Chocolate and Beyond

Britain launches new national celebration - of licorice!

Licorice - do you like it? I'm not certain, and it does have a reputation as a snack that is loved or loathed, but its fans include kids, mums, and even pandas and rabbits – so Panda licorice (love the website) decided to name a day especially in its honour.

Tomorrow, the 16 April 2009, will be the first ever Love Licorice Day when everyone across the UK is to be encouraged to try licorice again. Many people associate it with heavy, sticky sweets but apparently Panda would like everyone to try it again and see what they think –

I suppose it's considered a bit like Marmite as to whether it floats your boat or not, but apart from tasting great (to those who enjoy), licorice is also well known (believe it or not) to help reduce the pains associated with menstruation. Other health benefits are reputed to include being a relaxant and helping long term stress and anxiety and aiding digestion.

Licorice lovers can visit www.landoflicorice.co.uk for more information and become a fan on Facebook by searching for The Land of Licorice.

PUDZ Amateur pudding chef 2008 has been found!

You might remember that I posted some time ago (back in summer!) about the PUDZ competition that was taking place in Manchester?

Well, it seems they have found their top pudding maker, and Sam Greaves (19) from Bishopston, Bristol has been crowned PUDZ Amateur Pudding Chef 2008. PUDZ has been searching all year for the best amateur pudding chefs in the UK. Heats took place across the country and the top chefs from each area were chosen to compete for the overall title, judged by arguably one of the UK’s best dessert chefs, Mich Turner.

The five fantastic regional finalists came from all walks of life and baked, chopped, piped & drizzled their way through the heats, beating off stiff competition from their region to the final in London. Each prepared their dessert one final time for Mich Turner and a judging panel of food journalists.

Has summer arrived?

Oh my god - the weather is bizarre! And very beautiful - but yesterday I was out with nothing but a thin long-sleeved top and there were people out in t-shirts! This is FEBRUARY! Two weeks ago we had snow, and now we have ice-cream suggestive sunshine!

It looks like today is going to be another warm one and I was just reading on Yahoo that Manchester, for once, is one of the areas that these unprecedented temperatures are being recorded (it's the hottest ever, apparently).

Food face (why do we have to grow up?)

Not the normal direction of my postings or blog, which I like to think is fairly focused, but I couldn't resist posting this gorgeous picture of my youngest nephew with food all over his face (Ronaldo, eat your heart out, you have a contender for the sulky but extremely good-looking trophy).

He was thoroughly enjoying his trifle or cream cake or whatever it was at my aunt's birthday party the other week, and when I saw him covered in the stuff, I just wished I could join him! Why do we have to grow up and start being well-behaved at the table?