Author: Sam Allcock

Quick Overview: What Makes Mary Berry’s Lasagne So Loved? Picture a cold winter evening in the UK, the kitchen windows fogged with steam, and a golden brown lasagne bubbling away in the oven. For millions of British households-and more than a few pub kitchens-that image is inseparable from the name Mary Berry. Her lasagne recipe has become one of the most searched-for Comfort Dishes in the country, trusted by families, caterers and Hospitality professionals alike. There are two main versions worth knowing. The first is Mary Berry’s traditional lasagne al forno: layers of rich meat sauce, silky white sauce and…

The Best Instructors Are the Most Disciplined The best scuba instructors are rarely the most daring divers; they are the most disciplined ones. Discipline in scuba diving instruction means treating preparation as non-negotiable and staying calm precisely because the response to trouble has already been rehearsed. Darrell Seale arrived at teaching carrying exactly that temperament. A U.S. Air Force veteran and retired aerospace and defense executive, the instructor has taught since 1999 with more than 2,500 dives logged, working between Trophy Club, Texas, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The overlap between those earlier careers and diving runs deeper than…

A new UK bakery brand, Kynd Dough, launches into retail in June 2026, aiming to meet demand for consistent, convenient packaged bakery. Kynd Dough enters the packaged bakery market with a focus on product quality and formats that suit modern retail. The brand is built on a straightforward idea: bakery should taste good, perform reliably and fit the way people shop. The brand uses craft baking methods alongside packaging and process design that extend shelf life without affecting taste or texture. The first range launches in June and covers core convenience lines: White and Brown Sliced Loaves, Classic and Seeded…

Half of British adults do not know that vegetables such as courgettes, cucumbers and aubergines can be grown in the UK. A poll of 2,000 adults found that many people assume common ingredients, including peppers, sweet potatoes and runner beans, only come from abroad. Blueberries and cherries were also among the foods people most often believed to be imported. The poll found that 43 per cent of adults do not feel confident knowing which fruit and vegetables are in season at any given time of year. This lack of awareness shapes what people cook. Dishes such as pizza, fish and…

Encona Thai Sriracha Chilli Sauce arrives as demand for bold global flavours continues to rise across Britain. Encona, one of the UK’s most recognised hot sauce brands, has added a Thai Sriracha Chilli Sauce to its range. The product is now on sale in convenience stores across the country. Made by Grace Foods UK, the UK’s number one supplier of Caribbean food and drink, the new sauce combines garlic, mild chilli heat and a touch of sweetness. It also contains pieces of chunky pepper mash, which give it a distinct texture. The sauce carries bold flavour without intense heat, making…

Country Range has launched a new Hot Honey, available now and designed to work across all menu types and times of day. Hot honey has grown in popularity over the past year. The new Country Range Hot Honey blends natural sweetness with a mild chilli heat. It contains no additives and comes in 720ml squeezy bottles, sold in cases of five. The product works across a broad range of dishes, from waffles and halloumi bakes to pizzas. It suits busy kitchens, works well as a table condiment, and adds a distinct flavour to everyday dishes. Rachel Porter, Country Range Group…

A new survey shows that most Brits need just 14 degrees Celsius before they light the barbecue, with some willing to grill in even colder conditions. A poll of 2,000 adults found that 21 per cent will fire up the grill when temperatures sit in single figures. The most committed 67 per cent keep going until a storm threatens to take down their gazebo. A further 45 per cent hold their ground through thunder, a third press on through a full storm, and winds of around 30 miles per hour are not enough to stop others. A spokesperson for bakery…

Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely weekend morning with the family or savoring those last few moments before rushing out the door, a filling, healthy breakfast is a perfect way to begin the day. Easy recipes that take less than 30 minutes — and can even be prepared the night before — make busy mornings a breeze. Sheet Pan Pancakes are simple to whip up any day of the week with no flipping required, while Healthy Sausage Breakfast Muffins let you put protein on the menu in a kid-friendly package. Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful. A quick,…

Renovating a property is a complex undertaking, and one of the persistent challenges for owners is coordinating the people who design the work with the people who build it. The design-build model, in which a single firm handles both, has become a common answer to that problem, particularly for residential renovation in markets such as Nova Scotia. The Coordination Problem In a traditional renovation, an owner might hire a designer or architect to plan the work and a separate contractor to carry it out. That split can create gaps. Designs may not fully account for construction realities, costs can shift…

Horse Rock Olive Oil, the small-batch estate-grown olive oil brand based on the White family’s ranch near St. Helena, continues its production of certified extra virgin olive oil from approximately 50 olive trees on the property. The brand operates at deliberately small scale, producing two to three tons of olives per harvest, which is bottled in Glen Ellen, Sonoma Valley. Founded and led by CEO Celeste White, with her husband Dr. Robert White as co-principal, Horse Rock represents a single-origin estate olive oil approach in a region whose agricultural identity is closely tied to wine production. The brand’s small scale…