Snippets and gleanings - catering news

Giving good head 
There's been a lot of grumbling recently about short measures in pints of beer served in pubs, with complaints usually focusing on too much foam on top. Turns out there could be health benefits, though, after a scientific research project persuaded a dozen pubs to serve beer in two-thirds pint measures. Results showed that punters judged their intake in glasses rather than liquid volume and thus drank less. The British imperial pint, introduced in 1698, is 568ml, making it one of the world's largest standard beer units. Europeans favour 500ml, a US pint is 473ml, the Australian schooner 425ml. I've often thought we missed a trick not adopting the continental half-litre but calling it a 'metric pint', equating to O.88 of an imperial pint. Seems I was on to something. Cheers!

Well, I'll be burgered!
According to the National Burger Awards (yes, it's a real thing) Britain's best beef burger of 2024 is served in a pub in Peckham, South London. Oh, the glamour! The Montpelier's pop-up Whole Beast Kitchen took the crown as 'Champion of Champions' with its 'Aged Cheeseburger'. According to Time Out this gourmet delight "features an aged beef patty, bread and butter pickles, smoked bone marrow, Whole Beast burger sauce, diced white onions, and American cheese all smooshed in between a milk bun". I'm sure it's utterly delicious but, at 12 quid a pop, mine's a chip butty.

Taking the fizz
Soft drinks giant, Coca-Cola, has been forced to apologise this week after confirming two drinks have been dropped from its range. It revealed that Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla and Diet Coke with Splenda have both been discontinued. In a decision I'm sure has sent shockwaves round the globe the company said it came as a result of changing "consumer taste preferences". Presupposing 'taste' on the part of their consumers seems a tad optimistic, if not oxymoronic. But, then, what would I know? I gave up drinking pop more than fifty years ago.

And while we're on the subject
The Andrews Sisters sang about Rum and Coca-Cola during the Second World War but, then, their wartime experience was rather different to ours. Now, the company has announced it is teaming up with Cuban-founded rum brand, Bacardí, to recreate an iconic cocktail that combines both beverages - in a can. I guess we're all workin' for the Yankee dollar now.

A sprint not a Marathon
Confectionery company, Mars, has announced it is making a “special Marathon retro edition” after it's controversial decision to drop the British name for the sweet treat caused uproar back in 1990. The Snickers brand first went on sale in the US in 1930 but a different name was chosen for the UK launch allegedly over concerns that Snickers rhymed with knickers. The Marathon era ran from 1967 until 1990, when Mars decided that it wanted universal names for all its products. This will be a limited edition, available exclusively in Morrisons supermarkets. So, hurry, hurry while chocs last!



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