Hampered by which hamper to choose this year? Hamstrung by the choice on offer? Feeling ham-fisted as to where to start? Fear not, the Arb’s indefatigable lord of lifestyle, Ollie Pickup, has selflessly scoured the land for the best on offer, and brings you this hammed-up round-up…
Give the gift of DukesHill’s praise-worthy Star of Wonder hamper
Granted, £225 is a hefty outlay but – my goodness! – DukesHill’s ‘Star of Wonder’ Christmas hamper is quite the festive feast. You’ll have to cross your fingers that whomever you gift it to invites you around to sample the exquisite array of festive delights. The Star of Wonder arrives in a handsome, 20-inch wicker basket with leather straps and has been masterfully curated to create the perfect yuletide celebration. The centrepiece, a succulent Wiltshire ham, pairs brilliantly with the selection of artisanal British cheeses, including a creamy Isle of Mull Cheddar and perfectly ripened Morangie Brie.
The thoughtfully chosen accompaniments, from oak-smoked salmon to handcrafted piccalilli, elevate every morsel. Sweet treats abound with luxurious chocolates, traditional mince pies, and a spectacular family-sized Christmas pudding. The inclusion of Tanners Prosecco Brut adds a sparkling flourish to this magnificent feast. This hamper epitomises festive luxury and promises to transform any Christmas gathering into a memorable gastronomic occasion. Open up and discover more about the wonderous wicket basket at www.dukeshill.co.uk.
Break into the carols with a selection from Sam’s Larder…
Many delis now offer hampers, but we find Sam’s Larder in West London is one of the more canny when it comes to what to include in them. Well, it helps when the Sam in question happens to be he of Sam’s Kitchen restaurants in Chiswick and Hammersmith. And restaurant pedigree is what drives the selection of the artisanal offerings that make up their hampers, with choice confections from their favourite producers – Cobble Lane, Chalk Stream Farm, HG Walter, Neal’s Yard Dairy, Seven Seeded Artisan Bakery, The Grocer on Elgin, as well as wines and spirits from the restaurants’ suppliers.
There are three decadent hampers to choose from, each making the perfect gift for the foodie lover. The ‘Jingle Bells’ hamper includes Ride & Grind Rocket Fuel coffee, Fiona Cairns vanilla shortbread hearts, Emissary Rose Prosecco plus a Venchi dark chocolate cigar. The indulgent ‘Oh I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day….’ hamper includes the Emissary Prosecco, Asolo DOCG Superiore, a Boella & Sorrisi raspberry chocolate tree, Chocolarder cornish honeycomb milk choc bar and Lazzaroni Vogue Baci Di Dama biscuits.
But for a real show stopper, the ‘Bells ON’ hamper is the perfect choice, boasting treats like a bottle of Gusbourne Brut, Montepulciano Vola Vole and Crociani Vin Santo, as well as a traditional panettone wool pom pom, Chocolarder chocolate cracker, Nobili Bonta hazelnut Baci and much more. And, of course, the team can also create a bespoke hamper to perfectly suit the lucky recipient. Hampers from Sam’s Larder start at £85. For more information, and to order, please visit www.samslarder.co.uk.
Go Greek with a choice from Odysea
What’s the one thing about Christmas hampers that’s always the same? Exactly, Christmas. They’re always designed around seasonal flavours of cinnamon and ginger and copious amounts of sugar. Fortunately, if you want to mix it up this year, Odysea, purveyors of fine Mediterranean fayre, has a delightful range of hampers and gift sets that are filled with a beautiful selection of Great Taste Award-winning Greek and Mediterranean produce, giving things a novel spin on the seasonal bounty.
There’s a few on offer, too, for different needs. Take the Party Hamper, for example, full of ready-to-eat goodies such as spicy Ajvar, Harissa houmous, Piri Piri stuffed olives and stuffed vine leaves, to set your Christmas drinks off to a shining start. Then there’s the Wine and Meze Hamper, set to the spirit of summer island hopping around Greece, with two bottles of organic Greek wine from the Tetramythos winery and a meze spread of accompanying confections.
But Odysea’s definitive hamper has to be the Mediterranean Christmas Feast. Imagine a pantry stocked with premium Greek and Mediterranean delights, from hand-picked Kalamata olives to raw Greek honey, pomegranate balsamic to fiery pomegranate Harissa along with two varieties of extra virgin olive oil and olive tapenade…add two bottles of Greek wine and you’ve got all you need to feast with family and friends this Christmas. It also features coveted products from the limited edition Odysea x Kew Gardens collaboration as well as a beautiful pair of solid brass salt and pepper mills, hand-crafted in Greece. This deluxe hamper can be gifted to your nearest and dearest or kept at home for the ultimate indulgent treat. Odysea’s hampers start at £36. Order by 18th December for Christmas delivery. For more information, and to order, please visit www.odysea.com.
Serve up a taste of Tuscany via Fattoria La Vialla’s One Doesn’t Grow Old at the Table hamper
If going ‘off-piste’ is sounding appealing, here’s another option – and this one comes from Italy, with love. Experience the authentic taste of Tuscany with Fattoria La Vialla’s enchanting “One Doesn’t Grow Old at the Table” package, whose name captures the timeless Italian philosophy of cherished moments shared over good food (“A tavola non-s’invecchia”). This thoughtfully curated collection from the family’s organic-biodynamic estate showcases the finest Italian artisanal produce.
The selection features an impressive quartet of wines, including their distinguished Chianti Riserva and elegant Vernaccia di San Gimignano, alongside estate-produced delicacies such as a perfectly matured 12-month Pecorino and traditional spicy salami. Culinary treasures abound with handcrafted antipasti, including delicate artichokes sautéed with garlic and parsley, while their artisanal pasta and vibrant sauces promise authentic Italian suppers.
The accompanying handbook, rich with serving suggestions and the estate’s history, transforms this hamper from a mere gift into a complete gastronomic journey through one of Italy’s most celebrated organic estates. Bellissimo! Don’t grow old wondering, visit www.lavialla.com.
Push the boat out with Fortnum’s…go on, it’s Christmas
Of course, nothing says ‘hamper’ like the F&M emblem painted onto a wicker basket, and it’s always a joy to open up a Fortnum’s and discover what’s inside. What do you expect from the deli that has been the home of the hamper for over three centuries, and dispatches them all over the world from their Piccadilly mainstay. And, as ever, they have absolutely EVERYTHING covered. Imagine, all those Christmas confections configured in any and every way imaginable. From the humble savoury Christmas ‘Pantry’ with sauces, pickles, mustards, crackers and their traditional Stilton jar to the absolute blow-out of the ‘Christmas Feast’ which, at £1000, appears to contain everything in the shop.
There are some clever incarnations, too, such as the Sleighbourne, featuring a selection of their choice teas, just the right mix of savoury condiments, such as their Fig & Fennel Chutney and Boxing Day Pickle, nibbles (of course, what would Christmas be without cheese straws) and a delightful array of sweet treats, from their new Christmas pudding in a biscuit ‘Merrilossus’ to Reindeer noses and their brilliant Burlington Breakfast marmalade. For the full range, to order, or simply to gaze in wonder, please visit www.fortnumandmason.com.
