Blog Forman and Field

Today’s the last day to be sure of qualifying for free delivery for the next 8 months! You can book in a delivery for Valentine’s or even Easter, or order some vouchers to spend as and when you see fit. We’re making no promises Mr Forman will ever feel so generous ever again so today’s the day!

FREE DELIVERY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2011

If you placed an order for £100 or more at Christmas, or if place one before the end of January, you will be entitled to free next day delivery on all orders over £50 between January and September 2011!

Enter CD101 into the ‘discount coupons’ box at the checkout to claim your free deliveries.

UK mainland only, all other areas delivery will be discounted by £9.95. Discount only valid if £100 or over has been spent on one single order between 1st October 2010 and 31s January 2011, otherwise £9.95 will be added to total.

Something is stirring in the kitchens of some of the most competitive, hard cooking food bloggers in the country.

Under conditions of utmost secrecy – like a Milk Tray without the helicopter – our man has been out to deliver the mystery boxes of ingredients for the inaugural #Formanslovecookoff. The bloggers are now feaverishly working to assemble their dream Valentine’s recipe or recipes from the contents and the best will be published in an upcoming Forman & Field Specials. Glory awaits the winner!

So what’s in the box?

FORMAN’S ROYAL FILLET OF SMOKED SALMON
The fillet steak of the salmon world, treated to our delicate London cure. A little salt to lightly cure the fish – definitely suitable to serve sashimi style if you wish – followed by a touch of smoke, just enough to enhance the flavour of the salmon. What you really taste is the quality of the fish; premium grade Scottish salmon, as fresh as can be (unless you want it still swimming).

GARLIC MARINATED ANCHOVIES
Similar to Spanish Boquerones, these juicy little fish are marinated rather than salted, leaving them plump, flavoursome, with a pungent garlicky kick. Make sure you and you companion both indulge!

KIRKHAM’S LANCASHIRE
A stalwart farmhouse cheese, considered by many to be one of Britain’s finest. Made to the age-old Kirkham family recipe, this tends to be a fresh, lemony, lactic cheese, with a slight give in the texture.

FORMAN’S BRANDIED CHERRIES
Does exactly what it says on the tin: lovely ripe cherries preserved in quality brandy, with just enough sugar to soften the boozy edge.

REGENT’S PARK HONEY
A really special product, even if we do say so ourselves. With vast flora-filled parks to roam to gather pollen, London bees make a honey as nuanced as fine pudding wine. Without the draw of vast fields of one type of flower – oil seed rape and lavender to name a couple – bees in the capital collect from almost every type of flower imaginable, to give a rich multifaceted taste. Let us know what you think.

PLANTATION COTTAGE TARRAGON JELLY
Handmade herb jelly that’s neither too pungent or too sweet. Made with fresh tarragon.

MONIACK CASTLE HORSERADISH SAUCE
Guaranteed to knock your socks off: as close to the real deal as you’ll get without a grater. Highly concentrated for maximum effect, this can be worked subtly into sauces and creams for less eye-watering results.

This Valentine’s we’ve set some of our favourite food bloggers a labour of love.

The challenge is to take a mystery box of Forman & Field’s finest from which to assemble a dreamy dish or completely head-over-heals lovely menu. We’ll publish all the recipes on our blog from the 31st of January onwards, then we’ll pick the best one which will be printed in an upcoming flyer.

The excitement is already building on Twitter…

Here are the contenders, all absolute knock-out food bloggers one and all.

www.essexeating.blogspot.com

http://www.thegrubworm.com/

http://joskitchen.wordpress.com/

http://www.canbebribedwithfood.com/

http://www.meemalee.com/

www.foodurchin.blogspot.com   

www.hownottodoafoodblog.com

We’ll reveal what is in the mystery boxes tomorrow, until then… what you want on your dream Valentine’s menu?

Look out for our online only preview of our brand new menu of LOVELY seasonal specials.

Plan a seduction with our Valentine’s menu and drop dead gorgeous gifts. New chocolate from Paul Wayne Gregory, Forman & Field Chef Lloyd Hardwick’s new seasonal creations, Colchester native oysters and more from Britain’s best small producers.

Don’t forget, you have just 5 more days to place an order over £100 and entitle yourself to unlimited free deliveries right up to the end of September. Any customer who has ordered over £100 from October to the end of January can have free delivery on any order over £50 up to the end of September!

West Ham football club and London Borough of Newham made their final push for taking over the 2012 Olympic stadium from our sunny roof terrace this morning.

Look out for us on BBC and SKY news networks later today. Can’t wait to find out who our new neighbours will be…

It may very well be nothing more than some slick marketeer’s cunning plan to fill the void between January Sales and Easter but we’re suckers for Valentine’s nonetheless. Will you be indulging in the food of love?

It gives us an excuse to gorge on Oysters, velvety-smooth Colchester Natives at the peak of their season and plump Maldon Rocks.

Our Chocolatiers will be inspired to come up with new creations to woo and cajole. Paul Wayne Gregory has already been whispering sweet nothings about Passion Fruit Truffles and Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Lolly Pops with Popping Candy. Yes, dark chocolate lolly pops with salted caramel and popping candy fillings!

If you can’t be with the one you love, send them one of our Valentine’s gift hampers instead. The Royal Rose beats any bunch of flowers, or deliver Breakfast in Bed and just make sure you’re back in time before they share it with someone else. Browse our Valentine’s gifts and hampers here.

Valentine’s Day Menus

It is a time for sweeping gestures and there’s nothing that says, ‘I’ve done nothing remotely romantic for the last twelve months but I’m going all out here and I really hope it makes up for it,’ like dinner cooked for the one you love.

We’re not talking a supermarket curry and tub of ice cream here. Choose a menu from Forman & Field and you’ll be guaranteed restaurant quality food served in the comfort of your own love nest without having to listen to the couple at the next table’s baby talk.

Start with Smoked Salmon Paupiettes with Crab and Lobster or our incomparable British Foie Gras de Canard.

Your main should be indulgent and impressive but not unnecessarily fancy, there’s no turn-off like a show-off, try individual Beef Wellingtons or Dover Sole with one of our four sauces.

Valentine’s is a day for dessert; pudding fanciers take note. We suggest Dark Valrhona Chocolate Parfait with White Chocolate Silk or a classic Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise.

If all has gone to plan you won’t even have time for Coffee and Petits Fours, let alone Somerset Cider Brandy and Chocolate Truffles.

Happy New Year to you. We hope your Christmas was filled with fabulous food and that 2011 will be the year that our seasonal Monthly Specials become a firm fixture on your menu.

JANUARY SPECIALS

January’s highlights include a Burns’ Night feast including handmade Haggis, Steak in Balmoral Sauce, Potato Stovies and Chef’s homemade Cranachan.

What’s more while stocks last we have some fabulous special offers on the last of this season’s fresh game.

FREE DELIVERY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2011

If you placed an order for £100 or more at Christmas, or if place one before the end of January, you will be entitled to free next day delivery on all orders over £50 between January and September 2011!

Enter CD101 into the ‘discount coupons’ box at the checkout to claim your free deliveries.

UK mainland only, all other areas delivery will be discounted by £9.95. Discount only valid if £100 or over has been spent on one single order between 1st October 2010 and 31s January 2011, otherwise £9.95 will be added to total.

You only have until midnight on the 16th January to enter a rather special competition to win a shopping spree with outdoor clothing specialists Musto. Make haste and you’ll just be in time to spend it at their sale too!

Click on the image to enter the competition.