God save our gracious Queen, God save our noble Queen, God save the Queen…
You don’t have to be a royalist (or even know the second verse of the National Anthem) to appreciate the milestone that is HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and the nation is ready to enjoy a wonderful long weekend full of festivities and celebrations. I have discovered a number of quirky ways to celebrate this weekend, from delicious cakes, a burger fit for a queen and even a royal treat for the pampered pooch!
Last week I was invited to Byron Burger to try their ‘Elizabeefan Burger‘ which offers a bite of all the best British flavours and ingredients. With their classic Aberdeen Angus 6oz beef patty, topped with slow cooked roast beef brisket, Red Leicester Cheese, Watercress, Pickled red onions and finished with a quintessentially British horseradish mayo. I of course had sauce, brisket and grease all over my mouth after the very first mouthful but was it worth looking a fool for that first bite? Oh definitely. I’m usually just a classic burger kind of girl but this combination was absolutely perfect and certainly fit for royalty. So juicy and tasty, each mouthful had some new flavour coming through, I was really impressed. I washed it down with a different take on the quintessentially British Eton mess in the form of a milkshake. A fruity combination of vanilla ice cream, strawberry coulis, topped with a meringue nest, whipped cream and fresh strawberries. I had to crack through the crispy meringue shell to get to the fruity delights within which was a fun and a great alternative to a dessert.If a dirty burger and milkshake isn’t quite your scene then don’t worry because I can also recommend a wonderful picnic hamper for a perfect picnic in the park – or your back garden from Dukes Hill. Their Platinum Jubilee Picnic Hamper is most certainly fit for a royal celebration. Featuring Porchetta, Lomo, Bresaola and Pastrami, alongside a pair of delectable, handmade Scotch Eggs and Luxury Smoked Salmon Pâté, made with traditionally oak smoked salmon. The gourmet goodies also include the Beauvale, a creamy, mild, soft blue cheese and a sweet and intense Fig Chutney. Finished with handmade Almond Lemon Drizzle Cake and all paired with the bottle of fruity Rosé Vino Frizzante. This hamper was enough for 4 of us to nibble away at. The scotch eggs are simply delicious and the lemon cake was so good I just couldn’t stop going back for another slice. A really special treat for the occasion I would definitely recommend.
Now while I was enjoying all the different cured meats there was a pair of hungry eyes watching me that I wouldn’t normally feed such luxuries to. But thanks to Hug Pet Food I was able to give Luther my Border Collie an indulgent meal so he can also join in with the Jubilee celebrations. Especially created to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Hug, a premium complete ready meal brand for dogs and cats, have created a delicious, limited-edition Coronation Chicken dish for dogs. The naturally balanced special recipe is made with British chicken and outdoor reared pork, sprinkled with delicious, dried apricots – an essential ingredient for the traditional Coronation Chicken recipe. The recipe has been selected following a unique Corgi taste-test through social media. The Hug team invited hungry Corgis (known for their royal connections of course!) to decide what was their favourite recipe and Coronation Chicken came out on top. Needless to say, Luther licked the bowl clean and was very disappointed when not presented with the same meal the next day! What I also loved about the brand is that their packaging is all recyclable and kind to the environment.
Perhaps you’ve got the food sorted but you’re in need of a special pudding? Or maybe you’ve been invited to a street party and have to take something Jubilee themed to eat. If you’re not the most confident baker (or like me it just never turns out how you hoped!) then why not order a selection of cakes from My Baker. All of their cakes are make to order, never frozen or pre bought, they are made by a network of independent bakers across the UK, meaning your cakes are not couriered across the country, they are hand delivered by small businesses in your area. I loved this idea and was delighted to be contacted 24 hours prior to ask what time I’d like my cupcakes delivered. I chose the Queen’s Jubilee Cupcakes which can be made in six classic flavours. Decorated in either red white and blue or a royal purple, mine were filled with a smooth strawberry jam and topped with a gorgeously sweet buttercream in red, white and blue. They looked so impressive and were topped with different images of the queen throughout history. Such a great idea and a brand I really admire in their support of small businesses.You may want to purchase something to remember the Jubilee and something that is not only loved by the Queen but is also highly practical is a Parker pen from Pen Heaven. Once hailed as the ‘world’s most wanted’ pen, the Parker 51 has been given a contemporary makeover whilst retaining its original distinguishing features. Inspired by aeronautical design the sleek cigar shaped silhouette coupled with a durable resin barrel makes the 51 lightweight and nimble in the hand. It comes with 1 black and 1 blue ink cartridge and is also fitted with a converter for use with bottled ink. Its stylish presentation box makes this a wonderful gift for a loved one to commemorate the occasion or you can just treat yourself then use it to write all those special correspondences throughout the year (or just your thank you letter to Nanna after Christmas).
Last but not least I’ve got a game to play with only 2 or a group of people and a lovely bottle of bubbles to enjoy whilst you play! Corte Molino Prosecco Extra Dry is available from your local Co-op and is made by Borgo Molino in Treviso, Italy. The esteemed producer prides itself on making wines with finesse and elegance, and the Extra Dry and DOC Rosé are no exception.The Extra Dry is a really fine example of the easy-drinking fizz, made from an exclusive selection of Glera grapes to create a straw-yellow Prosecco with a fine fizz. Floral on the nose and delicately fruity on the palate, this is a well-structured, slightly sweet treat that Prosecco lovers will adore. Want to make your fizz that bit more special? Why not add some Elderflower cordial and a measure of gin to make an Elderflower gin fizz? Or perhaps a good slug of freshly squeezed orange juice to make a Prosecco Mimosa. Now it’s a party!
The game is one you can carry in your pocket and can be enjoyed by all ages. Celebrate the life and times of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with a special pack of Top Trumps. Created especially for the Platinum Jubilee, this pack takes you through 30 of the key moments that shaped her into the incredible monarch she remains today. With categories including Year, Endurance, Uniting the Nation and Royal Rating, each card features striking photography and a custom bio that tells you everything you need to know about each memory. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Her Majesty or simply looking to learn a little more, this pack promises you a royally good game. What I like about it is that there’s no skill involved so everyone has a fair chance, whether you can name all of her grandchildren or don’t even know where she lives, everyone can enjoy this game of cards and learn something along the way.
So I’ve got the eating, drinking and entertainment covered and given you the tools to write home about it all, I guess all that’s left is to go out and have a jolly good time this weekend and wish our Liz many congratulations on her 70 year reign as Queen of Great Britain!
