Hey I'm off to Bolivia!  I heard the other day on BBC News (so it must be true!) a report on the launch of the Bolivian’s own soft drink called Coca Colla.  Not there is no spelling mistake, the drink is packed in red and white cans and looks a little like the international soft drink we all know so well. Who knows, maybe these will be the new "big thing" for bartlett mitchell sites. 

Ian Mitchell is stranded in South Africa, something to do with a volcano, and has been forced to take another week’s holiday.  Any of you wine buffs will know that he finds himself in one of the best wine producing countries in the world and I’m sure he’s making the most of the ‘opportunity’ to research so that when he does eventually show his face he can delight us with a new repertoire of wines. 

I’ve got some great news for you.  The age-old maxim “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper” may in fact be the best advice to follow to prevent metabolic syndrome, according to a new University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) study. Great news for our kitchens, and great news for those of you at bartlett mitchell who love to tuck into a bacon buttie or sausage sarnie!

Taste of London is definitely one of the world’s leading restaurant, food and drink festivals: one of the social events of the year for aspirant ‘foodies’ and socialites keen to combine a great day out with tasting and learning about food and drink.   If last year was anything to go by, it will be very good and well worth the visit, our catering managers in need of inspiration find this a boon, especially to see what can be achieved with the proper mis en place and a little ingenuity.

We've just heard of a great initiative from the Royal Horticultural Society that ties in really well with some of our more green fingered units (and helps us tick that "Environmentally Aware" box). It's the RHS "Make you pledge to grow fruit and veg"!  

As most of you will know, I adore cheese! I’ve always got my eye on what’s great out there and I always look forward to the French awards. This year the Concours Général Agricole cheese judging took place on 1 March at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. A total of 417 medals were awarded for all different types of French cheese including 131 gold, 147 silver and 139 bronze medals.

Jersey Royals are set to hit the shelves over the next couple of weeks and I can’t wait.  For me it heralds the start of the sunshine.  Within the farming community I know that hopes are high for the 2010 crop following a good yield in 2009.