Thame Food Festival

Here at The Amazing Blog, we have found a fantastic foodie’s day out! The eighth annual Thames Food Festival takes place in a beautiful historic market town in Oxfordshire on the 26th September, bringing you a host of celebrity chefs and of course superb food and drink. There is even the chance to show off your baking skills in The Big Thame Bake competition that will be judged by a few celebrity bakers. These are certainly ingredients for a brilliant day out.

Raymond Blanc OBE will be making the short journey from Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons to cook live for us in the cookery theatre. Watching him is a joy as his talent and passion for cooking could inspire anyone to get in the kitchen. He will be joined by Sophie Grigson, for those of you who are unfamiliar; she has opened Sophie’s Kitchen at the Story Museum in Oxford. Here, she offers various homemade food dishes for all to enjoy, as well as offering a children’s class to educate and inspire a love of cooking from a young age. I’m sure many of us would’ve appreciated this knowledge when learning to cook for ourselves. Sophie will also incorporate some of her favourite dishes from the café in her session.

The festival isn’t for adult enjoyment only, they have organised the first ever cooking demo catering specifically for children, taught by MasterChef winner Natalie Coleman. Children will have the opportunity to learn the basics on how to cook and try new exciting foods, a perfect way to keep the kids proactive in the kitchen. Adults will be able to see an interview with Natalie and purchase signed copies of her new book Winning Recipes for Every Day.

If baking is more your forte, Richard Bertinet will share the secrets behind his sell-out bread making classes. This is a fantastic way to learn a few tips and tricks if you missed out on the classes available at The Bertinet Cookery School. The baker will even be signing copies of his many baking books in the pop-up book shop. Be sure to clear some space on the kitchen shelves, this book shop is a space in which visitors will have the chance to meet an array of celebrity chefs and build up their cookery book collection.

Arguably, the most exciting part of the day is the festival’s very own baking competition. The Big Thame Bake gives visitors the opportunity to rise to the occasion and show off their own baked goods. The winners will be awarded their prizes by none other than Frances Quinn, the Great British Bake Off Winner in 2013. Along with other Bake Off contestants, Luis Troyano, Miranda Browne, and Howard Middleton, Frances will then be interviewed by Lotte Duncan.

Give you and your family a fun, food-filled day out by checking it out here. The Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 26th September 2015 in the heart of Thame town centre. If you are interested in participating in the Big Thame Bake, sign up here for only £5, of which is donated to a local cause. 

Friday Favourites - Hair Care

Today, there is such a wide range of Branded Hair Care Products that it can become confusing as to which are the best. Here at The Amazing Blog we want to narrow it down for you; we know the importance of great hair care and have tried our share of different brands. We love products that are pleasing on the eye and nose, but ultimately we are most concerned about effective results. We hope you love our choices as much as we did.

I think most would agree that the toughest forecast for hair is humidity. OGX have created a Kukui Oil Haircare range, hallelujah. They promise to hydrate and waterproof hair to leave curls beautifully defined with luminous shine and most importantly, frizz free. The Kukui Oil, an ancient Hawaiian secret, is of course the star of the show. It is a totally natural ingredient found in the nuts of the Kukui tree, or ‘the tree of light’, well it certainly brightens up our day. The oil contains essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, all of which help our hair to repel humidity whilst sealing in the moisture. These are the kind of results we have all been waiting for, and to think all of this is achievable through a hair wash. The Kukui Oil Shampoo and Conditioner are perfectly paired with an anti-frizz hydrating oil, with these in your haircare collection say goodbye to frizz for good. Get your hands on them here for £6.99 each.

If you are looking for a natural remedy to dry, lifeless or even oily hair then NOAH is the brand for you. The ingredients used in each product contain concentrations of pure essential oils; these are extracted from plants and flowers in the most traditional way possible. Finally, we can be certain that we are avoiding harmful chemicals that are found in most shampoos and conditioners. NOAH products are tailored to each problem area; our favourites are the Regenerating Shampoo with Argan Oil and Nourishing Conditioner with Mango and Rice Proteins. The regenerating shampoo is designed to relieve dry, overworked and treated hair, while the nourishing conditioner detangles and moisturises every hair type. Our hair can not only breathe a sigh of relief, but also smells incredible due to the plant and flower extracts. A must have in our opinion, if you think so too get them here for £9.90 and £13.50.

On those days in which our hair needs some extra TLC, we reach for the new Label M Honey and Oat Mask to both hydrate and strengthen our hair in one. Label M is an award-winning professional haircare brand that even caters for London Fashion Week. The Honey and Oat Treatment has an exclusive Hydra-5 moisture-regulating complex means it prevents damage, moisturises and strengthens. Key ingredients within the mask include two types of high-grade honey, Plum Kernal, African Myrrh, and Baobab Oil to give intense moisture and truly long lasting results. It is to be used around once a week in addition to conditioner, leave it in towel dried hair for 1-5 minutes and rinse with cool water. Whether in need of a pampering session or quick fix in the shower this mask is perfect for you. It feels light but luxurious and indulgent, while the use of honey leaves your hair with a divine scent. If you want silky smooth hair that smells so good you could eat it, order yours here for only £15.75

Now that we have kept our hair healthy, we want a great styling product to show it off, this is where Affinage comes in. Affinage is a professional hair care brand with unique, technology-driven products guaranteed to give effective results; our favourite styling product is without a doubt their award-winning Air Loader Ultra strong Hairspray. Not only is the packaging exciting and edgy, but it’s designed with a micro-atomizer to give a super fine spray with incredible hold and volume. Like any other hairspray, hold the Air Loader at arm’s length and apply on dry hair as needed, however unlike any other hairspray your hair will keep its shine and hold throughout the whole day. If you want extra volume you can reapply the spray as much as you want, the quick-dry, lightweight formula doesn’t weigh hair down. Remarkably, at the end of the day it brushes out easily and the product doesn’t feel as if it has drenched your hair in product. If you want to stay on the cutting edge of hair styling, pick yours up here for only £5.40.

Friday Favourites - Cookbooks

Here at The Amazing Blog we love to cook. Experimenting in the kitchen, trying out new recipes and creating delicious meals is one of our favourite pastimes. Although the internet is awash with recipes aplenty nowadays, there’s something quite special about discovering your favourite cookbook, dipping into it again and again. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of our favourites, which will hopefully inspire a few stints in your own kitchen.

First on our list is the work of national treasure and Great British Bake Off veteran, Mary Berry. To coincide with Mary’s latest TV series, her new book, ‘Absolute Favourites’, is packed full of delicious meal ideas for any occasion.  With over 100 recipes, there’s bound to be something that tickles your fancy, and the recipes are so simple, that even a cooking novice could follow them. We tried out the Fish Pie with Souffle Crouton Topping and found it delicious and super simple to prepare. An interesting twist on the classic fish pie recipe, it’s perfect for a family dinner. Pick up the new book from our ‘absolute favourite’ homecook here for £8.99.

If you’re looking to venture into the daunting world of Superfoods, we think that Julie Montagu’s ‘Superfoods’ cookbook is a wonderful place to start. Full of healthy, nutritious yet delectable meal ideas, you’ll have no excuse for raiding the biscuit tin. Julie understands that, when it comes to eating healthily, food is certainly not a ‘one size fits all’ deal. Nutritional needs and lifestyle effect what and how people eat, so we were happy to see that this tome suits everyone! With a range of amazing plant-based recipes to pick from, you’ll be feeling like a superhero in no time!  Naturally, we had to check out the ‘Sweet Treats’ section, and stumbled across her ‘Black Bean Brownies with Chia Seeds’ recipe. Perfectly gooey and wonderfully chocolatey, they’re the perfect guilt-free alternative to our favourite baked good. Grab your own ‘Superfoods’ book here for £12.91

If you’re stuck in a teatime rut then the ‘The Five O’Clock Apron’ is here to help you to cook with creativity and ease. Written by chef and mum of three, Claire Thomson, the book is full of nutritionally inspired, relatively easy recipes that your little ones will love! Full of fresh, exciting and versatile meals, the recipes are also flavourful enough to please everyone around the table including the Lamb & Quince tagine and the delicious Arancini. Our favourite recipe has to be the wonderful ‘Snail Bread’ - an interpretation of the delicious Chelsea Bun – which will have everyone coming back for more! Get stuck into Claire’s inspiring book here for £20.

For those who love rich, exotic flavours, we can’t think of anything more suitable than the delicious recipes in Vanessa Bolosier’s ‘Creole Kitchen’. Inspired by Vanessa’s French Caribbean roots and drawing inspiration from her very own childhood kitchen, the pages are filled with 100 mouthwatering Caribbean Creole recipes that just scream sunshine to us! We cooked up the Sweet Potato and Ginger Cream Soup, and loved the creamy concoction that also packed a really good punch – a hearty, warming dish perfect for a rainy day. Treat yourself to a little taste of sunshine and buy the book here for £25.

For those hardcore foodies out there, we can’t quite get enough of the ‘Scook: Complete Cookery Course’ by Anne-Sophie Pic. Overflowing with exquisite French dishes, Anne-Sophie’s main aim is to teach and share her love of cooking. We’re certainly eager to learn, and found that her book is filled with 40 step-by-step guides to overcome even the trickiest of techniques, all fully photographed so that you can see how each method is performed - perfect for impressing people at dinner parties. One recipe that really caught our eye was the White Chocolate Fondant with Passionfruit and Chocolate Coulis. Easier than we expected, these are great for preparing ahead of time, as they need to freeze for 4 hours before baking, making then an ideal finishing touch when entertaining. Teach yourself how to cook the French way, and pick up a copy here for £40.

Afternoon Tea Week 10th - 16th August 2015

Here at The Amazing Blog we love a good cuppa and a slice of cake, and therefore can’t wait for all the festivities of Afternoon Tea Week 2015 to begin.

From the 10th - 16th August the biggest celebration of tea time treats in the world is happening all over the country, although many of the biggest and best events are right here in London.

Among the events is a Historical Afternoon Tea at Dennis Severs’ House with Kerstin Rodgers aka Ms Marmite Lover, one of the country’s most successful bloggers. On Friday 14th August Kerstin will be creating a historical, Georgian themed Afternoon Tea and baking from historic recipes. The event begins at 3pm and you can’t buy your tickets here.

If you’re more into the baking side of creating a great afternoon tea, definitely check out The Bakewell Baking Festival, which takes place from 14-16th August at the Bakewell Showground. The festival boasts an amazing line-up of culinary talent including Stacie Stewart, Edd Kimber, TV’s Fabulous Baker brother Tom Herbert, baked-Alaska-gate Bake off star Iain Watters andBake-off star Howard Middleton. Tickets start from £7 and can be purchased here.

For a truly immersive afternoon tea experience the InterContinental London Park Lane are offering the opportunity to enjoy the limited edition Scents of Summer Afternoon Tea in the company of Executive Chef Ashley Wells and Bespoke Perfumer Nicola Pozzani of Floris London. Here you'll experience how the evocative notes from Floris fragrances; such as freshly cut grass, jasmine, bergamot, citrus, and rose, are skilfully crafted into the sandwiches, scones and cakes, including bite-sized Jasmine tea cakes garnished with edible flowers, bergamot and blackcurrant flower macaroons, Peach Melba mousse, and a grapefruit and almond tart with violet cream. This limited edition afternoon tea costs £45 per person and available until the 27th September 2015. Book your table here.

If chocolate is more of your thing renowned artisan chocolatier paul.a.young fine chocolates has created an Afternoon Tea Week Collection.  The delicious afternoon tea favourites that we all love have been reimagined into truffles including scone, jam and clotted cream, treacle tart and Pimms! To get your hands on some of these moreish treats head on down to your nearest paul.a.young shop.

This is just a selection of all the events being held. For more information and exclusive offers please visit Afternoon Tea Week’s website.

Indian Superfood Pop-Up

Here at The Amazing Blog, we’re always exploring food markets, and feel that there’s nothing better than discovering a delicious treat on the streets of London. With that in mind, you can be sure that we’ll be heading down to London’s latest pop-up stall, Indian Superfood.

Every Sunday during the month of July Gurpareet Bains will be serving up some delectable lunchtime dishes sure to satisfy one's appetite. Taste his signature Chicken Curry with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Goji Berry Pilau, often recognised as the ‘world’s healthiest meal’, or nibble on Spicy Marinated Prawns. Whatever you choose, it’s sure to be a treat for you this weekend. 

This pop-up will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of Gurpareet Bains bestselling Indian Superfood cookbook. Awarded Chef of the Year in 2011 at the Curry Awards, Bains's cookbook includes a variety of cuisines designed to tantalize the taste buds in a healthy way. If interested Gurpareet Bains cookbook can be purchased here RRP £12.99. 

If you’re looking for an exciting foodie adventure this Sunday, head down to Brick Lane to try out some of Gurpareet's famous dishes. The pop-up will be located outside the entrance to the Backyard Market, Old Truman Brewery E1 6QL. Fingers crossed it keeps running for longer than the month of July! We say "go check him out" because we want him to stay throughout August, September, etc. :)