Here are a few of the food or cooking-related goodies I already love or would happily receive this year. With 8 days of giving, you've still got time to buy them for the foodie in your life:
Ion 8 water bottle:
These days no one walks around without a drinking vessel - whether insulated coffee cup or water bottle. With pressure to drink those litres, mine is almost surgically attached. My former bessie bottle was the Joseph Dot, which told me how much I'd drunk - so long as I remembered to twist the top with every refill. I still love it, but my head has been turned by a new bottle.
It's pretty in pink; easy to hold and never (but never) leaks, due to the super safe lid. A scale on the side tells me how many mls it holds and still looks clean and shiny. Best water bottle ever. £10.99 here.
Copper stone frying pans:
I don't fry much, but when I do (especially over the next 8 days) I need a good non-stick pan, so I can use less oil. I wasn't expecting to like these pans as much as I did, but they are fantastic. Everything I've cooked in them hasn't touched them, from onions to omelettes. They even work on my induction hob. I just need somewhere to store them! The only con is the wood-look handle, which stops me being able to chuck them in the oven when something needs finishing off in there.
Panzer's hamper:
I could spend hours in Panzers, especially now you can also be fed and watered there. So, to be given a whole hamper of gourmet goodies is the stuff that (my) dreams are made of. Pick what you want from goodies like smoked salmon, fine wine, olive oil, bagels, sweet treats and cheese. The one above costs £75, but I'm told there is no minimum spend and you can collect or have even have it delivered - within certain postcodes. More details from 0207 722 8162.
Celebrate Every Day - Denise Phillips cook book for Chai Cancer Care:
Give while you're getting. This lovely cookbook from Denise Phillips is packed with yummy recipes and created in order to raise funds for an amazing charity. Well worth adding to your collection.
Divine Giant Chocolate coin:
While we're in the giving mood, why not make sure the Chanukah gelt is not quite so guilty. Fair-trade farmer-owned chocolate company, Divine, has come up with a giant coin. With fair prices paid for the cocoa to the farmers who get a share of their profits, you can feel good about giving and getting this huge lump of choc.
Doughnuts:
Chanukah is not complete without doughnuts. And in my view, the best doughnuts in town are from Karma Bread in Hampstead's South End Green. The wonderful Tami Isaacs Pearce makes them each year in different flavours. This year's are available in Strawberry Jam; Custard Cream; Salted Caramel Cream and Honey and Tehina flavours. £2.20 each.
Happy Chanukah - I hope it's delicious.
