Food & Drink

McCain announces Drag queen Baga Chipz as Creative Director

"Move over Molly Mae, there’s a new Creative Director in town."

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 1st June 2022

McCain has just announced Ru Paul’s Drag Race Superstar Baga Chiz as its new creative director.

Taking a leaf out of Pretty Little Thing’s book, the creators behind the nation’s favourite potato brands have brought on the superstar drag queen to oversee its creative output online.

Having already awarded herself an MBE for “contributions to the Potato Arts”, it sounds like she’s pretty well qualified for the role to be honest.

The self-proclaimed “Queen of Chips” will be getting involved with all the various creative outputs of the McCain business, starting with those all-important midweek meals.

Image: Supplied

Serving us delicious potato realness, she’s set to share her own fabulous take on British classics – including the beloved potato smiles and beans, and the ultimate UK favourite, the chip butty.

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Styling things up with her very own personalised diamante oven glove, Baga will be on hand to give the nation ideas and inspiration on how the dishes can best be enjoyed – .kicking things off with a livestream from her personal Instagram account this Thursday 2 June.

Baga originally hails from West Bromich but spent most of her career working in East London before competing on the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.

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Image: Supplied

She instantly won fans on the show for her hilarious portrayal of Margaret Thatcher on The Snatch Game (a celebrity impersonation challenge), and whilst she didn’t win the show she went on to appear on numerous others – including  RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World 2022.

She’s also appeared on Celebrity MasterChef and The Celebrity Circle.

Speaking on the announcement, Mark Hodge, Marketing Director at McCain, said: “We’re delighted to finally be able to unveil Baga as our first ever Creative Director – her iconic and fearless attitude perfectly encapsulates our ‘Anything Goes’ philosophy. 

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“With Baga’s support, we really want to highlight that any meal can be exciting when you invite McCain onto the plate – through our new series of social videos.”

Feature image – Supplied

Food & Drink

Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Pollen Club x Pot Kettle Black

Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month. 

The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather. 

And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black. 

The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel. 

There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.  

In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats. 

The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering. 

Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
Inside Manchester's new padel club, The Pollen Club
Inside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen Club
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club

And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible. 

Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.

“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”

Find out more HERE. 

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

5 Easter foods that are toxic to dogs and what to do if they eat them

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

With Easter upon us, and households nationwide tucking into a feast of chocolate treats and festive leftovers, we need to make sure we keep an eye on those food vacuums.

And by food vacuums, we of course mean our four-legged friends.

We all know that a lot of themed foods and sugary goodness tends to get consumed over the Easter period, and with so much to make your way through, it can be tempting to treat your dogs to some of the leftovers.

But did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make them seriously ill? This is why it’s so important to know which ones should be avoided.

Whilst it’s perfectly fine to offer your pooch small snacks in moderation, there’s lots of foods around at this time of year that your dog may help themselves to if they aren’t stored away, and many of them are extremely toxic – so pet expert and founder of Yappy.com, John Smith, has highlighted which are dangerous for our dogs, what to do if they do consume them, and some of the safer choices to dogs as a well-deserved treat.

Here’s five Easter foods that are toxic to dogs.

Did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make dogs seriously ill? / Credit: Pxfuel

1. Chocolate

Chocolate is obviously one of the most popular treats to find in homes during Easter, but it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is seriously harmful to dogs, and this means that eating even a small amount of chocolate can have serious consequences and result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and death in some serious cases.

2. Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns are another delicious Easter food that should be kept far away as most contain dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, and currants, which are toxic to dogs.

The reasons behind why these fruits are toxic is a bit of a mystery, as some dogs have eaten large amounts of dried fruit without feeling unwell, whereas others have become unwell after eating just a small amount – but John says it’s “definitely best to err on the side of caution” and make your own buns using a vet-approved dog-friendly recipe that you can enjoy together as a family without fear.

3. Cooked Bones

Cooked bones come with serious health risks for dogs.

Although they aren’t poisonous, they’re prone to splitting when gnawed and chewed, and this can lead to bone fragments getting stuck in their throats – which can result in choking.

4. Bulb Vegetables

Bulb vegetables are a roast dinner essential, but those such as onions and garlic can cause nasty stomach upsets for dogs, and in some cases, can even cause red blood cell damage, so it’s better to keep them on your plate and out of your pets’ mouths.

5. Meat Skin

It may be tempting to give your dog skin from the leftover chicken, or a fatty piece of meat – but this is far too rich for their tummies, and in some of the worst cases, it can cause inflammation of their pancreas.

Properly-cooked boneless pieces of chicken added to their dog food bowl is a better way to involve them in the Easter fun without risking their health. 

Chocolate and hot cross buns are just some of the Easter foods toxic to dogs / Credit: Pexels & FreeImages

What should I do if my pet has eaten something it shouldn’t have?

Even if your pet has only eaten a small amount of these foods, it’s important to do the following:  

  1. Call the vet straight away – Don’t wait for your pet to start showing symptoms. A vet will be able to offer advice, and the quicker you act, the better chance your pet will have of recovery.
  2. Note the time and quantity of food ingested – Provide the vet with as much information as you can. This includes the time your pet ate the unsafe food, brand names, the ingredient list and how much you think they consumed.
  3. Don’t try to make your pet sick – Attempting this can cause further health complications. Leave this to your vet, as they are trained to do this in a safe manner.

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John adds that dog owners should “keep any dangerous Easter foods well out of paws reach in a high cupboard”, and check that floors are “clear of toxic food scraps” that children may have dropped during Easter egg hunts and parties.

Featured Image – Wallpaper Flare | Liliana Fuchs (via Flickr)

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