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May 17th sees further coronavirus pandemic restrictions lifted when it comes to how many of us can meet up, with a 30-person limit outdoors and the rule of six (or two households) allowed together indoors once more.
This means weekend brunches, alfresco bites, bank holiday BBQs and celebratory dinner parties are all back on – and we’ve got some delicious food and drink suggestions to help you celebrate with family and friends.
Bucks Fizz for a weekend brunch
What better way to kick off the weekend than with a lazy brunch with friends. Whether you are going for a full English, eggs and smoked salmon, or even a healthy fruit platter, a glass (or two!) of Bucks Fizz has long been the brunch accompaniment of choice.
The simplest way is to mix half and half of your preferred orange juice – we are ‘no bits’ people here – with something sparkling. Naturally, we recommend our Lyme Bay Winery Brut Reserve English Sparkling Wine – which comes in a full or half bottle – whose lemon and green apple notes add a refreshing twist to the traditional Bucks Fizz.
Fish and chips with friends
If you’re lucky enough to be beside the seaside then a stroll along the beach with friends is the perfect excuse for a salt and vinegary parcel of hot, fresh fish and chips. Even if you are more land-bound than sea-ward, most towns have at least one excellent chippy from which to source this very British treat.
Wherever you are tucking in, a bottle of crisp, dry Lyme Bay Shoreline makes a great match for a fishy feast. Well-balanced and refreshing with complex layers, its enticing notes of pineapple and lime with a crisp, saline finish go perfectly with fish and chips or other seafood.
Cider and cocktails on BBQ days
Blessed is the month of May, bookended as it is with two bank holidays. If the weather is looking good – or even if it’s not! – the late May bank holiday on Monday 31 May is a classic day to brush off the barbeque and get set for an outdoor cook off.
From traditional BBQ fare of bangers and burgers, to more recent gourmet grilling additions such as haloumi and charred aubergine slices, we think a decent cider is always a great all-rounder to serve at your barbeque bar. Our Jack Ratt Sparkling medium sweet cider and Jack Ratt Vintage Sparkling cider both go brilliantly with burgers, hotdogs and pulled pork rolls, as well as cheeseboards and fancy salads.
As the sun goes down (think positive! It WILL be sunny!) serve up a pitcher of tropical rum punch made with our spiced Lugger Rum – expertly crafted here at the Winery from aged Caribbean rum in bourbon-charred oak barrels.
One of our favourite rum punch recipes – this one makes a generous two litres – is made even fruitier with slices of juicy mango. You will need:
- Juice of 8 limes
- 35ml grenadine syrup
- 750ml Lugger Rum
- 500ml pineapple juice
- 500ml orange juice
- 8 drops of Angostura bitters
- Dash of grated nutmeg
- Mango slices, to garnish
- Soda water (optional)
Combine all the ingredients in a large jug filled with ice cubes. Stir well and top with soda water if you like a bit of fizz, garnish with sliced mango, sit back, sip, and enjoy.
Dinner party pairings and takeaways at home
How lovely it will be to sit down for dinner at home and look across at the much-missed faces of friends and family together again. Or, dare we say it, perhaps you’ve finally got a dinner date planned with someone new!
If you’re feeling a bit out of practice when it comes to catering then there’s nothing wrong with ordering in a giant takeaway for an at-home feast. Plate it up on your best china and serve with something special to drink like our Lyme Bay Winery Bacchus Block. With its broad tropical-fruit notes and long, citrus-dominated finish it goes particularly well with Chinese food.
On the other hand, we know there those of you who have long been planning a dream dinner party menu for just such a time as our nation’s socialising restrictions lift. For you we recommend our Chardonnay – a well-rounded lightly oaked dry wine, with subtle buttery flavours and aromas of peach turnover and honey that lends itself perfectly to many different cuisines.
And if you’re going all out with multiple courses during a long and languorous evening of culinary delights, why not take advantage of our special offer of 28% off our English Wine Celebration Case containing six bottles of the best of the best English still and sparkling wines from Lyme Bay Winery.
Order drinks online for delivery in time
Our wonderful Winery shop is open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays from 10am-4pm, Tuesdays 10am-2pm and Saturdays 11am-3pm, and you can also order drinks from us online and take advantage of our regular monthly discounts.
Right now we have 20% off Lugger Rum for one week beginning 17th May, and if you order any of our range by 2pm we endeavour to deliver within the next two working days, with free delivery for all orders over £45.
In the meantime do keep in touch with us via our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, and share your photos of your latest celebration.
