We've rounded up our top picks for the tastiest and most gorgeous food and drink gifts to give fabulous foodies. 

Clockwise from top left: 
Delamain Cognac - The 67 Edition
The 67 Edition offers a beguiling combination of delicate sophistication and depth. On the nose are aromas of pear and fresh fig layered with buttery brioche and raisins. On the palate are rich, mellow flavours of fig jam, ending with the slightest autumnal notes. 

Available from 67pallmall.com for £195 (70cl bottle).

Craft Coffee Club coffee subscription
This coffee subscription is ideal for all of the coffee lovers on your list. Each month subscribers receive either whole bean or ground ethically sourced single-origin artisan coffee alongside a selection of snacks and a mini-magazine with the details on the coffee and tasting/brewing notes. Even better, a portion of proceeds from every subscription goes towards helping to support farming communities around the globe by giving them funds to develop their businesses. 

Available from Craft Coffee Club f or £24.95 per month.

Mariage Frères’ NOËL GLAMOUR®, a luxury advent calendar 
This beautiful advent calendar from France's oldest luxury tea emporium Mariage Frères is filled with 24  premium teas.
Behind every door you'll find a luxury Mariage Frères’ tea. With classic such as Earl Grey as well as a wide variety of more unique options such as the fresh and fruity MARCO POLO®, to seasonal varieties such as the ESPRIT DE NOEL®, a festive and aromatic tea rich in Christmas spices, orange peel and vanilla, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to making a cuppa. 

Available from Mariage Frères for £45.00.

The Bath Soft Cheese Co.
You can't have a foodie gift list without cheese - fact.  We love The Bath Soft Cheese Co., famed for its organic cheese heralding from the heart of Somerset. Made with traditional methods, these premium cheeses are renowned for their  distinctive quality. Selection boxes come packed with a range of signature cheeses, many with small batch chutneys and crackers.

Available from Barbury Hill priced from £25.

Mother Root Ginger Switchel
Mother Root Ginger Swtichel is a sophisticated 100% all-natural, non-alcoholic aperitif. A maceration of pressed ginger juice, blossom honey, Organic apple cider vinegar and a hint of chilli, it is inspired by the age-old Anglo-American “shrub-making” tradition originating from the 1700s. 

It is exceptionally versatile and can be served hot or cold. We love it in Mother Root’s gorgeous Hot-Not-Toddy, a non-alcoholic version of a traditional hot toddy, which is great for chilly winter days!

Available from motherroot.london for £19.00 (480 ml bottle).

Gyre & Gimble Gins 
Gyre & Gimble is a newly launched spirits brand which features three Alice in Wonderland inspired gins, combining the real world and the strange - Callooh Callay (a refreshing coastal gin), Nohow (a double-juniper London Dry) and Queen of Hearts (a rich, velvety cherry gin). The three gins make the perfect Christmas gift with a twist, and the cherry gin in particular is a festive addition to any booze cupboard.

The new gins are available from www.gyreandgimble.co.uk, all priced at £35 (70cl bottle) with delivery across mainland UK. The gins can also be found in the Gyre & Gimble bar in Norwich, where visitors can book a distilling experience to make their very own concoction from more than 30 botanicals to choose from.   

Wine & Food: The Perfect Match
Written by 67 Pall Mall’s Head of Wine, Ronan Sayburn MS and Head Chef, Marcus Verberne, ‘Wine and Food: The Perfect Match’ features a comprehensive study of the world’s great wines, how to drink them and what foods to pair them with. 

Available from 67 Pall Mall for £40.

British Charcuterie for Light Lunches & Boxing Day Brunches: Beal’s Farm
Direct from the farm to your kitchen table, Beal’s Farm, a family-run Sussex business, is the home of Mangalitsa charcuterie - award-winning cured meats from rare-breed pigs.  Winner of multiple Great Taste Awards, Beal’s look after the entire process of curing, smoking, air-drying and packing to ensure the highest quality, making them the choice of Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants around the country. 

A wide variety of boxes are available from the Charcuterie Sharing Selection through to the Luxury box featuring four varieties of cured meats including Air-dried Ham, Spalla, Coppa and Lomo, and two half sticks of different salamis – Milano, Fennel or Chorizo, ideal for entertaining and family gatherings.

Availabe from Barbury Hill priced between £18-£49.

Ashley Miln 

​When lockdown first struck, I had lofty ambitions to cook elaborate meals every day in efforts to break up the monotony, while making the most of having more time at home to prepare food. Six months on, the novelty of having to cook three meals a day - every single day - had begun to wear thin.
 
Love Yourself is a new food delivery brand that delivers nutritious and balanced food direct to your door. They have a wide variety of menus to choose from, all of which use only the freshest, finest, seasonal ingredients, meaning you’ll never get bored when it comes to options.
 
Whether you’re gluten free, dairy free, or if you prefer your meals to be halal, you can ensure you’ll be catered for. For those who are trying to watch their weight, Love Yourself’s menus sync with the MyFitness App, which helps you to track your calories and reach your goals.

All of the meals are cooked fresh and delivered daily, which ensures they are bursting with flavour. Love Yourself’s Head Chef, Michal Snela, who has worked in Michelin starred restaurants alongside Marcus Wareing, uses his expertise to ensure all dishes are superb.

​We trialled the Balanced Diet menu for three days and were amazed by both the variety of items on offer and the quality of every dish. The dishes are all healthy as they don’t contain additives or preservatives, and they only use fresh meat. Favourites included the braised beef with mushrooms and peppers; lamb curry; the chicken, sundried tomatoes, and asparagus salad; and the pineapple, coconut and banana breakfast smoothie, which we could happily drink every morning!
 
The Love Yourself delivery service is great for when you’re short on time but don’t want your meals to fall short on taste. Love Yourself offers a range of menus from £25 each day.
 
LoveYourself.co.uk 
 
Ashley Miln

I started eschewing alcohol when I fell pregnant with my eldest child and since then, I only enjoy the occasional tipple as there really is nothing more punishing then feeling hungover while having to look after two tiny tornados!

It can become a bit boring sticking to just juice, soda or water when you're not imbibing, so I was excited to discover  Mother Root, a non-alcoholic drinks brand that was founded by mumpreneur and drinks expert Bethan Higson, who launched the brand while pregnant, looking after a toddler and working a full-time job in the wine trade. She saw a gap in the market for interesting - and flavourful - non-alcoholic drinks, and Mother Root was born in her kitchen in Peckham.

​Mother Root Ginger Switchel is a maceration of pressed ginger juice, blossom honey, Organic apple cider vinegar and a hint of chilli. Inspired by the age-old Anglo-American “shrub-making” tradition originating from the 1700s, Mother Root Ginger Switchel is a revival of these interesting flavours, that’s been given a captivating modern twist.

In addition to being beyond delicious, it's also healthy thanks to its four key ingredients, which are bursting with nutrients.

Ginger has long been revered for its circulatory benefits as well as helping to reduce inflammation and  ease the symptoms of indigestion such as heart burn, bloating, and nausea.  Apple cider vinegar helps balance the body’s pH levels and blood sugar levels and aids digestion. Honey is packed with antioxidants and is great at helping to boost your immune system. Who knew one bottle could hold so much goodness within?!

An uplifting and invigorating drink, Mother Root Ginger Switchel is best enjoyed as a pre-dinner aperitif. Serve over ice with sparkling water or a light tonic, add a slice of orange and a fragrant sprig of rosemary, and you have everything you need for a refreshing drinking experience.

If you fancy a tipple, it's great as a base for vodka or dark rum based cocktails. We think it would be ideal for making a traditional Dark & Stormy with a twist!

Mother Root is available at www.motherroot.london.com and from quality independent retailers nationwide. Priced from £19.00 (480ml- 20 serves) or £8.90 (120ml – 5 serves).
 
For recipe inspiration visit: https://www.motherroot.london/recipes.

The concept
La Belle Assiette was founded in Paris in 2012 by friends Stephen and Giorgio. The concept, which consists of hiring a chef to host a dinner party in your home (including sourcing all of the ingredients, preparing the meal and doing the washing up afterwards) was a resounding success and they are now Europe’s leading chef service with more than 800 chefs on their books.
 
As a child, I always had lofty aspirations that one day I’d be in the financial position to have my own private chef (a girl can dream, right?!), however, as an adult, I realise that it’s just not feasible unless I win the lottery, so to be able to get a taste of the life of the rich and famous – even if it’s just for an evening – is a winner in my book. Plus, it provided a great opportunity for me and my friends to get glammed up for once, which is always fun!

How it works
You start by visiting the La Belle Assiette website, where you can read about the available chefs and their speciality dishes.  After you select your chef and the date / time for your dinner party, the La Belle Assiette team gets in touch to confirm the details and to arrange a chat with your selected chef who can discuss any special requirements you might have.

The chef – Fabrizio Ricotta
 
We selected chef Fabrizio Ricotta who specialises in my favourite cuisine - traditional Italian. Coincidentally, he also has a pretty fabulous surname for a chef! Fabrizio has always had a passion for food since a very young age; one of his fondest memories is spending afternoons podding peas with his grandmother.  Fabrizio has more than 10 years of experience in hospitality working for renowned restaurants such as Novikov, The Darwin Brasserie and Texture, currently holding 1 Michelin star.

As our dinner party was scheduled for 7:30pm, Fabrizio arrived at 6:15pm to begin set up. He came armed with a portable cooler (which held all of his ingredients), his own knife set and of course, chef whites, to ensure he looked the part! We provided use of our kitchen including all of the pots, pans and dishes he needed to prepare and serve the food.
 
After Fabrizio laid out his ingredients, he talked us through the courses he’d be preparing later on, all of which sounded superb. It was nice to be involved in the process at every step of the way and to learn about each of the dishes he was preparing and the provenance of the ingredients.

The food
 
When my guests arrived, we enjoyed a glass of champagne and a cheese board, while Fabrizio busied himself preparing the starter - fresh bruschetta made with bulls heart tomatoes. Although it’s a simple dish, the tomatoes were gorgeous and the grilled sourdough was a nice touch.
 
Starter: Handmade tortellini filled with spinach and ricotta, served with sun-dried tomato pesto
We loved this dish, which was perfectly cooked al dente and you can never go wrong with tomato pesto, in my opinion. 

Mains: Roast loin of pork with a red wine jus served with roasted tenderstem broccoli and mashed potatoes
Pure comfort food at its finest -  this was a hit with all of the guests and it was lovely paired with a medium bodied red wine.

Dessert: Cannolo with ricotta cheese, chocolate and pistachio
I love desserts, however, I found this one a bit heavy going, but the few small bites I had were lush.

The verdict
 
Having a chef prepare a meal in our home felt like the ultimate extravagance but it was also very convenient as it meant we didn’t have to leave our home to enjoy a restaurant quality meal, or source a babysitter for our children (although they did crash our dinner party a couple of times throughout the evening)! Good thing they're cute!

While the service isn’t cheap (starting from £45 a head), it is a lovely option for a special occasion when you really want to treat yourself and would prefer to stay in rather than hit the town.
 
We’d definitely recommend La Belle Assiette for anyone looking for a wow-factor foodie experience that’s certain to impress your guests.
 
The details
To book your dinner party, visit www.labelleassiette.co.uk. For more information on chef Fabrizio Ricotta, view his profile: 
https://labelleassiette.co.uk/fabrizio-ricotta

Ashley Miln

While the Christmas party season is gearing up in full swing, many people have cocktails on the brain, but we think it’s just as good a time to enjoy some non-alcoholic tipples to create a bit of balance.
 
We recently discovered Borrago, a naturally delicious ‘non-alcoholic spirit’ that makes a great base for a variety of mocktails, which let’s be honest, beats drinking soda and juice when you don’t want to imbibe, but would like something a little bit more festive.
 
Designed to be mixed rather than drunk straight (it has a slightly odd taste on its own), it has a heady mix of floral and herbaceous notes that make it great for mixing with a wealth of different flavour combinations.   If you're not sure what to mix it with, it's recommended to use it as a base for mocktails you would typically enjoy with either vodka or gin.  Bursting with citrus and spice, we think it works really well as a base for citrus flavoured mocktail recipes.

We served our Borrago with fresh grapefruit juice, which was fabulous and would make a refreshing summertime drink. Other alternatives if grapefruit's not your vibe, include Borrago and tonic, (their signature serve is 25ml Borrago with  200ml tonic), or their ‘Windfall’ mocktail, a blend of Borrago, lemon juice, elderflower syrup and cloudy apple juice.  With so many options to choose from, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to discovering your favourite Borrago concoction.
 
Borrago is available from www.borrago.com for £19.99  (500ml bottle).
 
Ashley Miln
​

Olive oil is a staple ingredient in any cook's cupboard thanks to its versatility and its simple yet delicious flavour.   From drizzling it over salads or freshly baked bread, to marinating meats, the culinary possibilities are endless. 

When it comes to choosing olive oil, there is a dizzying range to choose from, but this one really stands out thanks to its strikingly elegant black and gold packaging and its fabulous taste.  We normally hide our olive oil away in the cupboard, but with looks this good, it seems a shame, so I'll be keeping it proudly displayed on the counter top!

Morocco Gold is an ultra-premium natural, extra virgin olive oil from Morocco made using Picholine Marocaine olives, which are hand harvested and cold pressed within 24 hours.  The flavour profile combines green fruitiness, with hints of almond and herbs and a peppery aftertaste with a clean finish.

To test its versatility, we prepared two recipes using Morocco Gold - salmon with fresh dill, garlic and lemon and chicken thighs with fresh lime and coriander, both of which were  superb.  If you're looking for a fantastic olive oil that goes with pretty much anything, you can't go wrong with Morocco Gold.

We're always looking for mixers and non-alcoholic spirits to help us up our cocktail and mocktail game, so we were thrilled to come across these two fab new products guaranteed to elevate your drinks to the next level.

Caleno
Inspired by South America, this non-alcoholic spirit tastes deceivingly like a G&T when mixed with tonic - but without the hangover.   Flavours of juniper, inca berry and and citrus make it highly sippable and pleasingly refreshing - in essence, the perfect poolside drink. Available from Sainsbury's (£24.99 for 70cl).

Tipplesworth
If you're a fan of seriously sweet cocktails, than the Tipplesworth Passionfruit Martini mixer will be right up your street. Simply add vodka and you're set! Alternatively, add soda for a tasty non-alcoholic cocktail that's just as fabulous. Flavours of passion fruit, guava, pineapple and lime, with notes of French vanilla and marshmallow will have you planning your next exotic holiday as you enjoy all of it's sweet goodness. Best of all, it doesn't have any artificial flavourings. ​Available from Ocado (£6.99 for 500ml).

Cheers!

Ashley Miln 

We recently had the pleasure of visiting the charming city of Parma, long renowned as a city of gastronomy, to see first-hand how Parmigiano Reggiano, one of the world’s most famous artisan cheeses beloved the world over for its distinct taste, is produced.

​The making of Parmigiano Reggiano
Every day the master cheesemaker begins at dawn, when the milk from the morning milking arrives. The milk from the previous evening has been resting in steel tanks, resulting in natural separation, which thickens the milk, which is then skimmed. The milk is then poured into massive copper vats the size of hot tubs, where it slowly coagulates with the addition of rennet and whey. The milk is brought up to 55C to encourage curding and the cheesemaker then breaks up the curds, using a spino. The cheese that forms is wrapped in muslin and is hoisted out of the steel vats by two cheesemakers (given its heavy weight). I could see why all of the cheesemakers we saw during our visit were quite fit given the laborious nature of the job at hand!
​
After the cheese is removed from the copper vats it is weighed down and put into a mold to give it its characterstic wheel shape. Afterwards, it’s moved to the maturation room where it matures to perfection (if only they had a room like this for husbands!)

​Only the best cheese gets the stamp of approval
To ensure the utmost quality of every wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, there is a protection body, The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, which includes all producers who process the milk into cheese. At 12 months, every wheel of cheese is quality tested and only if it passes stringent guidelines, will it be branded with its selection mark.

​Parmigiano Reggiano on EVERYTHING
During our visit to Parma, we feasted at several fabulous restaurants, where we were treated to dinners featuring Parmigiano Reggiano in each and every course. Some of the dishes were quite inventive (Parmigiano Reggiano ice cream, anyone?) and we also enjoyed sampling three maturations of Parmigiano Reggiano paired with a selection of chutneys – a new addition to our cheeseboard next time we’re hosting a dinner party!

Our favourite restaurants we dined at over the course of the weekend included: Les Caves, Antica Moka, Croce di Malta and Ristorante Inkiostro.  Each restaurant had superb service and delicious traditional Italian cuisine, which combined made for a special experience.

After learning about how much love and care goes into producing Parmigiano Reggiano, I have gained a newfound respect for it and for the people who pour their heart and souls into keeping the tradition of years bygone alive, making it taste even sweeter.
​
www.parmigianoreggiano.com
www.parmacityofgastronomy.it
​
Ashley Miln 
*During my visit I was hosted by the lovely teams at Parmigiano Reggiano, Antica Moca, Ristorante Inkiostro, Les Caves, Croce di Malta, and Grand Hotel de la Ville, Parma. All opinions and photography are my own. 

Crosta & Mollica, which means 'crust and crumb' in Italian, produces a tasty range of authentic fine Italian baked goods made with simple ingredients. Think traditional piadinas, breads, savoury biscuits and seasonal products such as pannetone and pandoros.  

We loved the tarallini (Italian snacks with the texture of a breadstick) and also their piadina (Italian flatbread, which looks and tastes a bit like a tortilla).  To get the best flavour out of the piadina, we baked it in the oven for the recommended five minutes, and they came out warm, lovely and flaky. We used ours like tortillas and found they were great for making a wide variety of sandwiches and even as an alternative to tortilla shells for tacos. The verdict - we'll definitely be switching our tortillas out for piadinas moving forward as they're so much tastier!