WIN Tickets to Enjoy Bordeaux Wines at Zoo Lates

Every Friday night in June and July, Zoo Lates at ZSL London Zoo will be giving grown-ups the chance to see one of the city’s most iconic attractions in a whole new light.  A Glug Of Oil has teamed up with the exclusive wine sponsor, Bordeaux Wines, to offer one lucky winner a prize pair of tickets to Zoo Lates on 14^th June.

  Brand new for 2013, the Bordeaux Jardin du Vin will be nestled in the heart of the action, and our lucky winner will also be able to sample red, white and rosé Bordeaux served around the Zoo by Bordeaux Usherettes.

Lates-goers can experience why “Good Food Would Choose Bordeaux” each Friday night with an international street food festival dishing up mouth-watering meals from more than 21 vendors serving fast, fresh and fabulous cuisine from around the world.

 In addition to an incredible array of entertainment including cabaret, improvised comedy and adult-sized playrooms complete with ball pits, there is the opportunity to see the Zoo’s newest residents, Sumatran tigers Jae Jae and Melati in their £3.6m Tiger Territory exhibit.

www.bordeaux.com/uk  

www.zsl.org/zoolates  

To be in with a chance of winning the prize tickets, all you need to do is answer the following question:

Q: Bordeaux wines come from which country?  France, Spain or Italy?  

(Tip – there is a hint here: http://www.bordeaux.com/uk/vineyard/map)

 Terms & Conditions - see Rafflecopter widget for more detail.

There is one prize in total: two prize tickets (retailing at £25.00 per ticket).   

Travel to and from the event is not included in the prize.

The event is on Friday 14^th June 2013.  Timing: 18:00-22:00.

The event will go ahead come rain or shine.

 Winners must be 18 or over and photographic ID may be required.

 How to Enter!

 Entries must be via the Rafflecopter widget and the prize can only be sent to a UK postcode. 

 To see a short video on how easy it is to use Rafflecopter click here.
*Inappropriate comments will be deleted and entry/entries to the competition removed.  
 For information on how to find the URL of your tweet click here - Entries that do not show the URL of the Tweet will be removed.

There is one main way to enter and several ways to get bonus entries, including bonus daily entries.
Competition end time is as shown on the Rafflecopter widget.

Good Luck Everyone! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GAT Winner Collection Stove Top Espresso Coffee Pot - Review

 Just look at this wonderfully curvy and cute 2 person Stove Top Espresso Coffee Pot from the Italian maestros G.A.T.

 

This is a must have for any Espresso coffee lover.  You can enjoy Espresso in just a few minutes and in the comfort of your own home.
Available in eye-catching colours Orange, Purple, Green and Blue.

Contigo Morgan Autoseal Drinks Mug - Review

 I can't normally get too excited about a drinks mug.  But these fancily designed mugs by Contigo Morgan
are very good-looking, colourful and stylish.

 The Contigo Morgan has been awarded the prestigious Red Dot Design Award 2013

Transportable tea and coffee is an essential part of modern life and the new Contigo Morgan series from Premier Housewares is convenient for doing just that.  They have a nifty auto-seal mechanism protects against spills, advanced thermal insulation ensures that beverages stay hot for longer. 

Why does Wine Taste Better After Being Allowed to Breathe?

There are some wines that benefit from being allowed to ‘breathe’.  Oxygen can affect wines in a number of ways and it is important to understand this process and how it could benefit the wine you are drinking.

Remember that wine drinking is about personal preference and it is a good idea to get advice on the best ways to store and serve wine from experts and wine sellers.  It is important to taste wine and compare different methods as this will help you discover just how you prefer your wine and which kinds of wines tickle your taste buds.

Pasta and Wine - The Perfect Combinations

For many Italians, just as you would never eat dry pasta, the idea of eating any pasta dish without wine is unwelcome.  

A fine wine, and there are plenty of fine wines from Tesco and other supermarkets to choose from these days, complements pasta far better than fizzy juice and other alcoholic drinks such as beer.  It doesn’t have to be a lot; one glass can be enough. But which wine to choose?  There are no iron rules, but here are some recommendations, for accompanying five popular dishes.

Spaghetti con pomodoro e basilica:This simple classic of a tomato and basil sauce, sprinkled with parmesan, is served best alongside a white carrying something to match the acidic quality of the tomato.  Sticking to Italy, a light Frascati is an excellent choice for its citrusy and apple elements.

Fusilli con zucchini e gamberetti:A creamy sauce with courgettes and prawns, this is one of the best seafood pasta dishes for quick cooking without the work of dealing with shellfish.
A lunchtime favourite, it has a smooth flavour and works well again with an easy drinking, dry white wine such as a Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc.

 Tagliatelle con polpettini e salsa di pomodoro:The general rule with richer, meatier pasta sauces is that they need to be matched by a wine with stronger flavourings. For this meatball dish made with either beef mince, pork, or veal and plenty of herbs with tomato sauce, a rich red such as a San Giovese is a great choice.
Tuscan vineyards tend to use this grape, and a Brunello will serve you well. For an alternative, go to Argentina which not surprisingly given its meat tradition has many fine stronger reds. One made from the Malbec grape would do well

Pasta con salsiccia picante:A spicy sausage pasta, as with its cousin the pizza, has an unmistakeable flavour but one that puts the palette’s sensitivity in some jeopardy. To counter this, you should combine it with a crisp, distinctly fruity red.
Two great examples are the Nebbiolo wines produced in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, or a Rioja.  Aged for up to four years in oak barrels, the tannins from the wood invest these wines with plenty of bite.

Pasta al pesto:A simple and much loved dish, the basil and pine nuts in the classic ‘Pesto Genovese’ is best complemented by a simple, crisp white such as a Pinot Grigio, perfect for bringing out the nutty flavours in the dish.
These are only suggestions, and for each of the dishes there is more than one alternative if you stick to the general principles.
Above all, have fun experimenting. Buon appetito!    

 This is a guest post on behalf of Tesco Wines.

Vintage Long Neck Case from First4Hampers - Review

Last week this lovely hamper from First4Hampers arrived for me to review.  The Vintage Union Jack case with faux leather handles was packed full as you can see with a range of Gourmet food and three bottles of wine. Including a selection of Handmade, Artisan and Organic and Fairtrade food products.

First4Hampers have a huge range of gift hampers for every occasion and are available in price ranges to suit your budget. 

The Flavour Collective - Coffee from Douwe Egberts

 The master blenders at Douwe Egberts have created a brand new range of premium instant coffee infused with a variety of tantalising flavours.

The Flavour Collective is available in Delicate Vanilla, Smooth Caramel and Roasted Hazelnut

At just two calories per serving, The Flavour Collective range delivers a treat without the guilt.  All that’s left to decide is which flavour will you choose?

Smooth Caramel:

 This smooth and flavoursome coffee offers a real burst of indulgence.  Why not try serving as an iced caramel coffee cooling treat?  Delicious and refreshing! 

Roasted Hazelnut:

 Awaken the senses with this mouth-watering full-bodied flavour.  This nutty delight is great for those who are after a full flavour - a perfect match with Amaretti biscuits.

Delicate Vanilla:

 Relax and unwind with delectably delicate Vanilla. Rich, smooth yet still packing an aromatic punch this classic flavour is great served hot or cold over ice.

All in all:

All three coffees smell amazing!  Just one teaspoon is enough to make a lovely rich tasting cup of coffee.  Our personal favorite is the Roasted Hazelnut.  They can all be enjoyed any time of the day and it's well worth giving them a go as I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

Of course you don't have to drink coffee, you can make many recipes instead and there are see some lovely recipes over at the Douwe Egberts site - just click here.

The Flavour Collective range from Douwe Egberts is available in selected Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores nationwide, RRSP £2.99 for a 50g jar (25 servings)

Thank you to Emma for sending us some to review.

Kenco Millicano Wholebean Instant Caffeine Free - Review

New Kenco Millicano Caff Free has the same clever combination of instant coffee and finely-milled beans as the Kenco Millicano.

      

   The difference?

None - it's just decaffeinated. 

So, whilst it retains the same rich and full-bodied flavour that coffee lovers adore, it allows the freedom to enjoy a deliciously relaxing cup of coffee, whether it be first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

And now for the taste test:

Paul (the husband and big coffee drinker) says it really is the best decaffeinated coffee he's ever tasted.  Having tried a few big brand names, this is the best one by far.  A nice smooth, rich cup of coffee every time.

You can find out more about the Kenco Caff Free and the rest of their coffee range over at the Kenco website.

Thank you to Jen, Anya and Kenco for sending me a sample to review.

Sometimes we're all in a hurry and just want a quick cup of coffee, so instant coffee is the ideal choice, but when your not in such a hurry then it is nice to make coffee in a cafetiere.

Harrods Seasonal Wine Collection Hamper - Review

Having recently been asked to review a hamper from Harrods and I chose their Seasonal Wine Collection Hamper.  Just as you would expect from Harrods, the hamper was perfect and an absolute delight to both receive and open.

    The packaging alone looks impressive, I won't be able to throw the box away as it's so nice!
Even a Christmas card was included.

Sponsored Video - Rekorderlig Cider

Rekorderlig is a Swedish cider made from pear and apple wine and the purest of spring water.  It was first made in 1999 in Vimmerby and it is still brewed there today. 

   With eight exciting flavours to choose from, I love the sound of Winter Cider!
  I wonder which flavour you would choose.
Apple Cider
Pear
    Wild Berries  
Mango and Raspberry
Strawberry and Lime
Orange and Ginger
Apple and Blackcurrant
Winter Cider with Apple, Cinnamon and Vanilla

Of course cider can be used in many recipes and works especially well with pork, or how about a Refreshing Pear Cider Sorbet?

Rekorderlig Pear Cider Sorbet Recipe:
 Pour a 500ml bottle of Rekorderlig Pear cider into a jug and add a tablespoon or so of caster sugar along with a good squeeze of lemon juice.  Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
  Now, you can either pour the mixture into an ice-cream maker or freeze by hand.
If you going to freeze by hand, pour the mixture into a freezer box and freeze for about 3 hours or so until ice crystals are forming around the edge.  You will now have to beat the crystals into the liquid centre until you have a sort of lemon slush, then freeze again for a couple of hours.  Then, once again, beat the mixture and pop back into the freezer.
Beating will stop the sorbet freezing into a solid block, though the texture won’t be as good as a sorbet made in a machine.
Once it is frozen, leave it to soften slightly before serving.

Rekorderlig believes that everyone has got a Swedish side to them and here, in this short video, Olof will show you how you can find yours!

  You can find out more about Rekorderlig over at their website

Follow Rekorderlig on Twitter

Discover the Swedish way of life on FaceBook

Folllow Rekorderlig on YouTube

Article sponsored by Rekorderlig Cider.