It’s that time again Ice Cream And Judes Made In The UK Is Hitting The Spot

Small British Brand Cracking The UK Market

Margaret Louis

2026-03-09T09:22:00.0000000 2026-03-10T08:39:43.7230000

Anyone who follows me knows I love ice cream. Ice lollies, and ice in my drinks, I’ve even made my own ice lollies in the past. It’s quite ironic really how I survive without a freezer, relying on my neighbour from time to time to store a super market purchase mostly I am an eat and go ice cream girl, picking one up when I fancy it which is often, devouring immediately until next time so individual units are best for me, something very hard to find these days as most icecream comes in large tubs or packs of 4 sometimes 6 difficult to consume in one sitting, unless you are greedy. To be fair good ice cream does have the capacity to make even the most restrained greedy.

It was 19 degrees in the UK last week so the desire for an ice lolly loomed large. I had a funny experience in a corner shop as I purchased a bottle of water and went in search of ice cream in a broken freezer whose contents had to be abandoned. The lady behind the counter said it must be warming up if the requests for ice cream were arriving. I didn’t tell her I was a freak for an icy all year around treat.

It did send me in search of my ice cream elsewhere and in the supermarket I found something new, something I thought was Vegan, they do a few different vegan ice cream options, except this one didn’t turn out to be. I didn’t take my glasses into the shop but all plant based ice cream from Jude’s is clearly marked on the boxes.

I love a family business, I love the story of Mum and Dad teams partnerships forged in family tackling a problem, making something better and getting it to market, doing things differently, consciously, making change. That’s the kind of business I like to support. Jude’s hold B corporation certification too, not easy to achieve, you have to jump through a lot of hoops which adds credence for me to their endeavours to be better.

The mint choc minis I purchased, 6 in total were delicious. It’s a small helping so you can easily polish off two in one go. I did, my friend ate one and we offered the other three to passers by in the car park, it was sunny and unusually warm for March so a kindness that gave us a lot of pleasure in and of itself. I don’t think they really bought the explanation of not owning a freezer in this day and age so the ice creams would be wasted if someone didn’t kindly help us out and eat them.

They tasted absolutely delicious, maybe because I thought they were plant and turned out not to be but hey, I will try one of the many vegan offerings next time. I love Jude’s for taking on the challenge of vegan ice cream. Not easy to make a good one.

I paid about £4.00 for the six ice cream mini treats so about £0.65 each which I thought was pretty good value for the taste.

The ice cream was creamy and pretty delicious with a chocolate coating with crunch.

The perfect sized sweet treat especially for youngsters.

US Top Nails in Wigston a Leicester Suburb Could Be In Malibu when the Sun Shines

Full Service Nail Salon, Run By Fantastic People Who Go Over And Above

Margaret Louis

2026-03-05T16:03:00.0000000 2026-03-05T18:21:36.0970000

There’s a nail shop on every high street in every town across the UK sometimes two or three but few offer the personal, professional and friendly but not too friendly service of US Top Nails.

This snoop is a pleasure to write, for me the team at US Top Nails is the reason to write about them and share this small independent business with the world because they deserve it.

I used to live in California so am used to the full service nail bars you find on every drive in strip mall and US Top nails lives up to its name.

Every member of staff is highly skilled, kind, and gives the personal one to one service, really listening to an individual customers preference, we are all different when it comes to to our nails, and doing their best to deliver and exceed their customers expectation.

I have been a few times now, there is a lot of competition but just in the local area but in the centre of Leicester and nearby towns of Rugby and Market Harborough however I have not found anywhere that offers the level of care and service the staff at US Top Nails offer.

It really feels like you are in a London nail spa when it comes to the end result and care taken over the service.

It is not fancy but very clean and great value. I have included a picture of the menu and price list rather than listing all the services they offer.

They run a tight ship and the customers are stylish, respectful and pleasant too which isn’t always the case in the city centre, where arguments and fights have broken out and people refusing to pay, behaviour I personally cannot stand.

Walk in or make an appointment. I find best time to go is during the week just after lunch between 1pm and 3pm, before school kicks out. They have four or five nail technicians a mix of guys and girls, I had my nails done by most and all are excellent.

Taco Bell, a comforting American import when tacos are your favourite food

Taco Bell Tacos the fast food oxymoron fresh tasty and healthy Mexican food delivered in flash...

Margaret Louis

2026-01-28T08:48:00.0000000 2026-01-29T19:03:59.4570000

There are very few cheap healthy and quick food options in the UK unless it’s a piece of fruit. And the number of convenience stores where you can even buy a banana or an apple are shrinking.

You can imagine my excitement to discover Taco Bell is a UK import, I’ve obviously been unconsciously sleep walking as the first store came to the UK as far back as 2010.

Loads of people in the UK have probably never tasted a Taco Bell taco. Believe it or not Taco Bell originated in California. Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell restaurant on July 6, 1962, in Downey California, a city south east of Los Angeles and the birth place of the Apollo Space program. Prior to this, Bell operated a hamburger stand and, in 1954, opened his first taco stand in the valley called Taco Tia in San Bernardino, California so the brand origins go way back.

Taco Bell opened its first store in the UK in Lakeside shopping centre in Essex 2010 not in my vicinity which explains why I didn’t stumble across one until a year or so ago. The brand franchises have grown to 139 stores, 90% situated in England. They hit 100 stores in 2022 and have expansion plans for Scotland and Wales to meet demand.

This number actually shocked me when I did the research as I as a big fan and loyal customer in the US and only know of two, both at service stations on the M1, one at Newport Pagnell and the other at Leicester Forest East.

If you have one near you and haven’t been I suggest you try the crunchy and soft tacos, one of the healthiest fast food options available although expect to pay a premium especially on the motorway as prices are definitely higher than other well known burger or chicken joints.

The veggie taco supreme options are really tasty. Black beans, lots of crispy lettuce, tomatoes and guacamole. jalepenos are extra but worth adding if you like a bit of kick and then cheese and sour cream you can opt in or out whether you want to veggie or totally plant based. You can also order sides of guacamole and not the processed kind you get from the supermarket in plastic tubs. But chunky, lumps of avocado almost homemade why the price per pot is £1.29 but worth it I think. I fluctuate on cheese and sour cream and extra guacamole depending on how decadent, healthy I am feeling.

We order a combination of supreme crunchy and soft tacos at £2.99 each taco. The sides of guacamole and jalapeños are extra. I’ve tried the burritos and quesadillas too, these are heavier cheesy options if that’s what you like. I prefer the crispy lighter heavier of the salad tacos.

They also have meal deals, sodas, fries and desserts like every fast food joint but these options are not on my radar and I haven’t purchased.

I love tacos, like the sandwich they are the perfect snack a combination of flavours wrapped neatly in a corn or flour tortilla.

Mexican food is my favourite. Homemade salsa and guacamole are simple recipes made often and served with plain pitta chips, things always available. Limes and coriander are always in the fridge so purchase your tacos from Taco Bell and if you have these fresh ingredients to hand you can upgrade fast food to a gourmet snack is two shakes of a tail.

Fortum and Mason The Monarch Marmalade Vs The Coop Irresistable Medium Cut Seville Orange Marmalade

Jam or Marmalade? Whatever you prefer these two marmalades get the thumbs up

Margaret Louis

2026-01-21T09:30:00.0000000 2026-01-21T16:23:21.3500000

The thing I love most about snooping on Poopsnoop is it’s not a competition for the best articles or the best pictures. Most of my contributions get a good amount of traffic. It’s real life, that’s what everyone shares. So because you get to the know the other people snooping you naturally become curious to see what they are sharing.

I eat toast and preserves almost every day. I love jam and marmalade, was brought up on homemade, not because we were fancy, more because it was cheaper so my taste buds now prefer that homemade fresh fruit flavour.

I’ve seen a few people on here extolling the virtues of different luxury foods and decided to treat myself to a jar of the Fortnum and Mason The Monarch marmalade. I normally buy Irresistable medium cut Seville marmalade from the Coop day to day unless I am at a market or food faire when you’ll usually find me hovering around a homemade preserve stand in between the flowers, plants and health food offerings.

My regular marmalade costs about £3 per jar so the Monarch £8.00 is a big jump, that said the taste sensation is worth the price hike.

The only thing I begrudge is a £6 shipping fee on a jar of marmalade which stops me ordering as frequently as I might and I usually look for a couple of other items to try when I do. I’ve even bought the marmalade as gifts for my friends to try to bring the shipping aggregate down. I felt an obligation when I’ve over shared how marvellous it is and it’s such an effort to get a jar if you don’t live in London.

If you are reading this saying/assuming you have to be wealthy to enjoy small luxuries like this I say not true. I drive a small 15 year old car, I don’t have cable TV, I go to the library instead. The only clothes I really buy are for exercise, I practise yoga daily and my holidays are usually house swaps, staying with friends or at a yoga retreat in the middle of nowhere, experiencing sound baths, eating fruit and chanting, well not quite but you get the idea. Incidentally I don’t wear crocs or Birkenstocks.

I like the Coop marmalade, and 6 months of the year I eat it quite happily, it’s tasty good value and one of the best mainstream marmalades I’ve discovered, tangy with pretty decent sized orange peel pieces.

However if you truly desire an upgrade the Monarch preserve from Fortum and Mason is another level. It’s the kind of memorable experience I’d imagine you’d get in the Ritz or the Savoy if a butler brought you your breakfast.

It makes me think about Maggie Smiths classic line in Goddard Park about the marmalade (2001) every time I slap it on my toast,

"Bought marmalade? Oh dear, I call that very feeble."

If they’d given her “The Monarch” there would not have been any complaining I am sure.

It does elevate you toast, a marmalade worthy of its title.

If you’ve got kids in the house, keep it hidden.

The Card 1952 Has Placed Itself In My 25 Top Favourite Films Of All Time

It’s a Black and White Classic I’d Never Heard Of But Could Watch Over and Over Again

Margaret Louis

2025-12-19T16:03:00.0000000 2025-12-19T16:29:02.2430000

I don’t normally write film reviews. In fact the last time was over 10 years ago when we first started concieving the idea a small community of reviewers could offer a way to CONNECT, by sharing things they love. When I look back at the few I wrote, the films weren’t memorable and my reviews were definitely more rants than raves. I don’t sit down and watch that many these days and if I do catch one, so many other people review films so well but I did love the Ealing comedies as a kid, watching with my grandmother and her friend. Films like the Alec Guinness classics like Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Lavender Hill Mob both films I’d recommend anyone to watch interested in British cinema.

However if you are in search of a brilliant family fun classic black and white film to watch over the holidays look no further than the 1952 movie The Card starring the same Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns (best known for for her role as suffragette mother Winifred Banks in the later 1964 Mary Poppins), as Ruth Earp, Valerie Hobson who plays the countess of Chell, and Petula Clark as Nellie Cotteril, Alec Guinness’s love interest number 2.

This amazing film is an adaptation of Arnold Bennetts clever novel 1911 about social climbing in Stoke-on-Trent and is subtly directed by Ronald Neame, the screen play written by Eric Ambler. The Card, known as the Promoter in the US was nominated for an academy award for best sound. And to be honest I am surprised it didn’t receive more nominations. Just a fabulous film in so many ways.

It’s the story of a washer woman’s son Edward Henry "Denry" Machin played superbly by Alec Guinness hell bent on elevating himself both financially and socially

Whilst not technically an Ealing comedy, it was produced by British Film-Makers and distributed by General Film Distributors (a branch of the Rank Organisation), rather than Ealing Studios. Although it is often mistaken for one as it shares the "gentle," light-hearted British humour style characteristic of that era's Ealing productions. 

Alec Guinness and Glynis Johns are at their best in THE CARD, a story of an enterprising young man determined to succeed in a hard, cruel world.

It is the balance between the good natured and clever Machin opposite Ruth Earp, a vivacious and scheming dance teacher. Played hilariously by Johns. Her character is described as a "self-propelling young lady" and a "bundle of feminine guile" who operates a dancing school. In the film, she serves as a primary love interest for the protagonist, Denry, played by Guinness whom she meets while she is heavily in arrears for her rent on her dance studio. They have one thing in common to elevate their social status so Ruth agrees to coach Denry Machin to prepare him for dancing at the Grand Municipal Ball. They do eventually get engaged but Denry soon realises her spendthrift nature and manipulative tactics (very amusingly played in the film) make her a poor match for him and he moves over to Nellie Cotteril as his love interest.

Johns plays the scheming and manoeuvring female lead of Ruth Earp to a T and ends up marrying an aristocrat, who later dies leaving her a titled widow, when Denry doesn’t meet her highest of standards in a speedy enough fashion.

This role solidified Glynis Johns’ status in British cinema during the late 1940s and early 1950s, a period where she was celebrated for her "husky" voice and light comedic timing and I can see why. She’s cast perfectly in this almost blatant, hammed up role.

But the very best part of this film is how absolutely charming and funny the script is. Even today it feels clever and original, full of ingenuity and witty thought provoking lines and innuendo that drill into the darkest side of human nature in the lightest and nicest possible way.

It’s a film everyone can watch, young, old and everywhere in between and most importantly be inspired by how the impossible can become possible with ingenuity and a good idea.

Even if you are alone, down in the dumps, feeling sorry for yourself, a bit depressed, considering falling head first into a bottle of scotch or maybe even worse, this film will lift you out of the doldrums and I promise you will discover something really good about yourself within it.

True cinema magic.

You Beauty Market Harborough Brows, Massage, Laser and Nails to Perfection

If we want great beauty and massage services locally we have to support them

Margaret Louis

2025-12-01T16:08:00.0000000 2025-12-01T17:24:20.7330000

We seen a few health and beauty businesses close in and around Leicester. A massage is quite and expensive luxury and if you have a regular treatment most people have someone they like to support.

I just read ex conservative Prime Minister John Major writing for the Guardian explaining how Brexit leaving the European Union has cost the UK economy about £40 billion pounds a year which is perhaps one of the reasons why small the medium sized businesses especially beauty with less the 10 employees are struggling to keep the doors open and customers coming back. Luxuries like beauty treatments are an easy thing to cut when women are stretching their budgets.

I don’t get a massage as often as I’d like, about 4 times a year and always after a 2 hour yoga class I visit You Beauty in Market Harborough and have always had a wonderful experience. My therapist Rosie, I highly recommend. She’s extremely petite but don’t let that put you off for she is remarkably strong and able to direct her positive energy and skilled technique to ensure I always leave energised and feeling healed, vowing to return more frequently.

At you it’s a warm atmosphere, very professional and the offer a range of therapies from nail care, how the salon began to now offering the latest in skincare, laser renewal treatments and aesthetics if that’s your thing.

It’s a lovely space with quiet treatment rooms and great relaxing background sounds of nature to compliment your treatment. It’s the kind of place you could easily spend a few hours in the capable hands of a variety of therapist

if you have the budget.

The last time I went I was a little concerned it was unusually quiet, normally I struggle to get an appointment unless I book weeks in advance, this time they fitted me and my friend in at very short notice and when

we arrived it seemed like we were the only people booked in.

It could have just been a random quiet day but I would hate to phone up one day and discover they have had to downsize their beautiful space or worse still close altogether.

If you are looking for super professional and experienced beauty professionals in a gorgeous salon setting I know the ladies at You Beauty will take exceptional care of you and everything I have ever tried on their extensive treatment list I have enjoyed.

It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for, a 55 minute full body massage costs between £75 and £100 depending on what you choose to have included, Reiki, hot stones, additional head massage however it’s an equivalent level treatment you’d expect in a 5 star resort.

If you are thinking about a gift voucher for a beauty treatment over the holiday, I am sure everyone would absolutely love a day or half a day of pampering at You Beauty.

Let’s do all we can to make sure the businesses we love get our support over this holiday season. I always try to say an extra thank you with a tip,

A little really does go a long way especially when it comes to any intimate one to one service.

Thanks to everyone at You Beauty for all you do. I may not see you as often as I’d like to but your kindness and care I’ve the years has not been wasted on me.

If you are looking for brow shaping you can get a good experienced expert at You beauty Clinic. I don’t trust my brows to anyone and usually I’d tell my friends not to touch their brows but I can tell you I’ve spoken to few people I’ve crossed paths with a You who love this service and are extremely happy, so much so I’ve considered having a go myself.

Are You Going To San Francisco Shopping? San Francisco Christmas Shopping Guide 2025: Best Neighbourhoods, Markets & Gifts by the Bay

Christmas Shopping In San Francisco Used To Be One Of The Best Places To Go, Not Any More; 2025...

Margaret Louis

2025-11-03T10:46:00.0000000 2025-11-03T11:36:56.9130000

Are You Going to San Francisco Shopping?

Thinking of a San Francisco spree? Flower in your hair optional. The City by the Bay used to be a savvy choice for Christmas shopping thanks to its blend of luxury flagships, indie design studios, and maker markets that showcase Northern California’s craft culture. Add glittering holiday décor, bay views and easy public transport, and you’ve a festive city break that’s as enjoyable as it is productive. (Or so we thought)

Here's the Marketing Pitch

Where to shop

Union Square and surrounds: Classic department stores, all now closed, heritage jewellers and luxury houses, by appointment only, plus festive window displays and a seasonal ice rink most years. Uhh, not sure about this. Maiden Lane’s boutiques make for a stylish detour.

Hayes Valley: Compact, design-led and highly giftable—think small-batch fragrances, minimalist homewares, stationery and sustainable fashion.

The Mission (Valencia Street): Independent bookshops, vinyl, vintage and contemporary local labels; great for one-of-a-kind presents.

Ferry Building Marketplace: Artisan food gifts—single-origin chocolate, small-batch olive oil, cheeses and coffee—under one handsome roof.

Chinatown and Japantown: Traditional teas, ceramics, paper goods, confectionery and kitchenware at friendly prices.

Fillmore and Pacific Heights: Upscale apparel, beauty, children’s wear and tasteful home décor on strollable streets.

Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39: Tourist-friendly once upon a time, beware of pick pocketers and handbag snatchers. May be useful for sweet treats and stocking fillers with a San Francisco stamp.

Seasonal highlights

Union Square tree and holiday rink? (check current-year dates 2025)

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair (usually late November–December), a Victoriana-themed market experience.

Pop-up markets across the city—look for “makers” fairs and gallery shops for locally made ceramics, textiles and prints.

What to buy (If you can find a store open)

Bay Area tech accessories and smart home gadgets.

Californian wines, craft spirits, bean-to-bar chocolate and small-batch pantry goods.

Sustainable fashion and jewellery from local designers.

Outdoor gear for coastal hikes and Sierra trips.

Practical tips

Getting around: Muni, BART and the historic cable cars cover most shopping districts; rideshares fill the gaps. Consider clustering neighbourhoods by day to avoid criss-crossing hills. Don't go out after dark.

Weather: Microclimates are real—layer up and bring a tote-friendly brolly.

Sales tax: Expect roughly 8–9% added at the till in San Francisco.

Bags and packaging: Shops may charge for bags; a foldable tote saves money and waste.

Timing: Weekday mornings are calmer. Big-box deals peak around Black Friday, while independent boutiques often shine closer to mid-December.

Shipping: Many US retailers ship nationwide; ask about flat-rate or holiday bundles if you’re travelling on.

Easy day trips for extra browsing

Oakland and Berkeley: Bookshops, design stores and vintage on College Avenue, Temescal and Fourth Street.

Marin Country Mart (Larkspur): Chic, family-friendly open-air shopping with weekend markets.

Napa’s Oxbow Public Market: Foodie gifts paired with wine tasting.

Where to pause between purchases

Third-wave coffee bars around Hayes Valley and the Mission.

Oyster bars and wine counters inside the Ferry Building.

Cosy North Beach cafés for cannoli and a rest from the hills.

Be advised most cocktail bars don't open until after 5pm

And Now For The Reality

The allure of a big American City like San Francisco, New York City or Seattle Washington has long been on my radar for a long weekend shopping trip, I’ve done a few NYC shopping trips to 5th Avenue, the famous designer discount store, Century 21 and Bloomingdale’s, Saks and Bergdoff Goodmans, caught a show on Broadway, ice skated at the Rockafella centre or the Wollman rink in Central Park and if there was any money left peered in the window of Tiffany and Co Holly Golightly style.

San Francisco used to be the same, the massive Saks Fifth Avenue on Union Square, situated next door to Tiffany and Co, Barneys on O’ Farrel St, Nordstrom Rack for designer bargains, Neiman Marcus on Stockton St plus high designer boutiques the length and breadth of Geary, Louis Vuitton, Chanel,  Van Cleef and Arpels, Bottega Veneta.

If you are planning a shopping trip this year to San Francisco and haven’t visited for a while don’t bother, literally everything has closed down and if it hasn’t, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Van Cleef, the stores are either guarded by truncheon yielding security guards or by appointment only. What’s left of a once vibrant city is now overrun by the homeless and addicted, wandering the streets like the walking dead. Go to Walgreens, the pharmacy at 11pm at night and you’ll face a scene worse than the scariest of horror movies, 24/7 Halloween.

It’s the result of the wealth of Silicon Valley disappearing and looting and smash and grab apparently by the actions of others states attempts to clean up their homelessness by paying people to leave and go to San Francisco, I don’t know how true these claims are.

All the big department stores have closed, Saks and Barneys, massive commercial properties stand empty and the only Nordstrom, a new venture just reopened outside the city centre, is for online customers only, a drop off and pick up centre that carries no merchandise whatsoever.

Actual shopping as a pastime has all but completely disappeared from this once vibrant stylish, possibly the most stylish, American City.

The last man standing is Macy’s which I did venture into to see a homeless man on scooter riding around the make up department. I was rooted to spot too shocked to snap a picture and the energy in the store, a shell of it’s former self with assistant-less counters, undressed mannequin displays, was eerie, the place was pretty much deserted.

I did one full circle of the ladies department on the 3rd floor, by this point on our shopping trip we were pretty desperate to find something, anything to buy. I stopped to look at Good American, the only brand I recognised as fresh and modern, the rest could have been merchandised 10 years ago and not touched since.

We ended up at the bottom of Stockton St where the trams stop at Market Street where we found a 6 story Ross Dress For Less, we were told the Marshalls designer discount store had also closed. This was our last hope.

We had to queue to get through security, yep, then spent a good hour combing the packed rails. There was very little quality clothing of old and even fewer designer brand names we’d come to expect, in the past always managing to snag a sneaky bargain especially when it came to branded shoes or trainers. On this visit we found nothing and left empty handed.

Completely at a loss we decided on a manicure pedicure and maybe a blow dry to pass sometime but a city where at one time you’d find a nail place on every block had transformed into empty shop fronts with boarded up windows. We walked and walked and couldn’t find one beauty shop or hair dresser open on a Saturday.

A whole day spent shopping yielded one pair of sneakers, Jordans by Nike from the Shoe Palace on Geary, where the old Express used to be, another store now closed.

When we returned to our hotel empty handed another guest appeared with 5 or 6 shopping bags packed to the brim with goods. Shocked we asked her where she’d been to find all the stuff she’d bought. “Target” came the reply. “I bought all the things I’ve seen on TikTok”

If you’re choosing just one city for Christmas shopping in the US, I'd recommend you stick to New York City the perennial standout. (That said I haven't been myself for a few years) Between Fifth Avenue’s iconic windows, Bryant Park’s Winter Village, the Union Square and Columbus Circle holiday markets, extended shop hours and unrivalled public transport, it delivers maximal choice and festive theatre in one walkable, well-connected package—ideal for ticking off lists from luxury to artisan in a single weekend.

Westin St Francis Hotel San Francisco a metaphor for Silicon Valley

What you see on the outside isn’t always what you get on the inside

Margaret Louis

2025-10-30T14:06:00.0000000 2025-11-02T08:26:37.5900000

We, myself and the team travelled to San Francisco for Tech Crunch to pitch VC investors Poopsnoop. We all stayed close to the conference Center, Moscone, close to Union Square and could see the extremely grand and palatial Westin St Francis from our bedroom window.

It's a massive, magnificent building and when we were looking for somewhere to enjoy a cocktail or two, smart and swanky we decided this was the place to find an incredible mixologist to conjour up extra dirty Martinis and enjoy a couple of hours in an amazing cocktail bar, how the other half live. Although the most basic room rate is published at $212 per night with all applicable taxes the total per night to stay at the Westin St Francis, works out at around $350 per night in the cheapest room, one queen bed. 

While staying in San Francisco we discovered from a local 69% of Silicon Valley has shrunk away and possibly this has had an impact on the grander than grand hotels too. When we tried to alight the steps at the main front facing entrance on Union Square, the door was surprisingly locked with a sign directing us to a side entrance on Geary where the valet parking was.

Not a problem we walked around the side and went into the hotel by what might be described as the stage door, navigating a dark corridor before we found ourselves in a grand lobby, except there were very few staff around to guide us through the vast place. The building was imposing and impressive but the hotel felt vacuous and empty, not warm, luxourious, expensive and welcoming as we'd expected.

it was about 3.00pm and we made our way to the bar off the main expansive lobby to be met by a security guard and a black roped cord denying access. The bar didn't open until 5.30pm so no daytime martinis for us.

We were guided back to a Starbucks type establishment off the main lobby, with chilled wine and cider available from chiller cabinets and a less than pleasant barista behind the counter demanding we hurry up and make our selection.

The cakes looked nice, but it wasn't the experience we'd envisioned when imagining glamour and luxury from the outside. We settled on a pressed juice, a Pepsi and two packets of crisps, when we paid the $35 dollars with the iPhone, the prompt came up on the screen how much of a tip we'd like to leave, we took one look at each other, for doing nothing, the answer was an immediate, SKIP.

We sat down at a rickety coffee stained table and ate our crisps in silence. We didn't even crack the Pepsi and pour it into the plastic cup we'd had to move heaven and earth to get with ice begrudging given with a toss of the head.

We didn't find another cocktail bar, the type I'd experienced in the past in the Redwood Room Bar at The Clift Hotel ( sophisticated hot spot for high-end cocktails in a glam space with redwood paneling) or at Bix on Gold Street in days gone by. 
I am sure this type of place still exists in San Francisco where the jazz is mellow and muted and the cocktails come in oversized glasses out of James Bond shakers but it wasn't at The Westin St Francis, far from it. As well as the Tech Crunch Expo there was a massive global medical conference happening so perhaps it's the hard working business travellers who are keeping places like this, cold, uninviting and expensive afloat.

Listerine Vs Corsodyl - the facts may shock you

If you are one of the 36% of people globally using Listerine you need to read this

Margaret Louis

2025-09-10T15:16:00.0000000 2025-09-10T15:56:40.9600000

I have been using Listerine mouth wash for years. And then I find out this…..

Listerine is now owned by Kenvue a publicly traded, fully independent company, but its ownership is distributed among its shareholders, which include institutional investors like The Vanguard Group and BlackRock, as well as individual investors. In 2006 Johnson & Johnson bought Listerine from it’s original owners Lambert Pharmaceutical company and manufactured the product until 2023 although no longer a majority owner, as Kenvue the spin off company separated from Johnson and Johnson. Johnson and Johnson did retain a 9.5% stake before selling it off in March 2024 although this was not a transactional sale, the remaining stake in Kenvue was used to pay Johnson and Johnson debts held by J.P Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

The Listerine brand name, data from back in 2013 (the company doesn’t publish how much money Listerine actually makes) said Listerine holds 36.1% of the global mouthwash market worth back then an estimated $4.8 billion dollars.

Yes a staggering amount of money Kenvue are making for a well marketed product that's actually not that great. read on.

The reason I am writing this snoop is because I have just swapped my dentist. My NHS dentist retired, gave up practising and I decided to join a private practise. The NHS options available just weren’t very good, most practises nearby weren’t registering new patients and as I am now over 40, getting a bit older I needed someone I felt could offer more comprehensive care.

The very first thing I was told at my first examination was to stop using Listerine. Point blank. Don't buy another bottle. Throw whats left away. It doesn't work. I was categorically informed told in no uncertain terms after two weeks using Listerine the bugs become resistant to it and you may as well not use anything at all. I was wasting my money.

I couldn’t believe it. I trust the new dentist I am now paying to advise me. He came highly recommended and would have no reason to steer me away from Listerine and towards a less well known brand Corsodyl Daily.

The brand Corsodyl has a similar corporate history to Listerine, it is owned by a consumer healthcare company Haleon, which was a spin off company formed in 2022 from another pharmaceutical giant GSK, GlaxoSmithKline.

All roads lead back to BlackRock and Vangard I am afraid if you are looking to avoid these too less than ethical money people as they are principal institutional investors in both companies so no getting away from who is getting all the money in the end whichever product you choose.

The interesting thing for me is I bought into a product like Listerine for so many years that doesn’t actually work and no one in the NHS ever shared or knew this information.

The other thing I have learned in the last week is not to use my mouth wash at the same time as brushing my teeth as the benefits of one product, the toothpaste are cancelled out by another, the mouth wash.

So I am now brushing my teeth and then using my mouthwash an hour or two later.

If you are concerned about gingivitis, gum disease which eventually leads to tooth loss, Corsodyl is committed to partnering with dentists and patients to help prevent gum problems through effective daily plaque control.

Who knew?????

Listerine is not inherently "bad for you” but its alcohol-based formulas can cause a burning sensation, dry mouth, and potentially alter the oral microbiome, increasing opportunistic bacteria. Corsodyl is alcohol free and doesn’t present the same problems with daily use.

Listerine 500ml advanced defense £6.00

Corsodyl daily 500ml £4.80

Lays Sour Cream and Chive did they ever exist? Now Sour Cream and Onion 100% Besten Kartoffeln

translates from German as 100% best potatoes, no kidding

Margaret Louis

2025-09-03T06:14:00.0000000 2025-09-03T06:23:41.7600000

There appears to a mystery globally about these Lays chips. Just to clarify Lays is the brand of chips marketed by Pepsi Co in the US and around the world, in the UK PepsiCo market chips or crisps under the brand name walkers. Do they taste the same. I’d say not remotely and the flavour remembered by fans around the world as Sour Cream and Chives me included there seems to be a question mark about whether this flavour ever existed at all. We must all be going mad because as I recall it was my favourite flavour chips for more than a decade.

Whether it’s sour cream and chives or sour cream and onion I’d love some comments here from snoopers in the US to affirm I am not completely losing my marbles.

All this aside I just found a German version of American brands Lays potato chips owned by PepsiCo in a UK supermarket. Morrisons, not somewhere I ordinarily shop but I was absolutely delighted to find these for £1.99 sitting on the shelf, make change aside I immediately purchased. It was like being reunited with a long lost friend.

I don’t know where they came from as they were clearly meant for a German consumer, 100% besten Kartoffeln translates to 100% best potatoes.

Lays sour cream and Chive potato chips were always in my Ralph’s shopping cart when I lived in the South Bay in Southern California so this sour cream and onion German version were a treat to behold in a UK supermarket.

Not sure how they ended up here or if I’ll ever be able to find them again but if you spot them don’t be put off by the German labelling. They taste identical to the chips available in the US. And for Americans living in the UK get yourself to Morrisons for a taste of home.

While stocks last.

Corona zero California lifestyle without the headache

The closest tasting zero alcohol light beer to the original I’ve found

Margaret Louis

2025-07-24T08:50:00.0000000 2025-07-24T09:16:48.6370000

It’s been almost 20 years since I tasted my last Corona. When I gave up drinking and left California simultaneously I left behind my favourite beach refresher, a bottle of Corona Extra with a lime pulled from a battered cooler carried to the ocean edge, the only comfort knowing it would be so much lighter on the way back.

When I saw the marketing fridge in my local supermarket full of Corona cero, the 0% alcohol free version saying buy me right by the door as I exited I immediately picked up a four pack and returned to the till to pay. They cost me £6.00 which I thought was a lot for four beers but hey I am out of touch. I haven’t bought beer for a very long time. I’ve tried a few of the other 0% options here and there but none tasted good enough for me to become a regular customer.

Until I tasted the corona cero and even without the lime, the sunshine and the ocean beckoning I was right back on the beach.

The taste was nostalgic and to be honest tasted exactly the same as the Corona Extra I remembered, light, citrusy, not too fizzy (a problem with other zero version like Peroni, too gassy) It was honestly absolutely perfect.

I even noticed on my four pack a qr code on every cap with a chance to win something. I was so impressed with the beer the campaign got me engaged and I did try to scan the code, It didn’t work but hey, it made me then go to the Corona website which takes you away literally.

They have a whole globally beach party happening on line where people are rating the best beaches to visit (and sip Corona) around the globe.

And also a whole save our oceans campaign which also engaged me and I am very impressed to see the Corona brand and its customers caring about.

Forget Ay Caramba, BART Simpson, I say Hi Corona.

Everything about this zero alcohol tipple is absolutely perfect for me.

I’ve drank two and I’ve got a couple of four packs and a lime on my shopping list.

It took almost twenty years, a move half way around the world and a massive lifestyle change but this loyal customer is back.

Spinach Falafel Sandwich Wrap from Marks and Spencers

Perfect picnic food or healthy option for lunch on the go

Margaret Louis

2025-07-09T13:38:00.0000000 2025-07-09T14:03:37.9500000

Don’t shoot the messenger. The new summery wrap from Marks and Spencer is not vegan, containing whipped feta but it does check the vegetarian box for anyone trying to eat less meat and no mayo if avoiding mayonnaise, so great if no eggs is your thing.

A friend of mine told me it was the best thing about her day as she struggled fighting traffic on a blocked M25 this week, battling boiling temperatures 26 degrees rising to almost 30 degrees, 8 hours sitting in traffic for a there and back journey that should have taken four she said the best thing about her day was the new falafel wrap from Marks and Spencer she picked up in a service station on the M1 motorway.

Her review of the new sandwich was so positive in the middle of clearly what was a very challenging day I went in search to try it for myself.

It’s really tasty even if you are not the biggest fan of falafel which I am not. You tend to get more crunchy cucumber and creamy whipped feta, sweet pickled crisp vegetables and spinach leaves all coming together in a summery taste sensation than the dry tasteless balls of not sure what I associate with Falafel. It’s a really great sandwich. Cost £4.25 which I don’t think is too bad and if you combine it in the meal deal at Ocado you get a drink and snack too for £5.00 which is an even better deal.

Thumbs up from me for the new sandwich. Even though it’s not totally plant based it’s a great option for anyone trying to opt for a more healthy lunch on the go option.

Very tasty. Let’s hope it sells and Marks and Spencer’s don’t discontinue it before I get a chance to buy another one.

Solero Berry Bliss may not be around for much longer

As Unilever exit the ice cream sector on sale for £2 at Waitrose

Margaret Louis

2025-07-21T12:28:00.0000000 2025-07-21T14:34:28.4170000

You’ve probably seen the mango tropical fruit version of this Solaro ice cream lolly in an orange packet. I found this berry bliss version, a surprise as it’s a take on raspberry ripple, an ice cream flavour and personal

favourite, nostalgic for me. The three pack was situated next to Jude’s ice cream for dogs in four flavours, Strawberry, Apple & Banana Ice Cream for Dogs

Here for Every Dog & Cat - Supporting the Work of Battersea. which at £5 for 4 I immediately purchased for my neighbours pouch who always has a kiss for me in exchange for a belly rub. She’s a Jack Russell and loved it incidently.

I digress, the positives about the Berry bliss (not to be confused with Berry Blast a Mike and Ike registered trade mark) an ice cream lolly treat described as vanilla ice-cream with a raspberry and strawberry swirl covered in a raspberry strawberry sorbet coating. It’s not sweet and gluten free and only 97 calories for anyone watching their weight, not why I buy them, the mango one has become a go to because of limited choice not because it’s a first choice, why I was excited to see the Berry Blast version; a more palatable flavour combination for me.

It’s made from reconstituted skimmed milk which to be fair doesn’t sound very appealing but for frozen yoghurt lovers you get more of this experience than a creamery ice cream experience.

It’s light and fruity with the tang of fresh berries or citrusy sorbet more than the sweetness of ice cream. They are very refreshing and £2.90 for a pack of three work out at less than a £1 per lolly. And at the moment even cheaper online at only £2.00 for three. Only 68p per berry bliss solaro lolly.

Ironically less expensive than the dog icecream by Jude where you get 4 tubs for £5.00 but of course Unilever aren’t marketing giving back to charity either.

Heartbrand is recognised around the world. In the UK Walls icecream falls under this umbrella although Solero is a walls icecream brand along with brands like Cornetto, Carte Dor, Viennetta, Magnum, twister and Calippo.

As Unilever put the big chill on the ice cream market alleging shareholders demand they focus on more profitable household brands in the group it will be interesting to see if Heartbrand is bought by someone else. It becomes a completely separate company with a different management team or ice cream as we know it disappears from the market altogether.

The downside for consumers of one giant company controlling pretty much the whole market.

They were launched in March this year, the reason you may not have seen them yet I only bought one this week. Not sure how long they will be around if walls Heartbrand is dropped completely by Unilever.

Enjoy a Berry Bliss lolly while you can.

All we’ve got left is the Calippo

Anyone remember an Orange Maid or Strawberry Mivvi, a Lemonade Fizz

Margaret Louis

2025-06-25T16:06:00.0000000 2025-06-25T16:56:05.8730000

Or those lollies that were a cross between a frozen banana on a stick and an ice cream lolly. You cannot even buy a fab in the newsagents anymore, you have to buy these in multipacks in the supermarket and the walls Twister you can sometimes find in the icecream freezers of your local convenience store are usually so old semi defrosted and re frozen you wouldn’t want to eat them anyway. The ice cream man “Mr Whippy” is long gone so when the boiling temperatures of the last week hit 30

degrees I wonder what all the raspberry ripple lovers of old out there are eating.

You guessed right I love an ice cream sandwich, choc ice, ice lolly, even a small pot individual serving of ice cream however when I go to buy one all I am faced with is Magnum, a brand or product I don’t actually like. Or option B a bargain basement ice pop full of Es that used to cost 1p. That’s it.

Why me having to purchase two Calippos today, one full Size in Orange and one mini in Lemon and lime at a staggering £1.79 for the mini, with clear instructions on the back it’s was part of a multi pack and not to be sold individually, I felt a rant coming on.

I don’t understand why getting an individual ice cream from a convenience store or supermarket for that matter has become so difficult. Actually impossible.

And when I read Unilever, the massive company who own Walls who make the last man standing Calippo is being let go from the Unilever stable, ice cream has got the boot I wonder if enjoying a shop bought icecream in a wrapper will ever happen again, it feels like the dinosaurs, having an ice cream or ice lolly has pretty much become extinct.

I know you can buy a multi pack from the supermarket where the choice and selection is broader but what if you just want one on a hot day when you fancy it, to cool down, out and about.

It’s not always convenient to head home and raid the freezer and what about people who don’t have a freezer.

I know Booja Booja make individual pots of vegan icecream which are delicious but only available in specialty shops like whole foods, and not in every town or city or on every corner.

Ice cream and ice lollies must be a difficult market to crack in the Uk as in my lifetime it has almost disappeared which I find absolutely mind boggling. When everyone loves a frozen fruit lolly to quench your thirst.

Please someone come along and make gorgeous ices and lollies on the go, don’t let the only option be one flavour of a tropical solero, I didn’t even like mango but I’ve been forced to buy this frozen treat so many times now that’s not available I am disappointed and like I say I only bought it because there wasn’t anything else to choose from.(magnums aside)

I was pleased to see the vegan magnum appear pre pandemic and I did buy a few of these to support coupled with lack of choice but it didn’t last long. I haven’t seen a vegan magnum available for a couple of years now.

It’s crazy to me. I cannot be the only person interested in buying ice cream or ice lollies on the go. Now no one goes to the cinema anymore the idea of ice cream in the intermission has disappeared so too have all the ice cream and ice lolly eaters.

Anyone fancy a banana split or a knickerbocker glory. I do.

All I can think about is biting into a Kondike bar, right about now. That signature square shaped delight in a silver wrapper, a household name in the US. Maybe I need to start importing square choc ices. Someone’s got to sell us something better than what’s available in the UK today.

Ben and Jerrys Ice cream dropped by Unilever as brands social conscience becomes untenable

It’s only my opinion as Unilever exit Ice cream space

Margaret Louis

2025-06-24T13:18:00.0000000 2025-06-24T16:11:25.9370000

Ben and Jerrys the American ice cream company from Vermont with fun flavours and a social conscious was on my radar over 25 years ago, long before it was bought out by British company Unilever for $326 million in 2000. Unilever PLC is now a British global entity after merging it’s Dutch and British corporate entities to create a single company headquartered in London.

There has been ongoing battles in the boardroom, Unilever fired Ben and Jerrys CEO David Starmer, some say unlawfully this year in March, David Stever over disputes involving the brand's social mission and taking a stance on polarizing political issues mainly there very vocal support of Palestine in the recent conflict with Israel. Whether or not it’s related, usually these things are, there was another battle in 2022 when Unilever let go of the Israeli business to license and sell Ben and Jerrys despite Ben & Jerry's sueing its parent company for selling the business in Israel and the country's West Bank region to a local licensee, arguing the sale violated Unilever's pledge to end sales of it’s products in the region in 2021 as a show of support for the Palestinian cause.

And whilst a spin off of their whole ice cream business including brands names like Magnum and Cornetto and historic British ice cream brand walls, creating separate companies with independent finances and new management structures looks like a bit of a smoke screen, Unilever insist Ben and Jerry is not for sale despite desire from original founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to buy their company back.

Battles in the boardroom doesn’t make for producing the best product and whilst Unilever maintain the big chill on their Ice cream portfolio comes down to focusing more on other core brands which can provide better returns for shareholders, personally I think the streamlined offering has gone down hill anyway.

My once favourite Chunky Monkey, which used to taste like frozen creamy bananas, is now more like watered down vanilla if you can even find it in the UK anywhere other than Amazon and instead of that real high quality homemade taste, quite luxurious as I remember it has been diluted down to over sweetened much cheaper ingredients to compensate for what was once the best ice cream on the market.

Maybe more to the point Ben and Jerry’s loyal supporters in the beginning have opted for other tastier gelato offerings focusing on quality and taste consumers are looking for when it comes to their sweet treats.

For me personally I don’t buy ice cream in the supermarket anymore choosing smaller brands like Gran Sorvete and in london Unico, Romeo annd Guilietta or Badiani 1932 instead.

Whilst the draw of the ethics of founders of Ben and Jerry’s kept me returning in the first decade and the Chunky Monkey to be honest; a flavour I am still nostalgic for even though it now doesn’t taste anywhere close kept me loyal, money power and scrabbling has dampened the allure of a once near perfect brand.

I also read recently even under the umbrella of massive less than scrupulous owners Unilever PLC their B Corp status has remained in tact. Sins of the father clearly don’t apply in this case.

The explanation from B Corp on Subsidiary Eligibility: B Lab, the organization that certifies B Corps, allows wholly-owned subsidiaries of larger corporations to be certified if they meet the relevant standards.

Sounds a bit loopy and super convenient to me, the big boys get to keep the squeaky clean status hard fought and won even when they are not remotely squeaky clean themselves.

So to sum up, Icecream that no longer tastes great with squeaky clean status amidst more squabbling and boardroom back stabbing than you could imagine is the reason I’m no longer a champion for this brand.

The reason I got the photograph, the local luxury Cornish ice cream company Treleavens supplying to a small independent restaurant I like to frequent out in the sticks where I live and go out of my way to drive to, is now cutting down their hours due to hard times and lack of support so on Tuesdays if I fancy an ice cream Ben and Jerry’s is the only option.

It may the beginning of the end for another well loved, well done ice cream company. Treleavens ice cream heads up everyone tastes like Ben and Jerrys used to absolutely delicious made with love and really good ingredients. And notably the same price £3.50 for a single scoop in a waffle cone.

Taco Bell a Californian import courtesy of Welcome Break

Comfort Food Southern California style

Margaret Louis

2025-05-24T06:59:00.0000000 2025-05-24T07:43:14.3670000

When I lived in Redondo Beach California my two fast food go tos were Jack in the box, I couldn’t resist their curly fries, if you haven’t tried them they are so delicious one of the first things I eat when leaving the airport, doesn’t matter where you are in the US like McDonalds you can find a Jack in the box within 10 minutes of leaving the airport, at LAX Los Angeles international airport it’s on Imperial Highway in Inglewood and number two is Taco Bell.

So when I was returning from London to Leicestershire a few weeks ago imagine my surprise when I saw the Taco Bell branding at the Newport Pagnell services I honestly thought I was hallucinating. When you go and live overseas the things you miss the most is the food you love, it works the other way when you return.

I immediately pulled into the services to go and check out the offering.

First of all it’s on the southbound side of the services so anyone heading north has to cross the footbridge something I would never ordinarily do at a service station but for Taco Bell I made an exception.

For Americans used to paying a buck or a buck fifty for tacos it’s expensive, a seven layer burrito which is not massive £6.99,

Hard and soft Tacos £2.99 and extras like a tiny scoop of guacamole or jalepenos you have to pay more for, 0.79p a go which when you tap yes here and there does add up. You are probably paying a premium in the service station too so expect a £20 bill to feed one greedy hungry person or two ladies not being a pig. Not really fast food prices when you can get a couple of burger meals at Mc Donald’s for a tenner.

But oh was it worth it. The food was nostalgic and absolutely hit the spot.

The service also notable and worth a mention, in my excitement on my first visit I was served by a very nice man who I think found humour in my anticipation to try the food, it’s still a fast food joint in a service station so not fancy at all.

When I returned the second time, several weeks later and considering how many people he has served in between he remembered me which was blooming incredible considering how many faces he has seen in between. I hope if his boss reads this he gets acknowledged and recognised in some way.

They don’t offer anything plant based, everything comes with cheese but they do have a digital veggie menu which makes ordering very easy for anyone looking to pass on the meat options, chicken and beef.

If you’ve never been to America and haven’t experienced Taco Bell yet the taste of the brand just opened in the UK is completely authentic, the same and for anyone like me looking for a taste of home has found a new home in the UK.

I don’t think it will be long before Taco Bell has muscled in on the some what tired McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King space.

Thanks Taco Bell and welcome to the UK.

The Monk Quorn offers a Prix Fixe Menu

One of the best restaurants in the Midlands

Margaret Louis

2025-05-06T15:55:00.0000000 2025-05-07T08:13:38.9970000

I love a Prix Fixe menu. And the beauty of the offering at The Monk Quorn is it’s actually the A La Carte menu available Tuesday to Thursday, at a reduced price, £32 for two courses, £38 for three courses.

It’s an unusual spot, a converted cottage in a small Leicestershire village not far from the only Michelin starred restaurant in the Midlands, Johns House in Mountsorrel, a neighbouring village.

The Monk is head and shoulders above the local competition. They have gone the extra mile to offer an extensive range of cocktails, their mixologist can not only deliver boozy, they mix a mean extra dry martini, and not in a tiny two mouthfuls glass, they also have an extensive Mocktail list, very progressive thinking for the health conscious and the drivers.

The menu is hearty and lip smacking for the meat lovers, with a steak night on Wednesdays if steak is your thing.

Gluten Free and Vegan options are available, it did notice a typo on the menu where VEA = gluten free so I don’t imagine they get very many requests for plant based although I tried the whole roasted beetroot and it was pretty good.

It’s a great restaurant with amazing colourful African, I know random interiors, everything coming together to create a truly memorable experience.

Everyone who comes to visit and stay with me is always moaning there aren’t any really really good restaurants in the Midlands.

I think that’s because the customers like what they like, that said the Monk have created a place that stands alone and people will drive to experience.

What’s their USP, I’d say very little if any competition.

This is somewhere to check out if you like fine dining, a fantastic and sometimes unusual wine list with the likelihood you are going to try something different and learn something new.

From the outside it looks like an old chocolate box cottage on the inside you could be anywhere in the world except when the food comes.

If you’ve been to Tom Kerridge at the Corinthia in London the food is similar, with the focus mainly on the cut of meat or fish you have chosen.

There are a couple of veggie options on the menu; I’d like to see a bit more creativity here, there again I understand, in more rural and farming locations, I am definitely in the minority.

Sun Lollys Convenience Shops and Packed Up Freezers

Fruit Lollies from Denmark solution

Margaret Louis

2025-04-28T07:46:00.0000000 2025-04-30T09:38:56.4830000

This is a big time rave about my latest discovery Sun Lollys an ingenious invention I had never heard of and was introduced to by the smiling shopkeeper at my local corner shop.

Our Fridge freezer has been broken for sometime now, the fridge works but not the freezer so ice lollies and cream treats has been restricted to only when out.

Now the problem of finding a single fruit based iced lolly. In the supermarkets you have to buy multi packs and most newsagents have a limited selection of Magnums and ice pops. Nothing in between in the fruity healthy category. FYI Cook do sell individual frozen fruity healthy lollies but they don’t take cash and you have to find one as they are not on every street corner.

After my Waitrose shop I wanted a lolly, nothing available in there so I stopped at my convenience store on the way home where I don’t know anyone’s name but they know me and always have what I usually buy ready. It’s really lovely to feel seen and see the effort some people make for their small business to thrive, something you don’t get in a big shop.

I was directed to the fridge where the ices were stored. I looked and once again only saw the Magnums in every flavour and the ice pops full of colourings, flavourings and E numbers.

When I returned to the counter empty handed the shopkeeper looked forlorn I hadn’t found what I needed and he immediately marched me back there to show me the Sun Lollys.

This is what you are looking for he said confidently and then told me to buy two, try them and come back to get more. He charged me £0.59 per lolly.

Don’t know where anyone else is going to find these clever ice lolly’s made of pure fruit. They are absolutely delicious thirst quenching, ingenious product I cannot believe I have NEVER encountered before and they are completely vegan, if that’s important to you too.

The Sun Lollys are from Denmark originally but have quickly become a big brand name in Germany.

I’ve checked out their website and they look like an Innocent, providing healthy food options in a really tasty easy and convenient way.

Now all you gotta do is find the Sun Lollys for yourself.

FYI I purchased mine already frozen but the USP of this product for retailers is it’s usually sold unfrozen to the consumer so no expense in chiller space or freezer space for the retailer they can sit on a regular aisle and those with a working freezer can freeze at home.

I am just delighted my local convenience shop did that for me.

How to win friends and influence people was a book I read in my twenties and this personal experience reminded me of some of Dale Carnegies simple tips.

Kilo Wine Bar Staff and Experience

Blast from the past with a modern twist

Margaret Louis

2025-03-29T14:49:00.0000000 2025-03-29T16:12:34.4630000

Specialising in Italian wines Kilo wines are all about supporting the finest independent growers and producers.

Just had a great experience at the kilo wine bar in Quorn Leicestershire which opened in November 2023 and offers a wine and cheese Tapas like experience.

The venue is modern and has obviously undergone a complete refurbishment. We went on a Saturday in the middle of the day and we did get a table without a reservation but it was quite busy.

The menu is kind of nibbles and Light bites the lunch menu is sandwiches, cheeseboard, vegetarian board, various versions of eggs Benedict with hollandaise eggs Royale with hollandaise, arancini balls various flavour Combinations. Exciting for us there were three salads on the menu an avocado rocket salad, a beetroot and sweet potato salad and an avocado and bacon salad for meat eaters.

The wine list was extensive and the owner who served us was certainly knowledgeable about wine. We tried to order a Malbec by the glass which he said he didn’t have and substituted for something else. I don’t know the name of but apparently was absolutely blooming delicious. I got to try a gin. I’ve never heard of Everleaf Mountain and that was really good too.

Our only issue was the service was a bit slow, but we did over hear an apology at another table about that so we imagine as everything else was so good. This was just one of those days and we will definitely be going back.

The space is small, intimate and cozy so more of a nighttime after work vibe than lunch. We were seated in the wine library next to the bar where the tables are cocktail tables and the stools are high.

This is definitely a wine bar. The selection of wine is extensive and the list prices range from a very reasonable £25 for a bottle up to over £200 a bottle depending on what you order.

Don’t go in there and try an order a cosmopolitan or martini. They don’t mix cocktails.

Green Tomatoes Mobile Green Grocer and general Store

Net zero food shopping around Leicestershire

Margaret Louis

2025-03-28T10:41:00.0000000 2025-03-28T11:13:36.7500000

It's hard to change the way we do things. I've been moaning about the quality of the tasteless fruit and vegetables to my friends for months possibly the last couple of years but I never did anything about it until my friend in the village of Countesthorpe Leicestershire told me she was getting her fruit and vegetables delivered by someone locally, not a big company, a small farmer and it was a million times better and cheaper.

I had seen the truck for Green Tomatoes sauntering around my neighbourhood, Green Tomatoes is a fresh fruit and vegetables mobile truck that drives around certain routes in Leicestershire like the ice cream man does except this vehicle is NET ZERO. It operates currently in Knighton, Stoneygate, Clarendon Park and Oadby and you can check out the times and exact routes online.

These guys are the UK's pioneering carbon neutral alternative to the big brand supermarkets.

I love to see businesses challenging the status quo and taking on the supermarket giants with better product, better service, better, ethos and better prices.

I like having a relationship with my postman, milkman no longer as I am now diary free, but I do get eggs locally from someone who keeps and loves their chickens and now I am grabbing my purse and running to the Green Tomatoes net zero truck in my slippers minus the hairnet like my Mum used to. It's fun to see the same friendly drivers always with time for a quick chat or to share a recipe or two for their in season locally grown with love produce.

It's a new movement, that's why they call it a club I think, no membership fee or sign up just a group of people with a shared ethos of supporting one another, thinking green and eating fresh.

You can also order online for home delivery now, a new expanded service. Don't expect a perfect website with every i dotted and t crossed, Green Tomatoes is a work in progress going from strength to strength.

If you can think about changing how you purchase your fruit, veg and general provision you'll be surprised how much your business is valued. The energy and feel good factor you get from shopping with Green Tomatoes is worth the effort, you'll all of a sudden remember what a tomato or a grapefruit is actually supposed to taste like.

The purpose of this business centres around "farm to table" whilst remaining net zero, carbon neutral so as well as everything they do to support local growers and producers with their disruptive supply chain, shortening the distance and time from harvest to consumer.

And if all these wonderful credentials aren't enough to inspire you, Green tomatoes are putting 10% of profit back into clean air, clean water and tree planting initiatives to ensure they remain NET ZERO.

These guys are so good they need a halo.