Oooh! That’s new

OOOHHH! THAT’S NEW!

If winter is all about traditional comfort food, then summer’s the time to explore new flavours and tastes. Here’s our pick of the latest ideas from the UK’s small food producers…

Seed Snacks from Pep & Lekker Wild Life Botanicals

If you’re hosting a get together or are driving to a BBQ, then Wild Life Botanicals is a brilliant option for designated drivers and people who prefer something refreshingly non-alcoholic. It’s a pioneering sparkling wine that is ultra-low in alcohol yet ultra-high in goodness. Wild Life

Botanicals is made in Cornwall, it tastes great and is even good for you as ingredients include Damask Rose, Lemon Balm, Damiana and Ashwagandha. Just one 125ml glass delivers a minimum of 15% of the rda of eight vitamins and minerals blended into the bubbly. It’s just 0.5% ABV and has 60% fewer calories than champagne or prosecco. The 70cl bottles are great for sharing while the 20cl Minis are perfect for picnics or unwinding in the garden - and there’s no chance of a hangover! Find it at wwildlifebotanicals.co.uk, selected drinks specialists, Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

It’s often difficult to find healthy snacks that actually taste good, so the new recipes from Pip & Lekker are a welcome discovery. Somehow, they’ve managed to balance virtuous ingredients to create a range of tasty, nutritionally well-balanced, vegan snacks with a deliciously distinct, lightly baked profile. Seed snacks aren’t quite crackers and aren’t quite savoury biscuits, but they are very moreish. The range includes three savoury flavours – Rosemary & Hemp Seed, Fennel& Chia Seed and Cumin & Linseed and two sweet treats – Apple & Cinnamon and Cacao & Coconut. Find them at Pepandlekker.com, or Amazon.

Fiid

If you’re back in the practice room and find yourself without the time to eat well, then fiid might be worth trying out. These microwavable vegan lunch bowls combine vegetables, legumes and spices for healthy plant-based meals that are ready to eat in two to three minutes flat. They’re available from Ocado or www.eatfiid.com, where you can order a variety box or set up a subscription service. The range includes Aromatic Lentil & Sweet Potato Curry; Rich Sundried Tomato & Lentil; Smoky Black Bean Chilli and a Hearty Moroccan Chickpea Tagine.

Mandira’s Kitchen

Mandira’s kitchen is an award-winning producer of authentic Indian food. Their all woman team, based out of a 400 year old cowshed in the Surrey hills create the best food delivery boxes we’ve ever tried. They have delicious freezer meals with meat, veggie or vegan dishes or you could opt for their picnic boxes, complete with cutlery and tiffin boxes or the amazing Indian BBQ box which comes in a meat or vegetarian version. Everything tastes great because it’s made with the freshest ingredients and portions are generous. They even have spiced chocolate samosas! We’re now trying to clear out freezer space so we can order more. If you live nearby, they also offer cookery lessons and spice tours including lunch. Discover deliciousness at www.mandiraskitchen.com.