Water and soft drinks

There's a growing interest in soft drinks with even top restaurants like Noma offering their own home-made cordials and water lists. Here are a few features and ideas on how to combine them with food.

Recent articles

Food and fruit juice matching Jan 5, 2012: On the wagon for a while? Which juices to substitute for your favourite wines

Smoked trout and a Tricycle Aug 15, 2011: No, I haven't gone nuts and started pairing food and vehicles. Read on . . .

How to make your own sophisticated soft drinks Jun 17, 2011: Despite the buzz about soft drinks over the last couple of years (they now serve them at Noma) it’s still a struggle to get one in a restaurant. But you can make delicious ones of your own as an excellent new book by winewriter Susy Atkins shows.

A refreshing punch for a New Year's Day brunch Jan 1, 2011: If you've woken up feeling a tad fragile here's the perfect non-alcoholic cocktail to make for a New Year's Day brunch

Strawberries and elderflower cordial Jul 5, 2010: I’m really spoilt for choice for my match of the week, there were so many good ones last week. As you may have picked up if you follow me on Twitter (where I tweet as winematcher and food_writer) I was in Copenhagen eating Noma which was recently acclaimed as the world's best restaurant . . .

Can water assist your appreciation of food and wine? Jul 23, 2009: Following my recent Water, Wine and Fish dinner, Douglas Blyde attends a formal water and wine tasting presented by top sommelier Andreas Larsson and finds there’s an agonising amount to consider behind the waiter’s question, ‘still or sparkling’ . . .

A water, wine and fish dinner in London Jun 16, 2009: I get to go to some amazing food and wine events but none has been quite as original as last night’s dinner, part of a series called A Journey From Water to Wine: New Concepts in Contemporary Fish Cuisine. The idea was conceived by one of the wine world’s more charmingly eccentric characters, Roberto Bava and co-funded by San Pellegrino (hence the water - and the lavishness of the boxed set of menus we received at the end. They must be one of the few companies who are not credit-crunched these days . . . )

Why mineral waters taste different Jan 9, 2009: You may have a preference for fizzy or still but does your appreciation of mineral water go much beyond that? With the recession in full swing maybe 2009 is the year to forgo more expensive drinks and become a water connoisseur . . .

Chicken salad and real apple juice May 5, 2008: Simple pleasures . . .

A beginner's guide to juicing Mar 13, 2008: Great for an Easter brunch. Great for breakfast. Great for lunch. If juicing's passed you by so far, now's the time to get started.