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Cheese and wine pairings

Pairing delicious wine and cheeses together is a classic combination but can seem quite daunting with so many options available. Knowing which cheese to pair with a wine is not always immediately obvious and can often put people off all together. We thought we’d put together a little guide to get any cheese or wine lover started on how to pair these two iconic treats.

To begin with, it can be easier to choose your cheese board first and then select a wine to go with it but either way is fine.

Hard Cheeses

Hard cheeses are a classic option and examples include cheddar, parmigiano-reggiano, manchego and percorino. These cheeses are often crumbly when cut and are delicious with crackers, figs and chutneys. A medium-bodied red wine goes well with the more flavourful cheddar and manchego whilst a white, chardonnay or sparkling wine pairs beautifully with parmesan and pecorino cheeses. Make your cheese and wine night all the easier with our ‘French Cheese Box’. It includes a selection of exquisite French cheeses with scrumptious biscuits, all supplied by a luxury cheese specialist. It does include a hard cheese, as well as other cheeses that pair wonderfully with the optional bottle of Chablis that comes with the box.

Here at Hamper Lounge, we understand that saying goodbye is never easy. This is why we stock a selection of leaving gifts and present ideas that are perfect for giving to those who are waving a fond farewell. Whether a colleague at work has found a new job or your friend is off on their travels around the globe, why not offer them a parting gift from our range. Have everyone chip in for a luxury leaving present for your boss, teacher or co-worker to say farewell and thank you from everyone. Stuck for ideas? Well, we’re here to help with our top five leaving gift ideas.

A new set of stationary

This is a great option if someone is moving on to a new job. Help them be prepared by gifting them some stylish pens, pencils, notebooks and erasers. This is a thoughtful present and can be as expensive (or inexpensive) as you like. It’s also the perfect present for anyone who’s been working from home and needs to update their home office. Try this article on creative stationary to get some inspiration. Looking for something extra? Pair a new set of stationary with our Cartwright and Butler Mini Sweet Gift Box for that indulgent feel.

From Beder's Kitchen is a charity cook book containing a collection of recipes and reflections from amazing foodies around the world including head and executive chefs at some of the UK's leading restaurants; MasterChef winners; TV chefs; food bloggers; nutritionists; best-selling authors; a Great British Bake Off winner and mental health advocates.

 There are 90 contributors in all, who have donated recipes and shared their personal experiences and words of advice about looking after their mental health and how food has played a part in that.

 Among those involved are Gordon Ramsay, world famous chef and TV personality; Yotam Ottolenghi, restaurateur, chef and best-selling author; Atul Kochhar, chef and TV regular; Carla Henriques, executive pastry chef at Hawksmoor; Michael Zee, author and creator of Symmetry Breakfast; Romy Gill, chef and TV regular; Judy Joo, host of Korean Food Made Simple; Joudie Kalla, author of Palestine on a Plate; Jack Blumenthal, chef and son of Heston; David Atherton, Great British Bake Off 2019 winner; Liz Earle, writer, TV presenter and author; and Miles Kirby, chef director at Caravan.

The lighter evenings, stunning warm summer sun (fingers crossed!) and the UK’s perfect picnic spots all call for celebrations and what better way to do so than with a Cartwright & Butler poshnic?

Not so glorious outside? As we all know, the classic British summer can be unpredictable, but even if it’s dramp and dreary, you can still enjoy a poshnic indoors.

Here are some top tips for turning your everyday picnic into something special

Taking a day to celebrate your mum, or other caring figures in your life, has never been more important than it is this year. Mother’s Day falls on Sunday the 14^th of March and it’s a perfect excuse to celebrate and thank the loving figures in our lives after a tough year. Whether you are at home or spending Mother’s day apart, there are still so many ways to show you care through gifts or spending time together. Here’s our list of 20 thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts and ideas.

 1- Prepare breakfast in bed

What better way to start the day off by preparing breakfast in bed for your mum. It could be as simple as toast and a cup of tea or you could go the extra mile and make pancakes, eggs benedict or even a full English. For more delicious breakfast recipes, checkout this collection from BBC Good Food. For more breakfast goodies, try our Breakfast in bed hamper.

There are a number of first class Champagnes that can be happily consumed by vegans. Indeed, the majority of Champagnes are vegan, so you certainly shouldn’t have any problem at all finding one to suit your taste and budget. As ever, this information comes with the usual caveat of being correct at the time of writing.

• Dom Perignon
• Moet & Chandon
• Veuve Clicquot

5 Stay-at-home Valentines ideas

 The idea of picking a sweetheart and showing them your love on Valentines Day spread through Europe in the Middle Ages. Some people believed that birds began picking their mates on February 14^th. Nowadays, the tradition has grown beyond just sweethearts and is about showing friends and family, as well as partners, how much you care for them. This year, more than ever, is a time to reach out to loved ones and send them something special. Though it may not be possible to meet in person or go out to any fancy restaurants this year, there are still plenty of options to have a romantic, special day. Here’s a top 5 list of fun Valentines Day activities to do whilst socially distanced:

Journey into the old world's biggest names and best kept secrets.

A great bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge bursts with rich raspberry and plummy fruit flavours. As it evolves, you’ll taste notes of dusted leather, game, and herbs. The Francophiles – and the actual French – call this herbal play “garrigue,” after the region’s scrubland of sage, rosemary, and lavender.

As if that wasn’t enough, CdP Rouge often finishes on a sweet-strawberry tingle that glows in the back of your throat from elevated alcohol. The finish ranges from sweet to savory, depending on the vintage.

We loved this article from our friends at 'COCO Chocolatier' and wanted to share this with you.

Written by Calum Haggerty

As an independent business we decided to show our support for the outstanding work carried out by the NHS during the Coronavirus pandemic in our own way; merging artwork with single origin chocolate is what we do, and it felt right to dedicate a collection to our National Health Service. We paired up with artists Sir Billy Connolly, Andrew Rae and Portis Wasp to create the Thank You NHS Collection.