Food Lovers Address Book

In the spirit of Christmas, I thought it high time I share some of my favourite food and drink products with you in the hope that you may find the same joy in them that I have done over the years. I often get asked about which brand of products I like best and where I shop for this and that and what I drink, so here we go! A perfectly compact and bijoux, thoroughly digestible address book of some of my favourite foodie finds with no paid endorsements or advertising, just my honest, humble opinion in the hope it may provide some solutions for your Christmas table.

Smoked Salmon

As I live between London and Yorkshire, I have a favourite smokehouse in the North and another in the South and I absolutely love them both for Smoked Salmon and a whole host of other smoked fish, too.

Secret Smokehouse, London - www.secretsmokehouse.co.uk
Staal Smokehouse, Yorkshire - www.staalsmokehouse.co.uk

Butchers

I have a very special relationship with this butcher… They aren’t the closest to me but they are such a cool team who always endure my requests and requirements and sell some outstanding sauces, charcuterie, pies and other products as well as their fantastic meat. So much love for Ollie and his team.

Provenance (Chelsea location), London - www.provenancebutcher.com

Poultry

For fantastic Turkey and Goose at Christmas and wonderful Chicken all year round, Fosse Meadows is the one you need.

Fosse Meadows Farm - www.fossemeadows.com

Cheese

My favourite little local cheesemonger. I could talk to their staff for hours, learning about flavours, the cheeses themselves and tasting as I go. This is where I first fell in love with my now favourite British cheese, Colston Bassett.

London Cheesemongers – www.londoncheesemongers.co.uk

Cheddar

I know technically Cheddar should come under the banner of Cheese and Cheesemonger BUT if you haven’t tried Godminster Cheddar, then I hate to tell you, you haven’t lived. Simply put, it is the best damned Cheddar I’ve ever had and I am made about it. Supermarkets and delis do sometimes stock it but you can order from them directly from everything to 200g packs to 2kg wheels. I’m a purist and like the normal Cheddar but they now offer smoked Cheddar, Black Truffle Cheddar and also a rather nice Brie.

Godminster - www.godminster.com

Charcuterie

From the very first time I tried one of their products in a restaurant I loved, I was blown away. I simply could not believe there incredible quality charcuterie was British produced and in London, no less! From Salami and Bresaola, Chorizo and Sorpressata to Lomo and my absolute favourite, Coppa… everything they make is exquisite and I absolutely love it all.

Cobble Lane Cured, London – www.cobblelanecured.com

Bakehouse

Simply put, there are 3 bakeries in this country that, for me, make the kind of bread that is mind-blowingly delicious and that, more importantly, result in you very quickly inhaling a whole loaf on the drive home without realising you’ve done it! Bread, and other goodies, galore! The kind of dough that makes you want to spend all your dough. Pardon the pun. Or should that be, pardon the bun? I’ll stop.

The Dusty Knuckle Bakery, London – www.thedustyknuckle.com
Haxby Bakehouse, Haxby, North Yorks – www.haxbybakehouse.co.uk
Bertinet Bakery, Bath – www.bertinet.com