What would life be like without the wonderful and versatile sandwich?  They’re as perfect for picnics as they are for a quick and easy working lunch and are great to keep hungry kids happy whatever the time of day.

Tomorrow marks the start of British Sandwich Week and this year it’s a celebration of 250 years of sandwiches, because it was back in 1762 that the Earl of Sandwich made his famous request for some ‘cuts of beef’ to be brought to him between slices of bread so that he could continue his game of cards and eat without getting his hands dirty!  Although ordinary folk had undoubtedly eaten various foodstuffs between bread before his legendary request, it was his snack that became known as a ‘sandwich’ and its popularity soared.

Who’d have thought the sandwich would come so far?  According to the British Sandwich Association, we now chomp our way through a staggering 11.5 billion sandwiches every year, making and eating more than half of them at home.  Cheese and ham apparently still rule supreme for the homemade sandwich, but outside the home, chicken is the most popular choice, with cheese, egg, ham and prawn completing the top five.

However, the combinations are endless and only limited by taste and imagination.  How about homemade hummus and avocado with a squeeze of fresh lime cushioned between fresh ciabatta, or hot smoked salmon and lemon creme fraiche on crusty wholemeal? Mmmm, sounds delicious we think.

As part of its celebrations for the 250^th Anniversary of the Sandwich in 2012, the British Sandwich Association has launched a new consumer website – www.lovesarnies.com – full of recipes and information about sandwiches as well as a competition offering a holiday for two worth about £5,000 in ‘The Sandwich Islands’ now better known as Hawaii.

We’ve been dithering about having a bash at wine making for some time now and this weekend, finally took the plunge.

It was seeing an auction listing for three demi-johns that swung it really…. we saw the listing on Thursday and realised they were being sold from a little village that we were due to literally drive past the very next day.  We decided it was an omen and became their proud owners 24 hours later and after a swift trip to our local Brew Mart for the other essentials, we were all set to start our first batch.

As the rhubarb on our plot is now sprouting with vigour, it felt only right that our very first attempt at country wine should make full use of this delightful vegetable and we’re following the much esteemed John Wright’s rhubarb wine recipe, so our newly sterilised fermenting tub is now sitting with its mix of rhubarb and sugar for the requisite three days before we add the active ingredients.

Apparently patience is the key to good country wine and we we’re going to need a hefty dose of willpower because we have to try and leave it to mature for about a year after bottling!

Award winning North East Indian restaurant Raval was buzzing with excitement this week, when it hosted the glittering post awards party for the recent Royal Television Society Awards.

More than 500 celebrities and guests marked the 25th anniversary of the Royal Television Society Awards in what was one of the biggest events of its kind outside London.   Popular Tyne Tees weather presenter and North East Tonight co-host Philippa Tomson was among the guests, having earlier been crowned Presenter of the Year.

To the delight of the management and staff, it was the fifth year in succession that Raval restaurant has hosted the after-awards party.

Restaurant manager Avi Malik summed up the success of the evening: “Once again it proved a huge success and we received some extremely positive feedback, which shows we must be doing something right!”

Already well known amongst fine food lovers in the Newcastle-Gateshead area, Raval is one to note for anyone visiting the region.  Their team of chefs has worked hard to take Indian food to a new dimension and provide diners with an exclusive gourmet experience.

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