Quality, value and a variety of styles. Five wines that have taken us smoothly into 2014.

The Maille Boutique really is a candy shop for savoury toothed adults looking to experiment and it’s located handily next to Fortnum’s & Masons too, if you have a desire for products approved by HM Queen. And for everyone not within easy reach, the online Maille store is perfect.

Nahji Chu has already conquered Australia with her chain of Miss Chu Vietnamese tuck shops – now, she has set her sights on London. Alex Ozga caught up with Chu to find out who she is and what the Miss Chu brand is about.

If you can’t make it to China Tang you can at least try their delicious King’s Ginger cocktails at home with these simple recipes

A mastery of Swedish gained from watching TV crime dramas, means Nick Harman is well prepared for a great food weekend in Gothenburg

In a boost to British suppliers and diners’ taste buds, Marriott Hotels are trialling a scheme of sourcing local produce for use in their hotel restaurants. Alex Ozga gets the inside track.

You’ve donned your gayest apparel and you’re ready for the festive season…so what is one more spectacularly seasonal feast? Climb aboard my snow mobile for a ride along to a merrily (and occasionally Michelin starred) Christmas bonanza that’ll ding dong merrily on high and keep you well fed for the twelve days of Christmas and beyond.

At the Phoenicia Hotel they take luxury and food very seriously. Nick Harman goes into their garden to meet the head chef and to taste the Maltese difference.

In business since 1999, which makes them quite old in gin terms, Martin Miller is in fact three friends, Andreas Versteegh, David Bromige and Martin Miller. They create the spirit in the Black Country before shipping it off to Iceland for dilution and bottling.

Is blended whisky necessarily worse than single malt? What types of whisky go into a blend? Alex Ozga attends a whisky blending workshop to have his questions answered.