VIVA’s festive highlights
| 15th December 2022
There’s so much going on with festive fun, football dismay and ‘mad’ Friday that VIVA had an eclectic week.
Here’s our round up of things that got us into the spirit of the holidays, however you celebrate, including heart-warming news from the Ivy to quick espresso martinis, get in!
The Ivy cooks up a storm for hungry children and you can donate too
It’s the season of goodwill and the Ivy has been doing its bit working The Caring Family Foundation’s Food From The Heart Campaign which has delivered one million meals to children living in poverty with nutritious food.
Over the holiday season, chefs from a number of The Ivy restaurants have also been cooking and serving children in need at several local community centres in London and Manchester.
This year, schools across London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester have received 308,000 meals in partnership with TCFF’s schools’ network and charity partners. Using expertise from chefs and staff at The Ivy Restaurants, the meals have been developed to be nutritionally balanced and are provided pre-cooked and frozen, ready to be microwaved so families without access to a full kitchen can still easily benefit from them.
There are approximately 4.3 million children in the UK living below the poverty line and the cost-of-living crisis has made it harder for families to put food on the table. The crisis is compounded by children not receiving a free school meal during the holidays. It is estimated that a further 500,000 children will be affected by food hunger over the holiday period.
This month, The Caring Family Foundation, in partnership with The Ivy, has also been hosting a series of Christmas lunches for children throughout the UK. This initiative not only provides delicious food, but also creates a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for local communities to come together, including Hope Centre at The Hideaway in the Partington shopping centre.
Simon Gregory, Executive Chef at The Ivy, said: “Globally every child deserves the right to have access to a hearty and nutritious meal. At The Ivy Collection we are delighted to be working with The Caring Family Foundation, who are determined to bring families and loved ones together this holiday season. We hope that this small contribution will bring joy and happiness to many during these difficult times.”
Just £10 provides five children with a nutritious meal. To make a donation or to find out more please visit https://thecaringfamilyfoundation.org/en
Jumping Goat – the new coffee vodka in town – perfect for parties
If you’re looking for a way to get the party started look no further than the new Jumping Goat Coffee Vodka Liqueur.
VIVA is loving it as it’s delicious and so easy to drink! Have a tipple on the rocks or serve straight out of the freezer or enjoy an easy Espresso Martini when shaken with a shot of Espresso (60ml Jumping Goat & 30ml Espresso for one Espresso Martini). Yummy.
Jumping Goat’s story begins in Ancient Ethiopia, with a goat herder named Kaldi. Legend has it that Kaldi’s goats loved munching berries, the kind that inexplicitly made them bounce about. Kaldi accidentally roasted the berries, and BANG, coffee was discovered. Fast forward a couple of thousand years, where Callum O’Brien, a visionary from Kiwi-land, had a dream to concoct a tasty elixir that would take inspiration from this story and create a modern-day pick-me-up…and thus, Jumping Goat’s Coffee Infused Liqueur was born.
It’s made from 100% organic, batch-roasted coffee beans from Papua New Guinea, with a blend of spices and pure, redistilled New Zealand whey vodka in Tauranga, New Zealand.
VIVA loves an espresso martini but can find it a faff, so this is perfect. Either enjoy for yourself or it’s a perfect last-minute gift. Priced £31.95 and available from Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange.
Boxing clever
MediaCity’s popular outdoor dining concept Box on the Docks (BOTD) is set for a busy Christmas season with the launch of the winter edition, Art Hall. Now open in a newly covered venue in the heart of the MediaCity gardens, Art Hall is all about street food, local art, and good festive times for the holiday season.
Open now to the end of March, every day from 8am – 10pm, Box on the Docks presents Art Hall is located in the MediaCity gardens (by the Plaza) and has a host of festive events.
For more information please visit: Box On The Docks – MediaCity.