The Spectator

The perfect Christmas hamper

The Spectator team pick the choicest ingredients from this year’s crop of festive baskets

issue 28 November 2015

Savoury

Rich olives salted à la Grecque with herbs Provence Waitrose family hamper: Not Provencal or Greek but Moroccan, these black Beldi olives, sprinkled with dried herbs, are plump, soft and not too salty. — Clare Asquith

Mini crocq salami bites Harrods Montpelier hamper: Little parcels of meaty joy to go with cheese and wine. A snack to gorge on. — Sebastian Payne

Parmesan, rosemary and chilli crackers Ottolenghi hamper: I’d eat a beer mat fried with Parmesan and chilli, and rose-mary gilds the lily. My mother-in-law would have scoffed the lot. If I hadn’t. — Sam Leith

Salami Fattoria La Vialla hamper: Salami can be so chewy you wonder what the meat is. But this is impeccable; succulent and not too peppery.
James Forsyth

Lizzy’s goat’s cheese Greys cheeses hamper: Cheeses by Lizzy adorn many a Spectator lunch. Her Valençay unpasteurised goats’ cheese is smooth and gooey.
Camilla Swift

Sugo di carne della Toscana and Calamari pasta Fattoria La Vialla hamper: The sauce is better than homemade, the pasta rugged and wholewheat.

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