So, December has arrived in all its arctic glory and we’re finally ready to admit that Christmas is coming. We know that most shops have had their decorations up since mid-August and some people have already got their presents wrapped and their turkey in their freezer, but if - like us - you’re taking a more laid-back approach to the holiday season, here are some of the best places in London to do your festive food shopping.
- From 20th to 23rd December, the Southbank Centre will host the Slow Food Christmas Market - the ideal place to stock up on sustainably produced fresh food for an eco-friendly larder. This year there are over 25 stalls selling things like Sheepdrove Farm's organic turkeys; Perry Court bio-dynamic vegetables; rare breed pork; game pies; Somerset cider brandy; and Ping Pong's flowering teas.
- There are still tickets available for Gordon Ramsay’s Taste of Christmas, which runs from December 4th to 7th at ExCel in Docklands. There will be plenty of cookery demos, wine tastings, sample dishes from top London restaurants, and a huge range of stalls selling unique gifts and seasonal food and drink. Some of our favourites will be there, so look out for The Garlic Farm, Kellys Turkeys, the Japanese Knife Company, and Daisy’s Dog Deli - the only place to buy treats for your pampered pooch this Christmas.
- There’s Christmas music at Borough Market from 4th December, and BBC3’s Choir of the Year are performing on Saturday 6th. As usual, you can pick up quality cuts of meat, excellent cheese, fine wine and plenty of chocolate and fudge - just go bright and early to avoid the crowds. Check out the seasonal opening hours on their website.
- The Moet & Chandon Pop Up Shop is open throughout December on New Bond Street and it’s the perfect place to pick up a bottle of festive fizz. If you have guests to impress, parties to attend or just fancy treating yourself; you can’t go wrong here. Prices start at £50 for a 75cl bottle and there are 1500cl Nebuchadnezzar bottles available if you want to bathe in the stuff. To add a little extra sparkle to a gift, get the Moet maestros to customise your bottle with a name or date in Swarovski crystals. The shop is open from 11am to 7pm and you can call 0845 871 1743 for more details.
- To the delight of rucksack-wielding tourists everywhere, Covent Garden has been transformed into a shimmering winter wonderland that will host performance artists, live theatre, acrobats and dance troupes over the festive period. There’s plenty of festive fare on offer at the 12 Days of Christmas Market, where producers from across the UK will be selling traditional treats like roasted chestnuts, cider, chocolate, stilton and the infamous Turducken, which is a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey - guaranteed to fill sandwiches right through to New Year's Day.
- The gourmet Food Markets at Harvey Nichols stores across the UK are hosting festive fetes this month, complete with tastings from specialist producers and the chance to stock up on some seriously exclusive brands and regional specialties. The London store’s fete is on the 17th and tickets must be booked in advance by calling 020 7201 8632 - but don’t panic, they’re free!
- This year, Fortnum & Mason’s famous windows will feature storybook scenes from Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Snow Queen’. On ‘Festive Thursdays’ throughout December, the store will host mulled wine making classes, gift wrapping and table decorating workshops, performances from some of London’s best choirs, cookery demos and cocktail master classes (courtesy of Snow Queen vodka). The 1707 Wine Bar is serving up winter-themed drinks and your little gourmets can feast on Snow Queen sundaes in The Parlour.
With your larder fully stocked, all that's left is to baste the bird and throw some more brandy on the Christmas pudding. If that sounds too much like hard work, don't panic - we’ll soon be listing the best turkey-free Christmas menus that London has to offer.
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