Coco Cafe Latte & Mocha [By @NLi10]

Some things are nice. When you combine two nice things sometimes you get amazing! Chocolate and peanuts are a good example - you wouldn't think these go together (unless you are American and used to this) but the Snickers is a really nice snack.

Here we have the combo of coffee and coconut milk (and chocolate).  I like all of these things individually, but how does this mix fare.

These arrived packaged up nicely with coffee beans and shredded paper so that the smell wafted out when you opened it.  This was a pleasurable experience.  As we have documented my fun with caffeinated products a few times I decided to save these for a Friday where sleep wasn't necessary and took them to the local games shop.

Unfortunately these are drinks in little boxes - there is no way to photograph the content while you are out so here is a close up of the packaging.

My favourite coffee is probably the latte (usually a decaf, but I can cope with one regular no problems) so I started with that.

First you get a coffee hit, then you taste the coconut behind it. This is a confusing sensation and while it isn't unpleasant it wasn't something that I loved.  I wanted the milkiness, I wanted more sweetness and I wanted a rounder flavour.  I did keep drinking it though, and the lady who runs the game shop became interested enough to have a sample  - and absolutely loved it.  When foisting review stock on unsuspecting people the ultimate complement is that they not only want more but they then want to buy some for themselves.  I promised to bring in the Mocha flavour on my next visit.

I gifted her the Mocha as this combo wasn't really to my liking, but I did have a sip just to confirm.  This added the sweetness the other was lacking, but I still couldn't quite get past the odd combo.  She however loved this too and was most grateful for the gift,

I think that if you are looking for a coffee-like drink with high caffeine levels that is a bit more summery, or a touch unusual then you'll probably love this.  If you are the person who love the fact that no-one else likes the coffee chocolates in the box and gets to eat them all this could be your new favourite thing.  I think i'll stick to my green smoothies!

Mini Babybel Gouda flavour (Tesco) [By @SpectreUK]

I’ve never been too fond of the red covered Babybel, as it has always tasted quite plain to me and not very interesting. Strangely I like different items of food to taste plain and some foods I prefer bursting with flavour. I suppose it also depends on mood. Sometimes I feel like a flavoursome bag of crisps to go with my lunch and other times I want a plain bag of Ready Salted or No Salt crisps with a good flavoursome pint of pale ale whilst enjoying an action packed movie on the box. As I’ve discussed before; the lightly salted or No Salt crisps can bring out the flavour of beer rather than block it out like more flavoursome crisps can do. However, I digress... I do like cheese to be flavoursome. Give me something fairly stinky or blotched with bits of blue any day over something dull, yellow and bland. I tasted the Goat’s Cheese Mini Babybel a while ago and loved it. I have the Goat’s Cheese Mini Babybel in now as a regular fridge friend next to my Barry Norman’s Hot and Spicy Pickled Onions and Mini Marmite Cheese.

This Gouda flavour Mini Babybel had an orange packet and yellow outer shell. Like the regular plain Bablybel and Goat’s Cheese variety there were six Babybels in a net bag. On unwrapping this cheese smelt a little Swiss Cheesy, which was promising... It tasted creamy and a little plain to start with but the main Gouda flavour came at the end of chewing and travelled into the aftertaste, which was lovely. This Babybel definitely didn’t taste bland; it tasted “Gouda” rather than “bada” (sorry!), and I would definitely have it again. Welcome, dear friend, to the Barry Norman Hot and Spicy Pickled Onion shelf!

Information on the label;
Cheese specially made with Gouda, which is a naturally high source of calcium. Made in France with natural cheese and free from artificial colours. Each Babybel is 20g. Per Mini Babybel there was 68 calories, with 5.6g fat, and traces of sugar.

By Spectre

Fudge Kitchen - Chocolate Gourmet Miniatures (@fudgekitchen) [By @cinabar]

Fudge Kitchen have come up with a very different looking chocolate selection box consisting of nine chunks of chocolaty sounding fudge. None of the pieces are what you'd expect from a traditional selection box in that none of them are dipped in chocolate, but they do have a chocolaty theme and look no less impressive. I've never seen fudge presented in this way before, and I couldn't wait to tuck in.
Firstly I was pleased to see that the pieces of fudge were decently sized, taking at least two bites rather than a quick whole bite. I also felt that the selection of flavours was really interesting and varied, with the presentation being top notch. All of the fudge pieces were different and each one looked nearly decorated. Some has lines of chocolate, some fruit or nuts and one had edible gold lustre, fab!
There were a few traditional sounding flavours like the Belgian Chocolate Swirl and the Rich Chocolate Classic, but these were still perfectly executed with rich enjoyable flavours. I liked the White Chocolate and Raspberry fudge, it was very buttery and the smooth flavour of the white chocolate worked perfectly with the tang of raspberry that ran throughout.
It goes without saying that the Hazelnut Heaven was high on my list too, as regular readers will know I love chocolate and nuts. This was a smooth fudge that had both hazelnut and cocoa entwined. It reminded me of a buttery soft praline and oozed luxury, a proper treat.
On the more daring side sat the Chilli Chocolate, which I approached with caution. The sweet flavours of chocolate fudge filled my taste buds but what followed was a distinctive chilli tingle, which turned into a mild burn that lingered for a minute even after three sweet had gone! It certainly showed the exotic side to this selection box.
I loved trying all the different fudges and thought that this box would make an excellent gift. It's really nice to see fudge presented in this way, allowing you to really appreciate all the different flavours. If you are looking for a gift for a chocolate lover but want to get something a bit different, I don't think you could go wrong with these Chocolate Gourmet Miniatures.

By Cinabar

Marks & Spencer ESPANA Marinated Chicken with Patatas Bravas and Garlic Alioli [by @ NLi10]

Recently I got bought a Marks and Spemcer ready meal from their recently launched ESPANA range, and quite enjoyed it!  This has resulted in another trip to the similar Spanish packet meal section with very similar results.

This time we have a few strips of marinated chicken, a lot of patatas bravas and a sachet of what I believe is garlic mayo.  When heated for the required time and plated out it looks like this.

As you can see - I need to practice my drizzle effect.  The food itself was actually again rather nice, but more muted in flavour.  The small amount of strong flavoured sausage suited the other dish well, but the chicken strips get a little lost here.  The potato is more than good enough to compensate though and the balance is still one that is both pleasing  and filling.  I did feel it lacked in the vegetable area, but this wasn't a deal breaker.

I'm sure that we will continue to try this range and discover its full repertoire - at least until they move onto another nationality's cuisine!

Alcoholic Ginger Beer - Ginger Grouse (Sainsburys) [By @SpectreUK]

When I first saw this bottle in the supermarket I couldn't work out why they had called it Ginger Grouse. I did go out with a ginger “bird” when I was about sixteen years old, and she was a pretty fiery character, but I still can't see what that would have to do with it. I then read the label on the bottle and found that this ginger beer was brewed in Scotland and contained the Famous Grouse Whisky. The label recommended pouring this ginger beer over ice and adding a wedge of fresh lime and “good company”, but I couldn't be bothered with the first two and so I decided to drink it straight. There was a strong smell of ginger on pouring the beer into my beer mug. There was also a hint of whiskey lurking behind the ginger, like a spirited after-smell. The ginger beer had a kind of ginger colour, not as dark as beer, and not cloudy like some ginger beers can be. On tasting there was a big bite of ginger as an initial taste which also followed into the aftertaste, merging with an extra alcoholic hit from the Famous Grouse Whisky. I thought this was a lovely innovative drink as I haven't seen whisky mixed with ginger beer before. I certainly didn't feel that it needed an additional wedge of lime as there was already enough citrus in the overall flavour. I was also glad not to have added any ice as when I was drinking this ginger beer it was a dark cold night outside and pouring with rain. The warming effects from the whisky and spice from the ginger tickled my throat and warmed my cockles. I do hope I can find more of this Ginger Grouse to enjoy over the cold winter nights that are slowly closing in on us. Brrr... Cheers to Ginger Grouse!

Information on the label;
Served in a 500ml bottle, at 4% Volume, and brewed by Matthew Gloag And Son Ltd., in Perth, Scotland. Ingredients Included; carbonated water, sugar, spirit based alcohol (70%), blended Scotch Whisky (30%), natural flavourings, citric acid, caramel, and preservatives sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate.

By Spectre