Christmas Gifts for Food Lovers
If you have a budding gourmet to buy for this Christmas, we have ideas they'll love to suit every budget.
From sweet treats to top up a stocking, hampers packed with local treats and even the gift of a new hobby, there are foodie gifts to be enjoyed by young and old.
Teach them a lesson (that they'll love)
Cookery Course Vouchers
Learning a new skill is a gift that will last a lifetime. Whether they have a taste for exotic flavours, a sweet tooth or are budding baker, we've got a cookery course to suit.
Anila's Indian Cookery Courses (Walton on Thames) will teach you to cook classic vegetarian Indian dishes as well as how to choose the best ingredients. Classes from £40.
You can Bake With Jack (Guildford) in group baking and pasta making workshops in Guildford or private lessons at your own home. Course from £75.
Cookery courses at Four Gables Food Academy (Ashtead) range from foraging to chocolate, via dinner parties and fusion cooking. Courses from £130.
With experienced chef Katharine of Quince House Cookery School (Oxted) there's nothing you can't learn, from family suppers to fancy French entertaining. Classes from £60.
The Sweetest Thing
Artisan chocolates, biscuits, fudge and cakes
There's no better time of year to indulge the sweet-toothed - luckily, Surrey has plenty of talented bakers, chocolatiers and confectioners on hand to fulfill their Christmas wishes ...
Those with a taste for the unusual will adore buttery biscuits from The Flavoured Shortbread Bakery, with festive flavours such as Ginger, Orange and Cinnamon. From £3.99 for 8.
Made in Surrey using the finest natural ingredients and sustainable Belgian chocolate, Cocoa Bombon's chocolate bars are deliciously decadent. From £11.80.
Crumbly, buttery, chunky fudge hand-made to a traditional family recipe is what Mummy Makes does best – look out for seasonal festive flavours too. From £10 for three bags by post.
Emma at The Cake House bakes beautiful celebration cakes and cupcakes which make a beautiful and delicious gift all year round. From £25 for a Gingerbread House.
Handmade for you
Seasonal specials
Oxted Country Market has a talented team of bakers and makers whipping up treats for its weekly market stall all year round, but at Christmas they turn their hands to all things festive.
Visit their regular Thursday market at the Red Cross Centre in Oxted for festive delights like hand-made mince pies and traditional fruit cakes, or ask about having your Christmas cake made to order.
The Taste of Christmas
Silent Pool Distillers have been tinkering with flavour this year, and have come up with a really fun, innovative product: Silent Pool Mist, a 'liquid garnish' to add a new dimension to your G&T. In three gin-friendly flavours - Kaffir Lime, Bergamot Orange and Christmas Spirit - these tasty little numbers will put some zing into your festive entertaining. Or they'd make a brilliant gift for the enthusiastic home mixologist!
Don't forget!
Make sure you order your Christmas turkey or meat in plenty of time - click here to find out more about where to buy yours.
Hampers filled with their favourite things
Choose from a ready-made hamper from £50 or create your own unique selection at Priory Farm, South Nutfield. Last order date is Friday 18 December. With so much choice, why not opt for a Priory Farm gift voucher instead?. Create your own hamper from a wonderful selection of local Surrey produce available at The Sheep Shed at Botley Hill Farmhouse, Warlingham and Noel's Farm Shop, Woking. From local wines and beers to fudge, shortbread, jam and chutneys, choose from a truly local range of fine gourmet goodies.
Seasonal Sparkle
What's a celebration without bubbles? Some of the UK's finest vineyards are located in Surrey, so pop the cork on a locally-produced bottle of fizz this Christmas.
Albury Vineyard has released two new sparkling wines just in time for the festive season, as well as a limited edition brandy - that's sure to take the edge off of chilly winter evenings! Sparkling wines start from £26 and can be bought directly from the vineyard - click here to find out about Christmas tours and tastings.
Pop along to the Christmas Shop on 3rd, 10th or 17th December at Greyfriars Vineyard on the Hog's Back to taste and buy their current vintages, including the 2013 Blanc de Blancs and the award-winning 2013 Sparkling Rosé Reserve.
Love to dine out
Restaurant vouchers
Give the gift of good food and fine wines with a dining voucher. Our top picks include: awarding-winning French restaurant Chez Vous; restored historic country inn, Botley Hill Farmhouse; and top-rated French fare at La Barbe.
Available for purchase over the phone or in the restaurants for any amount.
