Latest news with #Neapolitan
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Three South Wales ice cream parlours named among UK's best
From Brighton to Snowdonia, and everywhere in between, BBC Good Food has scoured the country to come up with a list of the UK's best ice cream parlours. Introducing the list, the experts said: "Looking for the ultimate scoop? "The UK is home to a host of artisan ice cream parlours and historic gelaterias, each offering unique flavours and experiences. "Whether you're after bold, contemporary flavours or nostalgic classics, we've rounded up the ice cream shops that showcase the best of British ice cream craft, perfect for indulging your sweet tooth." Best ice cream parlours in the UK The best ice cream parlours in the UK, according to BBC Good Food, are: Jack's Gelato, Cambridge Gelato Gusto, Brighton Moomaid of Zennor, St Ives Morelli's, Broadstairs Swoon, Cardiff Alandas Gelato, Edinburgh Morelli's, Belfast Caliendo's Gelato, London Darlish, St Albans and Hatfield Ginger's Comfort Emporium, Manchester Joe's Ice cream, Swansea (and other locations) Snugburys, Cheshire Jolly Nice, Gloucestershire Cadwaladers, Cardiff (and other locations) Ruby Violet, London Harbour Bar, Scarborough Gelupo, London Krum Gelato, Chester The Little Ice Cream Shop, Cumbria Romeo & Giulietta, London Heavenly Chocolate Emporium, Carmarthenshire La Gelatiera, London Glaslyn, Snowdonia Minus 12° Craft Ice Cream, London The 3 South Wales ice cream parlours among the UK's best Swoon Swoon is described as a "south-west" favourite when it comes to Gelato, according to Good Food. It offers all kinds of flavours from strawberry to vanilla, as well as Italian-influenced flavours like Neapolitan coffee and bacio (chocolate and hazelnut). Good Food added: "Seasonal specials lure regulars back in, from stand-out panettone and hot cross bun, to peanut butter & chocolate and ricotta & blueberry. "You can even order a swoon on a stick (think posh Magnum)." Swoon is also highly recommended by customers, boasting a near-perfect 4.8 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 23 reviews. One visitor commented: "Super spot to pause a minute and eat some super ice cream over the road from the castle … friendly staff and some nice outdoor seating." Another added: "Fantastic spot for ice cream!! Especially for an after dinner treat. Will go back time and time again. Would definitely recommend." Joe's Ice Cream Joe's Ice Cream is a "Welsh institution" founded more than 100 years ago, back in 1922. It now boasts five sites in the south Wales area: Swansea Mumbles Cardiff Llanelli Llansamlet Good Food said: "This blue-hued parlour's must-try is its vanilla flavour, which is designed to be eaten fresh at the parlour. "It also makes eye-catching ice cream cakes to collect from store, with fun flavours like raspberry pavlova, caramel fudge and strawberries & cream." Joe's Ice Cream (Swansea) has a 4.6 rating on Tripadvisor from 291 reviews and has been said to have the "best ice cream around" by visitors. One customer said: "Still the best (and I have been a fan since 1965). What you really need to understand is that Joe's is about the vanilla ice cream. "If you want tons of flavours then go elsewhere." They added: "A pure Joe's vanilla is the best. There are a few comparisons (Tamar Bridge, Goodalls and Tagg Lane) but I'm still a Joe's fan. Try it pure." Cadwaladers Cadwaladers, founded in 1927 in Criccieth, is a family-run business offering "traditional" ice cream across six locations in Wales and England. Cadwaladers not only sells ice cream but toasties, sarnies and coffee too. (Image: Tripadvisor) Its menu also features toasties, sarnies, light bites and freshly brewed coffee. Good Food said: "The Cardiff Bay location is a particularly popular spot for visitors, situated in a bustling location by the waterfront with views over the marina." Cadwaladers, located in Mermaid Quay, has also received rave reviews on Tripadvisor, where it has a 3.8 rating from 327 reviews. RECOMMENDED READING: One visitor posted: "The excellence of its Cricieth origins is upheld and even exceeded here! "It was every bit as good as I remember, and further enhanced by exceptionally welcoming and pleasant staff. "The ice-cream portion was generous, and a nut topping was provided without obstruction, as had been experienced in the past. "A lovely setting and atmosphere - not to be missed!"
Asahi Shimbun
15 hours ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Rising rice prices fueling consumer shift toward noodles, pasta
Udon and tempura rice bowl combo meals, priced at 399 yen before tax, at an Ito-Yokado store in Tokyo's Ota Ward on May 22 (Sho Ito) Japanese consumers have made a sharp shift away from high-priced rice to noodles and other cost-effective staples, the start of a possible sea-change in diets in the country, retailers and industry experts say. Supermarkets and convenience store chains have ramped up development and production of such non-rice items for price-conscious consumers as AI-driven market forecasts suggest rice will remain expensive in the years to come. Major supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co., for example, expanded its range of combination meals that pair 'udon' noodles with rice bowls, or 'donburi.' While the ever-popular 'tendon'—steamed rice topped with assorted tempura—remains a mainstay, the company in March introduced several new options, such as 'sauce katsu-don,' featuring a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet drizzled with a Worcestershire-style sauce, and 'karaage-don,' topped with crispy, deep-fried marinated chicken. These items are priced at 430 yen, including tax, and have been selling well. 'We're seeing noticeable shifts in consumer behavior and home dining habits,' said Masashi Nakatsubo, general manager of Ito-Yokado's prepared foods division. He said shoppers are gravitating toward noodle-based meals as a cost-effective alternative to expensive rice dishes. The company is not only accelerating development of combination dishes but is also enhancing its lineup of standalone noodle dishes to broaden their appeal. One standout is 'Bara-ten Himokawa Udon,' a regional specialty from Gunma Prefecture featuring wide, ribbon-like 'himokawa' noodles topped with assorted tempura. Introduced in March at the same price point of 430 yen, the dish has quickly become the chain's best-selling noodle item. 'Its novelty, affordability and generous portion size have really struck a chord with customers,' Nakatsubo said. Ito-Yokado continues to expand its product lineup in response to evolving consumer tastes, introducing such options as 'Neapolitan,' a Japanese pasta dish featuring spaghetti stir-fried in a sweet and tangy ketchup-based sauce. Priced at 430 yen, the dish is prepared in-house to keep production costs low and maintain affordability. This initiative is part of a broader industry trend, as major retailers pivot to diversify their ready-made meal offerings amid persistently high rice prices. In March, convenience store chain Lawson Inc. launched a new series of 'Yokubari Gattai Meshi' (generous combo meals,) which pair two popular dishes in a single container. Offerings such as 'Fried Rice & Chinese-style Yakisoba (stir-fried wheat noodles)' and 'Omurice (omelet combined with fried rice) & Neapolitan,' both priced at 743 yen, have been smash hits. Cumulative sales of these items have already surpassed 2 million units, prompting the company to roll out additional items later this month. In a related move, Lawson also debuted its 'Okazu-don!' series in March. These rice bowls feature a smaller serving of rice offset by hearty portions of noodles and side dishes, offering a well-balanced and satisfying meal. The concept has resonated with budget-conscious shoppers, and Lawson plans to expand the lineup. Other alternatives to rice, such as 'mochi-mugi' (glutinous Japanese pearl barley), a type of barley with a chewy texture due to its high beta-glucan content, are also gaining popularity. At Natural Lawson, a health-focused sub-brand with about 130 stores concentrated in the Tokyo metropolitan area, all chilled bento meals have included rice blended with mochi-mugi since March. High-end supermarket Seijo Ishii is also making adjustments. By the end of May, its popular 'Soup Rice Featuring Japanese Chicken Soboro (ground meat cooked and crumbled into fine, small pieces) and '16-Grain Mix and Four Beans' will incorporate mochi-mugi, in addition to the existing multigrain blend. POPULAR PASTA Such trends are expected to continue. 'Due partly to the ongoing rice shortage and rising prices, shipments of pasta and pasta sauces have seen significant growth,' Eiichi Suzuki, managing executive officer at major food manufacturer Nisshin Seifun Group Inc., said at a recent earnings briefing. The company estimates pasta sales for fiscal 2024 rose 3.4 percent year on year. 'Pasta's versatility in flavor and sauce combinations makes it an appealing choice for consumers looking to avoid mealtime monotony,' a company spokesperson said. In some supermarkets, where rice stock-outs have become common, customers are even being directed to the pasta aisle. At Pietro Co., a Fukuoka-based food manufacturer known for its pasta sauces, sales of pasta-related products surged by 30 percent year on year in fiscal 2024. 'The appearance rate of pasta on dinner tables rose by about 15 percent in February,' said Shinichi Miyagawa, representative director and senior managing director. 'The impact of rice price hikes was certainly a contributing factor.' Even simple noodle condiments are experiencing a surge in demand. Kikkoman Corp.'s 'Gumen' series of six ready-made noodle sauces with flavorful toppings saw sales climb more than 10 percent in March and April compared with the same period last year. A standout performer was the 'Gumen Hakata Mentaiko Udon,' featuring spicy marinated pollock roe ('mentaiko'), which more than doubled its sales from the previous year. PROLONGED HIGH RICE PRICES Tasuku Kashiwamura, a senior researcher at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute Inc., used AI-driven modeling to forecast retail rice prices per 5 kilograms from 2025 through 2027. His analysis points to a 55-percent likelihood that rice prices could surpass 4,500 yen by 2027. There is also a 30-percent chance of a steady and prolonged price increase. In a more optimistic scenario, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said during a recent Diet session that rice prices should stabilize or fall back into the 3,000 yen range. Kashiwamura's AI model showed there is just a 15-percent probability of this happening. He cautioned that sustained high prices may prompt consumers to reduce their rice consumption, shift to lower-priced brands, or increasingly turn to alternative staples. 'If the food service industry begins to pass these costs on to consumers, we could also see a decline in dining out,' he said. (This article was written by Sho Ito, Masaki Hashida and Shinya Matsumoto.)
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Are Married! Couple Ties the Knot in Star-Studded Venice Wedding
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez married in a ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27, PEOPLE confirms The couple hosted a multi-day celebration in the Floating City, welcoming numerous celebrity guests including Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Usher, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Brady PEOPLE confirmed that Bezos and Sánchez were engaged in May 2023, four years after news broke that they were in a relationship Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are married, PEOPLE confirms. The Amazon founder, 61, and the Emmy-winning journalist, 55, tied the knot in a black-tie ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27. The couple celebrated their Italian nuptials over several days, welcoming a number of their celebrity friends for the lavish festivities in the Floating City, including Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher and Tom Brady. Other notable guests included Queen Rania of Jordan, Bill Gates and his girlfriend, Paula Hurd, François-Henri Pinault, and fashion designers Diane von Fürstenberg, Domenico Dolce and Tommy Hilfiger. A source tells PEOPLE the couple's wedding ceremony kicked off with a performance of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley, sung by Matteo Bocelli to cheers from the guests. Ahead of the ceremony, Bezos and Sánchez were photographed leaving the Aman Hotel separately, presumably headed for their wedding venue. The bride wore a retro-inspired, all-white suit and silk head scarf, while the groom sported a sleek black tuxedo and aviator-style shades. Ahead of their wedding celebrations, the bride and groom were photographed arriving in Venice via helicopter on Wednesday, June 25, smiling as they walked hand-in-hand. They later hosted a welcome party for their guests on Thursday night, June 26, at a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church. A source told PEOPLE that the party-goers dined on pizza cooked onsite by a famous Neapolitan chef, along with fried zucchini flowers, arancini, octopus and cod. Dessert included pastries and lemon cakes. The couple had planned to hold their wedding ceremony on Saturday, June 28, at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but made a last-minute location change due to security concerns amid ongoing local protests over the wedding. To show their appreciation to Venice for hosting them and their guests, Bezos and Sánchez made a point of spotlighting the city's rich artisanal history during their wedding festivities. They sourced about 80% of their provisions from Venetian vendors, among them pastry shop Rosa Salva and glass design studio Laguna B, a source told The Associated Press. In addition, the couple asked their guests to make financial donations to the city of Venice instead of giving them wedding gifts. On their wedding invitation, they listed three Venetian charities they planned to donate the contributions to: the UNESCO Venice Office, CORILA and Venice International University. They also shared on the invitation why Venice holds such a special place in their hearts. "This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories," they wrote. "Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come." "We are definitely happy to have this funding for the protection of our very delicate city," Sebastiano Costalonga, local city councillor for commerce and productive activities of the municipality of Venice, told PEOPLE ahead of the wedding. News of Bezos and Sánchez's relationship first broke in January 2019, around the same time that the Blue Origin founder announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage. At the time, Sánchez was divorcing her husband of 13 years, Patrick Whitesell. While it's unclear when and how Bezos and Sánchez first met, sources previously told PEOPLE that the pair struck up a working relationship while teaming up on several projects and "gradually" developed romantic feelings for each other. Sánchez later opened up about her relationship with Bezos in January 2023, telling WSJ Magazine that the pair were "together all the time." "We love to be together and we love to work together," she told the outlet, before revealing that Bezos has a side that the public doesn't get to see. "He's really funny," she shared. "He makes me laugh all the time. He can be goofy." In May 2023, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that the two had gotten engaged. The news came as the couple was vacationing together in the South of France. Sánchez was photographed wearing a dazzling ring on that finger while spending time on Bezo's superyacht Koru and stepping out in town. At the time, a source told PEOPLE the newly engaged pair were "on cloud nine" and "so happy and madly in love." As for Sánchez's "huge" ring, the insider said the former Good Day LA co-host "keeps playing with it and looking at it. You can tell she loves it." When Bezos celebrated his milestone 60th birthday last year, Sánchez shared a sweet tribute to her then-fiancé on Instagram. "Today is another day where your laughter fills our home, and that smile of yours lights up every room. Wishing you an abundance of simple joys and quiet moments of happiness," she wrote. "May this year be filled with everything you love, from peaceful mornings to joyous celebrations." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She added: "I hope each day brings you countless reasons to smile, just like you give me a reason to smile every single day. Love you, and happy birthday, my love." With their Venetian wedding, Bezos and Sánchez have now officially merged their families. The billionaire mogul shares four children with his ex-wife, and Sánchez shares son Nikko, 24, with ex Tony Gonzalez, and son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 17, with Whitesell. Read the original article on People
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez wedding guests Sydney Sweeney, Khloe Kardashian hit the town ahead of wedding
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding celebrations are in full swing as the streets of Venice have been buzzing with star power and A-list arrivals. Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner stepped out in head-turning fashion on Friday, with Kardashian in a black dress and flip-flops while Jenner wore a bold leopard-print gown. Actress Sydney Sweeney was also photographed walking the streets of Venice in a short black dress with a plunging neckline. Model Vittoria Ceretti – Leonardo DiCaprio's current girlfriend – was spotted in a floral dress, talking on the phone as she carried what appeared to be a shopping bag, and Orlando Bloom stepped outside the Gritti Palace Hotel, where he was photographed. Singer Usher and wife Jennifer Goicoechea were seen taking photos of their own while on a water taxi Friday. A-listers have been flooding the Italian streets for the luxurious wedding of Bezos and Sánchez, one of the year's most talked-about celebrations. On Thursday, celebrities such as Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, DiCaprio, Kylie Jenner and more were seen boarding water taxis at various luxurious hotels in Venice, Italy, ahead of the couple's extravagant wedding celebrations. Sánchez gave onlookers a wave as she boarded a boat with her soon-to-be husband by her side outside the Aman Hotel. The couple shared a sweet kiss while aboard the boat. According to People, the couple hosted a welcome party for their guests in a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church on Thursday night. Sánchez wore a golden, satin dress – a look from Schiaparelli's Spring-Summer 2025 Haute Couture collection – according to the outlet. She later posted a photo of herself in the gown on her Instagram story, referring to it as her "pre-wedding dress." Guests reportedly arrived in a convoy of about 30 boats. According to the outlet, guests were served pizza cooked onsite by a famous Neapolitan chef. Throughout the day, baskets of white and purple-colored flowers were brought in to decorate the venue, along with a piano, People reported.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Popular Scots pizza chain reveals plans to open first restaurant in new city
The restaurant has been named one of the best in Europe and sources all ingredients from Italy PIZZA THAT Popular Scots pizza chain reveals plans to open first restaurant in new city A POPULAR Glasgow pizza chain has plans to open its first restaurant in Edinburgh. Paesano Pizza, which already has three locations in Glasgow, may soon be opening in the heart of the Scottish capital. Advertisement 2 Paesano has revealed plans to open its first restaurant in Edinburgh Credit: John Kirkby 2 It is known for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizza Credit: John Kirkby The restaurant has been named one of the best in Europe and sources all ingredients from Italy. Plans have been made for a new restaurant in the former Cass Art building on 77A George Street. Earlier this year, restaurant group The DRG teased plans for a major expansion of its sites. The company, which is Scotland's largest independent restaurant group, owns Paesano and Sugo, both of which are located in Glasgow. Advertisement It outlined plans for growth across the country - now revealed in a recent planning application. The restaurant plans to take over the former Cass Art site on George Street, which has now moved to the nearby Hanover Street. Paesano is known for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, serving Glasgow's Miller Street, Great Western Road, and Pollokshaws Road. Its menu features flavours such as cotto ham with mushrooms and Tuscan fennel sausage, as well as sides like balsamic onions and spicy 'nduja dip. Advertisement The restaurant plans to fit over 30 tables into the site, as well as a bar and an area for coffee and ice cream. Earlier this year, Paesano was featured on a list of the best pizzerias in Europe, with judges praising its 'traditional menu where the great Neapolitan classics are combined with local flavours and seasonality'. Inside the brand new small plates Italian slap bang in Glasgow's city centre Paesano chefs proof their dough for over 24 hours before cooking it at over 500°C, to produce a 'moist, light, soft, digestible crust'. If plans are finalised, the restaurant will sit amongst a slew of eateries such as tapas restaurant Cafe Andaluz, also owned by The DRG, and Ragù Pasta.
