Looking to do something different this Christmas? Maybe you're looking for something different to feature on your table and wow your guests with! Christmas is really a time, where we tend to overindulge just a little bit! We want the best food and we want a lot of it! And there's nothing I love better than finding new festive favourites to decorate my table with! Here's my top picks for the season...
1. Douglas Fir
It's one of the season’s niche ingredients. It’s popping up in all the trendiest places: Fred Clapperton at The Clock House, Ripley is currently serving Douglas Fir Fudge with coffee after meals. It’s such a hit with customers that he is now sharing the recipe. If you are keen to make it, just pop down to the restaurant (Wed-Sat) and they’ll give you the recipe and a portion of the needles, free of charge.
2. A Latin Christmas
How about some exotic flavours with your Christmas cheer? Las Iguanas in Kingston and Woking is serving up a four-course menu full of Latin American flavours on Christmas Day. Yes, there’s turkey for those who want it but also Argentinean Beef Fillet Empanada with serrano ham in golden pastry, or Seco de Cordero; Peruvian-style slow-cooked lamb shank to name but two. Veggies are well catered for, as are children. What’s more, it’s happy hour all afternoon!
Lasiguanas.co.uk - booking essential. Three courses, £49.95. Includes nibbles, a glass of Cava or bottle of beer
3. Coquitos
Every year, I try out a different cocktail on Christmas day. Last year, it was Bourbon Sours. This year, it’ll be Coquitos, a Puerto Rican version of Egg Nog that’s typically served during Christmas. There’s no egg (so it’s vegan-friendly) and lashings of coconut, rum, cinnamon and other seasonal spices. There are lots of recipes on the internet but I’ll be using the one listed here.
4. Orange Viennetta
Retro desserts are de rigeur this year. Leading the way has to be this limited edition Chocolate and Orange Viennetta, on sale at Asda for just £1. But be quick!
5. Profiter'coals
Waitrose & Partners always excel at Christmas. This year, juniper and bitter orange flavours take the fore in the Waitrose 1 range, while the partnership with Heston Blumenthal continues to bear delicious fruit. Just look at these show-stopping Profiter' coals – black profiterole ‘coals’ with a flame-coloured mandarin orange crème pâtissière then scattered with crackling popping candy to give the magical illusion of glowing embers.
Visit: waitrose.com - priced at £13
Shop Local
There’s plenty of great produce to be had at these local Christmas Fairs and Farmers’ Markets. Here are the dates to save:
- Garson’s of Esher Christmas Food Market: Nov 23-24
- Weybridge Christmas Market: Dec 4
- Haslemere Christmas Market: Dec 5
- Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre: Dec 3-5
- Farnham Christmas Market: Nov 24-25
- Milford (Secretts Farm Shop): Nov 18
- Guildford Christmas Farmers Market: Dec 7