MENU
hampshire
is s ue two
C
hristmas is coming. Be prepared. That’s the
only way to make it through this festive season
of food relatively intact. Now, as much as we
love Christmas – it has pigs in blankets for
a start – if you’re the designated cook in your house,
what should be a sugar-dusted dream of a holiday
can quickly turn stressful enough to disintegrate your
paper crown with fearful perspiration. There’s lots to
think about. From what to serve on the big day (turkey?
goose? beef?) to which potentially torturous method
you’re using to cook it, the decisions come as thick and
fast as the crowds of people you need to feed.
So this issue of Menu is here, like an enthusiastic
sous chef, to help with your prep. We have turkey
cooking tips (p.8, p.36), and recipes for an entire, lovely
Christmas meal – Starter, Main and Dessert plus a
glazed ham and even a casserole to take care of your
leftovers in The Cook Book (p.33). Don’t slog around
the shops, Christmas shopping. We have present
ideas for food lovers (p.22) and some Michelin-starred
chutney for a hand-made gift (p.44). If all gets too
much, close your kitchen and Eat Out (p.51). There are
recommendations for any special occasion (p.59) as
well the best dishes in the county (p.52).
So treat yourself – you deserve it
–
and have a great Christmas!
3
HO HO HO!
Robin Alway
Group Editor
Contributor Elves
Emma Caulton
was a guest judge
at the recent
Great
Hampshire
Sausage & Pie
Competition.
This involved
tasting a year’s worth of fine meat
products in an afternoon while
wearing a fetching white coat. And
you thought your job was tough.
With Christmas looming she’s
searching farm shops, delis and
farmers’ markets for local goodies
to make up scrummy Christmas
Hampers for her foodie friends.
Rachel Gibson
is our resident
wine expert.
She’s been busy
this month
growing her
grape empire
with the
opening of the Wine Utopia
Warehouse. This expands her two
shops with a vast collection of
finely picked booze that the sun
never sets on. Actually that’s not
true, it closes at 6.30pm on weekdays and 3pm on Sundays but you
know what we mean. You won’t
go wrong with her selections.
Tom East
has always been
a traditionalist
when it comes to
Christmas. It’s
turkey all the
way for him and
he speaks fondly
of birds from his home county of
Norfolk. But as it’s Christmas
we’re letting that pass.
However, after speaking to A
Taste of Game, he’s tempted to try
a Venison Wellington for the first
time. Funny you should mention
that, we have just such a recipe
this issue on p.31.
www.menu-hampshire.co.uk
Sophie Atherton
is an acclaimed
beer writer and
the first woman
in the UK to be
accredited as a
beer sommelier.
A group of
people who know their
beer, our Members of Parliament,
made her their Beer Sommelier of
the Year in 2013. However, she
has absolutely no time for novelty
Christmas ales. She instead
recommends some local brews that
taste much more of the season and
make great gifts for beer fans.