It’s time to pop open the bubbly and get your party shoes on, because Santa is coming to town! If the big bearded man doesn’t tickle your fancy, we’ve got a wonderful list of Holiday Party Must Haves to get it all going. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, New Year’s Eve or any other celebration – we have you covered. Remember to drink responsibly.
Chocolate and Love
Some of my most favourite items this year were the absolutely STUNNING chocolate and love boxes. What happens when a lawyer and a surveyor walk into a bar? I’m not entirely sure, but this is the soundtrack to the conception of one the the best ethical and organic chocolate brands in production. Stocked in over 40 countries and loved the world over, Chocolate and Love is my ultimate in dark chocolate indulgence, though they’ve now started producing milk chocolate and this makes me happy beyond measure. https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/new-pomegranate-all-vegan-gift-box– £16.99 https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/rich-dark-tin– £11.99. https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/christmas-panama-gift-box– £11.99 https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/mini-rich-dark-gift-box£11.99. https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/christmas-creamy-dark-gift-box – £16.99 https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/coffee-55-80g£3.19 https://chocolateandlove.com/collections/shop/products/mint-67£3.19
Paxton and Whitfield
Paxton and Whitfield hardly need and introduction from me. Established in 1797 and by appointment to Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince Of Wales. We can ascertain that they know a thing or two about cheese goodness. The board above showcases four British cheeses (and some Swedish crackers!)
Brightwell Ash (£8.95/140g) (Unpasteurised, vegetarian rennet) is a goats’ cheese is made by Fraser Norton and Rachel Yarrow of Norton and Yarrow Cheese at the Earth Trust Farm, Shillingford, South Oxfordshire. Ripened for approximately 21 days It showcases a rich creamy texture and a flavour with light hazelnut and citrus notes that deepen with age. The (edible) ash on the cheese helps it form a thin rind. https://www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk/shop/buy-cheese/by-region/english-cheese/brightwell-ash£8.50
Montgomerys (£28.00/kg/£7per250g) (Unpasteurised, traditional rennet, cows’ milk) A mature Cheddar that has a long and complex flavour. Characteristically drier and nuttier than other Cheddars. It is made by Jamie Montgomery in North Cadbury near Yeovil. www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk/shop/buy-cheese/by-collection/cheddar-collection/cheddar-montgomerys?c=112
Shropshire Blue (£27.00/kg) (Pasteurised, vegetarian rennet) This award-winning cheese is made by Paxton’s Stilton supplier Cropwell Bishop in Nottinghamshire. To make it, evening and morning milk are blended together. The two milks are different in consistency, as fat content is higher in evening milk. The cheese has a warm russet colour to it from the addition of the natural colorant, annatto, which contrasts nicely with the dense blue veining that is found throughout the cheese. Shropshire Blue was awarded Supreme Champion at the 2016 British Cheese Awards.
Evenlode (£40.00/kg) (Pasteurised, traditional rennet) This is a new cows’ milk cheese from the award-winning King Stone Dairy. Evenlode is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese, that has a firm, curdy core with bright, lactic flavours. The pate just beneath its brick-red rind has more meaty, savoury and peanutty flavours. I will add that this is an acquired taste and probably wasn’t one of my favourites.
Peter’s Yard
Peter, Jan, Wendy, Ian and John sound like they belong in an Enid Blyton novel. In fact they’re the brains behind Peter’s Yard, the delectable Swedish sourdough crisp bread – that needs to be on your plate and in your pantry. Now baked in the UK to an original Swedish recipe. It’s a fantastic product and I couldn’t imagine eating cheese or pickled herring, any other way. The crisp breads come in different flavours, including Spelt & Fig, Seeded Wholegrain, Caraway, Pink Peppercorn, Original and Charcoal & Rye. Now available for purchase in all good supermarkets, department stores and online emporiums.
https://www.petersyard.com/product/lunch-crispbread-bundle-3-boxes/
Marsh Pig
Marsh Pig specialises in free range, high quality British Charcuterie products and ensure heritage breeds and premium animal welfare. If this isn’t enough to love the company, it’s a kick ass women owned and run business. Buy directly from www.marshpig.co.uk or from www.yumbles.com. Chorizo is £10.50 each.
https://www.yumbles.com/marsh-pig/whole-fennel-salami.html
https://www.yumbles.com/marsh-pig/whole-hot-chorizo.html
Great Glen Charcuterie
Great Glen has managed something no one else has. Anja and her family live in Scotland and produce charcuterie using only wild Scottish venison. The woman is remarkable, a mother to six children. A business woman. A pretty formidable force and she knits too. I’m in awe at the heart and soul behind the cured meat and by the product itself. It’s divine. Purchase directly from Great Glen’s website or below at British Fine Foods.
https://www.britishfinefoods.com
Opies
Every cheeseboard needs a condiment! It could be the opening line to a song. It may well be, in fact. Bennet Opie is one of the oldest privately owned family food companies in the UK. They have been offering family favourites – pickles and preserves to the British public since 1880. Below are some of my favourite products.
https://www.ocado.com/products/opies-mixed-berries-with-prosecco-485283011
https://www.ocado.com/products/opies-apricots-with-jim-beam-485577011
https://www.ocado.com/products/opies-cocktail-cherries-maraschino-43023011
https://www.ocado.com/products/opies-pickled-walnuts-13938011
https://www.ocado.com/products/opies-sliced-lemons-in-lemon-juice-43025011
https://www.ocado.com/products/opies-cornichons-onions-40269011
Indie Bay Snacks
Healthy baked pretzel bites, that go fabulously with all things boozy. Or not boozy, if you are a child. Great for picnics, lunches and drinks parties. Try this selection pack which provides you with all the flavours: Superseed, Cracked black pepper, Rock salt, Easy Cheesy and Smokin BBQ. For £5.00 it’s a steal.
https://www.indiebaysnacks.com/product/all-flavours
Woodford Reserve
I’d never known the joys of a smooth bourbon, until I met Woodford’s master distiller and had a tasting session. Try for yourself this Christmas with the holiday edition gift which comes with a syrup to make the perfect old fashioned. Currently £18.00 – it would be rude not to!
Dr Will’s
I met Dr Will a few years ago, when the brand was young and starting out. When they did their own packaging and had a freelance website man, literally one man. I’m now sitting in Paris and the products are everywhere but Dr Will’s have kept their integrity. Their core values and key principles. They say please and thank you when you email them. They don’t use refined sugar and the packaging is recyclable. They’re a company I’m proud to support and the ketchup is bloody brilliant on a sausage roll. Available from all good foodstores or from their own website. They sent me the “Full House” pack. This includes: Dr Will’s Tomato Ketchup, Dr Will’s Beetroot Ketchup, Dr Will’s BBQ Sauce, Dr Will’s Classic Mayo, Dr Will’s Spicy Mayo and Dr Will’s Avocado Mayo for £20. Pretty great.
Calvet Wines
Calvet offer some great wines at extremely reasonable prices. This St Emillion offers a fruity finish with spicy notes. Great with poultry – a must have to go alongside your Christmas turkey. The star of the show, for me, at least is the Cremant. A really versatile, nicely balanced soft biscuit finish. Seriously good. Treat yourselves to this!!!
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304377002
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/292511784
Maestro Dobel Diamante Reposado Tequila
Blended using reposado, anejo and extra anejo 100% agave tequilas. The blend is then subject to a proprietary filtering process that removes the colour while at the same time making the tequila exceptionally smooth and creamy in texture.
Eleven generations of expertise inform this small batch, handcrafted tequila – Maestro DOBEL Diamante™ is the best-selling ultra-premium tequila in its homeland of Mexico, and Humito is the world’s first smoked silver tequila – a great alternative to Scotch.
‘Cristalino’ is the world’s fastest growing style of tequila and DOBEL was its pioneer – DOBEL Diamante is the world’s first Cristalino, multi-aged tequila – and is also aged uniquely in Balkan oak casks
Dobel prides itself on superb craftmanship – its tequilas are handcrafted in small batches and it only uses blue agave which has been aged in the ground for at least eight years (most other producers harvest three year old agave
I made a Puerto Rican coconut based coquito – mix equal parts coconut milk, evaporated coconut milk, cinnamon, agave syrup, Dobel and ice in a blender. Top with cinnamon and enjoy. You won’t be disappointed with this magical concoction. £50.25
Pierre Marcolini
To finish the evening beautifully, hand these gorgeous cubes of joy out to your guests. Or better yet hand a box to each person as they head home. Six praline presents, with a crispy interior make for the prefect after dinner treat, especially paired with the creamy Dobel Diamante Tequila or the Calvet Cremant. £20 for six – they look even more impressive.
https://eu.marcolini.com/en/product/box-of-6-praline-presents-2/
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