly sweet,  the sort of comforting vanilla scent that makes you think of a dessert table.

Pouring it out, the texture was reasonably thick without being cloying. When I took a sip, the first flavour to hit me was vanilla, and a lot of it. I enjoy a vanilla milkshake, so that suited me fine, but honestly it reminded me more of custard than birthday cake. There was a definite sweetness, but I couldn’t pick up anything “baked” about it, no hint of sponge, frosting, or sprinkles, which is what I’d expect from a proper birthday cake flavour.

Overall, it tasted like a perfectly nice vanilla milkshake, but not one that’s going to turn heads or bring any wow factor. If Yazoo had labelled it “vanilla custard”, I’d have called that fair.

So it seems the hunt for genuinely new milkshake flavours goes on. Have you come across any exciting, unusual milkshakes this year? Let me know in the comments, I’m always up for trying something a bit different.

gwei.lo Neon Jungle IPA [@NLi10]

 Authentic Hong Kong IPA - but brewed in York so easier to get hold of!

Lots of reasons to pick the can up and read it, including all the cultural links, but essentially it's a very smooth and light drinkable IPA.

Ghost Chap instead of Ghost Ship for a change!

Basic ingredients but lovely flavours.

Reminds me of my favourite Hitachino beers, but a bigger can.  Perfect for hot days, and hot nights.  Will seek out both this brewery and inspiration again.

The Real Pork Company Golden Crunch (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I'm still slowly building strength with light weights after a fall in a car park a few weeks ago revealed an old break in my wrist, and aggravated my already grumpy knee.

I do like pork crunch for a source of muscle fixing protein, as an alternative to the risk of breaking my teeth on pork scratchings. It's happened before. I have tried many pork crunch on the market, but this is the first bag of The Real Pork Company Golden Crunch I have bought.

As you can see from the photograph, on opening these The Real Pork Company Golden Crunch were fairly small rectangular chunks of pork crunch. On taste these pork crunch were definitely crunchy and fairly salty, but after a few, and I don't know whether it's the hot weather at the moment, but I thought they were a little dry, and I found myself regularly taking a sip of drink to quench my thirst. Still, they were tasty, low in calories and helped to fix my muscles after my workout.

Information on the packet; The 25g bag contained 132 calories, with 7.3g of fat, 16.3g of protein, 0.1g of sugar, and 0.49g of salt.

Dubai Chocolate (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

There’s a massive social media buzz around Dubai Chocolate at the moment. I’ve been tempted to jump on the hype for a while now, but whenever I looked, it was either sold out or going for £12 a bar, and I couldn’t bring myself to pay that, no matter how much I love nuts and chocolate.

Then I spotted this smaller version in Morrisons for just £1.50, so it felt like the perfect chance to finally try it. For anyone wondering, Dubai Chocolate is a milk chocolate bar packed with pistachio and kadayif, which is a kind of shredded filo pastry. It looks a bit odd inside, with its bright green centre and all those fine strands running through it, but that just made me more curious.

And I have to say, it was worth the wait. The pistachio flavour is subtle and nutty, with a touch of salt that pairs perfectly with the creamy milk chocolate. The real magic is in the texture, the kadayif adds a lovely light crunch, giving every bite a bit of interest.

Overall, I’m glad I tried it and would definitely pick one up again for a treat, so long as it doesn’t shoot back up to silly prices.

Melon Pearl Refresha (Starbucks) By @Cinabar

Today has been hot. Too hot. I love a pleasant sunny day, but once the temperature tips over 30°C it just becomes uncomfortable. To cool off, we headed to Starbucks for something chilled and refreshing. I chose a drink from their Refresha range: the Melon Pearl Refresha.

When it arrived, I was struck by how pretty it looked, more striking in person than in the photo. The drink had a gorgeous two-tone effect: a red base from the melon pearls and a summery orange layer on top, like a sunset in a cup. The straw was extra wide, perfect for slurping up the pearls.

Flavour-wise, this drink was exactly what I needed. Ice-cold and wonderfully sweet, the melon taste was spot on for such a hot day. The pearls themselves are clearly the novelty factor, tapping into the same trend as bubble teas. They added a fun twist, once they made it through the straw, they burst in your mouth with a little explosion of melon flavour, giving an extra hit of sweetness.

Overall, the Melon Pearl Refresha was a brilliant pick-me-up on a sweltering day: refreshing, tasty, and a bit of fun too.

Alpro Chocolate flavour Dessert - Dairy Free [@NLi10]

 Alpro are my go -to brand for almond based dairy replacements.  I use the normal milk daily, and the barista for coffee for special occasions. 

So I get tempted to try their desserts...

Looks great - no dairy, veggie friendly and lovely chocolate too

And oddly they seem to think you wouldn't want it chilled - I say the colder the better.

And the date on these is insane - save them for Christmas if you like!

But in the end - it's just brown goo.  It's not chocolaty enough, its not sweet enough, it's not thick enough and it just doesn't spark joy.  Maybe I'll donate the remaining two to my parents and see what they think.

Hop Hut IPA Summer Slam (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

It's been pretty sunny off and on here in the UK, so I'm having a Fri-yay Friday fishy treat of Calamari and Scampi with chips. I do like Calamari. I had a big Calamari lunch at a Greek restaurant last time we visited Trentham Gardens. Oh, it was scrumptious.

This Hop Hut IPA Summer Slam should wash my dinner down very well. At 5.5% in volume, Tiny Rebel added Simco and Idaho7 hops in the brewing, for citrus flavours of orange peel and mango.

On opening the can there was a tropical citrus hop aroma with sweet pale malts behind it. This hazy India Pale Ale had a very crisp bitterness, with citrus, and orange peel flavour, perfect for my Calamari and Scampi and chips, with a touch of mango fruitiness, and sweet pale malts into the aftertaste. Very nice indeed. Cheers.

Jimmy’s Iced Coffee — Donut Edition (Ocado) By @Cinabar

One of the best things about summer is hunting down new cold treats to beat the heat. Besides ice cream and lollies, I’m always drawn to interesting chilled drinks, like this Jimmy’s Iced Coffee Donut Edition. The can looks fun, with a pink sprinkle design that feels more birthday cake than doughnut, but it’s still eye-catching.

I made sure it was properly chilled before opening it. The flavour, though, was underwhelming. There was no hint of doughnut, or birthday cake, for that matter, in the taste. I swirled it around, inhaled deeply, but all I got was a pleasant coffee and milk sweetness. That was perfectly drinkable, but the promised doughnut flavour just wasn’t there. The aroma had more of a doughnut vibe than the taste did. Decent enough overall, but it needed a stronger flavour punch to live up to the name.

nutella croissant - frozen to bake at home - Iceland [@NLi10]

 We used to get bake-at-home breakfast breads all the time, but our oven isn't great so we cut back - but I couldn't resist these.

As with all modern things I guess this an air-fryer sized pack, although how you'd fit all 4 in an average one is anyone's guess.

I do like the serving suggestion making it look like a picnic

We had these as a Sunday evening snacky-dinner so just had a decaf tea

They do need a little longer in the oven I think with ours to get to crispy perfection

But - the layers are still there and the flavours were great.  I'll want these again, but it's much easier to find a time to eat the plain ones

Heinz Mayoracha: Mayo Sriracha Sauce (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I never used to like mayonnaise. I was always a salad cream guy. It's only fairly recently I have started to use it. Mayonnaise certainly goes well with chips and salad, and many other things.

There are a few flavoured mayonnaises on the market I have tried in the past. Some I liked, some made my breath smell (pickled onion), some I hated. This new Heinz Mayoracha: Mayo Sriracha Sauce could add a little spice to my chips and salad. We shall see…

On first splodge on my plate, this almost neon orange coloured Heinz Mayoracha: Mayo Sriracha Sauce had a creamy mayonnaise mild chilli kick that brought a slightly heated flavour to whatever I ate with it. I really liked it, and within minutes I was dunking chips, bread and picky-bits in to it to my hearts content.

Warburtons Belgian Waffle (Tesco) By @Cinabar

I spotted this Warburtons Belgian Waffle in our local mini Tesco and thought it sounded like a lovely after-work treat. I wasn’t sure if it needed warming up first, but decided against it because of the chocolate chips. I’ve had some toaster disasters with chocolate hot cross buns before! Besides, this is marketed as a grab-and-go snack, so it should be fine cold.

I opened the wrapper and took a bite, but based on the texture, which was a bit solid and dry, I changed my mind and opted to heat it up after all. The packaging does say it can be enjoyed hot or cold, and one option is just twenty seconds in the microwave, so I went with that.

What a transformation. After a quick blast in the microwave, the waffle turned soft, fluffy, and still had a nice firmness to it. It was moist, with a touch of crispiness from a sugar coating. The chocolate chips had melted perfectly, and it was absolutely spot on.

If you’re at home or near a microwave, definitely heat this up. The flavours were rich and indulgent,  sweet, creamy, and mellow; and the chocolate just brought it all together. It felt like a very naughty after-work treat, but one I’d happily have again after a long day.

Haagen Dazs - Peach & Raspberry Ice Lollies (Ocado) By @Cinabar

With all the heat we’ve been having, I couldn’t resist picking up some new ice creams to try. These Haagen Dazs Peach & Raspberry Ice Lollies caught my eye, I love fruity flavours, so I was keen to give them a go.

There are three lollies in the box, each individually wrapped in bright, colourful packaging. When I opened one, I was struck by how pretty it looked. The lolly has a white chocolate coating, decorated with pieces of freeze-dried raspberry, and a lovely mix of colours.

My first bite was mostly white chocolate, which gave way to the centre, a two-part filling of peach ice cream and raspberry sorbet. The sorbet is the standout here, it’s sharp, tangy, and seriously refreshing in the hot weather. The peach adds a more mellow, sweet layer, perfectly balancing the punchy raspberry. The white chocolate is absolutely delicious, creamy and smooth, with the raspberry pieces adding a nice texture.

These ice lollies are seriously good. I love the combination of strong fruit flavours with the creamy ice cream and chocolate. They’re perfect for a hot summer’s day.