For the food lovers
A Christmas gift guide! with delicious discounts
Hiya everyone!
I’ve just got back from a week in Edinburgh - very lovely, very chilly, and very much saved by thermals. With twinkling lights strung across cobbled streets, grand wreaths adoring doorways, and my first sip of mulled wine (doubling up as hand warmers), the city wrapped me in its wintry charm and I feel very ready to start feeling (& spreading) a bit of Christmassy cheer.
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Today I’m spreading that cheer in the form of a Christmas Gift Guide. And while your inbox is probably flooded with them, I hope this one can be a little more casual, conversational with personal picks and thoughtful treasures. It’s a guide very much for the food lovers in your life - as I imagine that’s why most of you are here! - with most recommendations being under £50 plus some delicious discounts along the way.
We’re all a little different when it comes to gift-giving, and there’s no denying that it can be tricky. I’m very much a practical person - there’s something so thoughtful but also satisfying about quietly noticing something that someone needs, buying it for them, and seeing them use it day in day out. I’m sure a lot of you are also like this too. But I know some prefer a touch of luxury or something more personal. With all of that in mind, I’ve broken this guide into three sections:
Flavours to Savour - Food & drink recommendations for every taste
For the Home-Cook - kitchen tools they’ll actually use
Made with Love - Homemade (edible!) gifts for that personal touch
Flavours to Savour
Food & drink recommendations for every taste
Botivo - Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo
Bottles are popped, glasses clink, and “what are you drinking?” becomes the question of the season. For many who like a tipple, it’s an easy answer. But for those who’d rather skip the booze, it can feel like a sticky situation, more often than not settling with Shloeur (actually delicious).
But we’ve come a long way, and there are actually so many delicious non-alcoholic options out there. But Botivo is hands down my favourite. It’s a deeply refreshing bittersweet aperitivo bursting with herbal and citrus notes, and is particularly good with soda or tonic and a slice of orange. It’s a drink that still feels like it belongs on the grown-up table, with each sip feeling special - which is how you want your guests to feel! You can also get it in a beautiful gifting tube (pictured above!) and this limited edition Christmas label. It’s not a compromise, it’s a delicious drink for the drinkers and non-drinkers. It has a lovely,
Use the code: HANNAHBOTIVO15 for 15% off (Valid until 20th December)
Honest Toil - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Yikes, olive oil has got expensive hasn’t it! And so wouldn’t it be such a treat for the food-lovers in your life to open up a BEAUTIFUL bottle, or even 1 litre TIN of liquid gold that doesn’t just taste delicious, but also looks beautiful on the kitchen counter. Honest Toil is as pure as it gets, pressed solely from koroneiki olives and is unblended, unfiltered, and properly cold-pressed.
HONESTXHANNAH for 10% off (valid until 20th December)
If you’ve read my All About the Beans newsletter, you probably think I’m being a little biased. But honestly, a case of boujee beans is the kind of gift people might not think to ask for, but will definitely thank you for later.
These are beans that I’d put on the same level as a beautifully-bottled olive oil (as above) or jar of gourmet antipasti. It’s an ingredient that feels luxurious, something you’d save for a special occasion, but might not buy on the daily - and therefore, a very good gift for someone. And after days of feasting on Christmas cheese boards and one too many Roses chocolates, you’ll be gifting someone the reassurance that there’s a jar of nourishment waiting in their cupboards - to which they’ll be quietly grateful for!
Whether it’s the Best Seller Pack, a Taster for Two or boujee baked beans for Christmas Day brekkie, hopefully there’s beans for everyone’s needs.
Use the code: TableRead for 20% off (no expiry date)
There are hundreds of hampers out there, but On The Table live up to their tagline of being “gift boxes you actually want to give”. Founded by the wonderful Lucy Mee, she sources, curates and boxes up the best produce from small, independent suppliers and send it directly to your home along with recipe suggestions and stories behind the food. Whether it’s the Fancy Fizz, Cheesy & Chutney Grazing Hamper, The Plant-Based Cheese & Non-Alcoholic Gift Set or the Ultimate Food Lovers Box , there truly is something for every food and drink devotee.
Use the code: Han15 for 15% off orders over £50 (valid until 20th December)
For the Home-Cook
Kitchen tools they’ll actually use
Books for Cooks
There are SO many cookbooks I could have included here, but I’ve tried to include a variety to satisfy the tastes and abilities of any home-cook.
‘Tucking In’ by Sophie Wyburd - for the comfort cooks in your life. Sophie’s recipes are simple, hearty, filling and flavour-packed - whether that’s something warming for a Tuesday night or a weekend feasts for friends, this cookbook will have a rightful place in all cosy kitchens.
‘More Daily Veg’ by Joe Woodhouse - for the veg-centric cooks, or people who just want to up their plant-points. Joe makes vegetables enticing, indulgent and damn right delicious. Out of my whole cookbook collection, this is the one with the most tomato-splattered, crinkled pages (aka very well loved).
Greek-Ish by Georgina Hayden - for the slightly more adventurous and ambitious tastebuds. Georgina’s recipes are inspired by her Greek Cypriot roots and when I cook from her books, I feel like I’m in her kitchen with her and her family. This book is brimming with vibrant, modern-food which sings of the mediterranean, whilst still being very accessible. This Spanakopita is a personal favourite.
^they’re all on offer on Amazon right now!
Microplane
A microplane is one of my most-used kitchen utensils (aside from a silicone spatula, but not the most exhilarating gift to unwrap). They’re ideal for showering dishes with parmesan, grating garlic (& actually getting the most out of it), for zesting lemons etc. And while most home cooks will probably have a grater of some kind, they all get blunt overtime. So a sparkly new one with a fun-coloured handle (I love my yellow one above, hehe!) will sure be a practical present.
Practical but pretty mugs for a proper* cup of tea
*I’m very particular (& passionate) when it comes to my cups of tea. And most of that comes down to what I’m drinking it from. A mug, in my opinion, should firstly be of a decent size - no “2 slurps and we’re done” over here - I’m talking practically a bucket of tea that feels like it’s going to hydrate me for a trip to the Sahara. Secondly, it should have a decent, sturdy handle that I can hook all of my fingers to allow for said bucket-load of fluids. And thirdly, let’s be honest, it’s gotta look nice.
If you know someone who is just as passionate about their tea-drinking, here’s a few suggestions I’ve picked out from Etsy and Olive Bonas. Would pair very well with a Pukka Tea Discovery Chest.
Cast Iron Casserole Dish
So this one is definitely on the pricier side. But a sturdy, multi-purpose cast iron dish is versatile, timeless and built to last a lifetime. Plus, if you pick their favourite colour, it’s both personal and practical - and one they’ll think of you every time they use! The Le Cruset ones are very reliable (& also very beautiful)
A cooks best friend. With a good quality knife, prepping becomes easier, faster and a lot more enjoyable! Whether it’s slicing through a ripe tomato without crushing it, chopping herbs finely or slicing an onion oh so satisfyingly. A good knife is an investment, but absolutely worth it for those in your life who you know want to master their cooking-craft, and well, feel more “cheffy”. Katto knives are very good indeed.
Made with Love
Homemade gifts for that personal touch
Super Seedy, Extra Nutty Granola
For those who prefer a more personal touch, this deliciously nutty, festive-spiced is a real hit - so much so, my Nan requests it every year (Hi Nan, if you’re reading xx). Tip in into a glass jar, tie it up with ribbon threaded with a few dried orange slices and it’s a real personal treasure. Pair it in a baking bundle alongside some of Nigella’s homemade Linzer cookies or some scrumptious mince pies.
Ingredients
2 tbsp of coconut or vegetable oil
125ml maple syrup or honey
1 heaped tbsp almond or peanut butter
300g rolled oats
150g mixed nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts & hazelnuts work well)
45g pumpkin seeds
45g sunflower seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice
100g dried berries (such as raisins or cranberries)
Method
1.Heat the oven to 150C/fan 130C. Grease and line a large baking tray.
2.Melt the oil and almond butter in a saucepan over a low heat, stirring often. Once melted, stir in the maple syrup. Melting these ingredients first will help them coat the oats more evenly and give the granola the desired texture.
3.In a large mixing bowl, add the oats, nuts, seeds and spices and stir well to combine (not the dried fruit). Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well, ensuring everything is fully and evenly coated.
4.Pour the mixture onto the lined baking tray, spreading as evenly as possible to ensure an even bake. The key to making big clusters is to make sure there are no gaps in the mixture – use a spatula to pat down the mixture so it’s tightly packed together.
5.Bake for 15 minutes, gently turning once, then bake for a further 15-17 mins until golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. It might feel slightly soft but that’s ok, the mixture will continue to crisp up as it cools.
6.Once cooled, stir in the dried cranberries and break into little clusters, however big or small you like.
As I said, gifting giving can be tricky. But hopefully this list sparks some inspiration to surprise & delight the food-lovers in your life. And if you’re not one for gifts at all, hopefully you’ll at least get a delicious granola out of it!
Extra Nibbles for The Table
If you’re new here, my newsletters always end with a few “extra nibbles” of random bits & bobs I’ve been loving, would recommend or simply find fun and worth sharing.
My friend Lucy’s homemade granola series
Cooking this today
Alexa, play this album
I’ll be dropping a bonus newsletter next week with a guest recipe for a very delicious festive bake. Catch ya there!
Han xx
As always, the biggest thank you for being here. I’m hoping you’re enjoying Table Read ! And if you are, I’d be so grateful if you wanted to share the newsletter with anyone else who you think may enjoy it too (they sound pretty great)