Food & Drink

The prestigious Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drinks Awards gears up for its annual November ceremony, announcing finalists across four culinary categories including Gastro Pub, Community Café, Restaurant, and World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year. Judges appreciate the resilience and creativity showcased by the county's dining establishments. The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drinks Awards have announced their 2023 finalists in four distinguished dining categories. The annual awards ceremony, set for November, will recognise outstanding establishments in Booker Gastro Pub of the Year, Community Café of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year. Each category is sponsored by renowned organisations and supported by community partners. Rachel Mallows MBE DL, the Awards' founder, expressed her excitement about the participation of both new and returning sponsors. "In these challenging times, it's crucial to celebrate the diverse range of dining options our county offers. Through these awards, we aim..

Food and drink producers across the county have begun the celebrations ahead of this year’s Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards. The first gold, silver and bronze award winners in this year’s competition have been announced ahead of the ceremony itself on November in order to enable those in the three Artisan producer categories to promote their produce and their award during the round of food and drink festivals this summer. “This has been an amazing year for our three produce and drink categories,” says awards director Rachel Mallows. “At every stage of judging I have received such praise for the wares of our county.  There is real innovation in these 21 products and several second stage judges just could not believe how representative they were of the county and what a strong regional offering we have.” She tasked the judges with shortlisting between three and five finalists. “They decided on..

Last month saw the launch of Craft & Skewers opening on Gold Street in Northampton. The restaurant allows you to enjoy Indian food whilst enjoying a pub environment with craft beers and cocktails. By blending the flavours of India with the friendly atmosphere of a pub, they offer a one-of-a-kind dining experience that caters to diverse tastes. Craft & Skewers is not a newcomer to the restaurant scene, having already won over food lovers since opening in Newport Pagnell in November 2021. Building upon their success, they identified the perfect opportunity to bring their unique concept to the foodies of Northampton. As you step into the Craft & Skewers, you’ll immediately feel the inviting vibes of a traditional pub. The bar area welcomes you with cozy seating allowing you to socialize with friends or catch live sports on the screens above. Venture further into the venue and you’ll discover the..

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink awards is back in its fifteenth year. With an aim to celebrate and recognise excellence in the county in food and drink. The Whitco Chef of the Year is one of their 18 categories. The Manna House, Corby, is home of our new Associate Sponsor - Tresham College, Bedford Group. They again kindly hosted the ‘Whitco Chef of the Year’ cook off. Open to Chefs aged over 25, for entry they were asked to ‘Devise a 2 course menu plan for a meal for two you would be proud to cook for your idol, showcasing Northamptonshire produce but on a budget. Your budget is £20 total.’ From this, finalists were selected and invited to a cook off with Masterchef style basket of ingredients including some local products. The day started with a skills test designed to show technique, flavour and texture of vegetable soup,..

Calling all beer enthusiasts, sun worshippers, and lovers of all things pub related! Sunny season is officially on the way, and what better way to spend your day than chilling in the sunshine at your favourite pub? Whether you're looking to hang out with mates or somewhere to take the family, there's something for everyone. Here are some pub gardens to head to this summer... The Plough at Shutlanger The award-winning pub is situated in the quaint village of Shutlanger. Their beautiful courtyard allows you to enjoy delicious food in the sunshine. Plus, it's kid and dog friendly! The menu includes incredible dishes and we'd highly recommend their burgers!   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Plough Inn, Shutlanger - Northampton pub restaurant (@theploughshutlanger) The Windhover The Windhover is another popular location in Northampton and has attracted even more visitors since its refurbishment last year...

Ingredients Makes one loaf of internal measures: 23x10.5x5.5cm and external measures: 30.5x14x6cm  170g whole eggs  200g caster sugar  Zest of 2 unwaxed lemons 110g crème fraiche  60g light olive oil or 80g unsalted melted and cooled butter 180g 00 flour Pinch of sea salt  3g baking powder    Method Place the lemon zest and sugar in a bowl and combine to release the lovely scent. Add your eggs and whisk to a pale consistency, but not too airy. Whisk in the crème fraiche and then add your dry ingredients sieved. Fold these gently and finally the oil or butter. The consistency is that of a thick batter rather than a sponge cake. Place in the loaf tin lined with parchment paper and for the classic line, oil your spatula and pass it across the top. Bake at 160°C for about 40-50 min or until a skewer is nice and clean...

Northamptonshire is back! As the contenders for the County's Food Awards are revealed, the judges are wowed at the calibre of Northamptonshire's artisan producers. The Fifteenth Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, launched on the first day of spring at Silverstone Circuit, have now begun the shortlisting process. 21 of the County's best artisan food and drink products have been announced as finalists, they will now compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze in their respective categories. J Sweeney Accountants have joined sponsors Heygates and Daily Bread to support the three Artisan producer categories: Artisan Local Drink, Artisan Local Product and Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product. The ‘Artisan’ classification includes products from companies that make a high-quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods. Park Inn by Radisson Northampton, new Associate sponsors were kind to host Artisan Local Drink. The judges were amazed by the range..

Father's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to honor the special dads in our lives than by treating them to a remarkable dining experience? If you've still not booked a meal for Father's Day then fear not, these great restaurants in Northampton are still taking bookings. So whether you're looking to treat your Dad, Father-in-law, Step-Dad, Grandad, or partner, these places are sure to impress. Here's where to eat this Father's Day in Northamptonshire... The Plough at Shutlanger The award-winning Plough at Shutlanger is a fantastic place to take your Dad. Their exceptional food is not only delicious, but the presentation makes it look almost too good to eat! Think mouth-watering burgers and one-of-a-kind desserts. They are still taking bookings which you can do via their website: https://www.theploughshutlanger.co.uk/book-a-table-or-takeaway  The Fox & Hounds Harlestone Another one that's a favourite amongst locals, The Fox & Hounds at Harlestone..

Café del Mar Spirits is pleased to announce its 2023 Headline Partnership with the UK's most iconic Ibiza festival Summertime Live. They will be showcasing their exclusive Gin & Vodka in Northampton with a ‘Spirit of the Sunset Tasting Experience’. Over nine days and in seven separate venues, the Summertime Live festival will bring the biggest anthems of the last 30 years to life, with a 32-piece orchestra, live vocalists and DJs. Café de Mar, a brand so synonymous with Ibiza, will serve its Premium Gin & Vodka at the festival on Friday 7th July an Saturday 8th July. Café del Mar Vodka is incredibly smooth in taste, with subtle undertones of cream and citrus. A clean, refreshing and balanced premium spirit at 37.5% ALC./VOL., it is perfect for cocktails or served on ice. Café del Mar Gin is a delicate blend of juniper, with fresh citrus and a hint..

The Northampton Sausage and Cider Festival returns next month with a dazzling array of culinary talent cooking up a feast. Five of the regions leading food traders will be manning the tongs in a line-up curated by the town’s hottest street food pop up Bite Street NN. Local favourites The Smoke Pit (TSP) and The Wood Oven will be rolling up in their food trucks with TSP serving bratwurst and smash pork patties. The Wood Oven will be slinging the dough with pizza from their wood fired oven featuring toppings of pepperoni and ‘nduja – a spicy Italian sausage. Completing the line up are Fat Snags, renown for their beer-cooked sausages, and Banquet 1415 and Broke n Bone BBQ, who will both be cooking with live fire. Banquet 1415 will bring a taste of South America with authentic Argentinian choripan – a meaty sausage served with sliced tomato and salsa...

Are you thinking of saving up those precious pennies and celebrating Valentine’s Day at home next week? Here are three fail-safe and easy-to-follow recipes to impress your loved one with on February 14th this year. Middle-Eastern Style Shakshuka Serves 2-3 Ingredients: -1 Tbsp of Olive Oil -2 White Onions -4 Cloves of Garlic -2 Bell Peppers -2 Tins of Plum Tomatoes -2 Tbsp of Tomato Purée -1 Tsp Cumin -1 Tsp Coriander -1 Tsp Chilli Powder -1 Tsp Ras El Hanout -1 Tsp Rose Harissa Paste -1 Large (or small, if you don’t like it too spicy) Pinch of Cayenne Pepper -1 Pinch of Sugar -1 Handful of Coriander -1 Handful of Parsley -4 Eggs -Salt and Pepper to taste Fry the onions in olive oil on a low heat until translucent. Finely shop the garlic and add to the..

An award-winning chef has extended his team’s temporary takeover of a Northamptonshire village pub’s kitchen after his mouth-watering menu proved popular with discerning diners. Danny Tompkins, a former winner of the coveted ‘Chef of the Year’ category at the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards, took up a residency at The White Horse in Welton, near Daventry, throughout January. He has now extended into February and beyond and is opening up tables for an extra midweek evening service and introducing a new lunchtime menu on Fridays and Saturdays. Danny, who has cooked for celebrities including Jay Z, said: “We wanted to give people the chance to start 2023 in style and treat themselves in the New Year but with the current climate we couldn’t be certain how popular it would prove. “The response has blown us away and we were fully booked pretty much every night. The demand is there so..

Why not save a little bit of money this month and celebrate Valentine’s Day at home? If it’s your first or your fifty-first Valentine’s Day with your beau, February 14th is the perfect occasion to crack out that cocktail shaker hidden at the back of your cupboard. Whether it’s an intimate 3-course dinner or more of a casual occasion, swap out your usual Mojito or Passionfruit Martini for something a little bit more special this year. Local cocktail designer and enthusiast Sunday Cocktail Club has created 3 bespoke recipes for you to try out and enjoy this year. Despite looking particularly eye-catching, these three cocktails are pretty low-maintenance. They only take a few minutes to shake up and require just a handful of ingredients. However you choose to celebrate V Day, Pulse Magazine has got you! Grab your ‘on the rocks’ glassware and then let Cupid take care of the..

A local award-winning business, which started out during the pandemic, is celebrating after ending 2022 by hitting a huge milestone. Family-run business Nakasero, have announced that their range of products, are now available to buy from premium retail store Whole Foods. The unique-tasting condiments and relishes are already popular amongst the local community, but now the products are available to a whole new range of customers. Gita Raikundalia, Nakasero owner said: “I am incredibly thrilled that Nakasero is available to buy in Whole Foods. “I have always dreamed about my products being sold by premium retailers. To see my relishes available in Whole Foods is just incredible. “I’ve been so determined to share Nakasero with the world – as a family we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes and this just shows that hard work pays off.” When asked how the opportunity..

If you think that Saints on Stony (and their older sister restaurant, Saints on St Giles in Northampton) is simply just your run-of-the-mill coffee shop, then think again; these hubs of social enterprise are cafés with real heart. Saints Coffee is run by Ben and Nicola – two champions of community betterment. Having recently been awarded ‘Community Café of the Year’ in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, Saints is, at last, getting the recognition it deserves. What makes Saints different? In addition to everything you’d expect from a good coffee shop like brunch, toasted sandwiches, homemade cakes and bakes and – of course – high quality coffee, this small business champions those in the community who really need championing. Saints addresses racism, discrimination and inequality through programmes with local schools, business and charities; they also aim to improve the mental health of those in the community by breaking..