Our pick of the best food and drink hampers for festive feasting and decadent gifts this season
By Helen Brown
Our pick of the best Christmas hampers
After Party Hamper: Harvey Nichols
With rich reds from the renowned Barossa Valley in Australia, sweet and savoury snacks – including biscuits made from an old family recipe – plus Christmas coffee and handmade brandy butter, this special selection is only to be shared with the few friends that last out the evening when the after party fun begins.
£250; harveynichols.com
30 Years Basket Tapas Time: Brindisa
Graze your way through the flavours of Spain with the Brindisa 30 Years Basket. This hamper delivers a wide range of wonderful savoury Spanish foods including a classic Manchego, acorn-fed ham, fish, olives and almonds. Also included is a decadent selection of sweet treats and fine wines.
£150; brindisa.com
A Taste of Italy Gift Box: River Cafe
This year the River Café have curated three vibrant gift boxes stuffed to the brim with the finest Italian ingredients, wines and luxury kitchen accessories. River Café Olive Oil, Paolo Petrilli Tomatoes, Ortiz anchovies, Wild Oregano, Amadei Chocolate and Volcano Coffee are some of the items from the medium box, while the larger has an additional Alessi cheese grater and citrus juicer, fine linen napkins, River Café apron and more. The Sommelier Selection Wine Box is an ideal gift for patrons of fine wines with a selection of luxury Champagnes, rich reds and dynamic whites.
From £250; to purchase a box email [email protected] or call 0207 386 4250; rivercafe.co.uk
Decadent Dining: Convent Garden
The Covent Garden Dining Edit is the ultimate in gourmet dining, featuring the most sought-after food and drink, plus dining experiences at some of London’s most popular new restaurants. Highlights include Murano glass champagne flutes and Prosecco from Petersham Nurseries, Ladurée macarons, Italian wines from Vini Italiani and Godiva chocolates. Your foodie friend will also get dinner at SUSHISamba’s new restaurant, Frenchie’s 5-course tasting menu and afternoon tea for two at Balthazar London.
£3,000; conventgarden.london
East Meets West Simple Hamper: Ottolenghi
It’s been an exciting year for Ottolenghi with the launch of his latest cookbook but there’s no let-up for Christmas. New to his culinary gifting range is the SIMPLE cookbook hamper, an exotic box of Ottolenghi staples like sumac, Palestinian za’atar and Urfa chilli flakes, along with a signed copy of SIMPLE. The Italian Christmas hamper is another new addition, beautifully packaged and containing the new savoury fig and pistachio biscotti.
From £40; ottolenghi.co.uk
Top Quality Italian Favourites: Cafe Murano
Angela Hartnett and her team at Cafe Murano have compiled a selection of festive hampers from their favourite luxury store cupboard ingredients. Each hamper is made up with quality Italian products sourced from a variety of regions such as olive oils, anchovies, pasta and sweet treats, plus Angela’s own wines. The gifting range includes the Cafe Murano Hamper, a Pasta Lovers hamper and both Piccante (spicy) and Dolce (sweet) options.
Prices start from £25 and can also be created bespoke; cafemurano.co.uk
