CHECKOUT (Christmas edition – December 2012)
FOR… CHARITY
The John Lewis Montezuma Save The Children Chocolate Heart
The John Lewis Chocolate Heart £5, is doing their bit for Save The Children, by donating 100% of the sale price, to help some of the UK’s poorest children. Click here to buy or available in store.
FOR… TRADITIONALISTS
Nestle My Purple Potz ice cream
For fans of Quality Street Purple Ones, Nestlé has launched a brand new limited edition Quality Street® My Purple Potz, soft chocolate ice cream, fused with hazelnut pieces, swirls of caramel and topped with chopped hazelnuts. £1.39 for 160ml.
FOR… BEER LOVERS
Otley Real Beer
Customers who buy an Otley Real Beer Box are in with the chance to win a Golden ticket to brew their own blend beer at the brewery. The prize allows the winner to spend a day at the Otley Brewery and work alongside the master brewer to create their own blend of beer. A box costs between £30-£50. Click here to buy.
FOR… THE FOOD LOVER WHO HAS EVERYTHING
The Wasabi Company
This is the first time the Japanese delicacy has been grown anywhere in the UK. The rhizomes come wrapped in muslin and encased in a box, with a specially designed wasabi grater and bamboo brush. It has already found popularity with chefs such as Michel Roux Jr and is currently used in kitchens including Le Gavroche, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and The Ledbury. Prices start at around £15 for a rhizome big enough to feed six people, stored properly rhizomes will keep for up to 2 weeks. Click here to buy.
FOR… SIN-FREE CHOCOLATE ORANGE
CO YO
Something that is 100% dairy, lactose, sugar and gluten free, is suitable for vegans, has no preservatives or additives sounds like hell on earth. Co YO is all these things but doesn’t taste like it, really thick and filling also. There’s a limited edition Christmas chocolate orange flavour, and it only contains 150 calories. Available from London Selfridges, all Planet Organic stores and all Whole Foods stores in single-serving 125g pots only, priced at £1.99
FOR… CHRISTMAS DAY BREAKFAST
Dorset Cereals Proper Gingerbread Porridge
Start the day with a steaming bowl of jumbo oats, creamy barley, and gingerbread pieces. Ideal for lining the stomach for what’s to come… Our new favourite breakfast. RRP £2.49 for 10 sachets from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Co-op.
FOR… THE BEST CHRISTMAS MENU
Dishoom
www.dishoom.com/christmas-feasts
The main thing we look forward to at Christmas is the Dishoom menu, spiced mulled wine, Chai Egg Nog, Turkey Raan – cooked slowly over a day until meltingly tender, served with a spicy cranberry chutney. And of course mince pies with spiced custard… Click here for our review from last year. Several menus to choose from, served up until 23 December.
Dishoom Covent Garden: 12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane London WC2H 9FB
Dishoom Shoreditch: 7 Boundary Street, London E2 7JE
FOR… THE MORNING AFTER
Sea Island Coffee
Winner of five gold stars at the Great Taste Awards for three years running, Knightsbridge-based Sea Island Coffee, importers and retailers of gourmet coffees. Sourced from some of the finest and exclusive coffee growing regions in the world including the Pacific, Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America, has a new range of exotic and rare blends such Elephant Mountain, Thailand. Click here to buy.
FOR… GIRLY GIRLS
Gourmet Gadgetry Candy Floss Maker
I am not a girly girl, but this is what I have always wanted, although would no doubt only use once or twice. What a cool readily available sofa snack to have. It’s easy to clean, with a detachable dishwasher proof bowl and splash guard. £29.99, click here to buy.
FOR…WINE LOVERS
Champagne Cork Cooler
These very cool coolers are 100% waterproof with Grand Vin de Champagne printed on the base. This cork-based site even sells tables made of cork. Click here to buy.
FOR... LIVENING UP CHAMPAGNE
Stone’s Ginger Wine
An alternative drink for the festive season, great for livening up champagne or creating cocktails. Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a chilled flute, pour Stone’s Ginger Wine over, and then top with champagne. Alternatively, add a dash (1/4 tsp) of grenadine and shake with Stone’s Ginger Wine before pouring into a chilled flute and topping with champagne. Available across all major supermarkets, retailers and pubs. RRP £5.49
FOR… BIG KIDS
Swizzels Squashies
www.swizzels-matlow.com/squashies
A new range that sees our favourite brands, Drumsticks, Refreshers, Love Hearts and Double Lollies, transformed into a squashy gum. Available nationwide from retailers including; Asda, Sainsbury’s and Co-Co-op RRP £1.49 for a 160g bag, RRP 45p for a 45g mini packet.
FOR… GIN LOVERS
Gordon’s Ten Green Bottles Gin
www.gordons-gin.co.uk/conran/ten-green-bottles
The Ten Green Bottles collection is the result of a collaboration between two iconic and very British brands. The Conran team have created ten quintessentially British reinventions of the iconic green bottle. Only available at Selfridges, limited availability.
FOR… SOMETHING FRENCH
Maille gift sets
Maille, the makers of classic Dijon and wholegrain mustards have a new gift range, including this Herb Pot Set (RRP £20.00):two vintage ceramic mustard pots with cork lids, basil and parsley sachets with wooden herb tags and a jar of Maille Dijon Originale mustard in a wooden pot stand. The sets are available exclusively from John Lewis priced from £10.00 to £25.00.
FOR… A LOW FAT (ish) TREAT
Chillbox at Brixton Market
www.facebook.com/ChillboxBrixton
Specially created seasonal toppings available over Christmas only, at Chillbox, the Greek frozen yoghurt store at Brixton Market. Including luxury mince pie, mulled wine sauce and real 23ct gold sprinkles. A standard size Chillbox is £3.75 with an extra two toppings. The 23ct gold topping is charged as an extra cost and not included in the standard topping price.
14 Market Row, Brixton Market, SW9 8LD
Pingback: Even More Great Coffee Reviews, This Time From We Love Food. / Sea Island Coffee