The quickest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, so here’s a quick guide to get there.
The festive season is a food lover’s dream but if you are more of a Hell’s Kitchen Nightmare than a Nigella, here are some ideas to impress your own connoisseurs without burning down the house. And of course, we’ve also included some liquid options, because we’re Irish, but please drink responsibly this festive season.
The Guinness Nitrosurge
Fancy the perfect creamy pint to wash down all that delicious food? If you can’t make it to the pub for a fresh Guinness don’t worry, as you can now achieve the same level of stout pour perfection at home.
The Guinness Nitrosurge Device enables you to achieve the two part pour all on your own. The device uses ultrasound technology created exclusively be Guinness to break down the nitrogen in the drink and give you an effortless two part pour.
It is retailing at €25 and you can order yours here.
Gourmet Gifts Very Vegan Christmas hamper
Gourmet Gifts has put together a wide range of yummy Christmas hampers to make sure there is something for everybody.
If you’re not vegan it can be hard to pick out foodie gifts for your plant-based pals, thankfully the work has been taken out of it this year with A Very Vegan Christmas hamper.
This gift contains all the essentials for some snacking in front of a festive movie; including a sharing bag of Keogh’s crisps, Polly & Andy Christmas socks, Pandora Bell candy cane, Wild Orchard lemonade 250ml, Foods of Athenry cookie shots, Nibbed cacao and Skelligs vegan chocolate bark.
There is an option to also add a bottle of wine with Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc or Doppio Passo Primitivo as the choices. The basket retails at €40. You can browse all the hamper options here.
Cadbury Roses tins by Cath Kidston
A box of Cadbury Roses at Christmas is almost a given and always goes down a treat but this year they’re getting a stylish new design.
Cath Kidston has teamed up with Cadbury’s to create two new tins, a 432g and an 800g edition. In classic Cath Kidston fashion the tins sport beautiful floral designs.
Not only are the chocolates yummy as ever, the boxes can be kept as keepsakes. You can find them in Supervalu stores across the country at €6.
Baileys Chocolate Bombes
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Baileys, and it wouldn’t be Baileys unless you were having it in your hot chocolate, your coffee, and just about every other drink this festive season too.
Made with Baileys chocolate and a gooey marshmallow centre, these bombes are, well, the bombe really. You can buy them online or in select SuperValu and Tesco stores.
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Roe & Co Ultimate Cocktail Kit
Tis the season for cocktail nights with friends and with this gift you can make that night out, a night in!
The Ultimate set of Roe & Co Irish Whiskey Bar Ware that is used by mixologists and bartenders around the world can now be used at home. Including a Tiki Tin on Tin Shaker, a Biloxi strainer, two Jigger 1/2oz, a Coley Strainer, a Tiki Print Bar Spoon, a Bar Menu, a Roe & Co 70cl, a Japanese Jug and a Tiki Julep Glass.
It is ideal for those who are looking to bring their at home cocktail making skills to the next level and impress at those drinks nights.
All of these tools can also be bought separately on the site starting at €6, the whole set costs €250.
Carewswood Regalo Box Christmas hamper
This Spanish inspired foodie hamper is packed with flavour and heat, bringing a taste of España to the festive season, with all products sourced locally in Ireland.
The hamper from Carewswood Garden Centre Cafe includes hot sauce, chilli flavoured tortilla chips, and a bottle of Tempranillo, a high-quality black grape wine – and some other delicious treats. It costs €55 and can be ordered here.
One4all Restaurant Favourites Gift Card
A faultless present is a meal in someone’s favourite restaurant, and even better is letting them choose.
With the new One4all restaurants favourites gift card you can give someone the option to have their favourite meal in over 270 locations across the country.
So no need to worry about picking the right one and it’s also a great way to support the restaurant industry after spending so much of 2020/21 closed.
The card can be loaded from €15 to €150, you can find it online
WineLab Build Your Own Wine Hamper
Winelab is an Irish premium wine company that have put together some incredible gift options this year.
If you have a wine connoisseur in your life and you’re not sure where to start the Bottle Project from Winelab could seriously help you out.
On their website you pick The Bottle Project, set your budget (starting at €60), pick your colour and include some details about their wine preferences. Then 6 sensational bottles of wine will be chosen for you and delivered either straight to your door or your loved ones! You can even include a personalised message so they know where it’s coming from.
If you know exactly what you’re looking for they also have the opportunity to make your own hamper on the site. First you pick two bottles of wine, then add a bottle of bubbles and finish off with a charcutier board and super cute greeting card.
You can get this whole package from €53.50 depending on your choices and you can also opt to only add certain items if you want to keep the cost down. Then the gift will be wrapped and personalised and voilá you’ve got a Christmas present sent from your couch!
Cliff at Lyons
It is always nice to have some luxurious artisanal food around the table at Christmas.
And Cliff at Lyons have this covered. So whether you are looking for the best offering at a festive dinner party or an exquisite gift for your foodie friend, they’ll have you sorted. Find out more here.
Christmas Comfort Kits
Comfort eating and Christmas go hand in hand, sitting in front of the fire eating delicious food is really what we all want this Christmas.
The people at Pudding Row the Grocer have made this experience something you can gift your loved ones with their Christmas Comfort Kits.
The artisanal hamper will set you back €70 which includes free delivery nationwide.
Inside you will find a 1lb homemade traditional Christmas pudding made with festive fruits, sultanas, cranberries and cherries, 6 homemade mince pies, 5 shortbread biscuits, a jar of homemade Cranberry & Apple Compote, a jar of Pudding Row tomato chutney, a bag of house made granola and a bag of Ariosa Christmas Blend Coffee.
On top of all these gorgeous treats included for the recipient will be a custom Christmas card with your message.
You can find out more about ordering here.
Lily O’Brien’s Desserts collection
The Winters Desserts collection from Lily O’Brien’s is here and it’s just what the chocolate fiend in your life needs! Some of the flavours include Festive Creme Brûlée, Triple Chocolate Shot and Spiced Latte. Each box contains 18 chocolates of these scrumptious flavours and retails at €10.
If you are looking for something that won’t disappear as fast as chocolates for €15 you can personalise your box of chocolates with your own pictures on their website.
Redbreast 12 Irish Whiskey
On the hunt for a whiskey for your dad, your mam, or indeed a good friend? Look no further.
Ireland’s own Redbreast 12 (€60) boasts the flavour and qualities of pot still whiskey. It’s matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, making it the ideal offering for any festive event. You can find out more here.
fiid Discovery Box
Something a little different this time for the savoury meal obsessed among us.
Irish plant-based brand fiid recently became the world’s first carbon-neutral ready meal, and their fiid Discovery Box gives new customers the chance to try out an array of their products.
Their new website also enables users to customise a box of 15, 20 or 30 packs, so you can choose from tasty comforting bowls like Rich Sundried Tomato & Lentil Ragu, Smoky Black Bean Chilli, Chickpea & Coconut Curry and more. Discovery Boxes cost €23.94, you can find out more here.
Writers’ Tears Christmas Crackers.
These are sure to spruce up any Christmas day spread! Who doesn’t love a Christmas cracker during the festive period? But let’s be honest, we’ve all had enough of tiny sewing kits and frustrating card games. Give the whiskey lovers what they want this year with Writers’ Tears Christmas Crackers.
These grown-up crackers are the perfect addition to any dining table or how about popping them in a food-filled hamper to brighten their day? Each Writers’ Tears Christmas Cracker contains a miniature 50ml bottle of Copper pot, just the right amount! Find out more information on stockists here.
