Vorrei Italian Online Food Shop - Lemon Virgole

I was recently contacted by Vorrei, a new online Italian food shop, that specialises in lovely Italian food from small scale suppliers and farms. They offered me the chance to try a box from their Calabrian chocolate covered figs and fruit range. I was sent the Lemon Virgole which are candied lemon peel covered in extra dark chocolate. These are made by Colavolpe in Belmonte, Calabria, who have been making fig specialities, chocolates, and more, by hand for three generations, using only local ingredients and traditional recipes.

The box is beautifully packaged with a gorgeously designed outer slipcase and inner box. It definitely looks like a product that has been lovingly put together and would make a visually appealing gift.

I must admit that at first I was a little worried that I had been sent the chocolate coated lemon instead of the figs, since I'm not usually keen on candied peel. However, as ever, I was still eager to try something new, and I've certainly never tried lemon peel that was actually made from the peel of locally grown Calabrian lemons. And I'm glad I put my reservations to one side as these delicacies were completely wonderful. The lemon peel has a zesty citrus flavour without any bitter aftertaste. The dark chocolate is also delicious being intense but still sweet at the same time. The two together, lemon and dark chocolate, make a wonderful combination. As with a most Italian sweet treats, I always find that they taste best with a strong espresso and that was certainly the case here - a sublime match of intensity and sweetness. 

I would love to try the chocolate Fig Bites next, they're made from dried figs that have been flavoured with vanilla and coated in an extra dark chocolate. Take a look at the wonderful range on the Vorrei Italian shop HERE. 

Grocery Gems Verdict: Lemon Virgole

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Purchased: Available from Vorrei (see links above).
Price: £8.50 (250g box).

Products sent for an honest review. 

Joe & Seph's Valentines White Chocolate & Strawberry Popcorn

My husband visited Whole Foods Market last weekend and spotted this limited edition Valentine's popcorn from Joe & Seph's. There are two varieties available; "For Him" there is a is Caramel, Macchiato & Whisky flavour, "For Her" there is this White Chocolate & Strawberry. 

The packaging has been updated to incorporate the Valentines theme, with a special heart shaped label.

I've reviewed several of Joe & Seph's flavours before and I have previously marvelled at the way the flavours seem to shift and build in exactly the way described on the packaging. The different ingredients have been added with to ensure the flavours are released at different stages whilst you are eating creating a layering. There are three main flavours here; caramel, white chocolate and strawberry. This Strawberry & White Chocolate popcorn has a slightly less obvious layering effect of flavours than the varieties I have tried before. The flavour here seems more consistent as a strawberry white chocolate taste rather than of white chocolate first and then strawberry.

That's not a criticism of the flavour itself as I found it absolutely delicious. There are dried strawberry pieces studded on the outside of the popcorn and seem to flavour the whole popcorn, it's fruity and fresh and just scrumptious. The white chocolate adds an initial sweetness and creaminess to this popcorn, and then, seemed to give way to the caramel flavour at the end. I seem to say this every time I review Joe & Seph's, but this White Chocolate & Strawberry has become my new favourite flavour from their range, it's so simple and moreish.

As ever the ingredients are 100% natural and high quality (there is 29% cocoa solids in the Belgian white chocolate used here). I know this flavour was released last year for Valentines Day and I hope they bring it back next year too!

Grocery Gems Verdict: Joe & Seph's Gingerbread Popcorn

RATING: 9 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition: None given.
Purchased: Whole Foods Market
Price: £2.99p

Review Corn Again Popcorn Toppers pop@home

There is lots more choice in the gourmet popcorn market these days, but one of the first companies to bring innovative popcorn products and flavours to the UK was Corn Again (I love that name!). They have recently launched these shake-on Popcorn Toppers, which, as the name suggests, are made for sprinkling onto freshly popped home-made popcorn. There are four flavours to choose from - two savoury and two sweet: Chocolate, Coconut, Chilli & Cheese, and Pizza.

I was really pleased to be sent two of the flavours, Chocolate and Chilli & Cheese, to review (you can check out a review of the other two flavours on The Review Addict blog). Making popcorn at home is something my family love to do, my husband especially, and we're always interested to try new flavours! I also love the fact that these Popcorn Toppers from Corn Again contain 100% natural ingredients.

As suggested on the Popcorn Topper instructions we used oil-popped popcorn so that the topping can stick to the popcorn easier. We made a large bowl of popcorn that we liberally coated with the Chocolate Popcorn Topper. It added a nice cocoa dusting over the popcorn which we all enjoyed. It's sweet, but not too sweet, and has a good chocolate flavour. Corn Again also suggest using the sweet toppers on ice-cream, pancakes, waffles, rice pudding and yogurt. I think this chocolate topper would also be great for sprinkling on hot drinks, like lattes or hot chocolate.

The Cheese & Chilli Popcorn Topper was actually a real revelation, we were not expecting to eat as much of this one (we didn't think the kids would be that keen), so we just made a small bowlful (or star-bowlful!), but it turned out to be the more popular flavour of the two! I don't think I have ever had cheesy popcorn before but it's very nice. There is no real chilli heat to it, but the chilli adds a little extra zing to the flavour. We had to go back and make another batch of popcorn to use with this topping! Corn Again suggest sprinkling the savoury toppers on cheese-on-toast, baked potatoes, savoury pancakes, omelettes and chips. I would even sprinkle this Cheese & Chilli on a pasta dish such as spaghetti.

Extra bowl of cheesy popcorn!

Corn Again also make a range of bagged popcorn, in either snack bags or sharing bags. The standard editions of Corn Again Popcorn are available in five flavours; Salty Sweet, Cinnamon Spice, Garlic & Herb, Chilli & Fennel and Chilli & Lime. At the moment they also have a special edition for Valentine's Day - Rose Chocolate Drizzled popcorn. A unique combination of Turkish delight flavours and popcorn! There will also be some special editions for Mother's Day and Father's Day. You can't really go wrong with popcorn as a present!

Grocery Gems Verdict: Corn Again Popcorn Toppers

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: I'd buy the Coconut Topper to try next.
Purchased: Sent to me by Corn Again.
Price: £3.50 each (for 50g).

Nespresso Linizio Lungo Review

Nespresso owners will be pleased to know that the brand new Linizio Lungo has been launched as part of the permanent range of Grand Cru coffee. As a complete Nespresso devotee I couldn't wait to give this new Lungo a try. Nespresso describes the coffee as a rich and velvety with caramelised smoothness and notes of cereal and malt. It has an intensity of 4, which is quite mild, and has been created especially for the morning coffee drinker. The name "Linizio" derives from the word "inizio", symbolising the start of the day. It's made of pure Arabica beans from South America, using a blend of Brazilian and Colombian coffee.

Linizio Lungo joins the existing varieties of Nespresso Lungos: Vivalto Lungo, Decaffeinato Lungo and Fortissio Lungo. These are all created to provide a larger cup of coffee. Nespresso state that the Linizio Lungo works especially well with milk as "combining this exceptional Grand Cru with milk reveals even rounder, caramelised notes while preserving its roasted character".

The capsules are bright orange - apparently the colour was chosen to reflect the morning inspiration for this coffee, evoking a sunrise. It's certainly a cheery colour to start your day!

The timing of this release is quite apt for me, as I've been getting into Lungos as my morning coffee. I usually go for the more intense Fortissio Lungo as I prefer strong coffee. For the past few days I've been drinking the new Linizio Lungo (with milk added) and have been surprised by just how rich and full bodied the flavour is for a 4 intensity. The flavour has an almost malty edge to it which I just love. There is definitely some caramelised sweetness too but also a very strong, almost bitter, note to end. Usually I find anything less than intensity 5 as being too weak but this one is full of flavour and intensity. I'm very glad that this isn't just a limited edition as I absolutely adore this Linizio Lungo.

I understand there will be plenty of Nespresso news in the upcoming year as they are planning to extend the permanent range of Grand Crus. One of these might even be a permanent 12 intensity blend (fingers crossed!). I know there are many Nespresso fans who want a stronger intensity - as soon as I have any news I will let you all know!

Joe & Seph's Gingerbread Popcorn Review

I was left wanting to try more varieties from gourmet popcorn makers Joe & Seph's range, after I reviewed their delicious Smooth Caramel, Coconut and Cinnamon popcorn. Their Mince Pie popcorn has been the range's top seller in the run up to Christmas but, for me, the Gingerbread Popcorn was top of my list to try.

Joe & Seph's Gingerbread Popcorn, like the other popcorn in this range, has some fantastically simple ingredients. Unlike a lot of sweet treats, I can actually list the ingredients in a short sentence (and note how none of them sound like a character from a sci-fi film); corn, sugar, butter, corn syrup, stem ginger, ginger powder, cinnamon, raising agents. When it comes to ingredients less usually means more in terms of quality.

The Joe & Seph's range is known for their unique cooking process which ensures the flavours are released at different stages whilst you are eating. This creates a fantastic layering effect of flavours. Even though there are only two main components in this popcorn, caramel and ginger, Joe & Seph's have managed to create three separate layers of flavour to experience.

First there is the smooth caramel flavour which I love because it is not overly sickly like other toffee popcorns. Then the caramel is soon given another dimension as the ginger flavour bursts in. It's a sweet ginger taste much like you would find in a delicious gingerbread biscuit. Then just as the sweet ginger flavour is ebbing away, a spicier and more warming stem ginger taste builds.

I don't eat popcorn too often as, more often than not, it's a rubbery chewfest of a snack. Thankfully that is not the case with this range. I love the fact that the Joe & Seph's popcorn has a light and fluffy interior making it a joy to eat. Each bag is 80g (although they do sell larger jars of popcorn too) and it's the kind of snack you'll want to savour, piece by piece, allowing the flavours to slowly develop.

Don't worry Joe & Seph you won't need to eat your hats, because I absolutely love your popcorn.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Joe & Seph's Gingerbread Popcorn

RATING: 9 out of 10
Buy them again?: I've got my eye on the Toffee Apple & Cinnamon popcorn next.
Purchased: Lakeland
Price: £2.99p

Arden & Amici Drunken Panettone

A few weeks ago I had an Arden & Amici Week to review some of the products I had been sent from their new festive range. I didn't get a chance to review this indulgent Drunken Panettone which is made with butter and Moscato syrup and using a 40 year old mother yeast. Just like the other panettone's in the Arden & Amici range, this Drunken Panettone comes beautifully wrapped. The packaging is an elegant taupe and gold topped with a black ribbon and bow. It's perfect to give as a gift at Christmas, if you can resist eating it yourself before the day arrives!

I don't think I have shown what the packaging looks like underneath the lovely wrapping. There is a white cardboard box with the panettone safely snuggled inside. As soon as I opened this packaging I could smell the delicious aroma of the Drunken Panettone. It is light and buttery with a mouthwatering baked smell. The panettone has a dark golden brown colour with large raisins visible from the outside.

Once cut open the Drunken Panettone reveals a perfect texture and just the right amount of fruit. The bread has such a delicious buttery flavour and super soft consistency. It's pure melt in the mouth joy! The raisins are so moist and plump that even the most ardent dried fruit doubters will be won over. But undoubtedly the star ingredient in this Drunken Panettone is the part which makes it "Drunken" in the first place! There is a deliciously sweet and slightly boozy flavour to this pannetone due to the added Moscato Syrup. I'm no wine expert but I know that Moscato wine is a sweet dessert wine which has a low alcohol content. In this panettone it adds a deliciously subtle flavour which builds in intensity with each mouthful. I'm not particularly a fan of alcohol in cakes or chocolate but I absolutely loved it in this panettone!

Every part of this Drunken Panettone is flavourful and moist, from the raisins to the bread. The inclusion of Moscato Syrup adds a subtle alcholic kick which makes it a perfect treat for the Christmas season.

The Arden & Amici Drunken Panettone (750g) is available at Waitrose and Ocado for £11.99. It is suitable for vegetarians.

You might be interested in some of my other Arden & Amici Reviews:
Arden & Amici Panforte
Arden & Amici Chocolate Chip Panettone
Arden & Amici Almond Ricciarelli
Arden & Amici Cranberry & Orange Panettone

 

Joe & Seph's Smooth Caramel, Coconut & Cinnamon Popcorn

I've always wanted to try Joe & Seph's range of popcorn and I finally found some on a recent trip to Selfridges Food Hall. I was greeted with an abundant range of flavours but I couldn't resist the sound of the Caramel, Coconut and Cinnamon. I figured I may as well start off with the classics before I move on to the more adventurous sounding flavours! Also as I adore both coconut and cinnamon this flavour combination was immediately appealing.

Joe & Seph's popcorn has been uniquely prepared so as to release different flavours whilst you are eating, essentially creating a layering effect of flavours. For the Caramel, Coconut and Cinnamon they describe the layering as; firstly you will "taste our smooth caramel followed by the Saigon cinnamon and our special blend of exotic spices with the coconut flourishing in your mouth to finish".

As soon as I opened the packet I could instantly smell the exotic blend of coconut and cinnamon. Heaven! This is probably as good a point as any to admit that I'm not a great fan of shop bought popcorn. I love the freshly made stuff, cinema popcorn can be quite nice too, but I don't like popcorn which is covered in overly thick and sickly toffee coatings. Thankfully Joe & Seph's Popcorn is a completely different experience to the usual toffee popcorn. The caramel coating is crispy but not too thick, it lightly coats the popcorn giving it a deliciously crunchy texture. The inner popcorn is light and fluffy and just melts in the mouth.

However all this is still secondary to the gorgeous flavours of the popcorn itself. The layering of the flavours is genuinely phenomenal. Firstly the caramel is sweet and creamy, followed by the rich cinnamon spice and then there is the gorgeous coconut which lingers at the end. It's simply popcorn perfection.

I will definitely be buying from this range again and I can't wait to add a few bags to the Christmas hampers I'm putting together this year. I love the fact that there is a flavour for everyone, the range is truly expansive. There are some fantastic Christmas flavours; Mince Pie and Brandy Butter. If you are not a sweet tooth they also have a range of savoury popcorn, in flavours such as; Mature Irish Cheddar and Goats Cheese & Black Pepper. The only problem I can see is deciding which flavour to try next. I'm tempted by the Peanut Butter or the Gingerbread popcorn!

What do you think of the Joe & Seph's Popcorn range and which of their flavours would you try?

Arden & Amici Almond Ricciarelli Review

It's now Day 4 of Arden & Amici Week and the time is flying by! Today I felt like reviewing something that is a little bit different. These Ricciarelli are a traditional Italian biscuit that originated in the town of Siena, Tuscany, dating back to the 13th Century. I studied History for many years so naturally I love finding out about such distant origins. The legend surrounding these Ricciarelli biscuits is based on a Sienese adventurer, Ricciardetto della Gherardesca, who apparently ate these delicious biscuits during a crusade sometime around 1250. He loved them so much that brought back the recipe and had them made for guests at his castle near Volterra. It's an intriguing story to go with this regional delicacy.

The Ricciarelli biscuits are traditionally made using an almond base with sugar, honey and egg whites. The rough and crackled surface is then covered with icing sugar. They are made in moulds which are often described as "boat shaped". I can't help but see them as being almond shaped, reflecting the delicious flavour within.

Ricciarelli biscuits are traditionally eaten at Christmas, making them a perfect addition to the Arden & Amici festive Italian bakery range. The ingredients are simple but they are full of flavour. The base of these biscuits is made of almonds without any flour, making them a perfect gluten and wheat free treat. They are an intense almond experience with a soft and slightly chewy texture. If you are fond of marzipan or almond based desserts then you will love these.

These Almond Ricciarelli are extremely sweet, the layer of icing sugar on top is quite thick too, so having a strong cup of coffee or espresso alongside them is a must. They are completely different to anything I have eaten before and I'm so glad to have been introduced to these little regional treats.

They look so pretty with their boat (or almond!) shape and would look great served up with coffee at the end of a meal. I couldn't resist adding an extra sprinkling of icing sugar too.

Arden & Amici have also released a Cocoa Ricciarelli which I cannot wait to try, I will be reviewing them in the next few weeks. They also contain an almond base but with the addition of cocoa powder, which sounds absolutely delicious!

The Arden & Amici Almond Ricciarelli and Cocoa Ricciarelli are available in Waitrose for £5.69 each. Have you ever tried Ricciarelli before? If you have tried them in Italy I would love to hear from you!

Take a look at my other reviews from Arden & Amici Week:

Arden & Amici Panforte
Arden & Amici Classic Panettone
Arden & Amici Chocolate Chip Panettone

Arden & Amici Classic Panettone Review

Continuing my Arden & Amici Week of reviews are these gorgeous Classic Panettone. They come in three different sizes 750g, 500g or the mini panettone which is 100g, so you can choose between a sharing size or just keeping it all to yourself! As Arden & Amici very kindly sent me all four of their panettones (Classic, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry & Orange and Drunken) I was spoilt for choice with which one to review first. I decided to start with the Classic Panettone and then move onto the other combinations.

Just like yesterday's Arden & Amici Panforte the Classic Panettone comes beautifully wrapped. The largest size comes in a burgundy and gold packaging whilst the other sizes have creamy white and gold wrappings. They all look fabulous as festive presents, but unlike Christmas pudding deserve to be eaten well before Christmas Day!

Mini Classic Panettone

The Arden & Amici Panettone are baked in Italy using traditional methods, developed by generations of Italian bakers, and using the best quality ingredients. As soon as I took the panettone out of it's stylish box I could smell the mouthwatering buttery baked aroma. The panettone had a lovely golden brown colour with some large raisins scattered across the top.

Once cut open, it had a gorgeously golden colour with a soft texture that was light and fluffy. The taste was rich and buttery, very reminiscent of brioche without being greasy or heavy.  There was just the perfect amount, and distribution, of raisins, which were all moist and plump. I absolutely loved this panettone and will definitely be buying it in the future.

If you have any leftovers of the Arden & Amici Classic Panettone (which I highly doubt) then it's also delicious toasted with butter or can be used to make a rich bread and butter pudding. It's a wonderfully versatile product.

The Arden & Amici Panettone range is available in Waitrose for £7.99 for the 750g, £5.99 for the 500g and £2.69 for the 100g. The latter mini panettone is also available on a 2 for £4 offer so it's a great time to give some of the different versions a try!

Arden & Amici Panforte Review

This fabulous Panforte is kicking off my Arden & Amici Week of reviews. Panforte is a traditional Italian delicacy which dates as far back as the 13th Century and is made from various fruits, nuts and spices. It is baked in a shallow pan to give it a flat circular shape. The Arden & Amici Panforte is made from an exquisite combination of almonds, candied fruit and mixed spice.

I have to spare a few lines just to comment on the packaging, because it really is special. The Panforte is wrapped in decadent red and gold paper which has been folded around the cake in an expert origami style. It is definitely a product that looks great as a ready to go Christmas gift.

Inside the elegant packaging is this decadent looking Panforte. It has been edged with a band of paper bearing the Arden & Amici logo. The whole thing looks fabulous. The smell coming from this was amazing too, the scent of oranges and spice especially shine through.

The Arden & Amici Panforte comes with a sachet of icing sugar which should be sprinkled over the top before serving. It is also recommended that the Panforte be cut into thin strips and enjoyed with a strong cup of coffee or liqueur!

I love coffee so that's how I tried mine. The taste of the Panforte lived up to the delightful presentation. It is loaded with almonds, which I love, all held together with a delicious candied fruit. The almonds are large and generously distributed. Every almond had a lovely nutty taste which can often be missing from almonds as they have such a delicate flavour. They had all retained a marvellous crunch too, no soggy nuts here!

The candied fruit is mainly citrus in taste, specifically orange. It is sweet without being too sweet, and zesty without being bitter. The mixed spice is quite subtle and adds a light festive flavour. It's a marvellous combination and tastes divine with the almonds, not to mention a strong coffee!

I love the fact that it is Christmassy whilst still being different from the usual festive desserts such as mince pies and Christmas puddings. I'm currently making up a foodie gift hamper for my Mum's birthday in December and I'll be buying an Arden & Amici Panforte to go pride of place at the front of the basket!

The Arden & Amici Panforte is available at Waitrose for £5.99.

Have you ever tried a Panforte before? What's your favourite festive Italian treat?

Nespresso Variations 2012 Review - Coconut, Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut

I love coffee, my husband would attest to the fact that I'm not fully human until I've had my first coffee of the day. I especially love my Nespresso coffee machine. I've only had it a few months but it's now an essential part of my kitchen. It makes perfect espresso without any mess or fuss at all. There are sixteen main Grand Cru coffees to choose from with the occasional special edition being released during the year. In the run up to Christmas Nespresso always release a limited edition range of "Variations". This is my first Christmas as a Nespresso owner and as someone who loves coconut I was over the moon to discover that the Variations 2012 are: Coconut, Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut.

All three Variations have been blended with the Livanto Grand Cru, intensity 6, as the base coffee. The Coconut Variation does not disappoint with it's intense coconut flavour. It adds a real sweetness to the base espresso, with a rich lingering coconut flavour. I preferred the Coconut Variation as a base espresso for larger drinks such as a latte or mocha rather than on it's own.

The Hazelnut Variation has an instant wow factor, it immediately fills the vicinity with a rich hazelnut aroma. The flavour of the hazelnut is rich and powerful with intensely creamy undertones. I've always known that hazelnut goes perfectly with chocolate but this proves that it tastes great with coffee too. The Nespresso staff at their Regent Street store told me that this is the most popular of the three variations.

The Macadamia Nut is the most subtly flavoured of the three with a mild indistinct nutty taste. It adds a delicate flavour but doesn't overpower the overall flavour of the Livanto Grand Cru coffee. It's not as sweet as the Hazelnut Variation or as strong as the Coconut Variation. If you are not a fan of flavoured coffees then this is the variation for you.

What do you think of the new nut inspired Nespresso collection?

You may also be interested in:
Arden & Amici Almond and Chocolate Chunk Biscotti