Let's face it COVID-19 has been a right d*** for the hospitality industry. For breweries, it's taken a lot to adapt while still earning a living, or even surviving, in some cases. I had a catch up with Tess Taylor, Founder & Director at Tap Social, to see how they've coped; and to talk about the brighter, redesigned, future. Let's start with some basics. Tap Social … [Read more...]
Introducing: L’altre Vi – Organic and Natural Wines from Catalonia
My son Rubén and I have been specialist importers since 2016, when we set up L’altre Vi, or “the other wine”. We have roots in the Penedès region and wanted to share the beautiful wines we knew so well, and pass on our enthusiasm for a little corner of the world which isn’t so well known in the UK. There’s nothing stuffy about wine in Catalonia and we don’t think it matters … [Read more...]
Review: Fudge Kitchen
I'm a little bit obsessed with restaurants, you may have noticed. So much so, apparently, that I had never even noticed a tiny little fudge shop on Broad Street called Fudge Kitchen, selling huge selections of... yep, fudge! Fudge Kitchen sits between Cath Kidston and Boswell's, in tourist central near the entrance to Broad Street. The window display of fudge has cute (or … [Read more...]
Introducing: Ogglio Olive Oil
How Ogglio Oil all began… My name is Giuseppe Trapani, and I have been working and living in Oxford for more than a decade now. I work for Oxford University Press, but recently, I have started an olive oil project in my spare time, outside of working hours. I am originally from Sicily, and I come from a family of farmers. As tradition wants, the land is passed on from … [Read more...]
Meeting Matthew Alden
Launching a new business is a hard task. Launching a family business that transcends multiple generations is even harder. Matthew Alden is the current Managing Director of seventh generation Oxford-based butchers, Aldens, and while the company might have a long history to reflect on, he's firmly looking to the future. Established in 1793 by Isaac Alden, Aldens Butchers … [Read more...]