Category: News

Guy Salter’s Christmas gift ideas got such a remarkable response that we prevailed on him to share a few more suggestions…

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I was blown away by how much you liked my rather random Christmas wish list, so here’s a handful of other thoughts – but less on gifts and more how to get the most out of your pandemic-constrained festivities, with a focus on things to do with your loved ones.  Apologies if it is UK-focussed and a bit food and drink-heavy but I’ve assumed your wings are as Covid-clipped as ours, so what follows can hopefully all be done at, or not far away from, home…

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Image: The Royal Albert Hall

Carols at the Royal Albert Hall. From £57.50 to join in person or £16 to join from home

I don’t know about you and your household, but Christmas just isn’t the same without at least one moment of wassailing.  For those of you who can (and feel comfortable with the precautions the Albert Hall has taken), go in person to Kensington Gore.  For those that can’t (or don’t), the concerts are live-streamed as well. 

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Image: Netflix

The Queen’s Gambit

For those of you who haven’t watched this yet, do.  My partner, Manoon, insisted I give it a try and he was spot-on.  When you do, make sure to gather your household around you.  In our house, we are aiming on watching at least one thing together each day of the holidays, as otherwise what’s the point if everyone just retreats to far flung corners with their own devices.

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Mushroom Risotto

After all the stress of worrying about what’s going to happen to Beth, nothing better for the family than some simple comfort food. Plus a great way to use leftovers but of course one of our greatest dishes in its own right and so good at any time of year, especially when made with love.  The only absolute must have is high quality stock but if you are doing a traditional Christmas you’ll have had plenty of opportunity to make some…  If you don’t eat meat, lots of the right kind of veg makes for a wonderful Unami-rich base, especially if you add a touch of miso.  I’m sure we all have our own approach but mine is simply softening some shallots in a bit of olive oil, then the mushrooms, the (arborio or similar) rice, wine and then stock, stock, stock, stir, stir, stir.  Twenty minutes later you should have a glistening unctuous rice feast fit for the Gods – and your Covid-bubble.  If you are feeling indulgent, consider adding a small bit of that alpine butter from the River Café I mentioned last time, just after it’s done and leaving in the pot with a lid on for five minutes.  I think it gets even better if you do this and it enables you to get everything else organised and so serve it piping hot.

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Image: Southbank Centre

Winter Light

I really like the idea of the growing trend for outside events which force back the winter darkness and make the most of those otherwise dreary lost hours. 

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Image: The Happy Kamper

Glow 2020 at RHS Wisley, £14.95 per adult

Tickets to this wonderful illuminated landscape are few and far between but I would strongly recommend a visit to Wisley in day light too.  It’s a gardener’s garden and stunning even in its winter colours.  Again, make sure you drag everyone along, even the kids.  Just what we need to banish Covid-gloom.  Kew does something similar.

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Image: Great West Way

Windsor Great Park

Somewhere else to visit with your Covid-bubble, although no lights this time. If you’re like me and still mostly WFH, you aim to get out at least once every day for as long a walk, run or cycle as you can.  The trouble is boredom with our usual haunts.  For a Londoner, Windsor Great Park is surprisingly quick to get to and a step up from one’s local urban green space.  It can be done by train (Egham) but if driving, probably best to park at the Savill Garden car park, as it’s a good mid-way point between the Long Walk leading to the castle and the Virginia Water lakes.  The 250 acre Valley (woodland) Gardens alone are vaut le détour, even in mid-winter the variety of trees and shrubs are impressive. If you don’t own a car, there are normally Zipcars a plenty.

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Image: Field & Flower

Creedy Carver Whole Duck. Field & Flower, £18.95

What to feed the family after these exertions, especially those who were reluctant to come out?  Seems the ducky confit in my last post inspired some culinary adventures (some more successful than others), so I’m doubling down here with a suggestion for those who do eat meat and end up turkied-out post-Christmas.  Or as a January mid-week treat.  Creedy Carver’s ducklings are so special that my advice is to try the whole bird.  Realistically this will feed four, five or six at a pinch.  Keep things simple:  salt the skin and let it air dry in the fridge for at least 24 hours (if you’re like me, you do this for chicken as well), wipe dry, then roast at about 210°C fan for thirty minutes or so until it’s clearly feeling the heat.  Then reduce to 160°C fan for about another hour and a half, less if you like your duck rarer.  Needless to say, success is crispy but not dried out, so a decent rest while you make the gravy is essential.  Pour out and keep most of the fat (for your next confit or potatoes), a little flour to bind, whatever alcohol you have to hand and of course some good stock and you’re done.  If your tastes run in that direction, add a dollop of Seville marmalade (the bitterer the better), then either leave it at that for classic, or add some five spice and soy for a more Chinese take.

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Image: The Real Flower Company

The Real Flower Company DIY Christmas Wreath, £65

Just as there’s been a run on the best free range turkeys, so good quality Christmas wreaths seem to have been a casualty of Covid, at least in Central London. Even my local go-to source (the Florist’s shop at Rassells in Earls Court Road), weren’t able to supply me with a simple well-made but undecorated one this year.  So good to see The Real Flower Company, who I have known so well ever since they were a Walpole Brand of Tomorrow, are still offering this DIY kit.  Perfect way to get the Christmas Bubble a-bubbling.

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Image: Royal Collection Trust

Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace. The Queen’s Gallery, £16 per adult

If you live in or near London and you and your extended Covid-bubble are desperate for some culture (or you just want to get away from them for a bit), consider this.  It should be a real treat to see pictures of this artistic and historic significance eye-to-eye (normally they are hung in profusion in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, which for those of you who know it, is a magnificent ensemble but doesn’t allow for much intimacy). 

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Image: Living Architecture

Living Architecture’s Life House, about £1,000 for a mid-week stay

The only trouble with day excursions, especially now, with so many more of us around than usual, is you’re likely to find many others doing the same as you.  So this is for those of you who feel like venturing out a bit further and getting some proper seclusion, space and dirt in the soles of your Naglev’s.

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Image: WildLand

Kinloch Lodge, Sutherland. WildLand, about £16,200 a week

To really get away from it all and experience a proper Winter/Dark Sky Hit, this is a wonderful very comfortable house in an amazing part of that amazing and little known county, Sutherland.  Also means you’ll be supporting the unsung work of Anne & Anders Holch Povlsen, landowners setting a new tradition.

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Image: Kora

Kora Women’s Xenolith Sweater, £190

If you’re venturing that far north, you need the right kit.  One of you sent in this excellent-looking alternative to my mid-layer suggestion in my last post.  Quite a bit more expensive but Kora is a brilliant company making high performance fabrics using Yak wool and contributing to the local nomadic Tibetan communities who supply it.

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Image: Purdey

Swarovski CL Companion 10×30. Purdey, £950

A very special gift to unwrap around the fire after a day on the hill.  I treated myself to a pair while at Purdey during LCW this year and literally haven’t looked back.

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Image: Purling London

Purling London Bespoke Chess Set, from £6,000

One more gift idea, seeing as we are in the season of giving.  If your special loved-one has been inspired by Beth’s adventures in The Queen’s Gambit, what about this as an extra present to get 2021 started auspiciously?  The good thing about this option is it can be last minute, as there’s nothing to be delivered yet. Purling also do many other great looking sets that are very much less than going the full bespoke route.

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DIY Porchetta. Farmison & Co., £27

I can’t leave you without one more foodie suggestion.  In case you missed out on getting the family a Bronze free-range, here’s an alternative, which is great at any time of year.  Plus it’s fun making up your own version and experimenting with stuffing and flavour combinations.

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Image: Hedonism Wines

Dhondt Grellet Les Terres Fines. Hedonism Wines, £54.90

And finally something to open at a second past midnight on the thirty-first.  I’ve been addicted to single grape wines from Champagne ever since my first sip of Salon and now there are so many first class Blanc des blancs, including of course from here.  So I did wonder whether to suggest something English or one of my favourite pinot-only sparkling wines but let’s raise a glass to Savoir Faire and our shared European culture on the day the Brexit Transition ends, with this Champagne-made beauty.

A very happy Christmas & New Year to you and your loved ones and looking forward to a much better 2021.

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Obviously please check your local Covid-19 guidance.

Our Chairman & Founder, Guy Salter, shares a few last minute thoughts about what to buy that person in your life who’s super-tricky to find the right present for (or to just add to your own Wish List).

I don’t know about you, but I always cut Christmas so fine that by the time I have come up to speed in imaginative present-giving mode, some things are sold out or it’s all too much of a palaver. So here are a few pointers for gifts that (I think) are special, still easy to find, especially if you live in or near London, but can also be bought online.

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Image: The Map House

The Underground Map of London (1911) by the London Underground. The Map House, £885

Old maps are often surprisingly good value considering their age and endlessly fascinating if a place that one knows well. As a Londoner born and bred, I’ve been known to trawl the streets with an old map looking for breadcrumbs or shadows of what used to be there. It’s surprising how often pubs still act as intact reference points, churches too. Given there are maps of almost everywhere, it can be very satisfying to find one that is perfect for a particular person’s interests. This one would be spot on for my elder son who’s autistic and has always loved the tube – except he knows it so well he doesn’t need a map. What I like especially about this early one is that it shows the lines geographically before Harry Beck’s brilliant schematic 30’s version we know so well. And it shows stations like Brompton Road or Down Street that are still there below ground but we rattle past without knowing they’re there. As a child I used to live around the corner from The Map House, so I include it here partly out of nostalgia but mainly because they still have a very good reputation for all things Map.

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Image: Antonio Olmos/ The Observer

Hong Kong, 1998. First Edition. Jan Morris. Sotheran’s, £38

Hong Kong is a Home from Home and of course has been having a really tough time recently, even before the virus. Here’s a travel book by the just departed gifted and brave pioneer, Jan Morris, who captures the eve of Handover very well. I still have my copy and it is strange looking back at it now. I used to work in the same street as Sotheran’s and so own far too many obscure titles that caught my eye while popping out to pick up a Pret for lunch. Second-hand books, especially old guides, make great personalised presents for the right person. And needn’t break the bank.

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Image: Cult Beauty

Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil. Cult Beauty, £52.50

As long as they don’t take it the wrong way, giving beauty products that actually work, especially when we can’t get to the hairdresser, hopefully falls into the ‘thoughtful but useful’ category.

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Image: Sarah Myerscough Gallery

Max Bainbridge, Forest + Found, Ebonised Alder Jar, 2020. Sarah Myerscough Gallery, £1,600.

For a loved one’s collection or maybe to seed the start of a collection. Take a trip across the river to Barnes or have a quick look online: it’s hard to go wrong with Sarah Myerscough’s careful edit and knowing eye. I love Max Bainbridge’s work and own a couple of his pieces a bit like this beautiful one in green elder.

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Image: Castro Smith

Tower Of Ring. Castro Smith, £2,300

For the man in your life, a truly unique gift from a truly gifted jeweller and engraver. This suggestion is a bit different from my others in that a ring like this is made to order, so you can’t wrap it and put it under the tree. But that’s why it’s perfect for the right person. Even better, maybe give him the bespoke service, which will take even longer – but then you’re giving not just an object but an experience. Plus he gets two presents; the first when he opens his card on Christmas Day, the second when the ring is ready.

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Image: The House of Modernity

Floor Lamp “Bridge” by Severin Hansen for Haslev, 1950s. The House of Modernity, £6,800

If you’re like me and have a dangerous soft spot for Scandi mid-century design, be careful when you visit the elegant-shabby London outpost of this Stockholm gallery, as you’ll need to maintain great self-discipline.  Plus the unrestored Palladian town house is a real treat in itself  (Covid-rules allowing, the showroom will be open in the new year for private viewings, bookable on Modernity’s website).  I don’t have room for this willow-like lamp but if someone was feeling generous enough to give it to me, I’d move something to give it a starring role. Modernity’s recent collaboration with Adrian Sassoon interspersed their stunning selection of applied art amongst these classic gems. Needless to say, for someone very special in your life.

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Image: Shop The River Café

River Café Italian Alpine Butter. Shop The River Café, £7

I bought this stunning pale unsalted butter the other day, along with a freshly-made pecan pie for Thanksgiving. Browse the Shop The River Café site for inspiration, but I very much doubt a Foodie Loved One will not thank you for almost anything made by the legendary Ruthie Rogers’s team and it’s great to be supporting them now when things are so tough. Although they deliver, if you live in London combine picking it up with a walk along the river by Hammersmith Bridge, which can be surprisingly beautiful in the late winter sun. Make you sure treat yourself at the same time.

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Image: HG Walter

Homemade Scotch Quail Eggs. HG Walter, £4.95

Almost round the corner from The River Café, literally the best Scotch eggs in London from the best butcher in London. Better buy a few packs, as they don’t tend to last long. And be ready to queue, as HG Walter is no longer the Foodie secret it once was. Or buy online, as they have an excellent site.

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Image: Zaltify

Zalto Universal Wine Glasses. Wineware, set of six, £220

There’s much debate amongst a certain wine aficionado-type about the perfect wine glass but there’s not much between the top contenders. If it’s beauty, functionality and flexibility you’re after these Austrian beauties pretty much do it. And if you really enjoy wine don’t let anyone convince you not to invest in proper glasses. Anything else is a false economy – although beware, as glasses like these also show up imperfections in a less well made wine. Treat yourself to a couple while you’re at it. Or maybe splash out and get the complete set, including the white, champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux versions.

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Image: Field & Flower

Confit du Canard. Creedy Carver Duck Legs. Field & Flower, three pairs for £12

Don’t buy your confit, make your own. It’s simple. Especially if you buy the legs from Creedy Carver, whose ducks lead a charmed life until the moment comes. Ideally use a slow cooker; salt them overnight, cover them in duck fat and cook for about three hours. Pop them in a Kilner jar and top up with the fat. A hand-written label and you’ve got a very special and personal present. You just need to tell the lucky recipient how to cook them: pop them skin down in a cold Netherton Foundry-type skillet and then slowly warm them up on a low flame (as my grandmother would have said) until the skin crisps up. Serve with Puy lentils.

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Image: Sociovino

Classic Italian Reds Case. Sociovino, £79

Something to put in your Zaltos.  I came across Astrum Wine at the start of the first Lockdown, when their restaurant trade customers had dried up overnight and they’d started selling direct. This has gone so well they now have a separate consumer-facing business called Sociovino. Build your own case or try one of their pre-selections. This is a safe choice, as the strongest part of their offer is Italian. But if your oenophile friend is ready to try something new, get their advice about how to surprise them, as the full list really repays some exploration and experimentation, especially in the less well known fringes of Piedmont or South Tyrol, which are also better value.

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Image: Pesky Fish

Two Live Lobster. Pesky Fish, £38.98

No doubt some of you discovered Pesky during Lockdown One. If not, I can’t recommend them enough, whether locked-down or not. Buying fish from them means being a bit organised, as they only sell what was caught the day before between eight and nine the following morning, but you are directly supporting the fishing community of this bit of Devon and nearby. When the Joanne B sank the other day it really brought home to me how precarious a life they lead, two members of the crew are still missing, presumed drowned. Now of course buying live lobster is maybe not the most practical of gifts, so maybe treat yourself – and pair it with some of Ruthie Rogers’s alpine butter and a Verdello lemon (from Natoora in Pavilion Road). If you do go to Pavilion Road in person, celebrate being out by buying some of the best ice cream in London from Ice Cream Union (bang opposite Natoora). The good news is this is something that’s impossible to do online or wearing a mask.

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Everyday Joy Everyday

For handmade functional objects that will give pleasure every time your family or friends use them, here are a few ideas:

Image: Flow Gallery

Eva Brandt Cups. Flow Gallery, £55 each

I own a few bigger pieces by Eva Brandt but if someone gave me these beautiful cups I would be very happy. Made in her studio on Bornholm but inspired by the native American tradition in New Mexico from her time there, these engaging stoneware mugs are glazed on the inside so are also very practical. I especially like the subtle grey one but they come in all sorts of patterns and colours. Just be aware that many are sold out, so you may need to move fast. If they are, Yvonna Demczynska of Flow always has a wonderful selection of other stunning pieces at a wide range of price points, so it is a great source of inspiration at any time of year. And now has an easy to navigate e-commerce site.

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Image: Aerende

Aerende Gift Card, from £10

I only recently came across Aerende when reading the latest version of Crafts magazine but really like their selection of hand-made everyday products. Even better, they aim to support makers facing social challenges. I know sometimes giving a gift voucher can seem a bit of a cop out but actually it is a great way to let someone quietly select something they really want – and hopefully there is more than enough here to choose from. Mind you, you might need to give more than one to avoid Scrooge comparisons…

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Image: Niwaki

S-Type Secateurs. Niwaki, £159

This might seem a lot for a horticultural tool, however important the gardener in your life is to you, but at least it’s less than the magnificent hand-forged Damascus steel Hori Hori, which weighs in at an eye-watering £759. In my view, both are actually well worth it, especially these carbon steel secateurs, which sharpen well, so will I’m sure last a lifetime if looked after properly. I also love the wisteria rattan handles, which not only look great but provide grip when tackling those gnarly rose bush stems.

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Image: Netherton Foundry

Blini Pan. Netherton Foundry, £20.10

I have been addicted to cooking with spun or cast iron ever since inheriting some old pans that belonged to my grandmother, who wrote a cookery book in the 50’s, and, despite being unable to cook, had an impressive batterie de cuisine. This Netherton Foundry pan is the closest thing I’ve come across to her blini pan. Perfect pancakes every time – you just have to discard the first one. Flipping is a cinch…

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The Great Outdoors

Image: Jöttnar

Asmund Women’s Hard Shell Mountain Jacket. Jöttnar, £260

I have been meaning to share my Must-Haves for international travel but then I thought that might be tempting fate. So, while we wait until we have a better fix on the timing of vaccines and freedom, we can at least get out over Christmas. Here’s a coat for the Adventurer in your life that should cope with anything our delightful climate can throw at it, even halfway up a Munro. I’d hope to add something from Vollebak, but they don’t do womenswear for some reason.

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Image: Rab

Women’s Stretch Pro Pull-on. Rab, £110

Add a mid layer to go with it, with Rab’s Women’s Power Stretch Pro Pull-on.

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Image: Tracksmith

Turnover Tights. Tracksmith, £99

And a base layer, with Tracksmith’s Turnover Tights.

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Image: Goldwin

Graduation Beanie. Goldwin, £45

Top off with a bit of mountain panache.

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