Advent Calendars with a tasty treat
BY PALOMA LACY
Advent calendars are pretty much a must for the whole family. Just five days until the daily door opening begins as a countdown to Christmas.
Here’s our pick of the best so no one is left out.
New teas, and 24 days of Tea Pigs allows tea lovers to slurp their way through a new blend every morning in the run up to the big day.
Includes a particularly festive Christmas Eve treat. It’s the perfect advent calendar to keep you going through winter.
Tea Pigs RRP: £20. www.teapigs.co.uk
Boutique-y Gin Company and Drinks By The Dram have joined festive forces to bring you 24 drams of delicious-y gin discovery.
To make that transition from chocolate a tad easier, there’s a festive chocolate orange gin.
RRP: £49.95. www.masterofmalt.com
Those keen non-chocolate options for kids will love Disney Princess 12 Days of Royal Surprises Bath and Beauty Advent Calendar.
It includes bath fizzers magically change the colour of the bath water and so many more luxurious products.
RRP: £15 from Boots.
Skinny Bars is back with an advent calendar to save us from ourselves.
Packed with full size treats that are less than 99 calories, making daily indulgence guilt-free, flavours include Rocky Road, Chocolate Orange and Dark Chocolate and Mint.
RRP: £10. www.skinnybars.co.uk.
Favourite Greenwich fishmonger Julian Pryke has opened a new pop-up fresh fish shop – Pryke’s inside GG Sparkes Butchers, at Blackheath Standard.
Specialising in sustainable British seafood, it’s open Thursday to Saturday, 9am until 4pm.
Mr Pryke, who is the Guinness World Records holder for gutting the most mackerel in an hour, is already enjoying serving the community.
He said: “Pryke’s focuses on the highest quality seafood at a competitive price.
Pop-in and see us for great seafood and as much advice as you need for the perfect fish for Christmas and the New Year.”
The shop is at 24 Old Dover Road, SE3 7BT or request local delivery via email: julian@prykes.co.uk
Boxpark Croydon recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and continues to grow from strength to strength.
Big Mike’s Calypso Kitchen has launched its Big Mike’s @Home boxes just in time for Barbados Independence Day on November 30.
Lovers of Bajan food can order “a small taste of Barbados, big taste of the Caribbean” to the door within 48 hours.
Big Mike has compiled a menu of his biggest sellers, including filled rotis, sweet bread and fish cakes.
@HomeRange (bigmikesck.com)
Lower fat doughnut may seem the stuff of dreams but Urban Legend has made it a reality.
The ring doughnuts are 160 calories because they are steamed, not fried.
The brand is turning the tide on sugar and fat, using natural ingredients found in melons, pears, roots and leaves as alternatives to sugar, with doughnut steamed.
The bold colours are taken from plant and vegetable extracts – purple from beetroot, yellow from safflower.
Every product is free from artificial preservatives, colours or flavour.
The Brighton-based company moved into Boxpark Croydon and Clapham Junction a few weeks ago.
The range includes classic Glazy Days; light and fluffy doughnut dipped in vanilla bean icing.
Next up is Berry Unbelievable, ripe blackberries and raspberries, dark chocolate cookie crumble which almost looks too nice to eat.
Fools Gold, has caramel icing sprinkled with caramel crunch and golden nuggets that glitters.
One iced doughnut is £1.95, purchase and make your friends jealous or opt for a box of three (£5.65), six (£9.95), or 12 (£14.95) to share.
The Cronx Boutique has returned to showcase creative talent, providing an alternative festive to shopping experience for Croydoners and out of towners alike.
Based at Caithness Walk, next to East Croydon railway station, it’s the brainchild of three local brands.
The Croydon Photographer, East Croydon Cool and Johnny Howl Club have created community-inspired artwork and merchandise to enhance local pride.
Open from noon-8pm, Tuesday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm.
It’s also a chance for food talent to shine, using Cronx Boutique as a central pick-up point for popular bakeries on the following weeks – Chatsworth Bakehouse on November 30, Laborjee on December 2 and Dear Friend Bakery on December 9.