That's Food and Drink: Gordon Ramsay Wines Adds Pinot Grigio to Its range

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Wise Bartender Releases Two Advent Calendars Featuring Alcohol-Free Drinks to Ensure Growing Numbers of Non-Drinkers Can Celebrate This Christmas

With demand for tasty and satisfying alcohol-free drinks continuing to rise and flourish, award-winning online retailer Wise Bartender has launched two advent calendars to ensure the traditional ritual of receiving a daily treat during advent remains accessible to everyone.

Pre-orders are being taken for the Wise Bartender beer advent calendar and the sweet and tasty version that includes a selection of alcohol-free alternatives to wine, cider, spirits and cocktails. Both are offered at an early bird price of £59.99, including free delivery, but will revert to the standard price of £79.99 when the initial supply of 250 is exhausted.

Says Tom Ward, founder of Wise Bartender: “The Wise Bartender website gives anyone looking to cut out or cut back the amount of alcohol they consume a chance to discover refreshingly different alcohol-free drinks, with over 400 products available.

"Our advent calendars are a popular addition each year as they offer a cost-effective way of trying a selection of 24 delicious drinks and sharing the experience of eagerly opening an advent door every day with hundreds of other mindful drinkers.”

The Wise Bartender beer advent calendar includes 24 different alcohol-free beers (all between 0.0% - 0.5% ABV) with styles including lager, pilsner, stout, ale, IPA, and wheat beers drawn from a range of favourite brands and some exciting new additions.

Alternatively, customers can choose the Wise Bartender sweet and tasty advent calendar which offers a diverse selection of 24 different alcohol-free drinks, including wine, cider, spirit and cocktail alternatives to enjoy. All the drinks in this calendar are vegan-friendly to ensure everyone can indulge in a daily alcohol-free treat.

“During December, the Wise Bartender social media pages are given over to content relating to the advent calendars” added Tom “with producers providing imagery and videos that give information about their drinks, and we encourage everyone who is opening their calendar to join in with their photos and feedback so that it's a truly interactive experience. 

"And when you discover some great, new drinks that you enjoy we've got you covered as both Wise Bartender advent calendars come with a discount voucher to stock up on your favourites during December.”

Whether you want to cut back on alcohol, regularly consume alcohol-free drinks, or just want to try an alternative range of drinks over the festive period, the original alcohol-free advent calendars from Wise Bartender are really your go-to choice. They combine the traditional enjoyment of opening an advent calendar,  alongside savouring a tasty alcohol-free drink, exploring its background and then using your discount to stock up with further supplies of your favourites so that you can celebrate Christmas your own way.

Wise Bartender advent calendars are now available to pre-order from https://wisebartender.co.uk/collections/advent-calendar with delivery scheduled in November. They are part of a range of mixed alcohol-free drink packs that are available, which make excellent Christmas gifts for everyone who wants to celebrate over the festive season, but chooses not to do so with alcohol.

A Taste of Christmas: Regional Specialities from Across the UK and Ireland

The festive season is not just about presents and decorations; it’s also a time to indulge in delicious, traditional foods. 

Across the UK and Ireland, each region brings its own unique flair to Christmas feasting. From hearty pies to sweet treats, here’s a look at some special Christmas foods from across the isles.

1. England: Yorkshire Christmas Pie

Yorkshire has a long-standing tradition of hearty pies, and the Christmas version is no exception. The Yorkshire Christmas Pie is an extravagant affair. This grand pie is packed with multiple layers of meat—traditionally, everything from turkey and goose to game birds. It's an awe-inspiring centrepiece for a Christmas table, often surrounded by rich gravy and seasonal vegetables.

For something a little sweeter, mince pies are a beloved part of Christmas celebrations across England. Filled with dried fruits, spices, and sometimes a dash of brandy, these tiny pies are thought to bring good luck when eaten during the 12 days of Christmas.

2. Scotland: Cloutie Dumpling

In Scotland, Christmas dinner isn't complete without a slice of Cloutie Dumpling. This spiced fruit pudding is boiled in a cloth (the “clout”), giving it a characteristic skin and dense texture. It's a traditional dessert that’s rich with dried fruits, suet, and spices, often soaked in whisky to add warmth to the festive table. Traditionally served with custard or a dram of whisky, it’s a true winter warmer.

Another festive Scottish treat is the black bun, a fruitcake wrapped in pastry, traditionally eaten on Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) but sometimes seen during the Christmas period too.

3. Wales: Bara Brith

Christmas in Wales wouldn’t be complete without a slice of Bara Brith, a rich fruit loaf steeped in tea and flavoured with mixed spice. Although it’s often enjoyed year-round, it takes on a special place at Christmas, sometimes served alongside other traditional foods like Welsh cakes. The fruity, spiced aroma of Bara Brith feels especially festive when enjoyed with a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s day.

Additionally, tê bach, a spiced biscuit often served at Christmas parties, makes a delightful sweet snack for Welsh families over the festive season.

4. Northern Ireland: Fifteens

Northern Ireland's Christmas gatherings often feature a no-bake treat called Fifteens. These sweet, moreish bites are named after their simple recipe: 15 digestive biscuits, 15 marshmallows, and 15 glacé cherries mixed with condensed milk and coconut. Easy to make and perfect for sharing, Fifteens are a favourite at festive parties and get-togethers in Northern Ireland.

Another traditional Northern Irish Christmas food is the Christmas spiced beef, often served cold with mustard or chutney. This delicacy is made by marinating a joint of beef in a mixture of spices for up to two weeks before slow-cooking it. It’s a robust, deeply flavoured dish that's perfect for a festive buffet.

5. Ireland: Spiced Beef and Guinness Cake

Across the water in the Republic of Ireland, one of the most famous Christmas dishes is spiced beef. This centuries-old dish, particularly popular in Cork, involves marinating beef in a blend of spices (cloves, allspice, juniper, and brown sugar) for several days before slow-cooking or boiling. The result is a tender, flavour-packed joint often served cold in sandwiches or with potatoes and cabbage on Christmas Day.

For dessert, a slice of Guinness cake rounds off the meal perfectly. The dark, rich stout adds a depth of flavour to this fruit-laden cake, making it a popular alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding.

6. Cornwall: Saffron Cake

Cornwall brings a touch of golden warmth to the festive table with saffron cake. This yeasted sweet bread, spiced with saffron and filled with currants and raisins, is a traditional Cornish treat. Though it's not exclusive to Christmas, it's often made during the festive season and pairs perfectly with a cup of tea on a chilly afternoon.

Cornwall’s long-standing fishing tradition also makes stargazy pie a unique Christmas dish. Originally from the Cornish village of Mousehole, this pie features pilchards poking their heads through the pastry “gazing” skywards. While traditionally associated with the winter festival of Tom Bawcock’s Eve (just before Christmas), it occasionally finds its way onto the Christmas table.

7. The Midlands: Shropshire Fidget Pie

In the Midlands, particularly in Shropshire, you’ll find Fidget Pie making an appearance during the festive period. This traditional pie, made with ham, apples, and onions, wrapped in a flaky pastry, offers a savoury-sweet combination that is both hearty and comforting—perfect for the cold winter months.

Another Midlands speciality is pork pie, often served cold as part of a buffet or Boxing Day spread. Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, is famous for producing some of the best pork pies in the country.

8. The Channel Islands: Jersey Wonders

In the Channel Islands, Jersey Wonders are a traditional Christmas treat. These light, fried doughnut-like pastries are twisted into knots and served with tea. Although they’re typically enjoyed throughout the year, they hold a special place in festive gatherings, bringing a sweet, nostalgic touch to Christmas.

Conclusion

Each region across the UK and Ireland adds its own culinary flair to the Christmas season, reflecting its local produce, history, and culture. From hearty pies in Yorkshire to spiced beef in Ireland and sweet treats like Cloutie Dumpling and Bara Brith, these foods help bring families and communities together, celebrating the best of regional flavours. Whether you stick to tradition or explore a new dish from another part of the country, there’s no better way to celebrate the festive season than with a feast filled with history and flavour.

Merry Christmas, and happy feasting!

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Is Revlon the perfect hairdryer for your Christmas gifting? We say yes

Discover Salon-Quality Hair at Home or on the go with the utterly BRAND-NEW Revlon AirFlow Dryer: It's your Hair Game-Changer! (It's literally a game-changer. Read on to learn why.)

Recently Revlon launched the brand new addition to their hair styling family, the AirFlow Control Dryer. 

It carefully combines the very latest in cutting-edge technology with a good, powerful airflow, the Revlon AirFlow Control Dryer reduces your hair's drying time and minimises heat damage, so it's absolutely perfect for a sleek, professional look day after day.

But that’s not all. Because the AirFlow Control Dryer has recently been honoured with the extremely prestigious Red Dot Award.

This international award recognises the AirFlow’s exceptional design and performance, affirming its place as a top contender in the world of hair care.

This small but very mighty dryer allows hair you'd have to pay a small fortune to achieve in a salon anywhere you go, with its incredibly lightweight design packing a mighty punch with its 2000-watts of heating power.

The RRP is a very reasonable £34.99 so will make a very affordable gift this Christmas, even, dare I suggest it, some self-gifting? 

It's available in Tesco and Amazon. 

Incidentally my wife previously owned four different hairdryers, each one for a particular hair drying function. 

She has been able to replace all four of her other hairdryers with one Revlon AirFlow dryer and she states that her hair hasn't felt this good in years! 

So the Revlon AirFlow has been a real and very welcome game-changer for my wife. 

As for me? I don't actually have much hair to dry these days, but I'm really pleased that my wife is so happy with her Revlon AirFlow!

The Temple of Incense has ideal Christmas gifts for you and those you love

If you have people in your lives who you are sourcing Christmas gifts for who are sane and sensible (like us) then we have found some absolutely perfect Christmas gifts for you to purchase for them.

The intriguing story of Temple of Incense began a little over a decade ago in 2012 when two south London sisters, Simi and Sam, decided to launch a modest yet mighty market stall on London's iconic Portobello Road.

What do they sell? Incense. And it's guaranteed to be mindfully handmade using only vegan and cruelty-free ingredients and manufacturing techniques.

They have an absolutely amazing range of incenses available. Including Palo Santo & Eucalyptus Incense Sticks, Rue Leaf Incense Sticks,  Blooming Lovely Incense Gift Set, the new Mindful Incense Collection which includes Amber Incense Sticks, Benzoin Absolute Incense Sticks, Frankincense Incense Sticks, Myrrh Incense Sticks, Rudraksha meditation 108 bead mala and 7 chakra wide wooden incense holder.

To my mind that looks like a super Christmas time gift, especially as it contains frankincense and myrrh. 

You might like to gift their Big Cleanse Gift Box which includes a Sage smudge bundle.

Incidentally my wife was very thrilled to learn that The Temple of Incense sells oudh incense sticks, including their Oudh Incense Sticks, their Bulgarian Rose & Oudh incense sticks, lovingly made with Luxurious Arabian Oudh and Bulgarian Rose, attar style, soaked into halmaddi and woods, wrapped around a bamboo stick.

There are also Nag Champa Gold Incense Sticks, Om Masala Incense Sticks, Oudh & Incense Holder Gift Set, Oudh Extreme incense sticks, Orange Blossom & Lemongrass Incense Sticks, Perky Pandit Incense Sticks, Rose Lovers’ Incense Collection and many, many more besides.

You can peruse their entire range and place your orders at https://www.templeofincense.com.

And if your order is over £80, UK delivery is free.

We'd like to thank Simi, Sam and their amazing family for allowing us to share their magical handmade incense with our readers.