1. Order your Christmas turkey or goose direct from the farmer, and taste the difference in flavour with a fresh free range or organic bird. Hampshire has a wealth of quality meat producers (many are at Hampshire farmers’ markets), farm shops and independent butchers. They are happy to offer advise on cooking, and many will deliver to your home.
2. Have fresh seasonal vegetables delivered to your door with box schemes from Sunnyfields, Warborne Organics and Laverstoke Park, or buy freshly picked from your nearest Hampshire farmers’ market just before Christmas.
3. Sample for yourself why English wine is fast getting recognition for quality. Hampshire has its share of award winning wines, including red, white and sparkling from Wickham, Northbrook Springs and Danebury vineyards – perfect for toasting Christmas and the New Year!
4. Have a bottle of Hampshire’s Hildon, New Forest spring water or THE natural mineral water on the dining table to drink alongside wine and reduce the risk of hangovers
5. Hampshire Cheeses were voted ‘Best cheese in Britain’, sweeping the board at the 2006 National Cheese Awards with 7 cheesemakers winning 20 awards. With Tunworth voted Supreme Champion and Lyburn’s Old Winchester voted best modern British cheese, make your cheeseboard a Hampshire one!
6. Buy a 2006 Great Taste Gold award winning Christmas pudding from Pott’s Pantry, or your Christmas cake from Linzi’s of Lymington (also suitable for diabetics)
7. Make Hill Farm’s mulled apple juice as a delicious alcohol free option or Mr Whitehead’s mulled cider for more of a kick - get the recipe from their Hampshire farmers’ market stall
8. Make up a personalised Hampshire hamper of goodies for a food lover – buy local beer, wine, cheeses, chutneys, pestos and sauces, honey, jams, fudge, cakes and more, all in one go at your nearest Hampshire farmers’ market – tailoring it perfectly to their tastes
9. Vouchers for a chocolate workshop with Salon du Chocolat, or a ‘Cook’ cookery class make a great present idea. Give children or gardeners their own apple tree to plant and grow from Blackmoor Estate. Pamper a loved one with natural New Forest soaps and fragrant lavender products from Long Barn and English Hampshire Lavender, or handmade jewellery and quality crafts.
10. Pick up your Christmas tree at Queen Elizabeth Country Park Visitor Centre near Horndean.
11. Get inspired by the recipe page at www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk . Or Anna’s Kitchen can supply ready meals using locally sourced ingredients for the weary chef!
12. Click on the What’s on page at www.hampshirefare.co.uk for a host of delicious seasonal ‘foodie’ events including Christmas markets, seasonal cookery workshops, children’s cookery holiday classes, chocolate workshops and special seasonal menus incorporating local food.
For details of all these producers and more, call Hampshire Fare on 01962 845435 for their free directory of food, drink and craft producers in Hampshire or visit www.hampshirefare.co.uk.
