in the know.
Activated asset
Seeds and nuts from Boundless
are ‘activated’. What does that
mean? Apparently it involves
soaking them to kickstart the
germination process (unleashing,
it’s claimed, more of the goodness
within). They’re then roasted with
flavourings such as orange, ginger
& maple or cayenne & rosemary.
The science of the benefits of
activated nuts/seeds is
complicated but the point is they
taste good. £2.20 for 30g, OcadoDELIZIOSO!
Fresh mozzarella at its best is
delightful; at its worst it’s rubbery and
pointless. Get the good stuff from
online Italian shop nifeislife.com. Top
pick is Buffalo Delicacy Mozzarella
(£9.75 for 500g) – so pleasingly pillowy
and yielding. Also look out for the
Puglian Burrata (£2.60 for 125g) and
excellent salamis, Italian flours and
fresh yeast – useful. Use the code DL5 at
checkout and get 10% off until 30 April
(minimum order £30). See p129 for Ts&CsServing suggestion
There’s no doubting this is a beautiful set – and it comes boxed so it makes a fine
gift, too. Designed for serving sushi, complete with chopsticks and dipping
bowls, the elegant porcelain plates work just as well for handing round canapés
at a party or as small platters for, say, a tomato and mozzarella salad. Smart.
Tokyo Design Studio Nippon plate gift set, £40, johnlewis.com
Pukka
pad
You can never
have too many
notebooks.
Really, you can’t.
And my new
‘thou shall covet’
moment is this
smart specimen
with top quality
paper from Poach
My Lobster.
£15, etsy.com“Your good
health!”
BY LES DUNN,
MANAGING EDITOR
In the 18th century people drank
small beer (beer low in alcohol)
instead of water because it was
safer. The phrase endured and is
used today to denote something
insignificant. Now small beer has
been reinvented for those seeking
a lighter drink, rather than for
those seeking to avoid cholera.
Developed by clever people,
formerly of gin pioneers Sipsmith,
and sold in fetching stubbies,
there are two beers. The regular
lager (2.1%, or just 0.7 units per
bottle) has a good hop quality
and it’s a refreshing choice if you
want to ease back on the booze.
You could, of course, live like
a Georgian and drink it instead of
water, but it may be frowned upon
in meetings... £2.85 for 33cl, Majestic
stores; theoriginalsmallbeer.com