GIANT DANCING TEACAKES?
Scottish giftware entrepreneur Gillian Kyle has seen a 50% increase in visitors to her website and a surge in sales since giant dancing Tunnock’s teacakes whirled around Celtic Park in the Glasgow 2014 opening ceremony.
“I am so proud to be Scottish and Glaswegian right now,” says Kyle, 36, who has been called “the Tunnock’s Tea Cake lady” after her most famous design.
Kyle’s nostalgic and colourful designs showcase her hand-drawn homages to much-loved Scottish foods and are hugely popular with Scots, tourists and ex-patriates. As well as Tunnock’s biscuits her range celebrates other iconic Scottish and British foods and icons, such as fish & chips.
Tunnock’s themselves have seen a spike in sales of 62% since the much talked about Parkhead ceremony, which featured super-sized versions of their ever-popular chocolate mallow biscuits pirouetting about the stadium.
CUTTING THE MUSTARD
Help celebrate the 200th anniversary of one of Britain’s best-loved brands, Colman’s, with its limited-edition mustard jars which have been inspired by a collection of vintage adverts used by the firm through two centuries.
The polar bear image signifies the medicinal properties that were traditionally associated with mustard, from relieving toothache to curing colds, whilst the ‘Meat needs Mustard’ and butchers image communicate the historic link between Colman’s and meat.
The jars are on sale now with a recommended price of 99p (100g) and £1.59 (170g).
DECADE OF DELICIOUSNESS
Luxury British cocoa grower and chocolatier, Hotel Chocolat, celebrates its 10th birthday next month.
The firm, which has an outlet in Union Square, Aberdeen, is marking the occasion by releasing a limited-edition 10th Anniversary Collection, featuring its most-loved and signature chocolates such as dark, salted caramel, raspberry and hibiscus truffle and Isabelle florentine.
Priced £24 (335g box), it will be available in stores or online at www.hotelchocolat.com
CHOCOLATE MAP
Exploring Scotland has never been such a sweet experience – thanks to a special map.
The Chocolate Larder: A Guide to the Chocolatiers of Scotland, is a map which shows where to find the growing number of small-scale, artisan and specialist chocolatiers around the country.
Featuring more than 75 specialists, the guide and map is ideal for visitors and locals interested in experiencing quality chocolate and includes essential information such as which place offers courses and workshops, which venues have cafes on site, etc.
A printed copy of the free map – you pay £1 postage and packaging – can be obtained by logging on to
http://food.list.co.uk/guides/chocolate-larder/
GLUTEN-FREE TREATS
Perk!er has a new range of gluten-free breakfast treats.
Choose between a tasty Tiffin bar which includes a combination of crunchy chocolate biscuit, crisp honeycomb and raisin all smothered in milk chocolate, and the equally enjoyable Rocky Road bar – a decadent delight of chocolate biscuit and marshmallows in soft Belgian milk chocolate, topped with a drizzle of white chocolate.
Available as snack-sized bars or sharing tubs, both treats are free from gluten, wheat and made with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Look out for them in Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s stores with bars priced £1 and sharing rubs from £1.95-£2.29.
WONDERFUL WATERCRESS
If you still consider watercress to be just an attractive garnish or only good in a salad, a new watercress recipe book will make you think again.
Compiled by UK farmers, the book, entitled Watercress, features 30 delicious recipes which demonstrate the versatility of the peppery little leaf that is not just a superfood but a super addition to virtually any recipe.
From mouth-watering watercress and lamb burgers and trout in a creamy watercress sauce, to satisfying watercress potato cake and crunchy watercress and cashew stir fry – the book caters for all dining occasions.
Available online at www.watercress.co.uk for £6.99 which incudes P&P.