Fabulous gifts for foodies. The Christmas Countdown Gift Guide (and free cheesecake!)
Kicking off a whole series of gift guides, then, it makes sense to start with the foodies:
Fudge’s biscuits are yum scrum and make for a really nice foodie pressie. I can vouch for this as they very kindly sent us a tin (they’re really nice people too, which always helps) and there was practically a fist fight. I think they’re well priced as well for such a luxurious selection (£10.50 – available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda as well as good independent farm shops, delis and stores.)
If you’re looking for a fabulous foodie present to send within Ireland, look no further than Sheridans Hampers. Another really nice bunch of people (their cheese warehouse is quite near here and I often pop in for a gorgeous wedge of Parmesan or some lovely free-range eggs), their hampers start from €32.50 for a Port and Wine selection. Collection from any of their four locations across Ireland. Delivery can be arranged at extra cost. They can also custom-make hampers too. Visit Sheridanscheesemongers.com for more info.
The Travelling Souk has some really unusual gifty ideas. Check out the gorgeous stationery and the foodie section too. The textiles from Ochre and Ocre are beautiful quality (organic cotton oven gloves £15.00) and arrive gorgeously gift-wrapped:
as do these cute little Craven and Hargreaves heart-shaped hammered spoons – perfect to stir your fairtrade coffee after a huge Christmas dinner – which are delightfully packaged in a soft organza pouch too (£26.50 with free shipping).
The Three Sisters Indian Cookbook: Delicious, Authentic and Easy Recipes to Make at Home
Don’t forget the non-drinkers this Christmas. We had a little taste test here at English towers and thoroughly recommend the Shloer White Grape sparkling juice, as well as their rosé version. They look delectably fizzy in a flute and mean that the drivers (and the teens!) don’t feel like they’re missing out on the festive champers!
Pukka Licorice and Cinnamon Tea is gorgeously (and festively) packaged and makes a lovely foodie gift. It’s also good for the digestion (which could be a bonus after that Christmas dinner). Check out www.pukkaherbs.com for their full range:
and talking of tea and coffee, my lovely twitter friend Kathryn, has a great website called Coffee to a Tea. I asked her what she recommended for Christmas and she had the following ideas:
‘Its hard to choose a single product as a gift idea… I think since its Christmas I would probably suggest the Cinnamon Ground or wholebean coffee and/or for something a bit different the Berry Fruit Tisane which is fruity and light to combat the normal heavy Christmas fayre.’
I have to say that I’ve got my eye on the Chocolate Cherry ground coffee – what a great pressie! You can find Kathryn’s shop at coffeetoatea.co.uk and on twitter @coffeetoatea.
Other great websites for foodie gifts are foodado.com for a really interesting range of artisan and gourmet pressies, and my old favourite Vintage Wine Gifts who deliver great wines in lovely presentation boxes. I’ve used them a lot and can recommend their very efficient service.
But wait – what foodie gift guide would be complete without the lovely Green & Blacks? I heartily recommend a box or two of miniatures kept ready-wrapped and stashed in case of last minute guests. The brand new 24 miniature bar collection, made up of eight of the best selling flavours – Dark, Milk, Creamy Milk, Butterscotch, Almond, Cherry, Ginger and White costs £8.99 from the usual supermarkets, etc. Of course if you manage not to give them away, then you can discover them on Boxing day and eat them yourself. Bonus.
And finally, the little chef elves at the English Cheesecake Company have been busy again this year making lots of lovely cheesecakes for Christmas. There’s White Chocolate and Cranberry – creamy white chocolate cheesecake blended with delicious fresh chunks of cranberry and white chocolate on top of a heavenly digestive biscuit base. Or there’s the Brandy Snap cheesecake stuffed with crispy brandy snaps and a brandy butter centre, or for those who don’t like cheesecake, there’s a deep deluxe Irish Fudge Cake with an Irish Cream topping and moist chocolate brownie chunks, and finally there’s the Pecan Pie baked vanilla cheesecake, with Dulche de Leche toffee glazing over a generous pecan topping. Yum scrum. Each 8″ inch cheesecake serves 12 and prices start from £24.99 including free UK delivery. Just click on: www.englishcheesecake.com
And as a special treat, just email me via the contact form at the top of the page with CHEESECAKE in the title and tell me which cheesecake you’d most like to scoff, along with your name and address. The winner will win the cheesecake of their choice delivered to their door. UK only entries please. Competition closes Wednesday 8th December.
This competition is now closed. Congratulations to Sharon Hingley, who won her choice of a white chocolate and cranberry cheesecake!
Disclaimer: this is obviously a joke and I would never sabotage a competition. Honest.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
*sob*
*sniff*