Charlotte's Festive Food & Drink Guide

My absolute favourite products for this year's festive season

Pepys Cottage Garden Wreath

In preparation for the festive season, I am very pleased to share a selection of my absolute favourite products which I am delighted to recommend to you for the season.

You'll find my food and drink recommendations grouped into categories to make it easier to use for reference.

But first, I wanted to share the details of these gorgeous handmade wreaths (photographed) from my friend of 20 years, Lizzie, who grew the flowers used in them in her Cambridgeshire cutting garden. They’re designed to dry and be reused and a sizeable donation will be made to Cambridgeshire Children’s Hospital from each purchase.

And here are my favourite festive treats…

Meat

• Turkey - from KellyBronze in Essex

• Ham - I think the very best are from DukesHill

• Beef and goose - from Pipers Farm

• Lamb - from Dolwen (do try the hogget too - it’s sensational)

• Pork - from Redhill Farm in Lincolnshire (the shoulder is sublime)

• Chicken from Seaview Farm or Creedy Carver

Salmon and trout

• For the very best smoked wild salmon, it has to be Woodcock Smokery

• I like Ullapool Smokehouse salmon

• For those who prefer trout, Chalk Stream in Hampshire is excellent

Ingredients

• Stocks from Ossa are fantastic

• Cranberry jelly from KellyBronze

• Horseradish and Mustard from Tracklements

• To glaze your ham, try Irish Black Butter

• Rapeseed oil from Broighter Gold

Sweet treats

• For mince pies, put them on your Dukeshill order. They are fantastic.

• For Christmas cake, the best I’ve tried have been from Fortnum & Mason.

• Panettone is my preferred option over Christmas cake. Saclà have an outstanding selection, including my favourites: Sal de Riso and Cipriani.

• Whilst you’re there, you’ll find some stunning chocolates, including my absolute favourite, the D. Barbero Giandujotto, Gianduja and hazelnut nougat and chocolate and rum torrone. Perfect for presents or to wheel out after dinner. If you like to have some naughty sweets around, these fruit jellies will be loved by all.

Snacks

• These Tarallini are so good with a drink, as are these Picos, which are excellent with a sherry.

• If you like crisps, try Two Farmers, Bonilla a la Vista, Torres and Sarriegui.

• I am a fan of Perelló olives. They’re useful to have to hand. Try this twist on them too - it’s SO good.

Non-alcoholic drinks

• Salcombe Distilling Co. makes excellent spirits, but their NLL is a great discovery.

• Botivo is a great option for a herbal, bittersweet aperitif.

Spirits

• Two Stacks whiskey is great. Have a look at their charming Dram in a Can for grown up stocking fillers. However, the Double Irish Cream Liqueur is absolutely sensational. A must for any Irish Cream lovers.

• Killowen Gloria Coffee Liqueur is a wonderful discovery.

• Paula McIntyre’s Blackcurrant and honey rum is absolutely amazing and will surprise and delight your guests.

• Cipriani Amaro 7 Parti is wonderful for serving after dinner.

• If you like limoncello, try this Limoncello di Capri and the Limoncello Verde di Capri for something special.

• And if you have a party planned, Cocktail Keg Co. produce a range of excellent pre-mixed cocktails.

Wine & Sherry

Here are some supermarket selections, so they’re easy to find:

Asda

• Extra Special Crémant d'Alsace

• Louvel Fontaine Vintage Champagne

• Extra Special Touraine

• Masso Negroamaro

Booths

• González Byass Matusalem Cream Sherry

• Rathfinny Classic Cuvée Brut

• E.H. Booth & Co. range of wines are of a very high standard.

• And if you’re in the market to buy some craft beer, they have some great Cumbria and Lancashire selection boxes.

Waitrose

• González Byass Palo Cortado

• Harvey’s 12 year old Pedro Ximenez

• Solear Barbadillo Manzanilla

• Lustau East India Oloroso

Hampers

These hampers make such lovely gifts, or to stock up for the festive period

• The Beirut Box from Lebani is a beautifully presented, thoughtful hamper that might offer something a little different. I am enjoying one for myself.

• Burren Balsamics in Northern Ireland have a lovely range of ingredients and treats which should delight recipients, no matter what their tastes.

• The Honey and Co hampers have an interesting and useful selection of ingredients and treats to enjoy.

I hope you might find some useful ideas from this selection to enjoy this year. Please let me know if you do try and enjoy anything from the list. Thanks so much for reading, and subscribing.

With my best wishes,

Charlotte