Did you know that the food we eat can seriously impact our mental health? It’s time we shed some light on how a healthy eating plan can supercharge brain function, tackle cognitive diseases, and give our mental well-being a major boost. In this blog, I’ll dive into the world of natural vitamins and healthy fats found in certain foods that can work wonders for our brains.
With BBQ season upon us, I’ve curated my top five salad bowls to enjoy on a sunny summer’s day.
There are many ways to elevate your salad game and introduce new fresh ingredients to mix things up. Below are my tried and tested, delicious recommendations:
In celebration of my mum’s ‘Big Birthday’, we started off her London city break in the foodie hotspot of Borough Market. Below you can find a whistle stop tour of my favourite foodie stands and a few recommendations for your next visit!
For us, a visit to the market starts at Monmouth Coffee Shop. In all the times I’ve visited, I’ve never escaped the mass of coffee-lovers outside, and so we do what the British do best, and joined the queue. In a move to become more sustainable, they no longer use single-use takeaway cups, so if you want to walk around, it’s best to take your own flask!
Summer has arrived at last, and along with the smells of freshly cut grass and petrichor, surely not much beats that of a newly lit BBQ.
29th May – 4th June marks the UK’s 27th National BBQ Week (with many of us at jellybean planning our own bank holiday BBQ). The history of BBQ arguably dates back to when man first cooked meat over fire. Barbecue itself, comes from the word barbacoa, for the process of cooking meat over an open flame so named by the indigenous Taino people of the Caribbean and brought back to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
Cakes are an all-year-round trend – everyone needs cake at least once in the year whether that be for a birthday, wedding or anniversary, the list is endless. They can make any occasion exciting and festive so there’s always an excuse to have cake! As a personal cake maker and lover myself, I have seen and attempted many trends whilst making cakes both for my friends and family as well as having recently started up a small cake business. I have pulled together the best trends of 2023 so far, some I have tried myself and others I’m hoping to try in the near future.
As the curtains begin to close on Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re reflecting on the power and impact of this incredible event. For the past week, we have all come together, spread awareness, fostered understanding, and shined a light on the importance of mental wellbeing, not only in the workplace but in everyday life too. Though this special week is ending, let’s remember to keep the conversation going.
This year’s events and exhibitions schedule is already well underway, and it was with excitement I boarded the Elizabeth Line to Custom House for ExCeL, to visit the 27th National & Organic Products Europe exhibition (NOPEX, April 16/17).
We are thrilled to announce our latest collaboration with world ingredients brand Cooks&Co: the Worldie Sandwich Competition. As an agency that values creativity and food, we couldn’t be more excited to lead the development and management of this culinary competition.
Typography. You just click the drop-down and choose something you like the look of. Simple. Serif if it’s formal, sans-serif if it isn’t. Job. Done. Well no. Typography is almost certainly the most under-appreciated element of visual design. Done well it’s amost invisible. Change the typeface on Apple, on Easyjet, on Nike or on Converse, and the entire brand is lost. It’s the tone of voice, it’s the personality, it’s the rhythm and meter of the message and it’s been that way since the earliest letterforms began organising communication, writing histories and spreading news around our world. So what should be looking out for in 2023. Read on good traveller, read on.
To start the new year on a high and to tackle my first resolution, I challenged myself to Veganuary. Alongside 700,000 others, I signed up to go vegan for January 2023, in hopes of improving my diet and doing my part for the animals and environment.
The month was a great success, and as February rolled around, I was filled with a real sense of achievement. Going forward, I’m committed to incorporating more plant-based foods into my lifestyle and making substitutes where and when I can – “Veganuary is more than just a pledge”!
Here are the dishes I’ll be continuing to enjoy throughout the rest of 2023…
Have you ever found yourself torn between two career paths? On one hand, there’s the allure of being in the spotlight and living life in the fast lane as a Love Island contestant. On the other hand, there’s the stability and challenge of a career in marketing. OK, maybe not a scenario many people might find themselves in, and it’s not the start of a mid-life crisis and career change, I promise. But I thought, hey, this would make for a fun blog, don’t you think? Well, you may be surprised to know that there are actually some striking similarities between these two paths. So, let’s take a deeper dive and explore the parallel worlds of reality dating TV and food and drink marketing.
I recently spent a long week in Marrakech to celebrate my significant other’s special birthday. For a short break in January, just a 3.5hr flight from Gatwick and boasting temperatures of 20 degrees, it was the ideal destination. The city is renowned for its rich culture, history, and of course delicious cuisine. The food in Marrakech is a blend of traditional Moroccan flavours, with a touch of Berber and Andalusian influences and during our stay we sampled some of the best that Marrakech has to offer.
Air fryers have become increasingly popular over the last few years with no sign of their popularity waning. With more models on the market, from budget to high tech, and plenty of recipes available online and on social media, the trend is at an all-time high. After receiving one for Christmas and being a full-time foodie, I am now fully immersed into the ‘air fryer universe’ and excited to try new dishes.
How do they work?
The great thing about air fryers is that they use an alternative method to deep frying which is a much healthier option, you can simply use a single tablespoon of oil or a low-calorie spray. Hot air is blasted round the basket/tray instead of frying yet still manages to produce the crispiness and crunch that we crave.
Why use them?
Air fryers are super energy efficient, cooking dishes in record time and using less electricity than a standard oven. They may be a pricey initial investment but are worth the energy saving in the long run. They are best suited to a small family or couple, otherwise it may take multiple cooks and would be better to use an oven all in one go for larger households.
Which model?
As you can imagine there are many air fryer options out there and it’s important to choose the right one. They’re available in different cooking capacities and 1 or 2 baskets, make sure to choose one that will be big enough to feed your household or the type of dishes you want to achieve.
Some models offer multi functionality with oven-styles that have rotisserie accessories, or a multi-cooker including a slow cooker or dehydrator. It’s worth reviewing a few different models to see which best fits your needs.
It’s also worth checking that the baskets are removable and also dishwasher safe, to help ensure you can keep your air fryer as clean as possible.
From the ultimate favourite crispy chips to gooey chocolate chip cookies, the air fryer really does it all. My favourite cooks so far have been homestyle fries, super crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and chicken wings – crispy skin yet moist in the middle. Anything from eggs for breakfast to one pot cooks for dinner will work a treat. If you’re in need of some inspiration there’s a plethora of delicious recipes from home chefs on TikTok or try any of your favourite foodie websites.
A lot of recipes take a little bit of trial and error with temperature and time to make sure you get the best end result, with the air fryer being a different type of cook to a traditional oven.
A great way to ensure that you get the crunchy or crispy end product is by coating it with some corn flour – this works best on potatoes and meat. Make sure to flip or toss your food often to help achieve an even cook. You can use parchment paper or filters to add to the tray/basket to avoid any mess or extra clean up.
Happy air frying! Don’t forget to share your recipes and dishes with us on our socials @jellybeanagency
As we find ourselves in deepest darkest January with the parties and fun of Christmas and New Year a distant memory it may seem there’s not much to get excited about. However, one thing I do look forward to in the depths of winter is cracking out my beloved slow cooker and whipping up my favourite winter warmers.
If you’re looking for an exciting and unique dining experience, look no further than Six by Nico. This innovative restaurant, which has several locations throughout the UK, offers an ever-changing, six-course tasting menu inspired by a different theme or location.
Despite what my family say, you’re never too old for an advent calendar. And it seems that many companies agree with me on this, whether it be M&S and their cosmetic advent calendar or the many flavoured gin advent calendars. It now seems to be fact that we grown-ups should also enjoy daily gifts in the run up to Christmas! As such, here is my list of the top ten foodie advent calendars to keep your eyes peeled for, or put on your own wish-list.
As a lover of both football and eating stuff I thought I’d have a stab at twinning my dual passions by examining the national dishes of each of the 32 teams involved in the forthcoming World Cup. What follows will hopefully surprise, delight, disgust and anger you in equal measure. Much like watching the home nations in action.
As Hallowe’en, Bonfire Night and (dare we utter) Christmas roll around once again and the summer heatwave feels like a distant memory, classic winter warmers are popping up all over the place. Roast season has well and truly returned, and soup, casserole, and pie inspiration seem to be saturating social media feeds.
