The Makers at Christmas: food!
Have a glorious Christmas
Ultimate Christmas hamper by Bunch Catering (last order date tomorrow, 11th December!)
It’s Christmas!
This has been the issue I’ve been looking forward to writing about the most. I love food. Alongside jewellery making, cooking (and eating) is my favourite past time. I especially love Christmas food, we start on the mince pies pretty early (think it was September this year?) and I always make my own Christmas puddings.
I also love special editions at Christmas, giving foodie gifts and obviously receiving them. This year is especially good for this gift guide, as many food businesses have moved to delivery to get them through the trials of Covid. Silver linings?
This guide is a mixture of food gifts and treats for Christmas day itself. I’ve also included some cookbooks for gifting and inspiration.
Sweet treats
A pretty fail-safe gift for most people, these gifts are good for the tricky to buy for as well. I’ve been a subscriber to The Cake Tasting Club all year and it’s best the best treat during the lockdowns. I’ve seen lots more artisan chocolate makers around, so lots of options if you want to give the usuals a swerve. These bonbons by La Petite Maison are so beautiful, they recently shared a video of how they're made and so much work and attention to detail is needed to make them.
Cake subscription by The Cake Tasting Club (I have one of these and it’s THE BEST)
Hot chocolate bon bons by La Petite Maison
Festive gingerbread tin by All Day Cake
Sticky toffee puff dough balls by Puff Puff Ministry (a traditional Nigerian treat)
A Christmas tipple…
Something for everyone here! A fabulous hot chocolate making kit for kids and grown ups. Coffee for the morning after, soft drinks for the non-drinkers and gin for those who do.
Hot chocolate kit by Dark Sugars
Girls Who Grind Coffee - all-female roastery sourcing coffee from female growers
Posh pop collection by Breckland Orchard
Cambridge Gin Trio by Cambridge Distillery
The big day
Here’s some fabulous treats to pep up your Christmas dinner! The chocolate crackers are my favourite, who wants a rubbish plastic toy and a dad joke anyway?
Pick your own preserves set by Green Kitchen Preserves
Chocolate Christmas crackers by Langley’s
Christmas cocktails by Hoxton & Grey
Christmas pudding by The Pudding Stop
Books about food
For the food lover in your life, for some extra Christmas meal ideas, and just because. These are some lovely books (and a zine!) I’ve spotted lately that would be wonderful gifts for cooks and bakers.
Lunch - an illustrated zine! by Heidi M Illustration
A New Way to Cake by Benjamina Ebuehi
Recipes to Remember by Maggie’s cancer support charity
Supporting your local producers
All of the gifts featured offer nationwide UK delivery, but it goes without saying that I’d love it if you supported your local producers too. Buying your Christmas meat, veg, cheeses, booze and sweet treats from local producers means you’ll have the very best for the big day.
Big Barn is a fantastic place to find local producers, shops and products.
Farmdrop have recently widened their delivery zones.
Riverford source fruit and veg from farms local to you, and deliver to your door!
Your local markets also will have fruit and veg on offer, and other treats for the Christmas table. Do check their Christmas dates so you can have the fresh produce.
I hope I’ve been able to whet your appetite for Christmas, and you’ll be able to have a few local treats on your table this year.
Thanks so much for reading! I’d love it if you shared this newsletter with your friends, so we can all support makers. For updates on my handmade jewellery follow me on Instagram too (last order date is the 11th of December!)
Deepa x