Fruit Cake & Cheese: A Festive Favourite for Yorkshire Folk

As the festive season approaches, one custom that is set to entice the taste buds of the nation is fruit cake and Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese – an increasingly popular Christmas pairing, which sits proudly amongst the long-standing traditions of God’s Own County.

The pairing of fruit cake and Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese dates back to at least the 19th century, and the Creamery proudly champions the flavoursome match of its creamy Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese with the rich sweetness of fruit cake. The combination has won many plaudits from Yorkshire Greats as a well-known festive treat.

William Hague, Former UK Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons, flies the flag for the seasonal match: “For me, there is no greater delicacy in the world than Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and fruit cake.”

David Hartley, Managing Director of the Wensleydale Creamery, comments: “Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese has become synonymous with quality, authenticity and tradition, being recognised with European protected food name status.  Our skilled cheese-makers still continue the art of handcrafting Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales today.

“We are very proud to celebrate the long-standing great Northern tradition of Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and fruit cake and we look forward to seeing many celebrating and enjoying the festive treat across the nation this Christmas.”

To find out more or to purchase the Wensleydale Creamery’s full range of cheeses and accompaniments, visit www.wensleydale.co.uk.

Bonne Maman... It's sort of French for Christmas!

BOITE METAL MADELEINES 2015+sticker festif.

Treat your family and friends to a limited edition Bonne Maman Madeleines Christmas Tin, the perfect festive indulgence to share on Christmas Day.

Featuring 10 individually wrapped Bonne Maman Madeleines, delicate in taste and light in texture thanks to their subtle almond and vanilla flavours and light, buttery sponge.

Made from an authentic traditional recipe using the finest natural ingredients, these French delights will add a little luxury to this festive season.

Available from Ocado (RRP £3.99)

Men's Health Lab launches new vitamin range for Christmas gifting

Men's Health, the UK's no 1  men's  magazine, has launched into the vitamins   sector with  its new brand Men's Health Lab, to help men release their best   by giving their body and mind an extra  helping hand.  

There's eight easy-to-understand products, so Men’s Health Lab vitamins has made it simpler  for  men to navigate the complicated  vitamins  and supplements  market by developing clear  benefit led vitamins products, designed with  men  and  their busy lifestyles in mind.  

The new comprehensive range is expertly designed to support the specific needs of every man   and utilises the  expertise that Men’s Health has built over nearly three decades in the  health and   fitness industry.  

Developed by the experts of Men's  Health in  partnership with consumer healthcare specialists    Omega Pharma,  men can  be assured each and every product is made only with the highest   quality ingredients,  carefully selected and sourced for optimum health benefits.

The range is split into three distinct segments of advanced vitamins and supplements, tailored  to   support body and  mind:  

• Performance: Mental Focus,  Vit  D3 Max, Cardio Health  & Joint Endurance
• Well-being Multi-­Fit   & Body Defence  
• Energy Energy Release  &  Active Recovery  

Please note that Men's Health Lab products are available via the Amazon powered gift shop which you will find to the top right side of That's Christmas.

Bespoke Number Plates from Fourdot. The ideal gift. gift cards are available

The first fully tailor-made, 100% road legal number plates, Fourdot gives drivers the ability to add a unique finishing touch to their number plate, perfectly complementing the contours, lines and aesthetics of their vehicle.

Tailor made dependent on each vehicle's shape and style as well as the driver's unique personality – the luxury plates are completely custom-made.

Crafted out of high grade, quality acrylic, Fourdot’s Style and Signature ranges are both designed to be bespoke to each persons needs.

Signature Range
Carefully created for car enthusiasts, the flagship Signature range uses advanced 3D laser scanning technology to produce model specific number plates that fit each vehicle’s plate recess with precision.

Use the online Plate Creator to discover a range of design options, from the colour of backgrounds, to the size and shape of the reflective area and borders. Plus, add bespoke icons or personal artwork that matches either the paint or styling of the vehicle and create your own bespoke plate that enhances rather than detracts from the vehicle’s original design.

Price: from £145 (a pair)

Style Range

With the same state-of-the-art precision engineering alongside fixed plate dimensions, tailor the Style range to suit the personal tastes of the owner as well as their vehicles aesthetics. Choose designs from the hundreds of options created by Fourdot’s in house design team or create your own unique arrangement, based on anything from the owner's favourite pattern or design to a favourite hobby or pastime.

Price: from £75 (a pair)

Both laser cut ranges are manufactured in the UK and also come with a zero front plate option; a streamlined front plate that reduces the size to the extremes of legal limits, to show that less is definitely more.

Head to www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk to design a bespoke plate unique to each individual person's style or purchase a gift card.

BRITA Marella jugs a good looking and healthy Christmas gift

We all know the importance of water when concerning our health and skin, so it's good news that BRITA have a Marella jugs which holds up to 2.4L or 3.5L of water.

Marella's fit perfectly into the fridge door and have a helpful 'memo' which reminds you to change the Maxtra cartridge to ensure you always have the freshest filtered water.

The Marella jug reduces levels of chlorine, heavy metals and limescale in your water, and also features a sleek flip top lid. It comes in a range of colours to suit every kitchen from Yellow to Purple.

So not only does it make an attractive Christmas present, it also helps keep the recipient healthy, too!

Why not buy one for yourself, too?

Festive fun for Christmas week

@ The Hour Glass
http://hourglasspub.co.uk/
Enjoy their cosy downstairs pub area for drinks first before heading to the upstairs restaurant for a traditional selection of Christmas wonders starting at £30 for three courses. Indulge in delicious dishes such as warming Blue Vinney Rarebit, Venison and Bacon Suet Pudding and Stone Bass with Clams and Purple Sprouting Broccoli – there’s also Roast Goose with all the trimmings for those who want to keep it traditional.

@ Adam Byatt http://www.trinityrestaurant.co.uk/
Trinity: Long considered one of the finest restaurants in the Capital, and a particular stalwart for residents south of the river. Get involved in true gourmand Christmas tradition and enjoy Adam Byatt’s luxury Christmas menu, offering three courses for £50 per person (Available from December 2nd to 23rd, for groups of 4 or more) Choose a hearty pumpkin soup with gingerbread to begin your wintery feast before a whole goose with Cranberry Stuffing, Roast Roots and Goose Fat Potatoes is put before your table.

Upstairs at Trinity: The more informal restaurant “Upstairs” offers a banquet for Kings, a sharing feast starting at £30 offering a variety of options for three courses. Choose Gin smoked salmon or delicious Cornish mussels to start with, before the whole table can feast on spit roast Ark Farm chickens with Macaroons or a cheese selection for pudding, if you still have room..!
Bistro Union: Keeping it real this Christmas, with only festive favourites on their £35 three course menu, guests can choose from comforting classics like Cherry Smoked Salmon, Turkey with all the trimmings and stilton and port for a Christmassy closure.
http://www.bistrounion.co.uk/

@ Rudie’s http://rudieslondon.com/
For those that don’t want to pre-empt the Christmas Day meal by eating the full turkey only weeks before, Rudie’s “festive” menu is just for you. For only £29.50 feast on turkey and cranberry Jamaican patties, slow cooked pineapple and rum glazed ham and Rum Cake with Rum Butter Sauce and Ice Cream.

It doesn't stop there though, adding an extra punch to your Christmas feast, Rudie’s offers you their festive and aptly named Berries Hammond cocktail – an enchanting mix of winter fruit and Jamaican Rum.

Christmas made easy

Christmas Hampers. Or as my wife calls this concept, "Christmas in a Box!"

Forget the stress of Christmas shopping this year – containing everything you need for the perfect gift in one package, a hamper is your secret to hassle-free festivities.

Even the fussiest of family members would be thrilled to receive a hamper full of their favourite Christmas classics and, thanks to First4Hampers, these bundles of delight can be selected and ordered in just a matter of clicks with next day UK delivery available. Many of the products, which are sourced from the UK, Ireland and Europe are Great Taste Award winners, which is the highest accolade afforded to foods in the UK and ROI.

From Christmas puds to chocolate Brazil nuts, wine, marmalade and biscuits, these food-filled hampers make the ideal gift for indulgent enjoyment and will last long after the turkey has been eaten.

The Great Christmas Classic (£79.90)
Delivered in a classic handmade wicker hamper, this festive-themed gift package contains all the Christmas classics sure to evoke fond memories. Perfect for families, it includes favourites such as chocolate Brazils, brandy pudding, Raspberry shortcake and Christmas preserve. The season can be toasted with a selection of Vicuna Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines.

Luxurious (and affordable) Christmas    
This Thornton & France (established 1717) luxurious gift box creates an opulent present which doesn’t break the bank. Perfect for post (or pre) turkey nibbles, it contains both savoury and sweet treats such as handmade sweet ham and pickle Yorkshire Crisps, caramelised cashews, Ditty’s spiced shortbread and Cole’s figgy Christmas pudding. These goodies can be enjoyed with delicious Lily O’Brien’s chocolates and washed down with Alta Rita Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc (or New English Tea if you prefer). Perfect for sharing after the kids have gone to bed.
£69.90

Festive Fruit Punch Basket
Walker’s Mincemeat tarts, Cole’s brandy Christmas pudding, Belgian chocolates and shortbread Scottie dogs are just some of the delicious classics contained in this stunning handmade wicker hamper. An ideal gift for one or two people, the delicious delights can be washed down with non-alcoholic fruit punch made with real elderberries, blackcurrants and orange, spiced up with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to create the perfect festive drink.
£35

For more information on First 4 Hamper’s full range, please visit www.First4Hampers.com.