Virgin mojitos, or ‘nojitos’ are the most refreshing drink this side of a fresh lime soda. Perfect for a hot summer day or when you simply don’t want alcohol, these alcohol free cocktails are stunningly tasty, filled bashed lime and mint, topped up with chilled soda and ice cubes. The perfect mocktail for any occasion.

Virgin Mojito or ‘Nojito’ Alcohol Free Cocktail

Gavin Wren Drinks, Recipes

Today, I’m making a virgin mojito, or a ‘nojito’ as I call them. Alcohol doesn’t have a monopoly on awesome drinks and these alcohol free cocktails full of bashed up lime and mint make the perfect mocktail to tease your tastebuds, whatever the weather.

Alcohol Free.

I don’t drink alcohol, I stopped a few years ago. I wondered what the future of drinking would hold for me, was a destined for a life filled with fizzy water, squash and fruit juice? Had I just turned my back on the diverse, technicolour world of cocktails forever, consigned to boring, simple drinks forever more?

Well, no. That was clearly not the case and simply the ‘old’ Gavin wondering how any drink that doesn’t have alcohol could ever be exciting. The fact is, virgin cocktails still taste absolutely awesome, there is no need to have alcohol in them, unless you want

Soft, velveteen grilled halloumi cheese with pomegranate salsa makes a fantastic starter, the crunchy, sweet pomegranate seeds mix with bright, fresh mint, a dash of lime juice for a bright fresh salsa, slathered atop some hot grilled halloumi cheese deliver a truly joyful vegetarian dish!

Grilled Halloumi with Pomegranate Salsa

Gavin Wren Recipes, Side dishes, Small Bites, Starters, Vegetarian

My neighbours gifted me a pair of enormous pomegranates amongst a basket of beautiful fruit and vegetables a couple of weeks ago, resulting in some delicious pomegranate recipes on this blog. The crisp, ruby red seeds make a fantastic addition to so many recipes and today’s halloumi with pomegranate salsa is no exception, even making it onto the menu for mother’s day this weekend (shhh, don’t tell mum!).

Puppyish Joy.

Bernard is also 2 years old this weekend, so he’s not really a puppy any more, in fact, he hasn’t been an official puppy quite some time, but I don’t let that stop me from calling him ‘puppy’ at every opportunity. He still behaves like a puppy, bouncing around the park with the air of un-coordination in his leaps that puppies deliver in spades.

On his morning walk he innocently bounds up to every other dog within

A simple, easy Thai curry that's influenced by the cornerstones of Thai cooking, fish sauce, lime, garlic and chilli. This is a vegetarian or vegan recipe can also be made with fish or chicken, it's up to you. Whatever you choose it makes a spicy, creamy, aromatic dish that tastes and smells divine without having to bash away at a pestle and mortar.

Easy Thai Curry

Gavin Wren Main Dishes, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Today my recipe is an easy thai curry, it’s a quick way to make a curry that’s got some of the signature flavours of Thai food but can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. It’s a vegetarian recipe you’ll find here today, however you can substitute chicken, fish or prawns for the tofu and still have a lovely, creamy, spicy Thai curry on your hands. Thai Thai. I remember my first ever genuine …

This sweet and spicy thai dipping sauce is the perfect addition to salads, meat or fish, or as a dip to go with spring rolls, summer rolls or anything else that needs an extra kick. Made with just five ingredients it’s got a powerful chilli kick with potent flavours of fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and palm sugar. It’s the perfect summer sauce, regardless of whether the sun is shining or not! Find the full recipe at brainfoodstudio.com

Thai Dipping Sauce (Nam Pla Prik)

Gavin Wren Fish & Shellfish, Recipes, Salads, Sauces, Side dishes, Small Bites

There’s no need to lament the British Summer when there are such beautifully bright and abundant recipes in the world as this Thai dipping sauce otherwise known as ‘Nam Pla Prik’, a bold and powerful indulgence for your senses. The Joys of Summer. I stare out of the window on this summer day, the day before the solstice, the day before the longest sun rises over the glorious plains of Albion, shining new, fresh light …

home cooked truths best way to squeeze a lime

VIDEO: The BEST way to squeeze a lime

Gavin Wren Food Techniques, Writing, YouTube Food Videos

I’ve made my first foray into the world of video and YouTube! In an effort to hunt down the most efficient and best way to squeeze a lime, I’ve had a bit of fun and put together a slightly silly rundown of the different ways you can do it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it! Brain Food looks behind the stories we get told about food.Join the community today. …

Labneh cheesecake with lime and coriander

Pistachio-topped labneh cheesecake with lime & coriander – no added sugar

Gavin Wren Baking, Desserts, No Added Sugar, Recipes

For once, I’m going to start talking about the food first, rather than sharing obscure excerpts from my prandial past with you. Previously on le petit oeuf, I’ve professed my love for yoghurt and featured it in a few recipes. This has developed recently into a lean towards the delights of labneh, and anyone who is following my Twitter feed (and if not, why not?) will have seen a few more labneh based adventures, such …