concentric circles food and beverage news
Eating is essential – eating ethically may not be top of the agenda of many consumers. With prices rising, an uncertain economy, all indications are that consumers have become more price conscious than ethically minded when shopping for the basic essentials.
The UK’s Food Ethics Council’s guide to ethical shopping has some interesting choices that it offers consumers with a guide that is factual and informative. To read more click the link below:-
John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle, was appointed as Chair of the Food and Drink Manufacturing All Party Parliamentary Group, in July.
The primary functions of the group are to consider the issues of concern to the food and drink manufacturing industry and to raise awareness of these matters in Parliament. The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK.
Mr Stevenson said “I am looking forward to the opportunities presented by chairing the Food and Drink Manufacturing which I hope will enable me to generate significant legislative support for the industry. ” Rising commodity prices, increased legislation on food labelling and food safety are key issues that the FDM follows and lobbies for on behalf of its members.
The maximum amount of melamine allowed in food needs to be controlled, the World Health Organization says. Melamine is a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics used for dishware and kitchen ware, and can coatings – and traces of it unavoidably get into food by contact without causing health problems, however the substance is toxic at high levels. The United Nations health organization, based in Geneva’s studies show that melamine can be toxic at high levels but is not yet specifying any legal binding on the acceptable levels.
To serve one: Noodles/Half a tin of plum peeled tomatoes/Two table spoons of ricotta cheese/ chopped ginger/ chopped garlic/ peanuts/ herbs – basil, mint/ paprika flakes or chopped green chilli peppers/ balsamic vinegar.
Boil water add noodles. As the noodles cook heat the tomatoes in a separate pan as the tomato cooks add peanuts, herbs, chopped ginger, garlic and paprika flakes (or chopped green chilli peppers) to suit your taste. You can chop the ginger and garlic as the tomatoes simmer. Transfer noodles into the pan and use as much water from the noodles as you want in the soup. Take off the fire add ricotta cheese and balsamic vinegar. There usually is plenty of salt in the peanuts, ricotta cheese and noodles but add salt and pepper to your taste.
For those who turn up their nose to ricotta cheese and chinese spices – the old myth is that Marco Polo brought noodles back to Italy so a ricotta noodle soup? Try it.
Whose recipe is it anyway mixes flavours and spices from all over the world in unusual ways. Not for the purists. Send in your recipes to info@concentriccircles.biz
UK super market chain, Wm Morrison, has recalled its own brand fresh strawberry cheesecakes due to potential plastic contamination, early July. http://www.concentriccircles.biz/blog/morissonsproductrecall
Sacla, the Italian organic pesto producer is introducing a wild garlic pesto to complement it’s wide range of pasta mixes and stir-throughs. The pesto completes the classic basil, sun-dried tomato pesto range and is part of the extended launch of three new sauces Dallalgio (with garlic) which can be used with pastas and as great pizza bases. Read more follow the link: http://www.concentriccircles.biz/blog/saclagoeswild
The Real Food Festival organizers are launching an organic producers market at London’s Southbank. You can find seasonal, organic food direct from producers. Small ethical food brands, often find it difficult to get their produce stocked in super market shelves and gourmet delis. This gives consumers and producers the opportunity to meet.
Launch dates: 2nd July – 4th July 2010.
Then every weekend through summer.
Opening Hours: Friday: 11 am – 8 pm / Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm/ Sunday: 12 am – 6 pm
The UK Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is to abolish the Commission for Rural Communities and will be replaced with a stronger Rural Communities Policy Unit within Defra.
The move is part of the new coalition government’s plan to cut the UK’s budget deficit. The Commission for Rural Communities was established in 2006, and has an annual budget of £5.8 million.
The National Union of Farmers, the UK farm-lobby group, is broadly supportive of the move. The NFU, recognizes Defra’s move will mean job losses, but has remained positive and has been promoting rural issues in London with a road -
show for children to tell the story of how food moves from the farm to the dinner table. The show informs children on how farmers are meeting environmental challenges while providing great tasting food. The idea started in 1999, with the view to making city-bound children aware of food, health and farming issues.
Blossom Tea
In the Chinese tradition, to wish a guest long life, dried chrysanthemum flowers are floated in a cup of green tea. Today, the same traditions are practised with blossom teas, a new art of enjoying a time-old tradition.
To read more click the link below.
Al fresco bars
Taste of London, the annual open air restaurant festival in London’s Regent’s park showcased the best in trade fair design and fabrication from al-fresco bars, open air restaurants, ice-cream and butcher’s stalls to creative, small artisanal stands.
Celebrity chef - Jun Tanaka
The celebrity chef demonstrations and wine tasting were great (still not sure about the English wines) but the celebration of National Ice cream week was a triumph with several really cool (no pun intended) ice-cream stalls from traditional trolleys to modern chic stand up bars.
But it is not for those on a budget – expect to spend at least GBP100 over and above your entry ticket price if you really want to enjoy the experience. All the tastings – wine, food, ice-cream, regional delights cost with very few free tastings on offer.
My favourite stand in the blitz of colour, display and great fabrication was a very simple artisanal arrangement in bamboo by an Egyptian producer of relishes and chutneys.
Eco-friendly, unpretentious & effective
A few tables and chairs under a tree with a home spun look and feel stood out in the clamour of high-spend, high-impact stands for its simplicity and originality.
concentric circles food and beverage news is an industry round up with a special interest in organic food, artisanal brands and ethical food and beverage producers, suppliers, retailers, wholesalers, chefs and restauranters.
