Like truffles? Like them a whole lot? Then why not try the most expensive truffles in the world? That's what the San Carlo Restaurant Group's executive chef Aldo Zilli wants you to do, having invested £60k on the ingredient just in time for truffle season to roll its way back around.
The team at San Carlo's restaurants will use their special ingredient in dishes such as pumpkin, parmesan and white truffle risotto; fettuccine with butter and white truffle; cheese ravioli with truffle cream; and more.
Apparently truffles are higher in price this year than others, owing to a particularly hot summer season in Alba, the epicentre of truffle country. Although, to be fair, price has never really been a barrier for those looking to source this particular ingredient.
This year would have marked the 100th birthday of one of the greatest entertainers (and hat wearers) the world has ever seen: Frank Sinatra. He was known to be partial to a glass or two of Jack Daniel's – and now the brand is paying homage to Ol' Blue Eyes in the form of a new product: Sinatra Century. It follows Sinatra Select as a high-end Jack expression dedicated to the man, but only 100 barrels will be made, and the liquid is available in individually numbered bottles. You'll need to be more than just a casual Frank fan, though – expect to pay around £450 to get your hands on one, which comes with a leather case and special book.
In case you hadn't gathered, whisky isn't really a game for upstarts – most of the recognised distillers in Scotland have been at it for north of 100 years, so it's always nice to see someone new get in on the act.
Enter Raasay Whisky – the country's newest distiller, based on the tiny eponymous outcrop near the Isle of Skye. It has released its second and third expressions, Raasay While We Wait and Borders, following their recent distilling debut, Tweeddale.
Expect to pay around £60 for a bottle of either, or, if you really want to buy into the process, the company is seeking investment, which includes a bottle of whisky a year for 10 years and access to luxury accommodation at the distillery. We like the sound of that.
Ever wanted your silly face on a bottle of premium champagne? If, like us, it's something you've always dreamed of, get down to Selfridges, where you can jump into Moët & Chandon's photobooth at Selfridges, snap a photo and have it printed on your bottle of Mini Moët (priced from £16.99) within five minutes. Bottle of bubbly an impersonal gift? Not any more.
The Michelin Guide 2016 – in particular the release of the Michelin stars and Bib Gourmand awards – saw chefs all over the country celebrating (and a few commiserating), and now there's a chance for the gastropub crowd to do the same. The Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide 2016 showcases more than 590 pubs whose food is deemed exemplary. "There's no denying that there continues to be a demand for good quality food in the relaxed setting of the local pub", says the guide's editor, Rebecca Burr. "We are seeing more and more pubs serving flexible all-day menus, with some even incorporating breakfast, brunch and afternoon tea into their expanding repertoires. The pub industry should be congratulated for moving with the times." Ours is a cheese and onion roll.
