The Christmas Carrot
There’s something about this time of year that calls for comfort and cosiness. Darkness descends and the armchair beckons with a good book and a plate of hot buttered crumpets for company. Winter is all about hunkering down – in truth, there’s no better time to succumb to a little of what you fancy. Whether feasting conjures up Dickens’ Ghost of Christmas Past presiding over a throne room of delights, a banquet at Hogwarts or a simple supper a deux, here are a few culinary treasures we’ve found to sprinkle an extra bit of magic this year.
A feast for the soul
Bringing together beautiful food writing and inspiration from beloved stories and classic works of fiction, Kate Young’s The Little Library Christmas (Head of Zeus, RRP £15) is a marriage made in culinary heaven of festive recipes with literary snippets. Sumptuous Turkish delight from the White Witch’s sleigh in C.S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, Great Gatsby ginger beer ham on brioche buns are a
Boxing Day must-have as well as edible gifts and a Scandi smorgasbord to satisfy those who prefer something a little lighter, The Little Library Christmas is the perfect comfort food in book form this winter. The best bookish nod has to be champagne cocktails inspired by the Christmas house party in Nancy Mitford’s Christmas Pudding. A delicious gift for foodies and booklovers alike.
A release from 2019 but a worthy mention - Nigel Slater’s Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter (Penguin Random House) is all about seasonal, vegetable led recipes which are fast and sustaining alongside the sort of soothing warmth which has seen Nigel claim his place as one of Britain’s beloved food writers. Nourishment for the body and soul once the chocolates and pigs in blankets have been snaffled.
The perfect loaf
Lockdown living has inspired many of us to get baking and you can’t go wrong with top tips from Borough Market’s finest bakers, Bread Ahead Bakery.
Taking their dough game online, founder Matthew Jones teaches an array of e-learning courses and live baking workshops designed to take your baking skills to the next level. Christmas bakes, the flakiest of croissants and to-die-for doughnuts (yes homemade doughnuts that are THAT good), there’s even a junior baking club to get the kids involved and a selection of Bread Ahead Bake sets which can be delivered straight to your door. Seriously good. Did we mention the doughnuts?
Get happy
Wondering where to start when it comes to prepping for Christmas? Penguin Random House’s The Happy Foodie shares everything from the best hot drinks to get cosy with to recipes and sage advice on how to serve up the ultimate in Christmas feasts from the likes of Nigella, Jamie Oliver and Dame Mary Berry. Sign up to their weekly newsletter to make for a happy inbox this Christmas.
Casting off
Stir the pot whilst listening to chef and food writer, Margie Nomura’s weekly podcast Desert Island Dishes. From best-loved childhood foods and memorable meals to recipes that have become family classics, Margie’s guests share their favourite dishes and chosen last supper before being cast off to their desert island. It’s an impressive dinner party guest list of chefs, food writers, actors, footballers, entrepreneurs and many more from the likes of Martha Ortiz, Jason Atherton, Joe Wicks and Georgina Hayden to name but a few. Stanley Tucci’s episode is a particular gem – his dulcet tones and reminiscences of his mother’s Italian cooking and filming Big Night are a real treat. Margie’s Fridge Forage on her Instagram Stories is legendary too.
The Christmas Carrot details a few veggie gifts for your friends and family, lets you know the contents of our Christmas Produce Box (full of all the festive delights you need for a cracking Christmas feast) as well as recipes from friends of Bellord and Brown and some of the wonderful producers we have met along our journey.
