I didn’t manage a crimbo gift guide last year, perhaps because I was feeling a little bah humbug. This year, things are rosy and bright and I’m already looking forward to the festive season. Banish all thoughts of a ‘Mexican food gift set’, ‘magazine subscription’ or ‘cheese plate with knives’, and start thinking outside the (themed gift) box:

Days out and treats:

A cookery class at The Woodspeen, Newbury, Berkshire. Having recently attended their ‘Chef in the cupboard’ course, I could not rate The Woodspeen Cookery School any more highly if I tried. I’ve been on several cookery classes in my time as a blogger and this one, run by Michelin starred chef John Campbell and his team, is by far and away the best I’ve tried. For people in the South of England, this is a GREAT Christmas gift idea. Classes start at £95pp and there is a whole range to choose from including seasonal, bread, butchery and steak!

The Woodspeen cookery school near newbury

Make your own gin at 45 West Distillery, Loughborough, Leicestershire. For the gin lover in your life! Spend the evening learning about the history of gin from master distiller Jamie Baxter, the man behind Burleigh’s Gin before going on to create your own unique bottle of gin to take home. This is such a great experience and costs £95pp. Read about mine here.

 

Things to eat:

The ultimate bacon sandwich kit: Who doesn’t love a bacon sarnie? For £30, this gift box from Ross and Ross is very cool. It includes curing kits for three types of bacon plus some lovely artisan sauces to cover all tastes. When it comes to home curing, these guys are the best there is.
Ross & Ross bacon kit

Cake Slice Club – cake in the post!! Need I say more? I found this on one of my fave shopping websites – not on the high street. They have other subscription gifts too but this one just piqued my interest and I’m sure a lot of other people will agree.

Gadgets, Pots & Pans:

I saw a retro Wall Clock & Timer similar to this one a couple of weeks back at my Aunts house. The 1950’s almost Fall Out Four styling is so on trend right now and I love the combo of the clock and the timer. A bargain too at less than £20 and loads of options and colours on Amazon to choose from.

Wall clock and timer

Kuhn Rikon Resist Star Non-Stick Frying Pan with Detachable HandleMaybe this isn’t the most exciting of Christmas gifts but at under £50, it’s certainly long lasting & practical. I have one of these and I love it – it’s scratched up and old but still keeps going. The detachable handle is perfect for hob to oven cooking. There are cheaper ones around but it’s Christmas – splash that cash!

Frying pan for Christmas gifts

Things to read: 

Two of the newest cookbooks around and both written by well-known faces and with a hearty wintery theme. The Hairy Bikers Meat Feasts and Rachel Allen’s Coast: Recipes from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way are well worth a purchase. I already own the Hairy Bikers book and it looks great. The Rachel Allen one is in the post and hopefully, I’ll have it by Monday. I am confident to suggest these as I own several books already by both these chefs and find their photography great and recipes easy to follow.



Do you have any cracking ideas for foodie themed Christmas gifts? Please do share them with me, I still have lots of shopping left to do!

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