September 22, 2017

Visit Free Sample Heaven This Weekend- Tesco Taste Festival, Custom House Sq, Belfast #TescoTasteFestival

September 22, 2017/ Claire Spence

When I was a little girl one of my favourite outings of the year was the Ideal Homes Exhibition in the Kings Hall. I loved the little free samples, and have vivid memories of the sample Cookstown sausages tasting better than any sausage ever tasted.

If you haven't been before, then let me tell you, the Tesco Taste Festival is a free sample heaven.

This is the 9th year of Tesco's food festival, which runs this weekend Saturday 10am-6pm & Sunday 11am-5pm. It's also open tonight until 8pm if you catch this post on time. It's in a huge tent in Custom House Square, and inside there are dozens of stalls with local producers with all their wares. There's even a Tayto Castle!

Favourites like Mash Direct are there, but I was actually surprised at just how many local brands Tesco stock. There are a good 40-50 different companies on display, all with tasting samples, and products to buy should you like what you taste!

There is also cookery demonstrations throughout the day, using local produce.

So if you fancy taking a taste tour round the counties of Northern Ireland, why not stop by the tent this weekend. Entry is free and it's enclosed, so weather won't stop play.

You'll be surprised how many brands you didn't know were from Northern Ireland there are, and you'll have fun tasting samples along the discovery way.

March 24, 2017

Treat Your 'Mammy' To a Northern Irish Afternoon Tea This Mother's Day With Local Treats From Tesco.

March 24, 2017/ Claire Spence

Ahhh the Northern Irish Mummy and her quirks. Aside from making sure you take your coat off in the house so you get the benefit of it later, a preoccupation with whether the immersion is off or on, and telling you to wear clean underwear in case you get in a car accident, the Northern Irish 'mammy' loves to feed you. Father Ted's Mrs Doyle is a great character study of the Irish mammies we know and love, "will you have a cup of tea? Awk go on, y'will".

So this Mother's Day how about switching the tables and putting on a fine spread of local treats from Tesco, and feeding up Mum for a change?

Tesco stock dozens of local brands suitable for the job of afternoon tea, such as Genesis Crafty scones and Howell's delicious biscuits. You can put on a glorious spread with Graham's millionaire bites and Scott's miniature tea cakes.

You can also pick up gifts for Mother's Day in store like prosecco, beautiful bouquets and beauty treats. You can't go wrong with a lovely bunch of tulips.

Also worth noting that Tesco launch their new site Taste NI this Monday. It will serve as an online hub for all things tasty and Northern Irish. They will explore local foodie traditions, celebrate the wealth of quality local produce available from the province, and share recipes and tips from well-known chefs who are inspired by Northern Ireland's products.

October 29, 2016

My Top 5 Northern Irish Food Brands - 20 Years of Tesco in Northern Ireland

October 29, 2016/ Claire Spence

It's 20 years since Tesco arrived in Northern Ireland. Back then it was the first big U.K. supermarket to make a move to our shores, buying over the Stewarts/Crazy Prices chain and creating jobs by expanding the stores throughout the province.

Over the past 20 years, Tesco NI has strived to engage with local suppliers and consumers to show their ongoing commitment to local food and drink.

With 90 local companies currently supplying food and drink in Tesco NI stores, here are some family favourites, and my top five Northern Irish food brands.

5. Genesis Crafty- that's their lemon bakes above. The bakery range makes scones, buns, pancakes and lots of lovely treats.

4. Ormo- first baked in Belfast on the Ormeau Road, this brand keeps the traditional recipes for the classic Ulster Fry soda and potato farls, alive.

Ormo sodas and Clandeboye Estate yoghurt

3. Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt- this is produced a mile away from where I live, and close to a Game of Thrones filming location. Plus it tastes really, really good.

Tayto crisps and Mash Direct Chilli Baby Bakes & Carrot, Parsnip & Turnip

2. Mash Direct- It was a real toss up between the top two brands because I love them both! I visited Mash Direct back in 2013 touring the factory & seeing where the spuds and cabbage etc grow, just outside Ards, in the shadow of the Scrabo Tower. Their mash and veg are all fresh, with no additives. It's as if you bought the potatoes, carrots or parsnips yourself, boiled and mashed them.

1. Tayto crisps- specifically their cheese and onion crisps. It's the taste of home that Northern Irish people who move away crave. In fact there are Tayto vending machines in both our airports! The classic, unique cheese and onion recipe they use has just been extended to popcorn. It's unusual, but like the crisps it's addictive. And of course there's always the fact the crisps are made in an ACTUAL castle.

Whats your favourite NI brand? Let them know with the hashtag #HappyBirthdayTescoNI to the Twitter account- @Tesco_NIreland

December 31, 2015

Happy New Year, World of Kitsch Readers!

December 31, 2015/ Claire Spence

Heading into 2016 and leaving you with a vlog we made this evening for Smix's YouTube channel.

We spotted this caramel flavour guessing game reduced in the post-Christmas sale in our local Tesco and had to buy it to give it a go.

Smix launched his channel in October when he turned 8, after making some Minecraft videos and having them posted to my own YouTube account.

He has already 1,750+ views on his videos in just over two months, and has worked with IKEA & Tiger Stores, he's going to surpass his Mum! If any brands would like to work with him, or me for that matter, you can contact me via the tab at the top of the page.

Happy New Year, everyone!

June 23, 2014

OH MY LITTLE PONY! Look What Tesco Have For Us Eighties' Kids

June 23, 2014/ Claire Spence

I spotted this for £12 in Tesco yesterday and it's online too if you haven't a huge Tesco Extra close to you.

Original 80s' My Little Pony Print nighty.

Care Bear fans, don't feel left out. They also have a play suit, also £12. I'll be buying both.

June 14, 2014

Everything You Need to Score a World Class Football Themed Party

June 14, 2014/ Claire Spence

My Junior column in The County Down Spectator this month is a whole page! I've filled it with great product ideas to put together the classiest team football party. I've special items from Talking Tables, Tesco, Novelties Direct, Party Packs, Party Explosion, TDH Party Supplies, Party Rama, Monster Parties and a few cool ideas from fellow bloggers. Enjoy!

August 01, 2013

Our Stay at The Bushmills Inn, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland

August 01, 2013/ Claire Spence

Holidaying 'at home' has become the done thing for families these days & we were lucky enough to be sent on a special mission by Tesco Magazine, to spend three days exploring Northern Ireland's North Coast.

Tesco Magazine are encouraging families all over the UK to hit the road and explore what's on their doorsteps in The Great Family Road Trip.

My tales of adventure will be on the Tesco blog very soon, but in the meantime I'd love to share with you some pictures of the hotel we called home that weekend.

The Bushmills Inn, situated a stone's throw from the world famous distillery of the same name, is a four star luxury home-from-home.

The two storey rooms offer everything you need, and more, with Nespresso Machines and complimentary Elemis toiletries. The staff even left a little Bushmills Inn teddy on my son's bed for him arriving, which pleased him no end. He carried it around all weekend.

The room was the height of luxury, with a shower room and dressing room downstairs, off the sitting area, and a separate bathroom with bath upstairs, and the double bed for us. This was super in the evenings as our tired out five year old could doze off in his bed on the ground floor, and we could sit and watch television without disturbing him, upstairs.

The hotel restaurant was outstanding, both for breakfast and our evening meal. The staff make you feel like royalty, and are knowledgable of the local area and attractions, useful as most of the other guests seemed to be those on golfing holidays. The Causeway Coast has a number of world famous golf courses, as well as world famous natural attractions such as the Giant's Causeway.

I would recommend a stay at The Bushmills Inn in a heartbeat. One of the best hotels I've ever stayed in on my travels. If you are visiting Northern Ireland from another land, make sure you look it up.

March 18, 2013

Vintage Playmobil Sets- Which Did You Have?

March 18, 2013/ Claire Spence

Let me introduce you to the world of vintage Playmobil sets, enjoyed by ironic artists and sincere enthusiasts alike.

Playmobil sets from the '70s and '80s especially - the childhood plastic toys once enjoyed by those of us now in our 20s, 30s and early 40s. With simple plastic people swashbuckling on the decks of plastic pirate ships, flying tubular planes, boarding buses, leading school trips, crossing jungles, or living in igloos (among thousands of other scenes from life, both real and imagined), they have found an eager market of collectors and documentarians. Sharing their enthusiasm for vintage Playmobil on Flickr pages dedicated to the toys, they also populate collectors' and auction sites which trade and sell what could only be described as a mixture of kitsch and nostalgia.

Google 'Playmobil + vintage' and see what's out there. Some of what you'll find is hilarious, and occasionally even poignant; the thought-provoking images some artists and fans have recorded with their cameras - one of two Playmobil figures together in some sort of romantic photo, with the image then torn and replaced by a new photo of one of the figures with a new plastic partner. One isn't sure if it's funny or moving. Probably funny. Recreating classic album covers with Playmobil is another Internet phenomenon I highly approve of.

What's appealing about the Playmobil sets of years past is the sense of nostalgia they offer to those of us who played with the toys throughout our childhoods. But buying the latest Playmobil on offer doesn't quite do it, for the toys Playmobil made decades ago differ from current models. Often the changes are minor. If you compare the school bus Playmobil makes today with one they made twenty-plus years ago, you’ll notice that the colours are slightly different between the two, with one or two other small features altered.

Of course, some sets from years past are no longer sold, while others that are will reveal much bigger differences and changes. For instance, the vintage ambulance from decades ago hardly resembles the sleek, almost aerodynamic modern one. The equipment has also become more modern: some police have speed guns and the dentist's office now looks fit for the 21st Century.