Thursday December 1
The Shooting Through Hamper
James Purdey and Fortnum & Mason have teamed together to produce the ultimate shooting hamper. Designed for those short midwinter days when the party shoots through to lunch, the hamper contains a host of delicious supplies. Beef consommé, turtle soup, game pie and sausage rolls can be washed down with Fortnum & Mason vintage champagne or sloe gin. A choice of Wensleydale and Stilton are to be eaten with special Maggie Ramage fruit bread, oatcakes and fruit and nut chutney. The hamper also contains fudge and mints, a pack of Purdey Playing Cards, position finders and game cards. Cutlery and glasses are also included.
Hampers start at £220 for 4-6 persons and £380 for 8-10 persons. Prices include packaging and delivery. The hampers can be ordered at Purdey, 57-8 South Audley Street or from Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly. More information can be seen onwww.purdey.comorwww.fortnumandmason.co.uk
The Glutton’s Christmas – All the good things in life
Olly Stevens, the brains behind The English Kitchen in Newmarket has put his thinking cap on and come up with a decadent hamper full of Christmas treats. The collection includes the essential components of Christmas lunch and all are local and organic where possible. A side of smoked salmon, half a Suffolk ham, Foie Gras and sumptuous cheeses will start you off. But the piece de resistance is the Three Bird Roast (Pheasant, Sutton Hoo Chicken and a Goose all de-boned and stuffed inside each other to create a roast that will feed 15-20). This, followed by a luxury Christmas pudding, is bound to ensure your Christmas lunch is the most satisfying, and most gluttonous, yet.
The Glutton’s Christmas costs £265 and orders must be placed before December 1. For more information on this, or any of Olly’s other exciting hampers visitwww.127englishkitchen.co.uk/.
Rosie’s Hamper
If you’re looking for something a little more edgy then look no further than Rosie’s Deli in Brixton, as recommended by Observer Food Monthly and Food Lover’s London. Rosie sources the finest quality produce from all across Europe and can put together a hamper to suit your individual requirements – for as little as £30. Traditional English tracklements can be combined with Italian, French and Spanish delicacies, organic fruit juices and speciality oils and preserves.
For further information visit Rosie’s Deli Café, 14e Market Row, SW9, telephone Rosie on +44 (0)7815761283 or clickhereto visit the website or email Rosieby clicking here.
Claire Macdonald’s Christmas Basket
Celebrated food writer and chef Claire Macdonald has been putting the kitchen at the beautiful Kinloch Lodge in Scotland to good use this year. The new Claire Macdonald food range includes a delicious selection of Claire’s recipes and uses quality ingredients from the local area. The Christmas Basket contains everything for the Christmas house party including a large Christmas pudding, suet-free mincemeat with Scotch whisky, brandy butter, game sauce and a nightcap bottle of Adelphi special whisky. Kinloch fudge, soap, an apron and a signed Claire Macdonald cookery book are also included in this useful wicker shopping basket.
The Christmas Basket retails at £65 exl p&p. For more information and to visit the online shop pleaseclick hereor telephone+44 (0)1471 833214 to place your order over the phone.
The Breakfast Tray
Perfect for stocking opening time on Christmas morning, the Breakfast Tray contains everything one could possibly require for a decadent Christmas breakfast. Smoked salmon, oscietra cavier and cocktail blinis can be accompanied by Gallimard champagne with or without peach nectar. The Duchy damson preserve will be perfect on toast, before or after the Oscar Meyer bacon with a pot of traditional English breakfast tea. The Breakfast Tray arrives on a palmleaf tray.
The Breakfast Tray costs £140 and can be ordered from Panzers, 13-19 Circus Rd, St John’s Wood NW8 6PB, telephone +44 (0)207 435 0165, 722 8596
Christmas Stockings
Stuffing stockings is as tedious as stuffing turkeys. First you have to buy the presents, then wrap them, then force them into a stubborn sock, but for those who have better things to do on Christmas Eve, the Shopping Service can take care of the whole procedure. Each stylish velvet Christmas Stocking is filled with twelve perfect presents, traditionally one for each month of the year. The presents are sourced at the finest shops in London and New York and are far better than your average stocking filler. Stockings can be tailored to men, women and even teenagers and specific presents can be sourced on your behalf.
Stockings with twelve individually gift-wrapped presents can be delivered to the door, all inclusive for £250. Telephone +44 (0)20 7350 1877 for further details or make a trip to Semmalina on Ebury Street, London SW1.
The Cotswolds Hamper – Ideal for Walking
Fully fitted for a picnic for two people, this hamper is perfect for a walk in the country. Enjoy a glass of Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2003/4 while you consult the AA Pocket Book of Britain’s Walks. Fudge, Viennese Swirls and Pumpkin Flatbreads should also ensure you keep up your energy levels for the duration of your excursion.
Orders can be placed online by clickinghereor by telephoning the customer service team on +44 (0)1235 833732. The Cotswolds Hamper costs £67.10 including VAT and UK delivery.
Steenberg’s Christmas Survival Box
Organic spice purveyor Steenbergs has put together the ultimate Christmas Survival kit. This selection of nine key Christmas ingredients is guaranteed to get Christmas off to a flavour-filled start. The box includes organic mixed spice, organic whole cloves, organic three colour pepper, organic Madras curry powder, organic allspice, organic cinnamon, organic nutmeg, organic juniper berries and Portuguese Fleur de sel.
A recipe leaflet including brief outlines of each of the spices is enclosed along with the recipe for Claire Macdonald’s delicious luxury Christmas cake recipe.
If you would like any further information or to make an order telephone +44 (0)1765 640 088 or visitwww.steenbergs.co.uk.
The Continental Hamper
Add some different flavours to your Christmas with this fully organic collection of festive foods from all over Europe. French chestnuts, Italian biscuits, pannetone, stollen and honey marzipan from Germany are just a few of the delicacies which feature in this fun hamper. Washed down with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Cuvee Gabriel or organic port, this hamper is guaranteed to give your Christmas a European twist.
The Continental Hamper from Graig Farm costs £75.99. For more details or to order please emailxmas@graigfarm.co.uk.
Six Wines in Wood
A wooden box containing six French bottles is ideal for a wine enthusiast. The box contains three white wines: Sauvignon Blanc La Baume 2003, Bordeaux Blanc Chateau Beyran 2004 and Bourgogne Blanc Reflets de Bourgogne 2003, and three reds: Bordeaux Rouge Chateau Labarthe 2001, Cotes du Rhone Chemin des Papes 2003 75cl, Morgon Les Vieux Cedres 2002 75cl. The wooden box is made from
replenishable forestry sources and is guaranteed to keep any wine fan quiet for at least a few hours.
Six Wines in Wood costs £77.50 and can be ordered by calling Virginia Hayward hampers on +44 (0)1747 851515.
Hamper Heaven
