OUR FOOD PICKS
February’s food and drink must-haves
1 Maca, pecan & almond butter
These nut butters give maximum flavour without added salt, sugar, sweeteners or palm oil. This is a delicious blend of buttery rich pecan, roasted almonds and a little Peruvian maca – a powdered root which is thought to help boost energy. Spread on hot toast or dollop onto porridge or pancakes for an instant lift. £5.99 (200g), nutblend.com
2 Perky Blenders winter blend
This award-winning coffee roaster launches a new bespoke blend every winter to warm up the colder months. This year’s is inspired by rich fruitcake flavours with dried fruits, chocolate and brandy all packaged up in a specially designed pouch by local illustrator and painter Karen Brotherton. £9 (250g), perkyblenders.com
3 Poon’s sauces and oils
These modern Chinese pantry essentials come from Amy and Bill Poon, the family behind the famous London restaurant Poon’s. Their WO sauce, a type of XO sauce, is made with salted shrimp and home-dried bacon using a treasured family recipe, and the chilli vinegar dressing is their take on the traditional Shanghainese wonton sauce. A mix of salty black beans, chilli oil and vinegar, it works well over steamed vegetables, drizzled on grilled fish or as a dipping sauce. From £6.50 souschef.co.uk
4 Naked Marshmallow Co toasting set
This fun marshmallow toasting kit with its zero-effort gel burner, bamboo sticks and two bags of gourmet marshmallows, is great for a family get-together or film night. The marshmallows are soft and not
overly sweet, with interesting flavours like salted caramel and strawberry cream. Plus, their perfectly square shape holds well on the toasting sticks, keeping it relatively mess-free as they become gooey. £19 per kit, nakedmarshmallow.co.uk
5 Bear’s Brownies box
Made fresh-to-order, these dense, fudgy brownies are available in a dozen flavours (including our favourite, raspberry ripple). Order the day before for careful courier delivery and you can include a handwritten message, making them perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options, too, so no one need miss out. From £18 for a box of 12, bearsbrownies.co.uk