What do you buy the person who loves to eat and drink? From quirky cookbooks to edible presents, we’ve compiled the ultimate food and drink gift guide for your loved one this Christmas.

1) Quirky cookbooks

Do you have that one friend who is obsessed with a certain cuisine? Buy them a quirky cookbook and watch their face light up as they discover all the meals they can make with their favourite ingredients. There’s The Hot Sauce Cookbook for that friend who says they can handle their spice, The Avocado Cookbook for your colleague who is obsessed with the green goodies and Posh Eggs for those who can’t get enough of the kitchen basic.

Say goodbye to 2018 and hello to a brand New Year with a host of glittering and glamorous New Year’s Eve celebratory options at Sopwell House country house in Hertfordshire.

New Year’s Eve Grand Gala Dinner in the St Alban’s Suite

The stylish country house setting is a fitting location for the biggest night of the year.  To celebrate Sopwell House is hosting a sophisticated Grand Gala Dinner evening where guests will be treated to a gourmet banquet, with a party atmosphere and lively music.  Watch spectacular fireworks at midnight – the perfect way to welcome 2019.

What to expect: Resplendent and dazzling live showcase band and lively party atmosphere followed by our fireworks extravaganza.  Welcome Champagne Reception 7.30pm, lavish dinner 8pm, carriages 1pm.  Dress code: Black Tie.  Adults only, £165 per person.

DrinkUp.London announces 10-day London Cocktail Week for 2019 Celebration year includes new, free events :Scotch Whisky Weekend and Cognac Cocktail Weekend.

DrinkUp.London, the media platform and events company behind London Cocktail Week, has announced a one-off, 10-day London Cocktail Week and the launch of a series of free ‘mini festivals’ to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Last week, staff members at Newmarket-based luxury Hotel, Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa raised over £500 for East Anglia Children’s Hospice with a flurry of festive fundraising activities. Festivities included a Christmas Charity Bake Sale and the Hotel’s annual Christmas Jumper Day celebration on Friday 7^th December, as well as holding a £1 donation day, where £1 from each sale at the Hotel is donated to the charity

It’s no over-exaggeration to say service engineers are an integral part of any commercial kitchen operation. If equipment breaks down it has the potential to halt service or even temporarily close a kitchen. In a hospital or school environment, where for vulnerable patients and students, and staff, this is their only food resource, this simply isn’t an option.

Investment in equipment maintenance and breakdown contracts is therefore essential.

This quarter’s Deltic Night Index’s safety focus highlights clear discrepancy in attitudes between men and women

The latest Deltic Night Index, released today, reveals that average consumer spend on a night out is up an impressive 8.9% year on year to £67.05. Spending is up across all categories (food, transport, entry fees and drinks in the venue),with the exception of pre-drinks, which is down 1.5% on last year. These figures are in contrast to consumers’ frequency of nights out, with 53.9% of individuals going out at least once a week (2017: 60.1%), a 6.2% decline year-on-year.

Over half of shoppers will support SMEs as festive period approaches

Figures released today show over half of consumers are planning to support small businesses in the final run up to Christmas. The study* from Paymentsense, shows that more than 28% plan to shop in small businesses regardless of location, and over 23% will do so locally.

Impress your guests this Christmas with a sparklingly simple, gin based cocktail, created by Foxhole Spirts to showcase its award winning and perfectly balanced Foxhole Gin.The ‘Festive Fox’ is a fizzing Copa of refreshing deliciousness with a playful pink hue – perfect for parties or as an aperitif. With the right balance of sweet and sour and a hint of decadence, the Festive Fox is an artful and easy way to entertain.

Award-winning chef Callum Dow has been promoted to Executive Head Chef at the iconic, five-star Trump Turnberry, bringing an exciting vision for the venue’s varied menus.

Callum joined the hotel as Chef De Cuisine in 2017 and was quickly promoted to Executive Sous Chef within six months, before recently taking on the Executive Head Chef role across the resort’s dining portfolio, which includes the signature 1906 restaurant, the Grand Tea Lounge & Bar, The Duel in the Sun, The Lighthouse Halfway House and the Chef’s Table.

With a constant stream of news about plastic waste and how it is impacting the whole planet,the challenges of effective waste management are set to grow in 2019 as new legislation is implemented around the globe. John Downman, Tricon’s International Project Director discusses the key factors affecting strategy development.