SPECTATOR MINI-BAR

I'm always delighted to run an offer from Swig, a wine merchants based in west London. James, Robin, Damon and Lucia travel the world looking for terrific unknown wines, and others as good as the classics at a fraction of the price.

In case you live around the mountains acquire landscape ideas and take your inspiration from the forest�s edge. Pay attention to the plants that thrive within the meadows and forested locations. Trees such as small conifers, deciduous vine maples, evergreen salal, ferns and wildflowers almost all may transform with the seasons. For some landscapes added color plant cannas, hostas, and other perennials and shrubs can create a gorgeous fringe all around the lawn. Trees are essential for virtually any size yard. They will offer shade and entice wildlife.You could possibly be looking at leaving a lawn completely out of any of your landscaping ideas. If you do, try out using gravel, pebbles or crushed granite to produce unique mosaic layouts. There are also a number of types of ground covers which can be low maturing and may withstand foot traffic and demand a minimum of care. Use sand to cover kid's play areas for instance under swing sets, volleyball or play houses and forts.Take this scrumptious Secateurs 2010 (1), a Chenin Blanc from A.A.Badenhorst of Swartland, who is one of the most exciting young winemakers in South Africa.ROSEMEAD, Calif. -- Panda Express, the nation’s leader in Asian dining experiences, kicks off the 2011 Chinese New Year holiday by bringing back a special menu item for a limited time only - spicy Firecracker Chicken Breast™. The Chinese New Year entrée features strips of marinated chicken breast, crisp red, green and yellow bell peppers, succulent sliced onions and red chili peppers all cooked to perfection in a wok with Panda’s original zesty firecracker sauce. Panda Express will also be offering a coupon for a free single sized portion of Firecracker Chicken Breast™ to Facebook fans, for one day only on February 3rd, the first day of the 15 day-long holiday celebration.Finally, a superb Rhone at, frankly, a ridiculous price. Stephane Ogier makes CoteRotie, the greatest of all Rhone reds, but he creates La Rosine 2009 (4) on a patch of land between that legendary appellation and the equally fabulous Condrieu. What might you pay for a bottle of Cote-Rotie? Never less than �25, and you could fork out hundreds.Four superb, terrific-value wines. Delivery, as ever, is free, and there is a sample case containing three of each bottle. There's also a glugging case, six each of the cheaper wines.

Four superb, terrific-value wines. Delivery, as ever, is free, and there is a sample case containing three of each bottle. There's also a glugging case, six each of the cheaper wines.

Author: HOGGART, SIMON