Brands are no longer selling own-brand, glittery Christmas items (Picture; PA)
Nothing says Christmas like glitter and shine but sadly the festive look is not the best for the environment.
In an effort to be more eco-conscious, Morrisons, Waitrose, and John Lewis are now going glitter-free for the holidays.
The retailers will be ditching glitter in their Christmas packaging as the tiny bits of plastic can harm wildlife and get into the food chain.
Glitter contributes to more than 12.2 million tonnes of plastic that enters the ocean each year, usually as a result of people washing glitter off.
The material is also a microplastic and there are growing concerns about the tiny pieces entering the marine food chain.
Boots, Sainsbury’s, and Asda have also joined the retail industry’s move to becoming more sustainable.
Boot says it will be cutting 2,000 tonnes of plastic from its packaging while Asda has its first sustainable Christmas range, and Teso has said it will be using edible glitter.
Morrisons is offering glitter-free cards, crackers, wrapping paper, and more (Picture: PA)
Morrisons’ glitter-free range includes its own brand cards, crackers, wrapping paper, present bags, flowers, plants, and wreaths.
The supermarket also said it will also include only paper, metal, or wooden toys in its Christmas crackers, which will be completely plastic-free.
The brand is hoping to remove 50 tonnes of plastic from its shelves during the Christmas period.
Christine Bryce, Morrisons home director, said: ‘Every time a cracker is pulled, or a card is opened, plastics have been used but just the once.
‘So, we’ve taken glitter and plastic out of our festive range this year – so that our customers can enjoy their festivities without worrying about the environmental impact.’
The John Lewis Partnership, which includes Waitrose, will also be ditching the microplastic in their single-use products in the festive period.
‘All own-brand cards, crackers, wrapping paper, gift bags are now 100% glitter-free,’ it said in a statement.
Waitrose has been phasing out the use of glitter in the past few years and aims to have its own brand packaging to be recyclable, reusable, and home compostable by 2023.
(Note that the rules are hazy on whether people must go through the external gate to get to the garden, but it’s highly likely as they are not allowed indoors).
We have rounded up a list of the most affordable fire pits available to buy right now, including two portable options – for those who aren’t lucky enough to have a garden of their own but live near a park that allows for this activity.
If you fancy something more luxurious, go for this stylish fire bowl and lob burner, intended for ‘larger patio areas’ (not wooden).
It can be used with logs, wood or charcoal and is covered in a heat-resistant high temperature matt black powder coat to preserve its colour and quality.
Those after something larger will enjoy this XL-sized cast iron fire pit sold on eBay, with the stand included in the price.
But this is just one of many, many similar options offered on the site – others are slightly cheaper but have a different design – so it’s worth looking around before you move the item to your ‘basket’.
Nicole Rowles said two workers made nasty jokes about her son Paul, 12 (Picture: Deadline News)
Waitrose has apologised to an autistic boy whose mother claims he was mocked by staff for his appearance and behaviour.
Twelve-year-old Paul Rowles wears costumes while in public to make himself feel more at ease and donned a wig for a trip to the supermarket’s branch in Andover, Hampshire last Monday, according to his mum Nicole, 34.
Ms Rowles said two ‘bullying’ employees in the store made ‘cruel’ jokes about his ‘mannerisms and looks’ in earshot of her and Paul.
After she posted about the incident on social media, Waitrose apologised to the family and vowed to investigate it.
Ms Rowles said of the two workers: ‘Their obvious mockery was hard to ignore, they were laughing and making comments of someone they could both see.
‘I didn’t have to wait long for the woman to say with a loud voice “what about that wig though?” followed with delightful laughter.
‘At this point I turned around and said to them ‘That’s my son you are making fun of! My 12-year-old autistic son!’
She says she educated the pair on hidden disabilities, before another worker who seemed ’embarrassed’ by the pair came over to comfort her.
Paul was dressed as a character from his favourite video game series, Danganronpa (Picture: Deadline News)
Ms Rowles added: ‘I have never felt so emotionally beaten in all my life. After a poor apology from another manager and the details of an area manager who isn’t even available this week, I left to ensure my boy wouldn’t catch wind of what had just happened.
‘Once I got to the bus station, I called my husband and again I broke down crying thinking I was safe to do so as my kids went ahead onto the bus already. Then I felt a strong hug and it was my son!
‘He said “It’s okay mum, it doesn’t matter what people say”.’
‘My 12-year-old-son, who struggles severely to fit in and often finds his own coping strategies to be able to manage situations, has more compassion and understanding than your employees. They mocked my boy when he was trying to just cope.’
Ms Rowles says she was later contacted with a ‘rehearsed’ apology and given a £100 gift card – and claims she was told Waitrose store workers do not receive training on hidden disabilities.
Nicole said she was left in floods of tears after the incident (Picture: Deadline News)
After seeing sympathetic comments on her social media, she said: ‘Paul is very empowered by everyone’s support and wants to see change, but he is still affected by this.
‘Despite being bullied, he has always remained kind, caring and loving towards anyone.
‘People need to realise that the words they speak don’t just have the instant impact.
‘What we would like to come from this is changes in policies, a personal apology to my children and adequate compensation as well as letting the public know what changes they will be implementing in the future to prevent this kind of behaviour.’
A spokesperson for Waitrose said: ‘We are very sorry to Ms Rowles, her son and family for the distress this has caused – this is clearly not acceptable.
‘We are taking this extremely seriously and are investigating as a matter of urgency.’
Sainbury’s has asked that customers shop alone during lockdown (Picture: Reuters)
Supermarkets have issued fresh bans on customers shopping in couples or with family as England prepares to enter lockdown for a second time.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi and Waitrose have all asked shoppers to come alone in a bid to cut queues and encourage social distancing in stores.
A message posted on the Sainsbury’s website stated that staff would be limiting the number of people inside stores and at ATMs during the increased coronavirus restrictions.
It went on: ‘We have also put queuing systems in place outside stores and ask you to queue at a safe distance of two metres apart.
‘Our store teams will be asking groups with more than one adult to choose one adult to shop and will ask other adults to wait. Children are welcome if they are not able to stay at home.’
A message from Tesco followed requesting that ‘only one person from each household comes in-store to do their shopping’.
Waitrose has taken a similar stance, although a spokesperson acknowledged ‘this won’t be possible for everybody’.
Meanwhile, an Aldi spokesperson said: ‘Where necessary we are using discretion, but like all supermarkets we’re asking people to come alone if possible to support social distancing in our stores.’
A view of the pasta shelving in the Tesco Extra store in Isleworth, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown will come into force in England (Picture: PA)
Sainbury’s has asked that customers shop alone during lockdown (Picture: Getty Images)
Panic buyers have returned for the second lockdown (Picture: SWNS)
Supermarkets across the country have also reinstated priority access to the store for NHS workers, vulnerable people and elderly customers. Many have extended opening hours for this purpose.
Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are also offering priority access to home delivery slots, for anyone shielding and unable to leave their home.
The second lockdown, which begins after midnight tonight, will see the closure of all non-essential shops in England until at least December 2. Hospitality venues, such as bars, restaurants and pubs, and leisure centres will also shut down.
The new restrictions have already caused some shoppers to inexplicably return to panic buying items, such as toilet roll, tinned foods, pet food and hand wash. Photos from inside supermarkets showed crowds of people forming queues through the aisles.
So-far, it appears none of the UK’s leading retailers have limited the amount of items an individual can buy, and spokespeople for Sainsbury’s and Tesco both told Metro.co.uk they had good availability in-store and online.
Most stores had been forced to ration items at the start of the pandemic, as stockpiling caused shortages of pasta, rice, milk and hand sanitiser.
Get organised so you can spend Christmas Eve on your sofa, not at the supermarket (Picture: Getty Images)
2020 has been tough enough – let’s at least make sure our Christmas food deliveries are sorted.
This year, make sure you bypass your annual nightmare-before-Christmas — nobody wants to miss their slot to get their food delivery on time.
Fortunately, with a little bit of forward planning you’ll be all set to enjoy a hassle-free festive season.
While it might seem a minute detail to think about in early November, it’s worth considering now which supermarket you want to get the bulk of your Christmas shop from.
Crucially, different supermarkets have different time slots, so make a note of the following so you can spend Christmas Eve perfecting your vat of mulled wine, rather than rushing around the supermarket.
When should you order your Christmas food shopping?
Unfortunately there’s no one date to order your Christmas food – it all depends on which supermarket you’re keen to buy from.
Different supermarkets will have different availability and some will allow for booking further in advance.
The best advice is to book as early as you can, and read on for our guide to each of the major supermarket’s Christmas delivery dates.
Sainsbury’s
The Sainsbury’s delivery service is complicated but fair (Picture: Getty Images)
Sainsbury’s offers the most complicated – but comprehensive – of the delivery systems.
In a nutshell, the date you make your order on depends on when you want your delivery to arrive.
As always, Sainsbury’s won’t take payment until the day of delivery or collection.
If you want your delivery to arrive on 20 December, book your delivery from 29 November onwards
If you want your delivery to arrive on 21 December, book your delivery from 30 November onwards
If you want your delivery to arrive on 22 December, book your delivery from 1 December onwards
If you want your delivery to arrive on 23 December, book your delivery from 2 December onwards
Unfortunately, Sainsbury’s delivery service is closed between 24 December and 26 December.
However, one cool perk is that you can update your Sainsburys basket and then re-checkout at any time using the Sainsburys website and app until 11pm the day before your delivery or collection is due.
If you fail to snag a spot, bear in mind that Sainsbury’s have expanded their contactless click and collect service to over 300 locations, so even if this service wasn’t possible in your area before, it’s worth double-checking to see if that’s changed.
In terms of costs, it makes sense to use Sainsbury’s if you want to go big rather than just ordering a few items.
There is a minimum order value of £25 and there is a delivery fee of £7 for delivery orders under £40 and between 50p and £7 for orders worth more depending on the time slot you opt for.
However, if you place an order over £100 for delivery between Monday and Thursday after 2pm, delivery is free.
Tesco
Tesco is putting their Delivery Saver customers first this Christmas (Picture: Getty Images)
Tesco is running a two-tier system — if you’re a Delivery Saver customer, you can avoid the digital crowds and book a slot as early as 13 November from 7am.
For everyone else, you’ll have to set your alarm for a week later at 7am on 20 November. Thankfully both days are on a Friday, so you won’t have to cut your weekend lie-in short to snag a turkey being delivered straight to your door.
If you haven’t been regularly getting deliveries from Tesco, it’s worth flagging up that the supermarket changed their delivery fees in August. Instead of charging less for certain slots (and more for prime-time slots), they now charge a £4.50 flat-rate for all orders while those who get their shopping delivered from customer fulfilment centres must pay £5.50 per delivery.
They also offer a click and collect service for those who want to swerve visiting the supermarket in person.
Asda
Asda are already ready for your Christmas orders (Picture: Getty Images)
Asda has already opened their delivery slots, so you’ll want to get shopping today if you’re hoping for an Asda delivery — we suspect the slots will go quickly.
Like most of the supermarkets, Asda wants you to shop prolifically and are adding a minimum basket charge to ensure you do so. They add a £3 charge for deliveries under £40 and £3 for Click&Collect orders under £25. This applies on top of any delivery or collection fee or carrier bag charge.
If you’re not an Asda Delivery Pass holder (and they’re not currently accepting any new applications for delivery passes), delivery costs between £3-£5.50 depending on the time of your slot.
Aldi
Only the most dedicated of turkey-lovers will want to navigate Aldi’s confusing delivery system (Picture: Getty Images)
Aldi does not offer home delivery but is currently trialling click and collect, with 200 stores expecting to offer the service by Christmas.
You can browse the selection and order by visiting www.groceries.aldi.co.uk, and then drive to your nearest store to pick it up.
However, it’s worth noting that a lot of their Christmas food isn’t available to order until closer to the big day.
Neither a medium British turkey nor a British stuffed turkey joint nor a roly poly stuffed turkey crown will be available for sale until 19 December.
This makes life complicated because Aldi lists the last date for a standard Christmas collection as 16 December.
However, they do offer collection up until Monday 21 December.
If your heart is set on an Aldi Christmas, we’d recommend doing a deep dive of their website and the dates the Christmas food you’re hoping to order is available from and seeing if your dates match up.
Morrisons
Stay tuned for Morrison’s Christmas delivery dates (Picture: Getty Images)
You can already order Christmas food to collect at Morrisons and their website states that Christmas orders must be placed before 5pm on 15 December for collection on the 22, 23 and 24 December.
They will announce Christmas delivery slots at a later date.
Ocado
Bad news for Ocado fans (Picture: Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Bad news for Ocado superfans — according to Ocado’s website, Christmas delivery slots have ‘now sold out due to exceptionally high demand’.
Better luck next year!
Waitrose
If you want posh groceries delivered straight to home, you might have to keep an eye on Waitrose’s website. (Picture: Getty Images)
You’ll want to hurry if you’re hoping for a seriously fancy Christmas food order from Waitrose — you can already book your Christmas delivery (which will arrive between 20 December and 24 December).
You will need to order by 15 December for a Christmas delivery and will need to order £40 or more online to avoid a delivery fee.
When we tried the service, all the delivery slots for our area for 20 to -24 December were already taken, but Waitrose has suggested keeping an eye on its website to stay abreast of any new slots being made available.
If you’re not in luck, it’s worth noting that it also offers a free click and collect with a £40 minimum spend.
Co-op
Order in store and get a free home delivery (Picture: Getty Images)
Unfortunately Co-op does not offer a Christmas delivery service.
However, if you spend over £25 in-store, they can deliver your shop to your home for free.
Iceland
Ready, set…order (Picture: Getty Images)
Get clicking, bargain hunters.
You can already order your Christmas delivery from Iceland (for any date up to 24 December) and they’re offering free delivery for all orders north of £35.
Plus, if you want to browse in person without the hassle of heaving a dozen bags to your car, bear in mind that they offer an in-store same-day delivery service which is free once you spend upwards of £25.
She yelled at him and then kicked over a Christmas tree (Picture: Jam Press)
A woman spat at a Waitrose check-out worker and yelled ‘You’re dead’ in an apparent argument over her card being declined.
The unidentified woman, dressed in black boots and a white coat, can be heard abusing a worker standing behind the till in Clapham Common, London.
Agitated at not being able to purchase her items, she then walks around to the corner of the till and spits at the worker, with the saliva landing on the plastic cover in place due to coronavirus restrictions.
The incident took place on Friday night at 9.40pm inside Waitrose by Clapham Common tube station in front of a dozen witnesses.
‘I got f***ing money in my account, you’re gonna decline me?,’ she shouts at the till worker, adding ‘You’re gonna die, you’re dead, you’re dead.’
The Waitrose staff member attempts to calm the woman down and explain the situation but she simply continues her verbal tirade.
A security guard can be heard calling the police in the background, while an older, female worker approaches the woman to get her out of the store.
The woman, who isn’t wearing a mask, walks towards the exit where she proceeds to take her anger out on the Christmas tree display, kicking the products.
‘I’ve got money in my account, you gonna decline me you motherf***ing c***s.’
A man who was standing outside the store enters to assist during the heated event and get the woman out of the shop, which he eventually manages to do.
The female staff worker comes over to put the Christmas display together again and said, ‘How lovely. Great British Public’.
The Waitrose staff worker who was attacked said the woman had attempted to purchase items but was swearing at him, and when he asked her not to use that language or exit the shop, she started verbally abusing him.
A Waitrose spokesman said: ‘We are proud of the role that our Partners have played in keeping our customers supplied with food during this pandemic and their safety is our absolute priority.
‘We’re appalled that one of them was treated in this way by a customer and are giving them our support.
‘We can also confirm that the police have been contacted.’
You’ll want to get ahead of these dates to avoid a disappointing Christmas (Picture: Getty)
The true meaning of Christmas is togetherness and all that, but with Covid-19 restrictions limiting how much we can actually be together, this year Christmas just might be about presents after all.
Meaning you don’t want to drop the ball and order your gifts too late for delivery.
Because of coronavirus, many different retailers are advising to get your orders in as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Let’s check out the delivery cut-offs and information for all your favourite shops…
What’s the last date to order your presents for Christmas delivery?
If you’re shopping online, the last date to get a bit of shopping in for guaranteed delivery by Christmas varies depending on where you’re shopping and what delivery options they offer.
You won’t want your presents to arrive too late (Picture: Getty)
Amazon
The last day to shop for items eligible for next day or Prime Delivery will be December 23.
Standard delivery for Amazon products is 1 to 2 business days after dispatch. So, if the product is dispatched on the day you complete on checkout, you should order by December 22 the latest.
Always check if there is a delayed dispatch time – sometimes external sellers selling through Amazon will have different processing times.
Apple
For any in-stock items, the last date to shop for Apple products will be December 23.
Apple offer free next-day delivery on any in-stock items.
Standard delivery is free on all other products which aren’t in stock for next day delivery.
Argos
Argos have different options, subject to availability. Always check before buying.
Delivery dates are:
Fast Track same day delivery – order by 5pm for delivery by 11pm. Available only where explicitly stated
Standard delivery – order by 8pm for next day delivery.
If you want a festive delivery, make a note of these dates. (Picture: Getty)
ASOS
ASOS offer next day delivery for a fee, or free if you’ve paid for the annual Premier Delivery membership, meaning you could get some last-minute shopping in as late as December 23.
However, ASOS have a clear cut off for next day deliveries – you must have got your order in by midnight on weekdays and 8pm on weekends. However, it’s best to order earlier over the busy festive period.
For standard delivery, ASOS’s cut-off for Christmas delivery is December 20.
Debenhams
Debenhams haven’t confirmed yet whether next day delivery will be back in time for Christmas, having been made temporarily unavailable following disruptions from Covid-19.
Their standard delivery will send out orders within 5 working days, so December 19 is the very latest you should leave it.
Harvey Nichols
There are different options for Harvey Nichols.
Standard delivery. Delivered within 3 working days, order by December 20.
Next Day Delivery – order before 3pm for delivery the next day by 8pm. Order by December 23.
John Lewis and Waitrose
The last dates you can get in some John Lewis and Partners shopping varies.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed to Metro.co.uk that the cut-off dates are:
Standard delivery (free over £50, £3.50 for order below) – date passed
Customers at Tesco, Waitrose and Asda had their online turkey orders cancelled without warning (Pictures: Getty)
A ‘technical glitch’ has seen dozens of Asda, Waitrose and Tesco customers’ online turkey orders cancelled days before Christmas.
Shoppers vented their frustrations after discovering their orders had been amended with no notice given.
One claimed to have received a box of stuffing instead of his turkey, while others said they were either sent substitutes or no bird at all.
Many said they were in the ‘vulnerable’ category, meaning they won’t be able to venture out of their homes to do any last minute shopping.
Christine Vincent, 63, said her Christmas dinner plans ‘are ruined’ after finding out her turkey had been removed from her online order without warning.
The grandmother, who lives in Lincolnshire, told the Mirror she ‘pre-ordered a turkey crown long before the cut-off date on December 11’, but had to reduce her order because of lockdown restrictions.
Asda apologised for a ‘technical error’ and said shoppers receiving their Christmas dinners in full was a ‘priority’ (Picture: AFP via Getty)
After amending it, she noticed her turkey order had been cancelled, adding: ‘My delivery has arrived – and my dinner plans are ruined.’
An Asda spokesperson told the Mirror the cancellation was due to a ‘technical error’ which affected their systems over the weekend.
In a statement, they added that they are ‘contacting these customers to apologise and provide a solution’, saying it is a ‘priority’ that shoppers ‘receive their Christmas dinner in full’.
The supermarket also insists that ‘any customer who hasn’t purchased their turkey yet will still find good availability across our stores’.
Waitrose said ‘a very small number of orders may have been impacted by an isolated technical issue’ (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Two Waitrose customers claimed to have had similar experiences with their online orders.
One dreaded having to ‘risk getting Covid-19 by going into a supermarket’ to get hers, while another fumed after ordering hers ‘weeks ago’ only to see it show up as out of stock with days to spare.
Waitrose similarly apologised and insisted ‘stock levels are good’, adding in a statement that ‘a very small number of orders may have been impacted by an isolated technical issue’.
The supermarket told the Mirror that it will ‘do everything we can’ to ensure any shoppers affected by the ‘technical glitch’ receive their orders.
Others complained that vulnerable relatives had seen their turkeys disappear from online Tesco orders.
Tesco said they have ‘good availability on turkeys and there are no widespread issues with them being included in online grocery orders’ (Picture: Mark Hall via Reuters)
One said her elderly mum only noticed hers was missing once her order had been delivered, while another claimed her vulnerable partner’s was replaced by stuffing which did not arrive either.
A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘We have good availability on turkeys and there are no widespread issues with them being included in online grocery orders.
‘This weekend, there were a small number of instances where customers did not receive turkeys and where this happened, we have worked hard to find alternatives for customers.
‘We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.’
The technical issues come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds crisis talks amid fears that travel bans imposed by EU countries to limit the spread of a highly contagious mutant strain of coronavirus could lead to food shortages as freight lorries are blocked from entering the country.
Are Tesco, Asda and other supermarkets open on January 1? (Picture: Getty)
Stocking up with a food shop on New Year’s Day makes a lot of sense. Why not kick off the New Year with a full cupboard?
But are supermarkets like Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda open on January 1 2021, given that the day is classed as a Bank Holiday – and the ongoing coronavirus restrictions complicate matters further, given many high street staples in tier four areas are closed.
Here are all the New Year’s opening hours you need to know…
Aldi
An Aldi in Northampton town centre (Picture: Getty)
Aldi is closed on New Year’s Day.
So if you need to pick up essentials, you’ll have to wait until Saturday, January 2. Aldi reopens its doors on Saturday from 8am until the later time of 10pm.
Argos
The majority of Argos stores will be open from 9am to 5pm.
If you need to visit, you’re best off checking on the Argos website or calling your store in advance to find out your nearest shop’s exact time.
Currently, there are different rules for what services are available in Argos stores across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – for example, shopping in store, click and collect, delivery only.
Expect to see these ingredients everywhere in 2021 (Picture: Getty Images)
What will we be eating in the year ahead?
According to the experts over at Waitrose, a lot of Japanese, Vietnamese, and Ethiopian influences will be coming through our cooking in 2021, along with excitement for ingredients such as amchoor, black garlic, and Himalayan pink salt.
Waitrose Food Magazine has published a full A to Z of all the foodie bits we’ll be seeing plenty of in the new year.
Take a gander at the list below, get to know all the ingredients, and get ready to take inspiration for all your meal planning in 2021.
Amchoor
This is a seasoning often used in north Indian cooking, which adds a tartness to recipes thanks to being made from dried and powdered mangoes.
Add it to curries, chutneys, and seafood.
Black garlic
If you’re someone who chucks a clove of garlic into everything, take your cooking up a level with black garlic.
These are matured cloves that are sweeter and stickier than normal garlic.
Embrace the sweeter, stickier form of garlic (Picture: Getty Images)
Cà Ri Gà
Vietnamese curried chicken, or cà ri gà, is simmered with potatoes and carrots in a coconut-based lemongrass and garlic broth. Sounds tasty.
Dashi
A type of stock used in Japanese cooking, for all sorts of soup as well as grilled items. It adds that nice hit of umami.
Ethiopian foods
Get ready for injera, a type of fermented flatbread with a slightly spongey texture.
Fragrant rice
Thai flavours will be big in 2021, with rice dishes the stars of a meal rather than a side.
Let rice be the star (Picture: iStockphoto)
Gram flour
A type of flour that’s gluten-free and is used a lot in Indian cooking. Waitrose thinks this will rise in popularity in 2021.
Himalayan pink salt
Who doesn’t like a fancy salt?
Icelandic skyr
This is a cultured dairy product a bit like greek yoghurt.
Mix it into a smoothie, have with fruit and cereal, or use it as a base for desserts.
Jollof
More and more restaurants are opening in London serving classic jollof. If you haven’t tried it yet, do so this year.
Have you tried a lamington? (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kalamansi
A South East Asian citrus fruit that is a cross between a kumquat and a mnadarin.
Lamingtons
An Australian treat will make its way to the UK this year. Buy ready-made or prep your own at home – they’re basically sponge cake covered in coconut. Yum.
Mezcal
Like tequila, but smokier. Use it for your next margarita.
‘Nduja
Not just for sausages anymore.
Waitrose recommends adding ‘nduja paste to toast, potato hash, or to a tomato sauce for pasta.
Orange wine will continue to trend (Picture: Getty Images/EyeEm)
Pul Biber
A traditional Turkish condiment made from Aleppo peppers.
Queen olives
Olives, but extra large.
Russian influences
Look to Alissa Timoshkina’s new book, Salt & Time, which offers recipes such as Soviet-Korean ceviche, stuffed savoury buns and carrot and caraway cake.
Sambal
The fiery chilli sauce used to jazz up all sorts of dishes. Tread carefully if you’re sensitive to spice.
Tangzhong
A pillow-soft bread made with a water roux.
Udon noodles
Add to ramen, stir fries, and whatever else you fancy.
Delicious (Picture: Getty Images)
Wayanad peppercorns
Considered the finest type of peppercorns.
Virgin coconut oil
Waitrose says: ‘It’s been a hip ingredient for a while now, but not all coconut oils are created equal: look out for one from certified organic plantations that’s been extracted without using chemicals, such as Groovy Food Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Next time you’re baking brownies, try it in place of butter for extra delicious results.’
Xantham gum
An easy tweak for gluten-free cooking.
Yuzu
A super flavourful citrus fruit that works for savoury and sweet dishes.
Pubs, restaurants and bars are completely shut, as well as clothes stores. Only a few shops which are deemed necessary are open to sell food, drink, medical and repair items.
Prime minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation last night and told the public to ‘stay at home’ as coronavirus cases spiral across England.
People are now only allowed to leave their homes for a limited number of reasons – including shopping for essentials, medical reasons or for exercise – in a similar way to the first strict lockdown in March last year.
Due to social distancing and panic buying shoppers saw huge queues outside supermarkets and limits placed on popular items.
The same issues are not expected this time around, but supermarkets are still prepared with Covid-secure measures to ensure shoppers stay safe and can get what they need.
Here’s what the main chain stores are doing for the third lockdown.
People are asked to stay at home as much as possible and only go out for necessary reasons (Picture: Getty Images)
Aldi
A spokesperson said Aldi has introduced temporary buying limits on a small number of products across its UK stores to ensure good product availability.
‘Purchases of toilet roll, pasta, flour and eggs will be limited to three of each item,’ they said.
Aldi introduced a traffic light system for shoppers – displaying a green light when there is enough space for people to go inside – and was one of the first supermarkets to do so during the initial lockdown period.
The store asks shoppers to pick quieter times to do their shopping if possible, which is usually between the hours of 7pm and 10pm.
NHS and emergency services staff will be given priority access to the store.
Asda
According to the Mirror, Asda announced it would increase Covid-19 safety measures in the run-up to Christmas.
Asda has released a new virtual queueing app called ‘Qudini’ which is available for all its main stores and allows customers to wait in their cars until there is a slot available if the store is busy.
The 100 busiest stores will also have automatic counting technology to help customers social distance.
The supermarket has also added a protective antimicrobial coating to several ‘touch points’, such as fridge and freezer handles, in all its stores.
Co-op
A spokesperson for Co-op told Metro.co.uk: ‘The health and safety of Co-op colleagues and customers has remained our priority throughout the pandemic with strict measures in place, including the use of visors, protective screens, face coverings and social distancing, which are continually reviewed, to enable customers to shop quickly and safely.
Asda increased Covid-19 safety measures in the run-up to Christmas (Picture: Reuters)
‘We urge customers to continue to shop as they would normally, and to adhere to all Government advice and requirements.’
They added staff have not seen any panic buying following last night’s announcement, nor put in place any product purchase restrictions in store.
Lidl
Lidl says the latest lockdown announcement has not resulted in any changes at its stores, and it will continue to implement social distancing and Covid-secure measures.
‘This includes, positioning designated team members at entrances during peak times to manage the volume of people entering,’ a spokesperson told Metro.co.uk.
‘A raft of clear communication reminding customers of the importance of maintaining a two-metre distance from each other when shopping is also in place, including floor markings in stores to mark a safe distance, as well as regular audio announcements.
‘Dedicated cleaning stations continue to be made available at store entrances for customers with hand sanitiser, disinfectant and wipes, to use on their trolleys and baskets.’
They added they have signage to remind customers to wear face coverings while in Lidl stores.
Lidl says the latest lockdown announcement has not resulted in any changes at its stores (Picture: Reuters)
There are currently no restrictions as there is good availability of products in stores, but they said this could change if customers start to bulk-buy.
‘Nonetheless, our policy in response to the changing circumstances is it’s at our store managers discretion, should customers start to bulk-buy, to limit the purchasing of specific items at that store,’ said the spokesperson.
Morrisons
There are currently no restrictions on – or plans to restrict – buying items in stores apart from those required by law, e.g. paracetamol.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: ‘There are a number of ways that customers can shop with us.
‘Since the first lockdown in March, we have increased our online operation fivefold as well as introducing lots of new ways to shop at Morrisons.
‘Our click and collect service is now available in 447 of our stores and customers can also use Amazon or Deliveroo.
Caption: People queue outside a Morrisons supermarket before Christmas (Picture: PA)
‘Our wide range of food boxes can also be delivered directly to your door and customers who are self-isolating can use our doorstep delivery service where an order is placed over the phone, and delivered via your local store the next day.’
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s told Metro.co.uk: ‘Safety is our highest priority and all our stores continue to have a range of measures in place to keep customers and colleagues safe.
‘These measures range from Perspex safety screens between checkouts, additional cleaning, hand sanitiser as well as signs inside and throughout our stores to remind customers to socially distance.
‘We continue to remind customers to wear face coverings if they are able to and have greeters outside our supermarkets and busy convenience stores to limit the number of customers.’
They added the supermarket continues to encourage customers to shop alone where possible.
It currently has good availability of products with no restrictions, and asks people to shop as normal.
Tesco
A Tesco spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority.
‘We continue to follow all Government guidance and we have extensive social distancing measures in all of our stores to ensure customers can maintain a safe distance shopping.’
The supermarket continues to have a one-item limit on toilet roll, and three-item limits in store on a few essential items to ensure availability. These include flour, dried pasta, eggs, rice, baby wipes, soap and anti-bacterial wipes (excluding hand gels and sanitiser, which remain unlimited).
Non-essential aisles remain open in Tesco supermarkets so people can pick up things like clothing and children’s toys alongside their shopping.
A one-in one-out system has been implemented to limit the number of people in stores at any given time.
Similarly to Aldi, a traffic light system has been implemented in some stores to let customers know when they can enter.
Waitrose
A spokesperson told Metro.co.uk staff are implementing a number of Covid-secure measures in its stores.
Non-essential aisles have reportedly been cordoned off in some Tesco stores (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We’re asking customers to help us manage the number of people in our shops, by sending only one member of the household to do their shopping, if they possibly can,’ they added.
‘While this won’t be possible for everybody, we are very grateful for our customers’ support during this time of uncertainty.
‘We have robust hygiene measures in place and clean things like trolley handles, self service equipment scanners, tills, payment devices and weighing machines daily and at every reasonable opportunity.’
There are floor markers, protective screens at checkouts and customer number limits to ensure social distancing.
The chain has also installed hand sanitiser stations at the front of stores and asks people to wear face coverings unless they are exempt, and make use of contactless payment options (up to £45 limit) where possible.
Metro.co.uk has also contacted Asda and Tesco for further details.
Tony’s Chocolonely has reportedly been removed from a list of ethical chocolate companies
Tony’s Chocolonely has reportedly been removed from a list of ethical chocolate companies over its links with a manufacturing giant accused of using child labour.
The popular chocolate brand, sold in supermarkets including Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, is campaigning to make all chocolate ‘100% slave-free’.
But it has been dropped from a list by Slave Free Chocolate, an organisation which aims to end child slavery in the cocoa industry, according to The Times.
Manufacturer Barry Callebaut is said to process the cocoa beans for Tony’s but not source them.
The company – which claims to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – is one of several industry giants facing legal action over alleged slave labour.
Barry Callebaut was yesterday named as a defendant alongside Mars, Nestle, Hershey and Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, and others, in a US lawsuit filed on behalf of eight former child slaves who claim they were forced to work unpaid on Ivory Coast cocoa plantations.
The brands stand accused of aiding and abetting the illegal enslavement of ‘thousands’ of children on cocoa farms.
The eight individuals, now young adults said to be from Mali, are seeking compensation for forced labour, negligent supervision and emotional distress.
Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate is sold in supermarkets including Waitrose and Sainsbury’s (Picture: Shutterstock / Grzegorz Czapski)
Although Tony’s does not directly source its cocoa beans from Barry Callebaut, rival firms and ethical traders suggest processing enables the firm to sell their chocolate at a cheaper price.
Slave Free Chocolate founder, Ayn Riggs, said removing Tony’s from the list had been a difficult decision.
Although Tony’s cocoa beans are said to be fully traceable, Riggs added: ‘They’re still getting the price advantage of having a great big company make it for them versus themselves’.
Director of impact at Tony’s, Paul Schoenmakers, said the company was ‘disappointed’ to be dropped from Slave Free Chocolate’s list and hoped to return.
He disputed the suggestion that its commercial relationship with Barry Callebaut allowed it to operate more cheaply, insisting to The Times the arrangement for Barry Callebaut to process cocoa beans ‘adds cost and they charge us for that’.
The company, founded in the Netherlands in 2005, is now considering building its own manufacturing plant, he added.
In a further statement to Metro.co.uk, Mr Schoenmakers explained how the company was working to change the chocolate industry from within,
He said: ‘The chocolate industry is a deeply flawed system that we want to change from within. We go where the problems are in the this industry so we can solve them. We deliberately source our cocoa from West Africa where issues of illegal labour and modern slavery are most prevalent – so we can change it. We deliberately work with Barry Callebaut to show it is possible to be fully traceable while working with a large processor.
‘Ultimately, we want to show the biggest chocolate brands that it is possible to make delicious chocolate that is free from modern slavery and illegal child labour so we can get to a 100% slave free chocolate industry, worldwide, faster.
‘If we made our chocolate ourselves, big chocolate companies could disregard our 5 Sourcing Principles as it wouldn’t be possible for them to adopt or use at scale. We welcome debate and conversation around the topic because it helps get us closer to making 100% slave free the norm in chocolate.’
Tony’s has launched a petition calling for child labour to be made illegal and ‘modern slavery a shame of the past’.
The brand has been shortlisted for the 2021 Stop Slavery Enterprise Award (Goods & Service Companies) by the Thompson Reuters Foundation.
Barry Callebaut has ‘committed to eradicate child labour from its supply chain by 2025’, a spokesperson said.
Waitrose will be changing their opening hours over the Easter weekend (Picture: Getty)
Easter is fast approaching which often prompts changes to store opening times – here’s what to expect with Waitrose over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend.
But if you’re heading to your usual supermarket to stock up then here’s what you need to know regarding Waitrose’s opening hours.
When is Waitrose open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Monday?
On Good Friday (April 2) and Easter Monday (April 5), the majority of Waitrose shops will be open from 8am to 8pm, with some Little Waitrose shops opening from 6am to midnight.
All Waitrose & Partners shops will trade normal hours on Saturday, April 3.
Waitrose & Partners shops in England and Wales will close on Easter Sunday (April, 4).
All Shell and Welcome Break stores will trade as usual.
Individual shop opening hours may vary so it is best to check on the Waitrose website before you visit over the Easter weekend.
Can you hop down to the shops this weekend? (Picture: Getty)
Many shops and supermarkets are traditionally closed or operate at different hours on Easter Sunday.
And with supermarket staff being some of the key workers who kept the country turning during nearly a year of lockdowns and shut downs, a day off is well-deserved.
However, you still might need to pop out and pick some essentials up. Whether it’s food for the bank holiday or you want to grab some bits before going off to meet your friend for the first time in a while – with the rule of six having been reintroduced on March 29 – which shops will be open Easter Sunday?
Read on to find out…
Are supermarkets and shops open on Easter Sunday?
Government guidelines around trading hours for retailers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland state that any shops over 280 square metres (3,000 square foot) must be closed on Easter Sunday by law.
This means that all major supermarkets will not be open on Easter Sunday (April 4).
Some pharmacies may remain open, but check online before you travel. (Picture: Getty Images)
However, if you find yourself in urgent need of picking up essential supplies on Easter Sunday there are certain stores that are exempt from this law.
This includes registered pharmacies selling only medicinal products and medical and surgical appliances, shops and metro supermarkets at service stations and farm shops that sell primarily their own produce.
Supermarkets that have smaller stores under 280 square metres may also be open but with shorter opening hours than usual.
Other non-essential shops – like clothes shops – are still closed until April 12 at the earliest in England, following the national lockdown back in January.
Shops open on Easter Sunday
To be sure that your local shop or small supermarket is open, check online for information about their opening hours on their website, but the following ‘mini’ or local supermarkets and shops are expected to be open:
Tesco Express – expected to trade as normal, check your local store online
Sainsbury’s Local – expected to trade as normal, check your local store online
Waitrose stores (at Shell and Welcome Break service stations only) – differs by location.
Co-Op convenience stores – expected to trade as normal, check your local store online
McColls – each store is managed to meet local regulations, check with your local.
Don’t forget that a Bank holiday can sometimes mean your local supermarket may be closed (Picture: Getty Images)
Rejoice, everyone, as May 3 is the early May bank holiday– who doesn’t love kicking back over a three-day weekend!?
There is one hiccup that can often catch people out though, and that is supermarket opening times.
You don’t want to be caught short of supplies for your bank holiday barbecue, only to find the shop isn’t open for you to rectify it.
To make sure you can plan your shopping times effectively this bank holiday weekend, allow us to give you all the information you need on your favourite supermarket’s opening times…
May bank holiday opening hours for Morrisons
Are you getting your bank holiday barbecue supplies from Morrisons this weekend? (Picture: Getty)
Most Morrisons stores vary in opening times based upon their size, but the vast majority will be open between 7am and 8pm on the bank holiday.
To be sure, head over to the Morrisons website to find your nearest store’s opening times.
May bank holiday opening hours for Waitrose
Opening hours can vary depending on the size of the store (Picture: Shutterstock)
Some Little Waitrose stores and smaller branches have slightly reduced opening hours on bank holiday Monday, with some stores opening from 10am to 7pm on the bank holiday.
Some stores are completely unaffected, opening during their regular hours of 7am to 11pm.
Head over to the Waitrose store finder to see if the opening hours for your local branch have been affected.
May bank holiday opening times for Asda
Will that 24 hour Asda near you actually be open for 24 hours on bank holiday Monday? (Picture: Getty)
Most Asda stores will be open from 8am to 8pm on bank holiday Monday, operating at slightly reduced hours.
The opening and closing times vary hugely across different stores.
Some of their larger stores which are normally open until 11pm will close at 8pm and many of their 24-hour stores will shut earlier too.
You can use the Asda store locator to see how the opening times for your nearest store.
May bank holiday opening times for Iceland
How is your local Iceland affected by the bank holiday? (Picture: Getty)
Most Iceland branches will be open from 8am to 11pm, the regular Monday hours.
Stores will open on Saturday as usual, from 8am to 11am, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
More than 7.6 billion single-use plastic bags were sold by the seven main supermarkets alone in 2014 before the 5p charge came into force
The cost of single-use plastic bags will double to 10p and apply in all shops in England from today.
Until now, stores which employ 250 people or less have been exempt and been able to hand out bags for free.
The Government said since the 5p levy on plastic bags was introduced in England in 2015, the number of single-use bags distributed by large supermarkets has fallen by more than 95%.
The average person in England now buys just four single-use bags a year, compared to 140 in 2014.
But campaigners said there has been a huge increase in sales of larger bags for life in the same period.
Supermarkets make tens of millions of pounds a year in sales of plastic bags.
Retailers are ‘expected’ by the Government to donate all proceeds from single-use plastic bag sales to good causes including environmental charities.
The Big Bag Ban, which is calling for an outright ban on all plastic bags, said the 10 biggest supermarkets donated £65 million from single-use bag sales to charity in 2016-17.
The new 10p levy applies to smaller retailers previously exempted from the law (Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
But this fell to £9 million in 2019-20 because they are not obliged to donate proceeds from bags for life.
Greenpeace has also criticised ministers for not taking enough action on bags for life and said the Government should be taking ‘great strides’ not ‘small steps’ to tackle the climate crisis.
CPRE, the countryside charity, called for action to be taken on all single-use items, such as takeaway cups and forks.
Deputy chief executive Tom Fyans said: ‘To truly step up and face the war on plastic, Government should bring in charges on all single-use, throwaway items – from takeaway cups to wooden forks.
‘Incentivising reuse systems and finally committing to an all-in Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers are the only ways the Government can achieve a litter-free countryside and win the war on waste.’
Major supermarkets outlined to Metro.co.uk the measures they have taken to limit their environmental impact.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s have both stopped selling single-use bags and will replace and recycle worn-out bags for life for free, while Iceland has 50 stores that are completely plastic bag free.
Almost 100 million plastic bags will be removed in total, which equates to 1.9 million a week (Picture: Morrisons)
Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: ‘Everyone wants to play their part in reducing the scourge of plastic waste that blights our environment and oceans. The 5p bag charge has been hugely successful, but we can go further.
‘From today we will increase the charge to 10p and extend it to all businesses. This will support the ambitious action we have already taken in our fight against plastic as we build back greener.
‘We have banned the supply of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, banned microbeads in personal care products, and we are consulting on a new deposit return scheme for drinks containers.’
The word is thought to mean ‘inferior’ and ‘of poor quality’, like the fruit. (Picture: Getty)
Next time you’re looking for Kaffir lime leaves in Waitrose, you might notice a change in the packaging.
The supermarket is changing the name of this product after customers raised concerns that ‘kaffir’ used to be a slur in South Africa.
The fruit, also known as Citrus hystrix, is native to Sri Lanka and is also found in Mauritius and South East Asia, where it is called Makrut.
It is thought Scottish botanist HF MacMillan introduced the fruit to the English-speaking world, using the name Kaffir lime in the late 1800s.
Phrases such as ‘kaffir-lover’ and ‘Kaffirboetie’ where used to describe a white person who was close to a Black person as far back as 1820.
It is thought to mean ‘inferior’ and ‘of poor quality’, like the fruit. By the 20th century it was widely-known as a pejorative term.
It was used in apartheid South Africa as an anti-Black insult and as recently as 2018, a woman was jailed there for abusing a Black policeman with the word.
Many chefs and food writers in Britain, Australia and the US have now chosen to adopt the name Makrut for the fruit instead.
Other UK supermarkets are now following suit, with Sainsbury’s and the Co-op both in the process of updating the names of the leaves on their own food packaging.
The Co-op said it has a ‘zero policy on racism’ and the use of any ‘racial slur terms’.
At the time of writing, Tesco, Asda, Marks and Spencer and Iceland all use the name Kaffir lime leaves on their websites.
Waitrose’s Cooks’ Ingredients product will be re-labelled as Makrut Lime Leaves ‘in response to customer comments we’ve received’, read a statement.
The new packaging of the dried lime leaves, which are a popular ingredient in South East Asian cuisine, will be rolled out to all shops and Waitrose.com by early next year.
‘This name change is a crucial step in recognising how important it is for us to listen to customers and educate ourselves when it comes to the language we use,’ says Waitrose grocery trading manager Helena Dennis.
‘While some of our customers may be unaware of the connotations of this particular word, it’s important to us that we avoid offending anyone who shops with us.
‘It is changes like this that ensure we are moving forward.
‘We need industry-wide support on this, and encourage other retailers to do the same in order to make a difference on a widespread, national scale.’
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
Eight John Lewis stores were also closed in March as they were ‘financially challenged prior to the pandemic’.
The UK’s high streets look different a year after Covid hit (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
The chain has axed around a third of its stores in less than a year as both retailers aim to save £300 million by 2023.
Dame Sharon White, chair of the partnership, has put the crisis down to the nation seeing ‘a decade of changing shopping habits concertinaed into one year’.
There are currently 331 Waitrose stores and 34 John Lewis shops across the UK.
A John Lewis Partnership spokesperson said: ‘We have announced to our partners our intention to simplify our management structures in Waitrose and John Lewis stores, which will allow us to reinvest in what matters most to our customers.’
Get creative with your salmon dishes (Picture: Mowi)
As the world watches the Toyko Olympics, many of us are going for Japanese-inspired cooking.
Waitrose shared that just days into the sporting event, sales of their Japanese range were up by 10% and searches for recipes online had risen by 72% compared to the previous month.
As we look to other cuisines for new dinner ideas, seafood company Mowi have made the job easier by sharing four ways you can make salmon with Japanese influences.
From katsu to ramen, there’s something to work for anyone that enjoys salmon – smoked, pan fried or roasted.
Katsu salmon with choy sum
A dish idea for your family (Picture: Mowi)
20 mins cooking, serves four.
Ingredients:
Raw salmon
Jasmine rice
Choy sum or pack choi, washed and trimmed, 120g
Sunflower oil, 2 tbsp
Onions, finely diced, 100g
Garlic, two cloves crushed
Ginger small piece, finely chopped 10g-12g
Curry powder, 1 ½ tbsp 10g
Five spice, 1tsp
Ground turmeric, ½ tsp
Soy sauce, 2-3 tbsp (to taste)
Coconut milk, 400g
Honey (or a pinch of sugar), 1 tsp
Red onions, finely sliced 60g
Lemon juice, ½ lemon
Coriander, chopped, 1tsp
Method:
Prepare the red onions by placing them sliced in a bowl. Add the juice of half a lemon, a good pinch of salt and a tsp of chopped coriander. Mix together and place in the fridge.
Heat 1tbsp oil in a non-stick wok or deep frying pan. Season the salmon fillets and sear for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Heat the rest of the oil in the pan and add the onions, garlic, ginger and a pinch of salt. Cook on a low heat until the onions are soft stirring frequently (be careful not to burn or colour the onions).
Once the onions are soft, add the dry spices (curry powder, turmeric & five spice) and cook for another minute on a low heat.
Add the coconut milk, soy sauce and honey. Bring the sauce to the boil and simmer on a low heat for 5 minutes.
Place the salmon in the sauce (skin side up) and cover with a lid or form a lid with a sheet of tin foil. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Lay the choy sum on top of the sauce and place the lid back over the pan. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes, then taste and adjust the seasoning if required. Check that the salmon is cooked through before serving.
To serve: place the rice into two bowls, divide the choy sum, salmon and sauce between the bowls and top with the red onions.
Dressed smoked salmon
Switch up your date night (Picture: Mowi)
15 mins cooking, serves two.
Ingredients:
Smoked salmon
Wasabi paste, 1 tsp
Pickled ginger (cut into fine strips), 1 tbsp
Small handful of coriander leaves or micro-coriander (optional)
Spring onions, 2, finely sliced at an angle
Red chilli, halved, deseeded and finely sliced
Sesame seeds, toasted, 1 tbsp
Ponzu dressing:
Mirin, 2 tbsp
Rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp
Soy sauce, 2 tbsp
Lime juice, 1 tbsp
Orange juice, 1 tbsp
Pickled radish (optional):
Salad radish (4-5 thinly sliced) or can be replaced with shredded Mooli (also known as white radish or daikon)
Pinch of salt
Pinch of caster sugar
Rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp
Method:
To make the pickled radish, mix the sliced radish with the salt, sugar and vinegar. Cover with film and place in the fridge for at least an hour. Drain and discard the liquid before serving.
Make the Ponzu dressing. Place mirin, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, lime juice and orange juice in a bowl and mix.
Open the pack of smoked salmon and place onto a plate or cut into strips.
Sprinkle over the smoked salmon – sliced spring onions, red chilli strips, coriander and sesame seeds or serve in small bowls at the side of the smoked salmon.
Serve with ginger, pickled radish and wasabi paste.
Serve the ponzu dressing as a dipping sauce or pour over the salmon.
Hot smoked salmon poke bowl
Makes for a healthy lunch or dinner (Picture: Mowi)
15 mins cooking, serves two.
Ingredients:
Roast salmon portions or smoked salmon (cut into strips)
Jasmine rice, 100g
Avocado (peeled and stoned)
Frozen Edamame beans, blanch and refresh, 100g
Spring onions, 2-3 thinly sliced
Toasted sesame seeds, 2 tsp
Cucumber, ¼ length ways then sliced at an angle, 100g
Small bunch of fresh coriander sprigs
Half a red chilli sliced into rings
Dressing:
Lime, juiced
White miso, 1 tsp
Soy sauce, 2 tbsp
Honey, 2 tbsp
Sesame oil, 1 tbsp
Ginger, peeled and finely diced or grated
Method:
Place the jasmine rice into a pan of boiling water and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Transfer the rice to a sieve and run under cold water until the rice is cold. Drain well, place in a bowl and cling film. Refrigerate until needed.
To make the dressing whisk together all the ingredients. Cling film and place in the fridge until needed.
Divide the rice into the base of two bowls.
Slice or dice the avocado into large pieces.
Divide the avocado, edamame beans, spring onions and cucumber between the two bowls.
Flake the roast salmon portions and divide between the two bowls.
Remove the dressing from the fridge and drizzle over the dish.
Garnish the two bowls with sliced red chillies, sesame seeds and coriander sprigs.
Miso and chilli salmon ramen
Spice up a go-to salmon dish (Picture: Mowi)
30 mins cooking, serves two.
Ingredients:
Raw salmon
Noodles (cook as per pack instructions), 150g
White miso paste, 40g
Spring onions, 2 finely sliced (diagonally or at a slant)
Small bunch coriander sprigs
Red chilli, half sliced into rings
Soy Sauce, 2 tbsp
Oyster Sauce, 1 tbsp
Water of vegetable stock
Ginger, peeled and cut into fine strips or grated, 7g
Vegetables (e.g. baby corn, sugar snaps, tender stem broccoli, pak choi or baby bok choi), 140g
Pinch of salt
Sugar or honey, 1 tsp
Method:
Prepare the salmon by removing the skin from the salmon portions, then slice the salmon into 10mm thick slices.
Prepare the vegetables so they are all roughly the same size. This will make them easier to cook (e.g. half the tender stem broccoli or baby bok choi. Cut the baby corn into ¼’s).
Bring a large pan of water to the boil add the noodles and cook as per packs cooking instructions. Once ready drain well and divide into two bowls.
Place the water or stock into a wok or sauce pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and whisk in the miso paste. Add the salmon, oyster sauce, soy sauce, ginger and chilli rings. Cover (either with a lid or a sheet of tin foil) and gently simmer for 2 – 3 minutes.
Remove the lid and add the vegetables and simmer for a further 3 – 4 minutes or until the salmon and vegetables are cooked.
Divide the salmon between two bowls next to the noodle.
Remove the vegetables and divide between the bowls.
Pour the stock over the noodles and garnish with the coriander sprigs, spring onions and lime.
Food ordered from Waitrose only lasts around 8.6 days from when its delivered (Picture: Getty Images / Rex Features)
Waitrose food ordered online is more likely to go off sooner than its major rivals, a new study has found.
The upmarket chain came bottom of a list which ranked chains by the longevity of items delivered via online shopping services.
Tesco came top, closely followed by Asda and Ocado, all of whom were found to be selling products which lasted more than 10 days from the date of delivery.
In contrast, Waitrose’s food only lasted 8.6 days – or 207 hours – on average.
Consumer specialists Which? carried out the research using a team of 12 undercover shoppers.
Each ordered the same 16 perishable goods from six major supermarket chains and tallied up the number of full hours remaining from the time of delivery to midnight on the use-by date for each item.
They then calculated an average time per supermarket and ranked all six by the freshness of their products.
Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket, came top of the pile for freshness, with items lasting an average of 11 days.
Best and worst supermarkets for freshness
Tesco products lasted 264 hours or 10.98 days
Asda products lasted 252 hours or 10.49 days
Ocado products lasted 249 hours or 10.39 days
Sainsbury’s products lasted 230 hours or 9.60 days
Morrisons’ products lasted 221 hours or 9.19 days
Waitrose’s products lasted 207 hours or 8.63 days
Waitrose set up its online delivery service last year (Picture: REX)
The supermarket showed the expected shelf life of perishable items on its website and had no examples of damaged packaging or food that had gone off by the time it was delivered, unlike some rivals.
Tesco was closely followed by Asda, which had an average of 10.5 days of shelf life on its products on all grocery items, although it did deliver one pack of bacon on its use-by date.
Meanwhile, online-only rival Ocado was just behind Asda with an average life of 10.4 days for products.
Waitrose, which launched its own online business last year after ending a partnership with Ocado, was bottom of the table, with items lasting an average of 8.6 days.
Food from Waitrose only lasted 8.6 days on average (Picture: Getty Images)
The supermarket also delivered two packets of beef that appeared to have gone off, despite being within their use-by dates.
Responding to the findings, Waitrose said: ‘We always train our Partners to pick products with the longest best-before date for online deliveries – we’re sorry this fell short of our high standards and are committed to making this better for our customers.
‘From time to time we sometimes shorten the date codes on certain fresh produce to ensure it’s at optimum quality – so this may also have been a factor behind the results.’
![Paul wearing the wig as part of his Makoto Naegi costume from the video game Danganronpa THE MOTHER of an autistic boy has revealed how he was allegedly mocked by Waitrose staff who ???made fun of his mannerisms and looks??? because the youngster was wearing a wig. Twelve-year-old Paul Rowles was dressed as his favourite video game character to go shopping when his mum Nicole Rowles, 34, says the ???disgusting??? incident occurred. Paul, who dresses up as characters to help him cope in public, was wearing a wig as part of the costume on Monday [26 Oct] when ???heartless??? staff allegedly began joking with each other about his ???mannerisms and looks???. Mum-of-four Nicole says she was left in floods of tears following her visit to the store in Andover, Hampshire and is furious that staff have apparently yet to apologise to Paul directly. Writing about the experience on Facebook shortly after, Nicole fumed: ??? Their obvious mockery was hard to ignore, they were laughing and making comments of someone they could both see. ???I didn???t have to wait long for the woman to say with a loud voice ???what about that wig though???? followed with delightful laughter. ???At this point I turned around and said to them ???That's my son you are making fun of! My 12-year-old autistic son!??????](http://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/PRI_170618176.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=768)
![Nicole and Paul THE MOTHER of an autistic boy has revealed how he was allegedly mocked by Waitrose staff who ???made fun of his mannerisms and looks??? because the youngster was wearing a wig. Twelve-year-old Paul Rowles was dressed as his favourite video game character to go shopping when his mum Nicole Rowles, 34, says the ???disgusting??? incident occurred. Paul, who dresses up as characters to help him cope in public, was wearing a wig as part of the costume on Monday [26 Oct] when ???heartless??? staff allegedly began joking with each other about his ???mannerisms and looks???. Mum-of-four Nicole says she was left in floods of tears following her visit to the store in Andover, Hampshire and is furious that staff have apparently yet to apologise to Paul directly. Writing about the experience on Facebook shortly after, Nicole fumed: ??? Their obvious mockery was hard to ignore, they were laughing and making comments of someone they could both see. ???I didn???t have to wait long for the woman to say with a loud voice ???what about that wig though???? followed with delightful laughter. ???At this point I turned around and said to them ???That's my son you are making fun of! My 12-year-old autistic son!??????](http://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/PRI_170618378-e1604332263899.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
