Some say Christmas is a time for tradition. But when it comes to your festive food, there's no better time to experiment with something different all whilst supporting your local suppliers. Catherine Whyte explores what's on offer in the Surrey area.
Christmas cake
Velvet Fig in Dorking makes cakes to die for – just a cursory glance at the website is enough to make those taste buds tingle. Owner Emma’s core products for the season are the Christmas cakes (prices from £30), gingerbread men and ‘stars in jars’. In addition, gingerbread houses and wreaths can be made bespoke (from £25 each).
See Velvet Fig's full selection here.
After dinner chocolates
Fancy something sweet for after dinner?
How about this Around The World selection? These single origin Miniature Christmas Trees from Urban Village Chocolates are both tasty and a conversation starter.
Priced from £11.95. Buy from Bentalls, Kingston or online here.
Turkey
Bramble Farm – a third generation turkey farm in West Horsley – is one of the best places to bag your bird. Turkeys are free range and fed on GM free feed. Prices this year start from £11.50 per kg. Turkey crowns, rolls and breast rolls also available. Beware: get your order in quickly as turkeys are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Collection is from the farm on Shere Road, West Horsley:
Either call: 01483 282548 or visit their website.
Beer
Liquid delicatessen Real Ale in Twickenham, stocks some great beer packages such as the pictured Winter Variety case (£40) and the seasonal 12 Craft Beers of Christmas case, which includes tasting notes (£39.95), as wellas tipples such as Black Christmas, a stout by Ealing’s Weird Beard brewery.
Visit their website for more information.
Cheese
Christmas without a cheeseboard is like Easter without the chocolate. I’d recommend laying your hands on a Best of British cheese box from the ever-excellent Partisan Cheesemongers in Guildford. It comprises four superlative cheeses from the world-beating Tunworth Camembert (named the best in the world by Raymond Blanc) to the firm, strong Old Winchester. Cost: £29.
Visit their website to place an order.
Fizz
Stock up on Christmas fizz with a Sparkling Package from Denbies. At £142.95, you’ll get two bottles of the award-winning Greenfields NV, two Sparkling Rosé as well as a bottle of Whitedowns and Demi-Sec (both excellent aperitif wines). Price includes delivery.
Visit their website for more information.
