Posts Tagged ‘food’

M & S Packaging

Friday, April 27th, 2012

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selection of Marks and Spencer food items with special Diamond Jubilee and London Olympic 2012 packaging

M & S continues to produce some fantastic packaging. We bought a few items last week – and thought we’d share photos with you in case you haven’t seen any of it.

Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box illustrated with characters of a cop and Texan tourist wearing a stetson

We’ll start with this pizza box for the pastrami pizza – with its New York cop and stetson-wearing tourist.

detail from a Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box showing a cartoon illustration of a cop detail from a Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box showing a cartoon illustration of a Texan tourist wearing a stetson and a camera around his neck

The characters are very reminiscent of Miroslav Sasek book illustrations from the 1950s & 60s.

Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of British bobby, Union Jack flags, school children, birds and bunting

The other products we picked up have much more of a British feel – perfect for this Diamond Jubilee & London Olympic year.

detail from Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of birds and bunting

These chocolate teacakes are covered with Union Jack bunting & flags. What does that pigeon know that we don’t?

detail from Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of a British bobby, Union Jack flag and bunting

Next up we have the old red telephone box.

Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box with figures including a British Bobby, city gent and punk

It’s harking back to the days when telephone box queues were a common sight – pre mobile phone days – the variety of characters each waiting their turn.

detail from a Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box showing the figure of a city gent

We just love the punk rocker blowing his bubblegum.

detail from a Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box showing the figure of a punk

It’s a close run thing, but our favourite item of the batch is probably the biscuit tin below. Again, the artwork is very Sasek inspired – with a bit of Bill Charmatz thrown in.

limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games decorated with illustrations of London and other British landmarks

The design a real classic with scenes of the British Isles to the sides and traditional London sights to the lid.

detail from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games showing an illustrations of Green Park detail from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games showing an illustrations of the Mall

Also, the tin will last years and can be used over & over again.

lid from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games decorated with illustrations of London landmarks

It’s fantastic when you buy a useful & beautiful storage tin – crammed full of lovely biscuits that you just have to eat first!!

One lump or two?

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

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vintage "Three Nuns" tobacco tin

We often find these small tobacco tins in the mixed boxes we buy at auction. Usually they’re full of nails, pins, screws or tap washers. But this one contained a more colourful surprise…

vintage "Three Nuns" tobacco tin showing 8 different paper wrapped sugar cubes

…lots of old sugar lumps!

They look to date from the 1960s – someone had obviously started a little collection – quite rare survivors probably.

old paper wrapped sugar cubes including Harrods, Sunny Southport, Kent and Ravenglass

Some of them have lovely period graphics… very sweet!! ☺

On the menu

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

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detail of vintage drinks menu showing bottles and olives on toothpicks

We’ve mentioned our ever-expanding collection of vintage cookery books in previous blogs.

1960s BOAC drinks menu 1960s BOAC drinks menu

detail from 1960s BOAC drinks menu

An offshoot of this collection consists of vintage menus.

1950s Porterhouse steakhouse menu

detail of 1950s Porterhouse menu

menu items from the 1950 Porterhouse menu

detail of 1950s Porterhouse menu cover

It’s interesting to peruse the dishes on offer… in fact, it’s made us feel quite hungry writing this post.

detail of KLM menu illustration by Otto Dicke depicting a girl in traditional Dutch costume

KLM menu illustration by Otto Dicke depicting girls in traditional Dutch costume KLM menu illustration by Otto Dicke depicting a girl in traditional Dutch costume

KLM in-flight menu items

However, it’s the period graphics, fonts & illustrations that we really look out for.

1960s Polish Ocean Lines menu

detail from 1960s Polish Ocean Lines menu cover

menu items on the Polish Ocean Lines dinner menu

detail from 1960s Polish Ocean Lines menu cover

Some of the artwork is stunning – and the menus themselves are very framable.

1960s/70 Trattoria menu

selection of dishes from 1960s/70 Trattoria menu

detail from 1960s/70s trattoria menu

We have menus from restaurants, bars, airlines and cruise ships.

1950s/60s KLM trans-Atlantic menu

flight plan on 1950s/60s KLM trans-Atlantic menu

detail from 1950s/60s KLM menu cover

Due to their ephemeral nature, interesting examples are quite hard to get hold of.

1960s Trans-World Airlines London flight menu

detail from Trans-World Airways London flight menu

…but we enjoy the hunt!

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Say Cheese!

Monday, December 14th, 2009

We were having our end of day glass of wine with some amazing cheese, wondering what to write for this week’s blog post… why not talk about cheese?  We do love a bit of cheese in this house!

Of course you need something to store it in…



…to cut it on…



…and to serve it upon



Todmorden now has its own cheese-maker called Pextenement Cheese Co. They produce a lovely cheese called East Lee Soft – it’s absolutely perfect with crackers or oatcakes. We’re looking forward to trying the cheddar and Camembert-style cheeses they’re currently developing.

We’re quite well served with cheese retailers in our area. Special mention must go to The Cheese Place in Haworth. It’s about half an hour’s drive away, but well worth the trip. Friendly, knowledgeable owners – and great cheese.

So if we’re ever undecided as to which direction to head out… we think of those wise words from Wallace -  “Gromit, that’s it… cheese… we’ll go somewhere where there’s cheese!”

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Tin tin!

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

We just love vintage tins! We have them dotted all over the house. They add a homely, vintage touch to shelves, cupboards & cabinets.

We store all manner of things in them- buttons, jewellery, loose change, sweets, receipts etc. etc.

Tins from the ’50s & ’60s are our favourites, with their wonderful period designs & motifs.

We pick them up in all the usual places- markets, auctions & charity shops. They’re not all that easy to come across, despite the fact that they were often saved & reused once their original contents were finished.

This is a recent find with an unusual snakes & ladders board on its lid.

This one depicts the countries of the British Isles on each of its sides.

Stylised flowers are a popular motif…

…as are birds & animals.

Brightly coloured food tins, both modern & vintage, look great in the kitchen.

Then there are tins for herbs & spices…

…and favourite recipes.

And what’s better than a lovely vintage cake tin next to the kettle?

especially if it’s got home-made cake inside!!

We always like to have a few vintage tins on the H is for Home website. They’ve proven very popular- click on the link to see our current selection.

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