Over the past couple of years, Veganism has become one of the most popular lifestyle trends. It’s become so much so that cities across the U.K. are now lined with Vegan Cafes and restaurants with Manchester recently launching a vegan takeaway. There’s numerous reasons people are turning to this lifestyle but the biggest two are the health benefits it has, and also to do their bit to prevent cruelty to animals. What are health benefits to going vegan? As mentioned above, one of the main reasons for people becoming vegan is the impact the diet can have on your body after cutting out meat and any other product derived from animals . Despite speculation, it is possible for vegans to receive all the nutritions that they need from this diet - by simply replacing meats with plant based protein sources instead such as lentils or quinoa. Research has also proven that the body will not only feel better, but it will look better to such as better skin, healthy and shiny hair - and a leaner physique. And there’s still plenty of ‘junk’ food for Vegans to enjoy such as pizza and cheese! If it’s that good for you, why aren’t more people vegan? If you love meat - and aren’t a fan of fruit and veg then this diet isn’t for you! Vouchercodespro carried out an interesting survey to find out why more people were not turning to this diet. The main reason was they like the taste of meat too much (81%), meat substitutes are too expensive (58%), I’d struggle for meal ideas (50%), my family eat meat and wouldn’t consider going vegetarian or vegan with me (41%), the attitude of certain vegetarians, vegans has put me off (26%). Facts you probably didn’t know about veganism…
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Finally Summer in England has arrived! This week, parts of the UK are said to have been hotter than Mexico - and even Turkey. If you’re like us, you may be feeling a bit burnt from overindulging in the sun, and perhaps a bit full from enjoying one too many BBQs with friends. One way we love to cool down in this heat is to enjoy a ice lolly - one preferably with a bit of alcoholic in it. We thought we’d take advantage of this lovely weather and share with you three easy-to-make ice lollies that’ll make Fabs and Twisters a thing of the past… Flower Garden Bring a sense of the beautiful English summer to your ice lolly with the ‘Flower Garden’. It’s made with a selection of edible flowers, including roses and marigolds, which look incredibly beautiful when they are suspended underneath the ice. They make the perfect choice for picnics in the park and those spontaneous summer garden parties. You’ll need: 120g Granulated sugar 240ml of Champagne (use flat Champagne as it works much better)! 1tbsp of lemon juice ½ tablespoons blossom or rose water Handful of edible flowers or petals Simply put the sugar and 480ml of water in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, take off the heat, then add the champagne - don’t drink it in the process though - and then add in the lemon juice and rose water. Place your edible flowers into ice lolly moulds but don’t fill them to the top, then let them freeze overnight. Perfect and delicious… Pimms Ice Lollies Who doesn’t love a glass of refreshing Pimm’s on a hot sunny day? Well, we’ve got good news for you, not only do they make the ultimate drink - but they also make a great ice lolly for us grown ups! What you’ll need: 10 mint leaves 75ml Pimm’s 200ml Lemonade 100g Golden Caster Sugar 20 thin slice of cucumbers which are cut in quarters A quick and easy recipe - add the strawberries and mint leaves in a blender until it has gone smooth and use a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds. Then add your Pimm’s, lemonade and sugar until this has been dissolved. Add the cucumber pieces into a lolly mould and top with the smooth strawberry mixture. Leave for 30 - 45 minutes and then add a lolly stick in for up to four hours until they are completely frozen; then it’s Pimm’s away! Chocolate ice lolly If you don’t fancy an alcoholic cocktail, we’ve got you covered in the form of a simple yet luxurious, chocolate ice lolly, perfect for those with a sweet tooth… What you’ll need… 500ml whole milk 250ml double cream 150g good-quality dark chocolate, finely chopped 65-75g granulated sugar (depending on the sweetness of your chocolate) 2 tsp vanilla extract Pour the milk and cream into a pan and bring it to a simmer, then remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate and sugar, mixing it until it’s blended. Add the vanilla and leave the mixture to cool. The longer you leave it, the smoother and creamier your ice lolly will be. If you fancy going all out, simply add some chocolate sauce over it before freezing for that extra bit of taste - amazing! The Queen. She embodies everything that it means to be British. You can only have to think of her to conjure up images of great palaces, the union flag, corgis, Charles, Will, Harry, Prince Philip - ah we could go on and on. But let us stop there, because it’s almost Her Majesty’s birthday - and we don’t want to miss it! For those of you who don’t know, the queen celebrates two birthdays each year - her actual birthday falls on April 21st - and her royal official birthday takes place on a Saturday in every June. During the official one, a parade is carried out to celebrate the day. This year, there will be a incredible flyby over the palace with a number of aircrafts, including a Chinook, Typhoons, Tornado's and a Hawk T1 to represent the Red Arrows. And as we all well know, The Queen is one truly remarkable lady, and one truly remarkable character! We’ve found from watching documentaries, or reading articles on her that she has plenty of traits that only she could manage to get away with. To mark Her Majesty’s 91st birthday, we’d thought we’d reveal some of The Queen’s top eating and drinking habits that have occurred during her reign!
We are big fans of Man Vs Food and we are always inspired by the monstrous challenges that are taken. But it got us thinking that sometimes on dish just isn’t enough! We’ve compiled a list of the most popular joints around the North West where you can take on a real foodie challenge & indulge in some of the most delicious delights on offer… Red Dog Saloon, Liverpool Across the past couple of days, there’s been plenty of talk about Liverpool’s Red Dog Saloon’s Chicken Challenge. Guests have to eat six spicy chicken wings covered with Naga Viper chilli sauce (500 times hotter than jalapenos) within ten minutes - before taking a five minute cooling off period before having any drink - including water. But, if you succeed, you’ll always have your photo on the wall of fame. Definitely one for the brave! Infamous Diner, Manchester If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then the Infamous Diner’s 21 Pancake Challenge is perfect for you! For £25, guests will receive 21 pancakes which are topped with the most amazing flavours - including nutella, candy bacon, and chocolate chip ice cream. Amazing! They give you 30 minutes to eat all 21, and if you do, you’ll dine for free, get a t-shirt and again, get your name on their wall of fame. Santa Maluco pizza, Liverpool If you’re hungover from a heavy weekend, the best way to cure this is by eating pizza isn’t it? Every Sunday, Santa Maluco in Liverpool runs the Sunday Slice Challenge which allows guests to eat as many slices as they can for £10. Apparently, the highest amount that’s even been eaten was 15 slices...but we’re willing to take that on! O’Deli’s, Manchester We love a good full English breakfast, and we must say this challenge sounds like our idea of heaven! O’Deli’s in Manchester offers an incredible 8,000 calories in it’s Monster Mega Breakfast which is made up of 4 eggs, 5 pieces of toast, 8 strips of bacon, 4 sausages and a full tin of beans. Surprisingly, it’s only a tenner - and worth every penny. However, if there’s room in your belly to eat it all, you can win yourself a free breakfast. Share with us your top foodie challenges! #gbloves Alfresco dining is one of life’s simple pleasures! There’s nothing more perfect than embracing the sun, sipping on a cold glass of wine and indulging into amazing food. Across the North West there are plenty of beautiful restaurants and pubs that offer incredible views that are perfect to enjoy any day of the week. We’ve pulled together a couple of our favourite Alfresco eating spots from the North West… The Stanneylands, Wilmslow If you’re looking for a gorgeous Countryside escape, The Stanneylands in Wilmslow offers the perfect dining experience in the Tap & Pantry, an all day casual dining destination. It offers guests three beautiful terraces which overlook the new, and stunning, woodland and pond that surrounds the property. There’s plenty of food choice for guests, whether they are looking for a light bite to eat, or a large plate meal - all to be washed down with one of the most amazing British inspired cocktails from its drink register. The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Knutsford Surrounded by a Championship Golf Course and a panoramic view of the Mere Lake, you’ll find the incredible Club Lounge & Bar at The Mere. It’s perfect for those who are spending the night at the resort, or those indulging in a game of golf, and also for those who just fancy calling in for something to eat. The Club Lounge offers one of the most scenic views of Cheshire, and with plenty of food choices including burgers, steaks and pastas, it’s one of the perfect places to enjoy when the sun is out! Lunya, Liverpool If you love dining in a city that’s full of hustle and bustle, head to Liverpool Lunya, which is right in the heart of its shopping complex, Liverpool One. It’s a Catalan and Spanish Deli Restaurant Bar that is award-winning and an independent restaurant and bar. If you’ve ever walked by, you’ll already know that this is one of the city's most popular food destinations, and if the mouth-watering food smells haven’t already attracted your attention, then just discover their menu... Where is your favourite Alfresco dining destination? Let us know over on Twitter #gbloves Whether you’re scrambling through the back streets of Poland, or browsing in the English Capital, there are plenty of unique, and extremely creative bars for you to experience. We’ve pulled together a selection of some of the most craziest bars that we’d love to visit - well, maybe except for the one in Prague...
Cybermachina, Krakow Poland If you love your video games, then this bar was made for you. Complete with throwback games across every room (such as Mario) it’s one of the best bars around to release your inner teenage self! The cocktails, and shots, are cheap and delicious - so we are led to believe- and those Guitar Fans can rock out its very own dedicated area. And to top it off...they serve ‘gamer’ themed drinks. Anonymous Bar, Prague You’re probably well accustomed to seeing the images of the Anonymous circulating on social media - and in the press. For some (including me), it can be a little intimidating and also a bit daunting! However, in Prague, they have their very own Anonymous Bar where staff serve you in the traditional masks - and after one drink they offer you the secret menu which is unique - and enchanting. Some of the drinks menu is only able to be viewed through a black light - and another only through an old school viewmaster. And as you’ll spot on its TripAdvisor comments, if you order one particular drink the staff take a photo of you in a Guy Fawkes mask. A bit spooky if you ask me! Cahoots, London London is famous for a few things - The Queen, Buckingham Palace and the most important thing, its tubes! If you fancy a taste of British history, head to Cahoots which you’ll find in the centre of Soho It’s a 30s / 40s themed bar in an old unused tube station which provides visitors a trip way back to the post-war in this secret bar that’s filled with gorgeous cocktails, swing dancing and sing a longs. If you’re thinking of heading to it, make sure you pre-book as you can imagine, it really popular and can get really busy! Circo, Liverpool As one of Liverpool's most iconic institutions, Circo promises guests a spectacular night that they'll never forget. When entering the doors, all things weird and wonderful will be taking place as part of their Nevereverland theme which promises nights that you'll never, ever forget. With a selection of dinner shoes, live music sessions and a nightclub, it's the perfect - yet most wackiest - to head to in the North West. Where is the wackiest bar you've ever been? Let us know over on Twitter! #gbloves In today’s society, it’s become totally normal, and almost pretty much acceptable to whip out your phone or camera and snap a picture of what you are about to eat or drink - before loading onto Instagram. If I’m out, and I’m impressed, I might take a quick picture (on the sly) to share with my friends, but there are plenty of ‘influencers’ today who will not eat until they have the perfect shot - even if that means practically standing on the table to get the right ‘flat lay’. The good news of these foodies taking to Instagram to show off their fancy meals means that we can take inspiration from them when we are in the kitchen. We thought we’d take a look at some of the latest food trends that have began, predominantly on channels like Instagram, which can easily be re-created at home for you to make, filter and Instagram!
Unicorn Hot Chocolate 2017 has saw a rapid increase in Unicorn inspired foods - from cookies to wedding cakes! The Unicorn Hot Chocolate is a concoction of everything sweet - including marshmallows, sweets, sprinkles, white chocolate and rainbow dyed whipped double cream. It’s the perfect delight for those who love a sweet treat, and is so Instagrammable - even if it doesn’t look exactly how its mean too as the colours used within it, make it look absolutely incredible. Black Food Now we know influencers can be quite keen to stick to colour schemes on their Instagram accounts - with black and white being most popular. But has this black food trend taken it to the next level? In places like Dubai, people can opt for black ice cream, or black chips which to us just don’t look right but have proven to be a sensation on social media. Although I’m not sure that it’ll be available in Tesco any time soon... Food that’s literally defying gravity It’s been a craze that has swept across Instagram - with plenty of cake businesses jumping in the action! Some very creative people have baked cakes to give the effect of something falling, or being poured over the cake from a high level such as a bottle of beer. We are not too sure how this is even possible, but it looks incredible and we are confident this trend will continue well into the rest of the year What food trends have you spotted? Let us know over on Twitter #gbloves If you know your stuff about the hospitality industry, then you definitely have one date noted in your diary - World Cocktail Day - which is taking place Saturday 13th May! We definitely consider this as one of the best days of the year...mainly because we don’t have to make an excuse up to have a drink...but also because it’s the perfect opportunity to kick back and enjoy some of the fanciest drinks around! And if you’re like us, then you probably get that warm, fuzzy feeling when you’re heading to a bar about the cocktail list, and wondering if you’ll be playing safe with a classic like a Strawberry Daiquiri or being wild and trying something new - something that may have even be created just for you in-house! For those of you that didn’t already know, Cocktails have been around for years (and we are talking way back, before Bond...and before The Great Gatsby era)! According to the history books, cocktails have been around since the 1600s - with the trend starting here in the UK. Although American’s try and claim the idea came from them, there are clear roots that cocktails began in London, with our very own British Gin being the main ingredient! Bars up and down the country today have unlimited access to spirits - including vodkas and gins - and can style cocktails up to make them unique and quirky! We thought we’d pull together out favourite cocktails facts that we thought you might like to get you in the mood for cocktail day…all you need to do now is download Tom Cruise’s Cocktail and relax on the couch with a chilled cocktail. Perfect!
Travelling is great for sampling foods of the world; whether that’s indulging into dumplings in Poland, eating Goulash in Hungary or Paella in Spain. The only problem is that when you’re back home, it can be quite difficult to recreate the exact same meal. Here in the UK, we are fortunate that there are plenty of ethnic specialities that have set up businesses allowing us to continue trying new foods - and experiencing some of the finest tastes of the world. We take a look at some of the most unique, and delicious foods around...we are sure you’ll be booking a table soon... Baltic Cellar If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to experience the Baltic countries, then you’ll know exactly why you should head to Baltic Cellar. Latvian owner, Elena Bogda, has created a menu inspired by her motherland and neighbouring countries including Poland, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania. Her passion for cooking began when she was 15 after learning how to create the most amazing meals from her grandmother. There’s an amazing selection of amazing meals including Wild Boar, Siberian Dumplings, Bigos and a Tallinn Delight. And in true Baltic style...there’s plenty of alcoholic drinks to finish off with! Address: The Vaults, Market Place, Bolton BL1 2AL 01204 386 854 Armenian Taverna One of Manchester’s oldest restaurants, Armenian Taverna, offers guests a true experience of wh at it’s liking dining in the heart of Armenian (which lies in highlands which surround the Biblical mountains of Ararat). Armenians cooking style tends to be barbequed food - of meat, fish and vegetables which often leads to a slow preparation time - but one that’s very much worth it. Their specialities including Lconac Smbuk, Pascus Dolma and Shashlik, delicious! Address: Alerbt Square, 3 - 5 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 4DF 0161 834 9025 Chicha Peruvian Street Kitchen For a true taste of South America, head to Chica Peruvian Street Kitchen in Liverpool. After opening last year, it’s been one of the most popular restaurants to hit the city - and also scooped the award of ‘1 of 3 best South American Restaurants in England’ by the Sunday Times. The interior is suitably themed and offers some of the most incredible meal selections around; from their meatfeast or Ceviche and Seafood bar. We’d recommend eating with a Cusqueña beer which will transport you from Bold Street to a sunny beach in Peru! Address: 55 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4EU What's your favourite food from around the world? Tweet us over at GB Hospitality and let us know... Brunching is one of the biggest trends to hit the hospitality industry in the last couple of years and is the perfect meal choice for those who want to embrace their weekend lie-in! With restaurants and cafes constantly creating new, exciting and intriguing menus (such as Bottomless Brunch) it's not hard to see why... The History of Brunch The idea of Brunch was first introduced by English Writer Guy Beringer back in 1895 when he defended those nursing their Sunday morning hangovers in his essay 'Brunch: A Plea'. In it, he discussed that people who had drank too much the night before should not be made to wake up early and be given a rich spread of meaty foods and this would be too much for them to stomach; but instead be served lighter foods such as pastries. He believed that brunch was the perfect chance for friends to get together to talk over their activities from the night before, describing it as 'cheerful, socialable and inciting'. Good food and catching up with friends; what better reason do you need to head out for Brunch? Here's our top picks of Brunch from across the North West, enjoy... Leaf One of Liverpool's leading independent tea shops and bars, Leaf, offers one of the most delicious brunch menus around which is available from 9am-12 noon in the week; and 3pm at the weekend. They hold live band nights throughout the week and serve a range of spirits for guests to relax and enjoy - who won’t have to worry about being up too early the next day to miss out on their amazing breakfast! They picked up the Sunday Times’ award for the Top 25 Brunches in the UK and also the ‘Winning Tea Blend’ great taste award 2015. Address: 65 - 67 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4EZ And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon Although this cafe started out originally as a cupcake company, it’s very well known for it’s delicious treats and brunch! It’s so popular that if you’re thinking of heading here, book a table in advance. Their menu is a twist on some of the traditional Brunches - featuring Banana bread, granola and English Scones - what brunch dreams are made of! Address: 230 Burton Road, Manchester, M20 2LW Cafe Tabac You’ll find Cafe Tabac at the top of Bold Street in Liverpool. They are one of the cities oldest cafes - so it's fair to say they have got the breakfast down to a tee! It’s a real chilled environment where you can enjoy good food, and if you’re lucky enough to get a window seat, watch the world go by outside. It's probably one of the best ways to spend a Sunday morning! Address: 126 Bold Street, Manchester, L1 4JA Alabama’s All American Eatery The American inspired breakfast brunch offers a selection of traditional breakfast choices and also a pick for those looking for something different such as French toast, buttermilk pancakes or vanilla waffles. If you fancy a cheeky cocktail with your brunch we’d recommend trying their cocktails too- they’re incredible. Address: 10 Newton Street, Manchester Where is your favourite spot to Brunch? Let us know over on the GB Twitter. |
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