Food & Drink: Best Christmas Food

BY PALOMA LACY

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the humble mince pie and this year it’s party hats off to Tesco for their efforts for the Finest mince pies – six buttery pastry pies, deep filled with moist and juicy fruits steeped in brandy and port.

They’re so good that they even have the thumbs up from the Good Housekeeping Institute, and best of all they’re just £2 a box.

Tesco has come up with all sorts of festive treats, from the traditional puddings, orange liqueur and chocolate panettone, mince pie cookies. On the savoury side, camembert with rosemary crisps, perfect with drinks. All available from Tesco.

Silent Pool Distillers have come together with Coln Valley Smokehouse, one of England’s last traditional smokehouses, to create a gin infused smoked salmon. Combining their award-winning Silent Pool Gin with salmon from the cold waters of the North Atlantic, they have created a very special culinary experience. Crafted to accentuate the Kaffir lime and juniper berry within the gin, this salmon is bursting with unique flavour.
Price: £12.50 for 200g. www.silentpooldistillers.com

Chocolatier Thorntons (main pic) has introduced the fantastically fun Cheeky Elf (RRP £6, Thorntons) this season. Made from deliciously smooth milk chocolate, finished with intricate detailing, it can also be personalised with a name of your choice. Perfect for leaving under the tree for those who have caused a little mischief in 2018.

They also have their cute Jolly Reindeer and SnowmanTM Models. They also have a delicious range of selection boxes and sumptuous slabs, perfect as a Secret Santa, stocking filler or simply sharing with friends around the Christmas dinner table.
www.thorntons.co.uk

Vegans can rejoice this Christmas as artisan pudding maker LillyPuds has launched its brand new Vegan Christmas pudding. Developed in response to the growing demand for vegan-friendly alternatives, LillyPuds’ new pudding means that no one has to miss out on dessert this Christmas. Light, delicious and packed full of the finest, hand-selected ingredients, the new vegan pudding is the real deal.

In fact, pudding fans would be hard pushed to tell the difference between the traditional and vegan versions of this classic Christmas pudding. And, it’s also gluten free.

Just like you’d make at home, LillyPuds are lovingly-created using carefully selected ingredients that are mixed in small batches and traditionally steamed to produce a delicious dessert to complement any Christmas meal.

LillyPuds’ Vegan pudding is made using selected vine fruits, gluten free Chockwork Orange Beer, ginger, ground almonds, apple and spices and is available as a 454g pudding.

It’s a satisfyingly fruity end to the festive feast. RRP: £12.49.

For more information visit www.lillypuds.co.uk