Food news: Gluten-free pie is a touch of Genius

GENIUS Foods, the brainchild of Edinburgh based entrepreneur Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, is launching a mince pie so that those cutting down on gluten can enjoy the festive season too. The mince pies are the latest addition to the range which includes bread, bakery products and pies. The pies are on sale at Tesco, priced £2.19 for four.

nLUXURY British chocolatier and cocoa grower Hotel Chocolat is opening a new store in Fredrick Street – the company’s first in Scotland. Alongside Hotel Chocolat’s range of chocolate, the store will be the first to incorporate a new cafe concept, the Coffee vs Cocoa Bar. Customers choose from a traditional coffee menu and decide whether they would like their espresso, latte or cappuccino prepared with freshly roasted coffee or cocoa beans. The store opens on December 15, when there will be chilled prosecco and chocolate tasting for customers all day, as well as the chance to meet Hotel Chocolat’s head chocolatier, Olivier Nicod and co-founder, Angus Thirlwell.