Foodie Stocking Fillers

By Martin Pilkington

‘Tis the season to be worried about what to give that awkward friend or aunty. Everyone except supermodels like foodie stuff, so here’s our guide to a few stocking filler ideas.
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Quirky/Fun

Honeybuns tea in a purse – two bags of Dorset tea, two paper doilies, two delicious little chocolate brownies with a welcome hint of bitterness to the chocolate. The Dorset tea by Keith Spicer is very good too, not damning with faint praise to say it’s like a really good caff brew.

A book as something to carry on amusing your foodie friend long after the turkey has been eaten? For the worthier soul the informative and useful book on which cheese-makers Long Clawson and chef Tom Aikens have collaborated would be a good buy: the tale of craft cheese-making surviving against the odds, combined with some excellent recipes makes for a good read. A bit lighter are two from Absolute Press: a foodie quiz book Everything but the Oink! to fill a few hours without the need for Trivial Pursuit, and a terrific tome of Berger and Wyse cartoons on foodie themes collected from the Guardian – some very enjoyably take a few seconds to sink in.

Buy a box and distribute them between various stockings: Hotel Chocolate’s little card crackers keep their shape, and contain a single and very enjoyable chocolate. Not perhaps for the eco-packaging minded, but it is Christmas.

Thornton’s – easy to find in just about everyone’s high street – have a fine idea that will raise a smile and last a while – A big chocolate plaque of a beer mug with ‘I love beer’ on it, accompanied by an illustrated guide to beers of the world.
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Inexpensive and Clever

Burt’s Beef crisps – “they really are beefy” per teenage son. Aberdeen Angus, peppery but not overly so. A joke, a bit of bulk, but we bet nothing is left in the packet minutes after opening.

A tree decoration if you prefer, or a little thing to go in a stocking, Godiva’s mini-shopping bag is a neat idea and only about a fiver. Same company produce perfectly elegant little four-choc boxes for £6.50, a bit more stylish than Black Magic and far more likely I’d guess to impress someone special with its pretty cool packaging.

Genius Mince Pies are both tasty and gluten-free, a thoughtful gift if a friend has that particular allergy. Sharpham Park Spelt Oatcakes are not for coeliacs, but less likely to upset those with mild gluten intolerance than wheat-based baked goods. And they are lovely and nutty.

Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn fits the bill here, a little pack bringing loads of flavour – Caramel, Brandy Infused Fruit and Almond rather more interesting than the stuff at the local multi-screen.

Bombay Sapphire gin is an established favourite, not sold for the stratospheric prices some of the newer super-premiums command (should be around £15 for a 70cl bottle), but it’s good, a classic even, has the huge advantage of that lovely bottle colour to brighten anyone’s post-work G&T ritual.
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Tasty, Tasty, Very Very Tasty

The best non-olive oil we’ve tried in, well, ever, is Heart of Gold Rapeseed Oil, good enough to sip from the spoon to get its walnutty depth of flavour. Too good to fry with, this is for salads and good ones at that. Nice packaging too. Brilliant find.

Another oil for the connoisseur, Aranda’s Organic Olive Oil is so virgin it has never even seen its own bits, cold pressed hours after picking, a lovely round flavour that is sweet and with a hint of sultanas about it. Again much too good for cooking, this is the one to drizzle over posh veg as friends look on.

Christmas sees the relish world through for the rest of the year. Hawkshead’s Michaelmas relish is a winner, quite tomato-ey, with aubergine and courgettes giving it a distinct ratatouille tang – great with plain roast chicken or (dare we mention it?) turkey.

Importer Hot-Headz has a range of chilli sauces for the connoisseur, the most exciting made from the legendary Bhut Jolokia Naga chilli, though they have milder options like Brother Bru-Bru’s too. A considerate gift as they will last in the fridge for a long time. Perky the turkey too.

Finest brownie tasted in some little time – from Bibi’s Bakery. Forget the banana flavoured one, good though itis. The chocolate version was magnificent - teen son, major dark chocolate fan and a severe critic of all things baked and sweet wolfed the second without even offering me a bit.
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Posh

Everything we tried from the East India Company was terrific. Impress the boss with a few items from this great name of British culinary heritage. They are perfectly packaged, and hugely stylish: highest marks for the orange peel in dark chocolate, the sort of dark chocolate that leaves no fatty residue on the tongue once it melts sexily away. Give a friend one of their mustards like the supremely wonderful Mrs Clements English and be remembered fondly for months. Buy an aunt one of their selections – say the Plum, Walnut, Rum & Raisin jam, or Marmalade biscuits, and be remembered in her will.

Halfwine: we love half bottles to accompany a meal without the wooze. This online company just launched to sell only half bottles – quality wines, a deep range, and somehow more thoughtful in the Xmas stocking than a full bottle. Their 2010 Bourgogne Pinot Noir has a nice sharpness that’s perfect with cheese of character. Buy a selection and split them between your stock and stocking filler gifts. The Tyrell’s Old Winery 2009 is buttery, citrussy and a very pleasant companion to white meats or even pheasant.

Readers of our Christmas pieces past will know about our abiding love affair with Paxton and Whitfield cheeses. Highlight of a recent tasting surely their Epoisses: ripe isn’t in it, the cheese leered at me rustically from its little truckle: deep, long flavour that would finish a meal on its own – with a glass of red. Their Aldwych Goat much subtler, but still a very goaty, grassy flavour. Neither needs the P&W Proper Piccalilli, but this spice-and-celery-rich spread will brighten feebler fromage hugely.

Another cheese selection from Shepherd’s Purse, Yorkshire but we won’t hold it against them, especially as their Monks Folly mould ripened cows’ milk cheese is so very good, their Bluemin White almost as toothsome too and a damn sight better than most of the Bries it rivals.
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Kids

Instead of a little bag of buttons, Thornton’s have milk chocolate snowballs that will amuse the under 11s and there’s enough in a bag that parents may even get the odd one.

Not totally sure this is for kids alone, but they will love it: Chococo’s huge cocoa chocolate bean filled with white and plain chocolate Christmassy shapes, and little chocolates shaped like Christmas puds. As ever with this company the chocolate itself is absolutely excellent.

Have an excellent foodie Christmas.