A Visit to Dusseldorf's Christmas Market

Guest post by Kelly Atkins.

After much persistence this year I finally caved in and agreed to join my mother on a mother daughter trip with some family friends to Germany.

Faced with the possibility of having to finish my Christmas shopping in the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, I decided the week before Christmas was better spent getting into the festive spirit in Dusseldorf’s Christmas Market.

Unlike any holiday I have been on before I had not booked, planned or googled anything – I really had no idea what to expect. But after Kavey offered me the opportunity to write this guest post one thing was certain... I was absolutely going to consume more food and drink than necessary, all in the name of research.

The Hotel

Hotel Flora was exactly as described elsewhere – clean, well positioned with friendly and incredibly helpful staff, providing you have no need to alter your booking or discuss money.

One of the best parts of staying in this hotel is that it offers free tram travel for the duration of your stay and the staff will happily talk you through the location of the markets and the great places to shop and eat.

The Christmas Markets

Due to building work, this year, unlike others, the markets were split up into a series of smaller areas making it harder than usual to navigate.

Known for its ambience and selections of hand crafted gifts the Dusseldorf markets particularly come alive throughout the evening when the lights create a picturesque scene and locals come and join the tourists to enjoy a mulled wine or cold beer.

The gifts available are so beautiful you could almost be convinced that buying miniature gingerbread houses is what all your friends and family want to receive this Christmas – but it is the food and drink that keeps you coming back.

No Christmas market would be the same without a German sausage on offer and as suspected the Bratwurst lived up to its reputation, but there were many other options on offer. Crepes, gingerbread and tea cakes were perfect for those with a sweet tooth and with most stalls offering a try before you buy you could make sure you bought a flavour you were sure to enjoy.

Here are some of my favourites as well as my disappointments from the stalls:

Fritters – Not particularly my favourite out of all of the food options due to it being incredibly greasy to the point of sickening. The most impressive part of the Fritters is by far the way they mass produce them with industrial mixers in full view of the market.

Kinderpunch – is quite literally Christmas in a cup. Made with eggnog, white wine and a German buttercream, even when it was snowing in Germany it managed to warm me up.

Raclette – Saving the best until last - who knew cheese on toast could be so addictive? This has to be for me the best thing I consumed throughout the entire holiday, so much so I went back more than once. The melted cheese is scraped onto a choice of flavoured breads, including garlic and herbs and even writing this makes my mouth water.

Despite being a Swiss and French dish this highlighted one of the best parts of modern Christmas markets all over the world – the opportunity to experience a range of different cuisines from guest stalls. I have since heard that there is a Raclette stall in Borough Market and I’m already planning a trip there to try it out!

Evening Meals

Dusseldorf like the majority of European cities has a wide range of cuisines at a range of prices.

Feeling rather tired the first evening we only ventured next door to Auf’m Hennetamp, a Greek/ German restaurant which initially seemed like a bizarre combination.

Auf’m Hennetamp were incredibly welcoming and were happy for us to avoid set meals and served platters of meat, fish and salad for us all so that we were able to sample a range of different dishes. This was the cheapest of all of the restaurants we ate in over the course of our stay. We were able to eat 2 courses with wine for as little as £15 per person and we were even given a shot of Schnapps to try at the end of the meal and before being promptly told that it was not customary for women to drink Schnapps in Germany.

Cape Town as the name suggests is a South African restaurant famous for its cocktails. But it was in fact the food that excelled all expectations.

Between the four of us we tried a mixture of Ostrich Stew, Beef Clay- Pot, Traditional South African Chicken and Cape Town Vegetable Stir-fry. Not only were the dishes beautifully presented but each mouthful, even down to the last vegetable was packed full of flavour and seasoning that we all felt a desperate need to finish every bite, despite all feeling full half way through.

The infamous cocktails for myself lived up to their reputation, however they did seem to change in flavour every time a new one was made. I like to think this was not because I was becoming more intoxicated but that, as I suspected, the ingredients seemed to be subject to change.

Another great foodie experience...

In the majority of pubs in Dusseldorf you are able to order a takeaway from a selection of authentic restaurants nearby. Ranging from Thai to Italian you can relax in a laid back pub environment and take your pick to suit your stomach. Even better still – the pub will put the takeaway on a tab so that you can pay a full bill at the end of the evening.

The Best Parts

Aside from enjoying a relaxing break with my mother and family friends the most enjoyable part of the Christmas Markets is the ability to get involved in all areas of the market. During my time there I was able to get behind nearly ever stall I requested and aside from the merry go round which I have been informed I am definitely too old for I was able to try my hand at it all.

As we are already looking at Belgium for this year I can safely say – I am a Christmas market addict!

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Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas (or your chosen Season's Greetings) and a Happy New Year!

Photos from our first trip to Antarctica in 2004.

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Twelve I have, Eighteen I want: Confessions of a Food Book Addict

Long lists of ingredients – some familiar, some exotic; instructions on how to transform them into delicious treats; vivid and tantalising photographs and even an insight into other cultures and cuisines… I love cookery books!

I kinda, sorta agreed, about a year or two back, to a moratorium on the purchase of new cookery books. Of course, I found loopholes – finding bargains in second hand shops and boot sales, receiving them as gifts (it's no accident that my Amazon wish list is full of cookery book suggestions) and being sent them to review by kind publishers and PRs.

You understand, though, right? I mean, it's an addiction. I have to have them. I need to have them. My precious!

Here are twelve I've been enjoying using this year and eighteen (out of 100s) on my current wish list:

Twelve I have

The Ultimate Recipe Book

I've recently rediscovered The Ultimate Recipe Book by Angela Nilsen. Published by BBC Books in 2007, it's based on her popular Ultimate series in which she chose a classic recipe, researched variations, garnered advice from fellow industry experts and then experimented until she achieved her ultimate version.

Here's my post on Nilsen's Ultimate Quiche Lorraine.

The Scandinavian Cookbook

The Scandinavian Cookbook by Trina Hahnemann is one of the front-runners in a growing library of books on this increasingly popular cuisine. Published by Quadrille in 2008, it presents the recipes by calendar month, leading us gently through a year of changing seasons and ingredients. The photography, by Danish photographer, Lars Ranek, really draws me in.

Ever a lover of cheese tarts, here's my post about the book and Trina's recipe for Swedish Cheese Tart.

Fifty Recipes To Stake Your Life On

Many know Charles Campion as a food critic but have forgotten that he was once a hotelier and restaurateur. Fifty Recipes To Stake Your Life On, published by Timewell Press, is both cookery book and culinary memoir and thus fulfils the role of entertainment as well as cookery book. His recipe for banana cake is my absolute favourite.

Real Fast Food & The Kitchen Diaries

I know, I know, that's two books but they're both by Nigel Slater so I'm listing them together! I really like Slater's approach to food – he clearly adores food but he's not a snob about it; he appreciates eating well but understands that people don't always want to spend hours preparing and cooking and he's very much a proponent of adapting a core recipe or idea based on what's in the fridge and store cupboard.

Real Fast Food, as its name suggests, focuses on recipes and suggestions for preparing tasty meals quickly and easily. The beef stroganov recipe is one we cook regularly.

The Kitchen Diaries is half recipe book, half food diary. Presented seasonally, there are plenty of great recipes that fit the changing seasons and available ingredients. We have enjoyed making (and eating) a number of recipes from this book since we bought it a couple of years ago, so I'm resolved to rectify my omission in not having blogged any yet!

(Different editions of Slater's books are printed by a range of publishers).

Cuisinier Gascon

Pascal Aussignac is the Michelin-starred chef proprietor of London restaurant, Club Gascon. Cuisinier Gascon, his first book, was published by Absolute Press in 2009. It's a really beautiful book, full of mouth-watering recipes and beautiful images, not just of some of the dishes but also of life in Gascony and I love how it celebrates the food traditions, culture and recipes of his home region. I made the braised ox cheeks Bordelaise earlier this year.

Eggs & Sauces

Michel Roux's Eggs, as you might expect, is a collection of classic egg recipes from omelettes, poached and fried eggs to sauces, custards and soufflés, the book provides a 100 recipes. I blogged baked eggs and scotch quails' eggs.

Sauces is, in some ways, an even better reference book, providing recipes and techniques for over 200 classic sauces. Roux has updated the 2009 edition to reflect today's tastes for healthier, lighter sauces without sacrificing flavour or texture. We were happy with the sauce suprême with sherry and mushrooms, which required a number of steps but was not difficult to achieve.

Hix Oyster & Chop House

Mark Hix' book, Hix Oyster & Chop House, was published by Quadrille a few months ago. Just the one recipe I've cooked so far, the Baked Parsnips with Lancashire Cheese, is enough to earn it a place on this list! I am also keen to try the shipwrecked tart, especially as I've had a pre-Christmas delivery of walnuts from my friends in Limousin.

Complete Book of Preserves & Pickles

I only started preserving last summer and now I'm somewhat addicted to making jam, pickles, ketchups and chutneys… I found the Complete Book of Preserves & Pickles by Catherine Atkinson and Maggie Mayhew a huge help on understanding the basic techniques and giving me a starting point for recipes. Published by Lorenz.

The River Cottage Meat Book

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's The River Cottage Meat Book is a hefty tome. First, the book introduces you to meat – understanding it's provenance, the food chain and the impact of our own purchasing choices. This it does without preaching or patronising. Next comes guidance on how to cook, broken down by method (from roasting to slow cooking to preserving and more). Although I've read quite a bit of the first section, I want to delve more into the cooking chapters. Thus far, we've really appreciated the incredibly simple but tasty suggestion for leftover roast chicken croquettes.

The Billingsgate Market Cookbook

Written by C J Jackson, the Director of the Billingsgate Seafood Training School, the most useful aspect of The Billingsgate Market Cookbook for me is the reminders on exactly how to prepare fresh fish. Earlier this year, Pete and I learned how to scale, gut, skin, fillet and bone fish when we attended a course at the school and we bought this book as a primer on the skills we learned.

There are, of course, many more books on my cookery book shelf that I would happily recommend, but I have tried to focus on those I've used this year.

Eighteen I want

At Elizabeth David's Table

Elizabeth David is credited with changing the face of British cooking, introducing the nation to the delights of Mediterranean cuisine at a time when it was just coming out of a period of post-war austerity. This new collection of her recipes has been published on the 60th anniversary of her first cook book and, unlike previous titles, the recipes are illustrated with beautiful colour photographs. At Elizabeth David's Table: Her Very Best Everyday Recipes was published a couple of months ago by Michael Joseph.

Tender: Volumes I & II

Having grown more and more of our own vegetables over the last decade, we've just taken on a full size allotment plot. Now, more than ever, I think we'll be able to appreciate Slater's guides to eating vegetables and fruits, knowing that he also loves to grow his own. Volume I deals with vegetables and Volume II with fruit.

Pastry

Of course, having enjoyed Eggs and Sauces (see above), I'd like to complete the set with a copy of Michel Roux's Pastry, published by Quadrille. I imagine this will be another great reference guide to all the classic pastry recipes, from choux to shortcrust.

Saraban: A chef's journey through Persia

The latest opus by Greg and Lucy Malouf, Saraban: A chef's journey through Persia, has just been published by Hardie Grant. I picked up a copy at a friend's house last week and suddenly a few hours had raced by and I was on page 135! The book is a work of art – large, coffee table format; rich and vibrant photographs, bronze metallic pages with intricate fretwork windows at the start of each chapter. In reading the opening chapters I learned more about the history, religions, culture and food of historic Persia and modern day Iran than I have from years of following news and current affairs. Then came shorter chapters relating the Maloufs' experiences as they toured the country. And of course, lots of recipes. I am hoping to get my hands on my own copy of this beautiful book soon so I can finish reading the text and try making some of the recipes.

As we're going to Lebanon in April, I am also hoping to pick up the Maloufs' previous book, Saha: A Chef's Journey Through Lebanon and Syria.

How I Cook

Although I don't have Skye Gyngell's first two books (A Year in my Kitchen and My Favourite Ingredients) I have flicked through both recently, at a friend's house. Gyngell is the renowned chef behind Petersham Nurseries Café and many friends have praised her recipes to me. All three of Gyngell's books are published by Quadrille. My friend had also just got Skye's latest book, How I Cook, published by Quadrille, as are the others and it was this third book that most caught my eye.

Roast Chicken And Other Stories & Week In Week Out

I've long been intending to get a copy of Simon Hopkinson's much lauded Roast Chicken and Other Stories, published by Ebury. Of course, I've tried his roast chicken recipe and am a convert to his instruction to liberally apply butter all over the bird. I'm also very tempted by Week In Week Out with stories about and recipes for 52 ingredients.

Around My French Table

Dorie Greenspan is well known for her baking books of which there are several. However, I first came across her name relatively recently, in blog reviews for her latest book Around My French Table, published recently by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In this book, Dorie shares more than 300 recipes that she enjoys cooking in her Parisian kitchen. From the reviews I've come across, I think there's an emphasis on French cooking but with forays around the rest of the world too – Dorie herself describes the collection as eclectic. However you describe it, it looks good!

Potty

I'm very lazy at heart so I can't resist a book based on the premise of reducing washing up! Clarissa Dickson Wright's Potty, published earlier this year by Hodder & Stoughton, shares 100 recipes that can be cooked in one dish. And of course, as I associate Dickson Wright with full flavoured, comfort food, I figured they'd all taste good too.

Ottolenghi & Plenty

Late to the party, I don't yet have Yotam Ottolenghi's first book, despite the uniformly glowing reviews from friends and critics alike. And yet, I'm already pining for his latest offering, Plenty (both published by Ebury). Known for his skill in transforming simple, fresh ingredients into something much more special, I'm particularly interested in his recipes for vegetables I normally don't love, like broccoli or beans. I like the reputation his recipes have for working well and faithfully recreating what he sells in his London shops.

The Essentials of Italian Cooking

Marcella Harzan's name comes up quickly in conversations about Italian cooking. Her 1990 title The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking is due to be reissued next summer by Boxtree and I hope to pick it up then, if I haven't found a second hand copy of the original edition already. Fans tell me that the recipes are accurate, straightforward and authentic.

Cured: Slow Techniques for Flavouring Meat, Fish and Vegetables

It's one of those things I'm always meaning to try – curing my own meat and fish. (Not so fussed about the vegetables). Apparently, Cured: Slow Techniques for Flavouring Meat, Fish and Vegetables by Lindy Wildsmith is just the ticket, with informative text and helpful illustrations.

The Oxford Companion to Food

Every now and then I'll ask some obscure food question on twitter and wait for the replies to roll in. It's better than Google, as the twitter fooderati are a superb filter, resulting in the most useful or entertaining answers – usually a mix of both. A friend who often replies most helpfully has revealed her secret weapon as Alan Davidson's The Oxford Companion to Food, edited by Tom Jaine and published by OUP Oxford. This impressive encyclopaedia contains over 2,650 alphabetical entries on foods, cooking terms, culinary tools, countries and traditions plus biographies of chefs and cookbook authors. It's not a cookery book, but still, I covet it.

I'd also quite like New Larousse Gastronomique and Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking but perhaps three such tomes might be overkill.

Forgotten Skills of Cooking

Speaking of tomes, Darina Allen's Forgotten Skills of Cooking, published last year by Kyle Cathie, has over 700 recipes! Owner of Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Allen is one of Ireland's best known chefs and TV food presenters. Her daughter-in-law Rachel Allen seems better known here, but Darina shares decades of skills and experience in this book. I love the idea of relearning forgotten cookery skills, from making one's own butter and yoghurt (my sister and I used to fight over the thick top layer of my mum's home-made yoghurt) to smoking fish and curing bacon.

Macaron

My go to expert for macaron advice is the talented Edd Kimber (more on him on the blog soon) but until he writes his own gorgeous book, I've been lusting after a copy of Pierre Hermé's Macaron. This French language book was published by Agnès Viénot in 2008 – an English translation is apparently on the cards. (Both the macaron books I already own are in French too, so I guess I can dust off my language skills once again for Mr Hermé.

Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook

I am a fan of Alexander McCall Smith's series on The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I've been to Botswana twice (on safari) and been warmly welcomed, though never encountered anyone quite like Mma Ramotswe. I love Stuart Brown's idea to create Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook, based on this larger-than-life fictional force of nature. The recipes are apparently pretty good and interspersed with quotes from the book, suitable illustrations and sumptuous photographs of the food.

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36 Christmas Gift Ideas from Kavey Eats

Like many of you, I've been thinking about Christmas gifts – what I'd like to receive myself and what might make the perfect present for others.

Here are 36 ideas that I'd like to share with you… I hope some of them give you some inspiration for your own Christmas shopping or wish lists!

Doy Bags

I have two doy bags, a Banana Ketchup shopper and a larger Jungle Juice shopping bag, which I bought a few years ago and still use regularly. I always get smiles and comments when out and about with these sturdy bags and am often asked about them.

In a nutshell, doy bags are made from recycled doy packs (the small foil pouches which are most associated with Capri Sun here in the UK but are much more widely used in East Asia). They are collected, washed, prepared and sewn into products by a women's cooperative in the Philippines. Not only does the income help some of the most impoverished families in the region to improve their lives, it's also a model of environmentally friendly recycling.

Doy Bags also make desk tidies, aprons, purses and backpacks, coasters and Christmas ornaments.

Jar Tops

I love these clever jar tops from Dutch company, Royal VKB – they screw onto standard jars and transform them into useful household objects. Get creative and leave the labels on some of your favourite condiments and jams for an even funkier look.

Rachel Lucie Johns Handmade Jewellery

I went to sixth form college with Rachel over 20 years ago. When we recently re-connected online, I discovered that she is now based in Yorkshire where she designs and makes hauntingly beautiful jewellery using sterling silver, semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls. I covet more than half the collection, especially that Sahara necklace, top centre.

Salad Plant

These salad servers are disguised in plain sight as an attractive potted salad plant. I think they're rather adorable and would make a lovely gift for anyone who loves both cooking and gardening.

Love Bird Bowls by Prince Design

I found these beautiful love bird bowls by Prince Design when browsing through folksy.com – a site where makers of beautiful things can sell to an appreciative market. They also make some delightful hanging ornaments, based on similar designs.

John Lewis Picnic Tiffin Box

It's probably the Indian in me – countless memories of childhood picnics Indian style – but I think these stylish and modern tiffin boxes from John Lewis are gorgeous, available in bright and woodland colour schemes.

Lego Figures Ice Cube Tray

I know a surprisingly large number of people who I reckon would love this Lego Figures Ice Cube Tray!

Midori Photo Notebooks

I have an addiction to notebooks which I buy in copious amounts and squirrel away in a drawer for use as travel journals on my holidays. I reckon one of the reasons I have such itchy feet is the size of my notebook collection – I need to travel more to reduce the notebook mountain! I confess that I was first drawn to the Midori range, on The Journal Shop's fabulous website because I love that vibrant green melon liqueur of the same name but then spotted these inexpensive photo notebooks, several of which are ideal for food lovers.

Also worth checking out are Midori's leather bound traveller's notebooks and the CIAK ecological notebooks.

Fuller's Vintage Ales

Pete enjoyed his first Fuller's Vintage Ale (2004) earlier this year and is planning to buy some more vintages very soon. Available directly from Fuller's brewery shop, selected Waitrose stores and other stockists.

Pierre Hermé Macarons

If someone you know loves macarons and hasn't tried Pierre Hermes' beauties, get them a box and make their Christmas! Available in the UK from Selfridges food hall.

That's My Jam Watermelon Jelly

This watermelon jelly seems to ship only within the United States but I'm listing it for my US-based readers. I'm absolutely going to try and make my own watermelon jam next summer!

Hanne Rysgaard Ceramics

Bristol-based ceramicist Hanne Rysgaard produces these funky jugs in the shape of milk and juice cartons.I particularly like the floral designs.

Brown & Forrest Smoked Meat & Fish

I can personally vouch for Brown & Forrest's smoked black pudding, duck, eel, salmon, trout and more having tasted a wide selection during my visit earlier this year.

Catalan Cooking Classes

The inimitable, indomitable Rachel McCormack offers fun and informative Catalan cooking classes with lots of hands on experience and plenty of opportunity to ask questions, and much eating of good food. You'll hear rave reviews from everyone who's been lucky enough to have attended.

Elf Candle Holders

How can anyone resist these kitch little elf candle holders from CB2?

Lush Bath Melts and Ballistics

I've been a fan of Lush since they opened their first London shop many years ago. I love the kerplunk fizz of their bath ballistics but more commonly choose their luxurious bath melts, which are even kinder to my skin. A selection of ballistics are available in a handy gift tin. The bath melts haven't been incorporated into a similar selection box but if you pop into a store you can make up your own. My favourites are Dreamtime, Floating Island and You've Been Mangoed.

Imperia Pasta Machine

I've been coveting a pasta machine for ages, even though we have absolutely no space to keep one. I consistently read good things about the Imperia models such as this SP150, sold here with some attachments.

Gower Cottage Chocolate Brownies

After falling head over heels for these decadent, sinfully good chocolate brownies from Gower Cottage I have sent them as gifts to several family members and friends as birthday gifts, thank you gifts and general I-love-you gifts.

Gingerbread House Kit

I had great fun making my first ever gingerbread house this year but if you want to take the short cut, this kit from Lakeland might fit the bill.

Bodum Bistro Mug

Odd for one who likes her tea and coffee to cool down a fair bit before drinking, but I love the idea of double-walled glass mugs such as this one from Bodum.

Brays Cottage Pork Pies

Having met Sarah of Brays Cottage Pork Pies on twitter, I was very keen to try her much-raved about pork pies. Now I've done so, I can vouch in person for how very, very good they are. Available in small or humungous sizes, mail order.

Book Darts

I just won a set of these clever Book Darts on Fig Jam & Lime Cordial. They are precision-cut, paper-thin metal markers that can be used to mark pages in a book far more elegantly than my usual approach of scattered yellow sticky notes or, messier still, torn scraps of envelopes!

Paladone Happy Man Corkscrew

Yes, it's very obvious humour but it makes me giggle. Paladone Happy Men are also available as bottle stoppers and bottle openers.

Pong Cheese

If any of your friends love cheese even half as much as I do, they'll surely be delighted with a box of top quality cheese? I've ordered my own Christmas cheese selection from Pong for delivery a few days before Christmas, so I have put my money where my mouth is!

Fire & Knives

Look no further for top quality food writing than this quarterly publication, launched by food writer Tim Hayward last year. Aiming to showcase the best work by both established and new food writers - often pieces that would not be published elsewhere - Fire & Knives is not only a superb read but also a work of art for graphic design, printing and typography geeks.

Tiger Spices and Spice Mixes

I love Tiger stores! I'm lucky in that there's one just a few minutes walk from my house, which is just as well, since they don't have an online shop. If you can find a handy store to visit (most are in London), I recommend their fantastic value £1 packs of spices and spice mixes. Only a small fraction of the range is shown on the website – you'll be seeing some of the more interesting spice mixes here on Kavey Eats in January.

As well as spices look out for cute kitchen crockery and utensils, hobby craft items, storage solutions, kids toys and all kinds of random knick knacks, all at pretty low prices. I really like their owl design crockery, not listed on the website.

Wild Garlic Foraging Courses

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Mat Follas' The Wild Garlic restaurant in Beaminster, Dorset. Last year I attended one of his land and sea shore foraging courses. He's offering an expanded range of courses for 2011, which are proving very popular.

My Cuppa Mugs

I love the idea of these tea and coffee mugs with colour strips along the inside to give guidance to friends and colleagues on just how you like your tea or coffee.

Ganesha Felt Decorations

I love the range of felt Christmas decorations from Ganesha, especially their snow leopards and ibexes.

Mamta's Kitchen Aprons

Yes, let me remind you that Mamta's Kitchen aprons are still available! Made by a catering industry clothing specialist, the bib apron we chose is made of heavy-weight 100% cotton. The corners are reinforced for strength and the anti-tangle ties are long enough to cross behind your back and tie around the front. We particularly like the generous width and length which provide more protection than other aprons we have tried. Even with the (beautifully detailed) embroidery, the apron can still be machine-washed at 40 degrees. A great gift for fans of the site!

Waitrose Cooks' Ingredients

I'm a big fan of the Waitrose Cook's Ingredients range – all those I've tried have been of excellent quality. A selection of these would make a great home-made hamper for anyone who loves to cook.

Inish Turk Beg Whiskey

To my surprise (since I don't usually care for whiskey or whisky) I found myself falling for Inish Turk Beg's single malt offering both on taste and because of the utterly gorgeous hand-blown bottle. ITB are based on an island off Ireland's West Coast, in County Mayo and this is their first whiskey. As a limited edition special, it's an expensive gift, but if you've been struggling for something for a very special someone, do take a look. I was able to sample the whiskey in Harvey Nichols, where there are tastings on offer of the whiskey and Inish Turk Beg's smoked fish products.

Williamson Elephant Tea Caddies

I will happily confess that it's the caddies I can't resist. I can't vouch for the tea, even though I own a couple of elephants, as I've still not actually tried it. But come on… elephant tea caddies! Available directly from Williamson or also stocked by John Lewis.

Teanamu Lychee Black

I can recommend many tea providers (including Lahloo, Rare Tea Company and Jing) but for a tea that I think suits Christmas particularly well, you can't do better than Teanamu's delicious lychee black. Whole leaf Congou black tea is scented with the fresh peel of ripe lychees and absorbs both the flavour and fragrance of the exotic fruit.

Check out the rest of the store for some beautiful clay tea pots.

Chocolates

I love chocolate and couldn't possibly narrow it down to one. Buy the tastiest treats from Artisan du Chocolat, Booja Booja, Chococo, Damian Allsop, Marc Demarquette, Gorvett & Stone, Matcha Chocolat, Melt, Paul A Young, Paul Wayne Gregory, Prestat, Rococo and William Curley.

Hot Water Bottles

I love hot water bottles. Much to Pete's despair, I use them not just in the coldest depths of winter but for half of autumn and spring as well! This site has showcases all the best hot water bottles and helped me track down these Blue Monster, Hello Kitty, Vagabond Owl, Penguin, Tea & Sympathy and Grumpy Chocolate great designs.

So, did I give you any ideas?! Do let me know if you buy (or receive) any of the gifts above!

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