The season of giving is upon us, and our lifestyle editor, Alexandra Dudley rounds up her top picks of the best Christmas hampers for 2021. From honey glazed ham and fruity mince pies to the best champagne, take your pick from the most luxurious hampers to send and receive.
Claridge’s
London classic and legendary Mayfair hotel, Claridge’s are experts when it comes to most things. This year’s Christmas gift collection shines, in true Claridge’s style, with decadence and sophistication. Filled festive delights selected from their prestigious kitchens and bars by Executive Chef Martyn Nail, their hampers are available in a range of styles and sizes, including The Breakfast Edition and The Cocktail Edition, which includes a copy of the much awaited Claridge’s Cocktail book. Within their most luxurious hamper, The Mayfair Hamper, one can enjoy the likes of Claridge’s home-made preserves, the Claridge’s classic Christmas cake, Claridge’s champagne truffles and chocolate coated hazelnuts, Claridge’s shortbread and petticoat tail biscuits, as well as a selection of Laurent Perrier champagne and the Claridge’s aged negroni. From £100 https://shop.claridges.co.uk/
Ottolenghi
In signature Ottolenghi style, flavour has been of utmost concern in curating this year’s festive range. Abundantly filled with baked goods lovingly made in house, hamper highlights include pecan snowballs, Brunsli stars, chilli and coriander chutney, raspberry and morello cherry jam, rosemary spiced nuts and Ottolenghi Christmas cake. The hampers come in three different sizes, catering for budgets of all appetites. In-store, the Ottolenghi team have been busy baking a collection of sumptuous edible gifts too, doubling up as excellent stocking fillers. Brand new soft pistachio amaretti and chocolate orange sables join returning favourites of strawberry woodland meringues, soft gingerbread tuiles with rum butter cream, Christmas shortbread snowflakes and tahini linzers. Hampers ranging from £50 – £280 ottolenghi.co.uk
Made In Oldstead by Tommy Banks
World renowned Yorkshire-based chef Tommy Banks, who is behind two Michelin-starred restaurants, The Black Swan in Oldstead and Roots in York, has curated a collection of luxury food boxes, hampers and treats just in time for Christmas. For an Oldstead twist on the Italian classic, his Sour Cherry Panettone Gift set combines the flavours of sweet, aromatic plum kernels with sour cherries and white chocolate. Each sumptuous panettone comes with a selection of Oldstead preserves such as Lemon Verbena Rosemary Curd, Damson Jam and Spiced Plum Jam. For the ultimate festive indulgence, the Oldstead Ultimate Festive Box includes a mouthwatering selection of Oldstead Yorkshire cured meats, smoked salmon, mustard glazed ham, pickled cornichons from The Black Swan garden, bourbon eggnog and marzipan Christmas cake, as well as a selection of local cheeses, Oldstead chutneys and house-baked sourdough. From £49.50 https://madeinoldstead.co.uk/
The River Café
Introducing The River Café’s celebratory Christmas Gift Boxes, owner Ruth Rogers says, “We want to bring The River Cafe to you.” The unique collection (available in a variety of sizes) captures the essence of this much-loved and iconic restaurant perfectly. Each one a unique combination of food and design. “Everything in the box has a sense of joy, from something delicious to eat to something beautiful to put on your table,” says Rogers. Boxes include the utmost premium Italian ingredients, synonymous with the River Café menu. Expect Pugliese San Marzano tomatoes, the exact ones The River Cafe chefs use; risotto rice and porcini, classic panettone and the first of the season’s extra-virgin olive oil, bottled exclusively for The River Café. Set the table with vibrant linen napkins and tea towels made by the Designers Guild exclusively for The River Café and hand-blown Venetian glasses from Carlo Moretti. The most exclusive gift in both the Large and International Boxes, is the limited-edition book The Making of a Gallery for Drawings at Château La Coste, telling the story of Richard Rogers’ project in 2020 for his friend Paddy McKillen at his winery in Provence. Hampers ranging from £295 – £600 www.shoptherivercafe.co.uk
Daylesford
Brimming with award-winning artisan food & drink from their Cotswold based organic farm, a Daylesford Christmas hamper is the perfect gift for those with an appetite for good food. Pull out all the stops and opt for their Colossal Christmas Hamper, filled with the ultimate collection of treats including; Oxfordshire honey, Seville orange marmalade, organic shortbread, a medley of condiments including hot pepper jelly, tomato chilli chutney and piccalilli, as well as their delicious Leoube, red, rosé and rosé sparkling wines by the magnum. For something more specific there is the Artisan Ham And Cheese Hamper, Truffle Lovers Hamper and new this Christmas, the Cocktail Party Hamper. From £75.00 https://www.daylesford.com/
Flourish and Rye
Working exclusively with small scale British producers, Flourish and Rye’s unique hampers celebrate some of the UK’s most skilled food artisans. With three hamper styles to choose from you can expect local delicacies such as London made morello cherry preserve, orange melt biscuits from Edinburgh, bottled negronis and rum old fashions from Marlow and nocellara olives from Cumbria. Between £64- £242 https://www.flourishandrye.co.uk/
Angela Hartnett
This year admired chef and restaurateur, Angela Hartnett, will launch her own range of hampers packed full with her favourite Italian ingredients. A welcome addition to the pasta lover’s kitchen, the Pasta Hamper is packed with a medley of produce to elevate your spaghetti suppers including Bread Tree pepperoncino chilli paste, La Micchia capers in sea salt, Rockfish Mounts Bay sardines in olive oil, Mutti peeled tomatoes and Angela’s very own Angela Hartnett olive oil. For those with a sweet tooth, the Sweet Hamper is a homage to traditional Italian indulgence and contains Barbero dark chocolate grissini from Piemonte, panforte Di Siena, pastry cigarrillos from an artisan bakery in Tolosa, Biscotti di Prato by Antonion Mattei, as well as classic Amaretti biscuits. Every item is hand-picked by Angela for the ultimate Italian inspired Christmas. Available from cafemurano.co.uk
Crowley’s of Suffolk
‘The only way to understand the quality of our food is to try it!’ says founder of Crowley’s of Suffolk, Tim Crowley. Focusing on the best home-grown produce from Suffolk, each hamper is expertly curated by Tim. Particularly delicious, is the Suffolk Ham which has been cured in Earl Soham beer for three weeks, smoked, skinned, covered in brown sugar and molasses and flash roasted. As well as local cheeses, meats, preserves and marmalade (which Tim recommends trying with a slice of ham), there are unique items such as smoked duck breast and garlic tapenade. A Crowley’s Christmas hamper is one of the best for any food loving family or friends. crowleysofsuffolk.com
The Newt
The countryside destination of the year, The Newt’s gardens, restaurant and exquisite hotel rooms created quite the buzz this past year. For those who haven’t yet managed to visit, they are offering a selection of festive hampers, git sets and groceries prepared by The Newt’s gardeners, chefs, bakers and cyder makers. From local cheese and house made pickles to apple crumble and hazelnut mince pies, and even a bread baking kit, the Newt have Christmas covered. Particularly marvelous, especially for those who haven’t managed to place their butcher order turkey yet, is The Christmas Day Lunch Hamper. Arriving straight to your door is a free-range bronze turkey, pigs in blankets, stuffing and sourdough bread sauce, as well as winter vegetables from the Estate, sweet treats and celebratory tipples. shop.thenewtinsomerset.com/uk/home
Spring To Go
Exquisitely crafted with produce grown on Heckfield’s Home Farm and biodynamic Fern Verrow farm, Skye Gyngells Spring-To-Go boxes are the ideal gift for those who find happiness in the kitchen. Wrapped in a VV Rouleaux velvet ribbon, the stylish boxes also contain delicious hand-made treats from Spring and will be packed full with the likes of pre-mixed negronis, salted almonds, seeded lavosh and more. pringrestaurant-shop.co.uk/collections/gift-box
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