Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Ultimate Christmas treats for food lovers
Martin Hesp delves into the fabulous Yuletide offerings from food and drink producers
As the festivities loom there are many reasons to feel overwhelmed by the sheer weight of expectation – even the most generous and well-meaning of folk will be feeling exhausted by the Yuletide demands, especially when it comes to ordering all that festive food and drink.
There’s no doubt that, despite pandemics and economic recessions, the whole idea of Christmas food and drink has grown beyond anything that would have been recognisable 40 or 50 years ago. When I was a boy the entire celebratory shooting match was centred around just one meal on December 25 – yes, there were a few extra treats, but the oranges, dates, nuts and chocolates of yesteryear would pale to insignificance compared to the great elaborate and ongoing feasts of today.
That’s a good thing, because it means we Brits are taking a much greater interest in food and drink than we were – and also that the range of edible and quaffable treats on offer is so much more comprehensive than it was.
At Christmas this dictates not only to what we serve at home to family and friends, it has also revolutionised the type of gifts we buy for others during the festivities.
Which is why I talk about feeling slightly overwhelmed… Back in the days when it was merely down to choosing between a turkey or a goose, all you had to do was figure out how to afford the bird in question. Today’s host or hostess is confronted by a plethora of dietary requirements even before they begin contemplating the truly vast array of options which will be required from Christmas Eve onwards.
Blinis with truffled scrambled egg and smoked salmon anyone? Yes please! This is an exotic breakfast order that features at our place on Christmas Day before the celebrations have really started! Then there’s the gigantic feast which dominates the day, and by evening I am looking at a whacking great big English cheese-board that would put a reasonable restaurant to shame.
No wonder many of us feel overwhelmed by the sheer weight of expectation. But help is at hand. Perhaps it is a byword of capitalism – whatever problem the market creates, it will soon provide an answer. In this case, we’re talking about the rise and rise of the Christmas hamper. To borrow a modern phrase: what’s not to like?
Quality hampers are the perfect gift when it comes to the nation’s millions of foodies. They also provide the perfect answer for the hard-pushed host or hostess who really hasn’t time to cope with the fancier or more exacting end of Yuletide expectations.
And the good news is that a great many of this region’s quality producers and retailers are now putting together excellent hampers. Somewhere among them there’ll be something for everyone – so here’s an overview of just some on offer…
Of course, the great experts on all fine, edible and deliverable goodies are Devon Hampers, whose famous offerings are filled with delicious produce sourced from the Westcountry’s finest artisan suppliers. And of course, the company has a range of hampers curated specially for the
festive season, starting with their ultimate collection… The Christmas Hamper is packed full with the best food and drink the region has to offer, from Georgie Porgie’s Christmas Pud to Hogs Bottom’s Devon Chutney; Lyme Bay Damson Gin to Yearlstone Vintage Rose Brut and Sharpham Cheese to Grandma Wild’s Mince Pies (standard box £235.50, wicker hamper £289.50).
The Festive Fireside Feast Hamper (from £69) has everything needed for cosy nights next to the fire – with savoury nibbles, sweet treats and traditional yuletide eats such as Simply Delicious Handmade Christmas Cake, Kernow Milk Chocolate, Lyme Bay Mulled Wine and traditional mince pies.
The Devon and Cornish Hamper (from £105) celebrates the best of the far South West, including chocolate made by Willie’s Cacao in Exeter; Hogs Bottom jam, handmade in Lifton; Dartmoor Jail Ale; Earl Grey made by Devonshire Tea; Rattler Original Cornish
Cider; and Padstow-based Buttermilk’s rum and raisin fudge.
Devon Hampers has many more collections ideal for Christmas, or you can create one of your own from the website, putting together items you know a loved one would like (www.devonhampers.com).
Another well-known Westcountry retailer curating excellent luxury hampers from the region is Topsham-based Darts Farm. Among the multiple choices for the Christmas season are the Festive Hamper (from £39), Large Festive Hamper (from £69) and Festive Indulgent Hamper (from £189).
“The Darts Farm festive hampers are full of the best seasonal produce from local artisan food and drink producers,” says my colleague Kath Hope. “From traditional, melt-in-the-mouth Christmas puddings handcrafted by George in Budleigh Salterton, to homemade Christmas jam crafted by Ann in Tiverton, these hampers make the perfect gift or festive treat.” (www.dartsfarm.co.uk)
Devon-based Flapjackery has also joined the Christmas hamper revolution with a range of excellent collections that will delight anyone with a sweet tooth. The range starts at £25 and rises to the company’s Ultimate Christmas Treats Hamper (£80). Each contains Flapjackery’s own delicious, gluten-free flapjacks, fudge, clusters and other sweet treats all of which are packed with the finest British ingredients. Available online
(www. flapjackery. co.uk) or from
Flapjackery outlets at
Tavistock,
Plymouth,
Minehead, Wells and St Ives.
Cheese-lovers are well catered for this Christmas with two Devon dairies putting together excellent collections. The Sharpham Devon Cheese and Wine Christmas Feast (£90) contains the company’s delicious handmade artisan cheeses (a 300g Sharpham Brie, 450g Ticklemore goats’ truckle, 450g Rustic Chive & Garlic truckle, 150g Elmhirst and 210g Quicke’s Vintage Cheddar) along with a bottle each of best-selling Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve and Sharpham Pinot Rosé and Sharpham crackers and chutneys. (sharphamcheese.co.uk)
Over at Quicke’s, the team have curated a £40 Winter Farmstead Cheese Box filled with a delicious selection of handmade British cheeses. The company’s Luxury Cheese and Wine Hamper (£96) is described as “the complete works” and contains a vast range of clothbound cheeses with perfect pairings of crackers, preserves, nibbles and wines. These are available for pre-order only, delivery from now until December 21 with a limited number of boxes and Christmas delivery slots, so best order now (www.quickes.co. uk).
Of course, a great many folk love a tipple at Christmas and a range of drinks producers across the South West are ready to oblige, making the matter of choice easier by putting together hampers filled with their wares.
Wine and cheese is always a favourite and the Sandridge
Barton Showcase Hamper (£150) offers the perfect gift for those who love the combination. It features the vineyard’s best-selling wines alongside fantastic local Devon delights, all packaged in a classic wicker hamper. The vineyard’s Christmas range also includes a Red Wine & Cheese Gift Box (£40), a Cheese Lover’s Gift Box (£45) and a Wine Lover’s Gift Box (£85) (sandridgebarton.com).
Those clever folk at the Salcombe Distilling Co say there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than to indulge in one of their new luxury hampers.
Each stylish wicker hamper comes with a full-size bottle of Salcombe Gin, branded copper tongs, two engraved gin glasses, eight 150ml Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water cans and a Salcombe Gin jute bag. Available in a choice of three exceptional gins, Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’, Salcombe Gin ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’ and Salcombe Gin Voyager Series ‘Daring’. There’s also a special hamper featuring Salcombe Distilling Co’s zero-alcohol gins, known as New London Light (www.salcombedistilling.com)
Meanwhile, beer-lovers will be looking in the direction of Salcombe Brewery’s Christmas hamper – a box full of ales, snacks and treats from Salcombe Brewery Co and friends. There’s a range of options to choose from, starting at just £19.99 (salcombebrewery. com).
For cider-lovers, the Sandford Orchards’ Pub in a Box provides a superb gift for those who love the Westcountry’s traditional drink. It contains a selection of the company’s delicious ciders and branded merchandise as well as some tasty treats.
The hamper contains 500ml bottles of Devon Mist, Shaky Bridge, Fanny’s Bramble and a 440ml can of Devon Red as well as Burts Crisps , pork scratchings, Burts Popcorn, a Sandford Orchards pint glass, bottle opener and some beer mats (RRP £22.05 from sandfordorchards.co.uk).