Fantasy Christmas Hamper

[jardinec]

I've just been browsing the M&S Christmas hamper brochure and thinking that its a nice present to receive - but terrible value for money. Plus there are always things you don't want/need.

So what would you like to receive in a Christmas hamper, or what's your fantasy christmas hamper (food and drink) up to around £100.

Nice wines? Champagne? Spirits? Cheese? Olives? Biscuits? Chutney?

[Huntsman]

jardinec said:

I've just been browsing the M&S Christmas hamper brochure and thinking that its a nice present to receive - but terrible value for money. Plus there are always things you don't want/need.

So what would you like to receive in a Christmas hamper, or what's your fantasy christmas hamper (food and drink) up to around £100.

Nice wines? Champagne? Spirits? Cheese? Olives? Biscuits? Chutney?

Hmm, good thread.

Port
Cheese
Crackers
Digestives
Chutney
Bendicks mints
Earl grey
Coffee
Olive tapenade
Balsamic vinegar
Gentlemen's Relish

I could go on....

[Agrilla]

1 Red wine
1 White wine
1 Champagne
1 Bottle Disaronno amaretto
Pixley Berries Blackcurrant & Cox's apple cordial
Selection of crackers
A couple of chutneys
Sweet pickled onions
Hot pickled onions
Cornichons
Olives
Mustard
Hot horseradish
Delouis Fils mayonnaise
Tapenade (good call)
Nando's hot crisps
Macadamia nuts
Pistachio nuts
a couple of packets of sweet biscuits - one ginger maybe, one chocolatey
Amaretti biscuits
Blini's
Florentines
Box top quality chocolates

If I can have fresh items in there too, a couple of types of cheese, a really superb ham, maybe some smoked duck slices & a side of smoked salmon/gravadlax

Erm, I think that's about it!

[Lefty Two Drams]

For £100?!

[Cactussed]

I like this idea. Hmmm.

1 bottle Veuve NV (£30)
1 Side of smoked salmon (£10)
1 Black Bomber (£10)
1 tin of Foie Gras (£15)
1 box of decent crackers (£5)
1 slab of quince paste (£3)
1 Baguette (£2)
1 box of mince pies (£5)
1 pudding (£10)
1 bottle of dessert wine (£10)

A bottle opener and Scarlett Johnansson.

[Gargamel]

Drambuie Marmalade

[LilCat]

I made loads of hampers for people as presents throughout the year.

Chocolate ones, fruit ones, random ones, alcoholic ones, new baby ones basically stuff they would like.

Is it sad that I like to arrange all the items nicely in a hamper, decorate as needed and then cover with cellophane?

[bazking69]

LilCat said:

Is it sad that I like to arrange all the items nicely in a hamper, decorate as needed and then cover with cellophane?

Nope. My missus does the same thing year in year out. Food hampers, wine hampers, fruit and nut hampers, new baby hampers etc. She likes doing it and the reality is that you save a packet over premade hampers and can fill it with exactly what you want.

It's also a good idea as you are giving people stuff you know they will eat/use, as opposed to crap that will be on ebay by Boxing Day...

[grumbledoak]

Having never considered a hamper before, I've just had a peek over here: http://www.harrods.com/HarrodsStore/find/c/hampers...
It has certainly given me pause for thought, though the thought was "How much?".

So, let's do a non-Fantasy (i.e. cheapskate) one!

Sainsbury's Blanc de Noirs NV - £14
Ghillie & Glen Scottish Smoked Salmon 400g - £10.99
British Mustard & Honey Roast Ham Waitrose Typical 800g - £8.79
Sweet Piccalilli Waitrose 280g - £0.58
Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard 215g - £0.95
Tracklements Caramelised Red Onion Relish 350g - £3.45
Whole Miniature Stilton Blue Waitrose 500g - £8.49
Carr's Table Water Biscuits - £0.85
Fudges Oat Crackers - £1.49
Graham's Late Bottled Vintage Port 75cl - £11.91
Guylian Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells 250g - £3.57

So, £65 so far. What am I missing? Or, how could I get better for less?

ETA- clearly I'm missing Foie Gras and some form of bread, Red Wine, and an Xmas pudding. I shall return...

<struggling with the foie at Ocado...>
Delifrance Baguettes 250g x2 - £1.56
Sainsbury's Christmas Pudding 454g - £2.49

Edited by grumbledoak on Tuesday 3rd November 15:57

[johnnywgk]

Ah, good thread, you're thinking of buying someone here a hamper for christmas, and want to know what they want in it (damn, i said innit again).

[jardinec]

some nice ideas, I never got a chance to add anything...

A mid-price bottle of champagne
Tanqueray Gin & some tonic
Lemons
carrs water biscuits for sure
Paté
a truckle of nice cheddar
smoked salmon
Big Olives
some peppadew peppers
some good sausages
Nice Balsamic
Olive Oil
Chocolate

[Mobile Chicane]

Foie gras
Montbazillac
Candied chestnuts
+ some really scary SW France charcuterie just for sts and giggles. Donkey salami*, something like that.

_____________________________________________________

*Delicious, I might add

[Herbie58]

I did this for my dad last Christmas and it went down a storm. As someone who loves to cook he really appreciated it. I went around harrods, selfridges, fortnums etc and got a collection of things he would otherwise not be able to get back in Scotland, cost less than £100 and would have been double that if I'd bought it as a hamper.

[Papoo]

Mobile Chicane said:

Foie gras
Montbazillac
Candied chestnuts
+ some really scary SW France charcuterie just for sts and giggles. Donkey salami*, something like that.

_____________________________________________________

*Delicious, I might add

I like the idea, but it would be the smallest hamper in the world! Perhaps a Christmas bog-roll cover filled with (3) treats..

[bobthemonkey]

Mobile Chicane said:

Foie gras
Montbazillac
Candied chestnuts
+ some really scary SW France charcuterie just for sts and giggles. Donkey salami*, something like that.

_____________________________________________________

*Delicious, I might add

Throw in some vicious brie, good bread and high quality butter, and I'd be very happy.

[bint]

My half sister delivered our Christmas present yesterday - it's blatantly a hamper - will revisit this thread Christmas Day to see if any of the items on the wish list appear.........