That's Christmas

Monday, 17 October 2022

Soko Patisserie's Mince Pie Bon Bon Advent Calendar

That's Christmas has been running a feature on Advent Calendars and with the assistance of Anna Paganelli we have discovered this Christmas gem!

Soko Patisserie's Advent Calendar Features a Mince Pie Bon Bon!

It's a veritable Christmas lover's and foodie's delight. You'll begin each day with Soko Patisserie's delicious selection of gastronomical Christmas treats, which will include a delightful Mince Pie bon bon, enrobed chocolates and magical golden Rocher's.

The Mince Pie Bon Bon

Every melt-in-the-mouth bonbons is a sensory explosion, releasing rich flavours and aromas from its crisp chocolate shell.

The Mince Pie bon bon is a very, very special limited edition. It features a delicious infusion of cream, spiced sweet mincemeat and a layer of buttery shortcut pastry enrobed in white chocolate.

Soko chocolatier and patisserie is based in my home city of Birmingham and has the backing and support of Michelin-starred chef Andreas Antona and Bake Off: The Professionals, Bharat Chandegra.

Soko's is always most careful to make certain they obtain their chocolate from reputable sources.

Cacao Barry prides itself on employing only highest-grade high quality coco beans which are always produced sustainably. It's also promising to become fully deforestation-free and carbon positive by 2025.

The Advent Calendar is priced at a remarkably reasonable £24, delivery is nationwide.

https://www.sokopatisserie.co.uk

@sokopatisserie

(Out of pure nosiness, I have just checked and it's only a stone's throw from where my late grandmother lived!)

That's Christmas: Wickhams' Winter Wine Discovery Event

That's Christmas: Wickhams' Winter Wine Discovery Event: If you are in Exeter on Saturday 19th November, why not join Wickhams at the Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel from 12-6pm to discover their ra...

Wickhams' Winter Wine Discovery Event

If you are in Exeter on Saturday 19th November, why not join Wickhams at the Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel from 12-6pm to discover their range of award-winning wines from around the world?

There will be a wide range of delicious A wines from England, France, Spain, Italy, South Africa and beyond, available to taste with many winemakers and producers available for you to actually meet up with on the day.

There will also be five special wine masterclasses hosted by top wine industry experts such as popular wine writer Susy Atkins who writes for telegraph.co.uk and delicious. magazine.

Tickets are available from eventbrite.co.uk and cost £15 per person (until October 31st), after which tickets cost £30 per person.

Masterclasses are £5 each and it is recommended they are purchased beforehand.

The Exeter Mercure Hotel is located opposite the Central Station, in the very heart of Exeter. It is perfectly situated should you be using public transport and the hotel is wheelchair accessible, too.

Wickhams' tasting events are renowned for being informal and a lot of fun. You'll be able to taste lots of different wines, meet some of the winemakers and attend a masterclass.

Whether you're an amateur who loves wines, or even if you're a seasoned professional, there'll be something there for you. The day will be the perfect chance for you to select your wines for the Festive Season, be they to be used as very special Christmas gifts or for your own personal Christmas wine cellar.

During the entire day Wickhams' will be showcasing a broad range of red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling wines such as: Bodegas La Eralta from Rioja, Spain; Mario Giribaldi from Piedmont Italy; Peter Falke from Stellenbosch, South Africa; and winemakers from Champagne, Beaujolais and Burgundy in France. Flying the flag for England will be Sandridge Barton Wines and Huxbear Vineyard, both lfrom Devon.

Upon arrival you will be given a brochure with details of all the producers present and the wines that are available to taste.

Masterclasses

Priced at £5 per person, unless otherwise stated. For further information or to book please visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/winter-wine-discovery-tickets-369410365347?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Masterclass 1 - Off the Beaten Track Wines Hosted by Stephen Barrett, wine writer and educator.

Join Stephen to explore some lesser-known grape varieties and countries in this intriguing masterclass. You may even discover a new favourite.

Masterclass 2 - Alternative Christmas Food and Wine Pairings Hosted by Pip Vanham AIWS DipWSET (please note this masterclass is £10 per person to cover food costs.)

Pip will be taking you through some alternative ideas to serve with your Christmas meal. There will be morsels of food served with each wine so you can really understand how wines change when enjoyed with the right pairing. Pip's passion really shines through when she's talking about wine and food so sign up and prepare to have your eyes opened to new flavour experiences.

Masterclass 3 - It's Beaujolais, but not as you know it! Hosted by Susy Atkins, wine writer (telegraph.co.uk, delicious mag.)

Beaujolais has too often been thought of as only a summer wine; light, floral and good served chilled. In this masterclass Susy will show you what gems Beaujolais is hiding to prove it is a great all-round region. You'll learn lots about the regions, the crus and the wines so open your mind to trying something new.

Susy writes for the Sunday Telegraph and Delicious magazine. She is also familiar to many wine & food lovers as a regular wine expert and presenter on BBC1's flag-ship cookery show Saturday Kitchen.

Masterclass 4 - A Vineyard Year Hosted by Lucy Hulland of Huxbear Vineyard.

Come along and learn what really happens in the vineyard all the year round. Lucy Hulland is owner of Huxbear Vineyard, alongside Ben, her husband, and she will talk about the work required to plant and run a working vineyard. Nothing short of fascinating.

You'll gain a greater understanding of what goes on "behind the scenes”, with blood, sweat, tears and an awful lot of hard work all contributing to the wines you'll be tasting.

Masterclass 5 - Classic Christmas Wines Hosted by Dan Farrell-Wright

Join Wickhams' owner, Dan Farrell-Wright as he talks through what he will be drinking at the dinner table this Christmas. Dan's easy delivery will leave you feeling like you're part of the family as you taste 5 of Dan's favourite, classic choices for the festive season.

Wickhams have had another hugely successful year beating Waitrose & Partners to win Specialist Merchant of the Year, England at the International Wine Challenge Awards and receiving three nominations at this year's Decanter Retailer Awards.

Their events schedule also continues to build with regular online tastings which are informative and a lot of fun. They are also very reasonably priced with one tasting pack, containing enough for two people, costing £10. These events are hosted by Dan Farrell-Wright and Pip Vanham (AIWS DipWSET) as well as other special guests and can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own sofa! All information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/wickhams-great-british-wine-merchant-33238984503

Wickhams is an independent Devon-based wine merchant. They love to source the finest Estate bottled wines from around the globe.

Wickhams curate collections from everyday wines to utter classics, so there's something to suit every taste. They passionately believe in stocking wines, spirits and gift sets at a range of price points to ensure their products are accessible to everyone. To stay updated with all their events and new releases sign up to their mailing list at www.wickhamwine.co.uk.

Brie & Pickle Pastry Wreath from Cottage Delight

Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 320g ready roll puff pastry

• 6tbsp Cottage Delight Perfect Party Pickle (320g jar)

• 200g brie cheese, sliced

• 2 tbsp pistachio nuts roughly chopped

• 1 egg, beaten

Method

• Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/180ºC fan/gas 6 and line a baking sheet with some parchment paper.

• Roll the pastry and cut a large circle out of the pastry.

• Lay the large pastry circle on the prepared baking sheet.

• Mark an inner circle with a medium-sized bowl, but don’t press all the way through the pastry!

• Cut four cuts into the centre circle, this will create 8 triangles.

• Spread the Perfect Party Pickle around the outer circle then top with the brie and pistachios.

• From the four cuts, bring one triangle of the centre outwards over the filling as well as bringing the outer edge of pastry inwards. Press the two together and continue all the way around with the remaining 7 triangles until you have a wreath.

• Brush with beaten egg then place in the oven and allow to bake for 15 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

• Remove from the oven, allow to rest for 5 minutes then slice and serve.

We would like to thank Cottage Delight for their assistance in providing this Christmas recipe. To learn more about their Cottage Delight Perfect Party Pickle and their other delicious cookery products please visit them at https://www.cottagedelight.co.uk.

And whilst you are there do please check out their very welcoming and helpful EarlyBird Discount of 15%!

Cide is Wine. For Christmas and beyond

Four years ago Cider Is Wine set out a vision that "by 2030 all trade and consumers will be aware of wines fermented from apples, pears and other fruits made from 100% juice not from concentrate."

The Cider Is Wine hologram certification together with high level influencers and media acceptance has helped change perceptions with both the trade and consumer when it comes to drinks made from 100% freshly-pressed apple, pear and other fruit juices, not from concentrates, following grape winemaking rules and regs.

These products really are wines by any other name (a very different proposition from mass market, 35% juice content ciders, perries and fruit wines, all of which can come from concentrate that's very often imported).

A spokesman for Cider Is Wine said: "Today we're thrilled to announce another step towards our 2030 vision, further accelerating our growth, with the agreement we've entered into with Awin Barratt Siegel (ABS) to distribute selected cideries nationally in the UK drinks trade."

ABS is a six-time winner of the 'IWSC Importer of the Year Trophy' and works with over 80 wineries across 12 different countries, including the IWSC 2022 White Wine Producer of the Year.

Elliot Awin, a Partner at Awin Barratt Siegel, said: “We're really delighted to introduce selected Cider is Wine producers into the ABS portfolio: with lower alcohol content, and offering a complexity that readily exceeds their price on the shelf, these ciders, perries and fruit wines, with their local provenance, provide another string to the bow of independent wine merchants.”

Alistair Morrell, Chief Cider Officer at Cider Is Wine, will be working closely with ABS to develop the cideries' sales, marketing and relationships, throughout the trade, as the ambassador for Cider Is Wine.

Alistair added: “This is a vital milestone on the way to the big 2030 vision we laid out back in 2018. We're looking forward to working with the ABS team to bring these quality, artisan and authentic products to a much wider trade audience, confidently promoting the fact they be appreciated as much as any fine wine can be.”

Cider Is Wine continues to harness this new drinks category, worth an estimated £150 million, through certification with the unique hologram and education with both existing and new members.

The combination of wine ranges from family-owned wineries stocked by ABS, together with the innovation of artisan products from Cider Is Wine sourced from 4 continents, each redolent of their 'terroir', to use a winemaking expression, is all about increased choice for consumers and a strong business proposition for UK wholesalers and retailers.

The UK market for ciders, perries and fruit wines made from 100% fruit, not from concentrate is conservatively estimated to be worth £150 million and they're inviting us to take a slice.

That's Christmas is be promoting the idea of ciders for Christmas, especially during Christmas dinner. We suggest purchasing a range of "real" ciders from your usual drink retailers and testing them out before the big day itself.

Limoncello Di Capri Relaunch With Bold New Brand

Legendary Italian drinks company Molinari has relaunched its popular Limoncello di Capri with an eye-catching new brand. One of Mangrove UK's delicious brands, the lemon-flavoured liqueur has received a refresh of its bottle, packaging, and position within the market.

Molinari's Limoncello di Capri sits in a class of its own, thanks to authentically sourced ingredients.

The liqueur is made from 100% Sorrento, 'I.G.P' lemons a type of fruit specific to the region which is higher in essential oils, Vitamin C, and flavour. The process has remained unchanged over the years and the production of the liqueur takes place on the Gulf of Sorrento itself.

Originally produced as a post-meal digestif, this adaptable drink is now enjoying a renaissance with a variety of different serving suggestions and recipes.

The rebrand comes at a time when the Limoncello market is becoming more crowded. The new brand sets it apart from its less authentic competitors and supports the quality and purity of the spirit. The packaging is designed to appeal to an international market - premium, with a unique bottle that reflects the region's island cultures. The result is a product that draws in anyone with an affinity to Italy and can be enjoyed all year round due to its delicious versatility.

From the perspective of taste, Limoncello di Capri reflects its high quality ingredients, using the I.G.P lemons, which are a unique type of citrus fruit famous for their aroma, taste, balance between citric tartness and sugar, and the presence of vital essential oil.

The traditional process also ensures there are absolutely no additives or preservatives. Thus adding to its provenance as the definitive choice for limoncello lovers.

The days of Limoncello being enjoyed as a digestif alone, are well in the past. Signature serves which have been developed alongside the new brand, are already regularly enjoyed, all year round, along the Sorrento coastline.

Mixed simply as a spritz with prosecco or with tonic water, provides a refreshingly fruity beverage that's as delicious at Christmas, as it is in Summer. Limoncello di Capri adds a delicious citrus twist and pairs well with classic vodka and gin cocktails. For a more unusual serve, enjoy as an iced drink or granita that's reminiscent of an invigorating lemon sorbet.

Richard Glover UK County Director of Molinari said of the rebrand: “The new brand for Limoncello di Capri reflects the quality and provenance of a liqueur which is synonymous with the sun-fuelled, pleasure-filled Italian lifestyle.

"We're thrilled to bring it to market, alongside some recipe suggestions which will help lemon-lovers across the world to enjoy this versatile Italian drink.”

Nick Gillett, Managing Director of Mangrove UK said: “With the rise of the spritz and the UK's new-found love for Italian spirits and liqueurs, there is no better time for Limoncello di Capri to make its mark as a versatile drink that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, by new audiences.

“We at Mangrove are thrilled to have the original and definitive Limoncello as part of the portfolio and look forward to achieving the results the new branding deserves.”

We at That's Christmas feel that this relaunched spirit will surely be a firm favourite this Christmas and into the New Year.

Christmas gift guide ideas from Limetree London, a luxury gifting independent retailer

Christmas gift guide ideas from a luxury gifting independent retailer called Lime Tree London.

Lime Tree London has a wonderful range of British made gifts and decorations which are all absolutely perfect for Christmas.

The independent business, founded by two female entrepreneurs in Kent, Natalie Joliffe and Hayley Adams, specialises in personalisation, high quality and well-designed products with sustainability a key part of what they do.

So what Christmas gifting and Christmas decoration ideas are available?

Child Reindeer Apron and Hat set: £35