A day for drinking: The hour-by-hour guide to festive tipples this Christmas
Whether you're looking for some expert advice or just trying to get through a whole day with the relatives, Harry Eyres advises on the best bottles for festive feasting.
Food and Drink
Discover the latest in food and drink news, try our delicious and easy recipes using fresh seasonal produce and read our pub and restaurant reviews.
Here at Country Life we love to cook and we love to eat. Seasonality is important, whether you’re growing your own or visiting the farmers’ market for your ingredients – but we love to cook seasonally. Whether it’s our brilliant collection of elderflower recipes in the summertime, our ultimate sloe gin recipe in autumn or gorgeous roast goose recipes in the winter, we have collected the best seasonal recipes by ingredient on dedicated pages
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Credit: StockFood How ham can be the real show-stopper of the Christmas table and where to find your one this year
At once sumptuous yet simple, a ham is an age-old tradition that for many is the real highlight of the Christmas feasting. Flora Watkins digs in.
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Perfect roast goose recipe from Mark Hix
Cooking the perfect Christmas goose, with delicious gravy, is a fantastic way to celebrate Christmas. Mark Hix explains how it's done.
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Credit: Pomona's Pomona's review: All the wonder of a beachfront bistro, impeccably presented in London's Notting Hill
The relaxed Cali-vibe of Pomona’s restaurant provides a happy contrast with their very serious attitude towards food – Alexandra Fraser visits to discover their new menu, spearheaded by Executive Chef Mark Lloyd.
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Credit: Alamy Nine things you ought to know if you're having goose for Christmas
If you're looking for a change from turkey for Christmas dinner, goose is the obvious choice – but there are a few things to think about, as Kate Green explains.
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Credit: Rachel Green for Fairburn’s Eggs Recipe: How to make mini Christmas cake canapés
How to make mini Christmas cake canapés, a perfect seasonal mouthful.
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Credit: Martini Christmas drinks gift guide: Seasonal spirits to bring good cheer
Whether you're after a wonderful whisky, luxurious liqueur or jazzy gin, we've got something for you.
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15 of the best gin gifts to buy this Christmas
Gins with bold new flavours, stylish new bottles and exotic twists come together with a couple of whimsical gin gifts and even a make-your-own-gin experience in our selection.
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Credit: Melanie Johnson How to make cranberry scones for a cream tea with a Christmas twist
You might think of scones as something for sunny summer afternoons – this recipe will change that.
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Credit: Coral Room - fine to re-use The Coral Room review: A touch of the Twenties in the heart of Bloomsbury
The recently-refurbished bar at The Bloomsbury has added a touch of glamour to an area once full of chains and tourist traps. Rosie Paterson paid a visit.
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Credit: Harrods The utterly inessential shopping list: Cheese, chocolate, champs and chutney…it’s Christmas hamper time
Forget about the big things. You can keep the necessities. Don't tell us about the must-haves. Alexandra Fraser takes a look at a few little luxuries which, in a world too full of strife and woe, will help ease your way through life with a smile on your face.
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The results of Country Life's 2018 Canapé of the Year Competition
William Sitwell, a self-declared fusspot and connoisseur of drinks-party food, reports on the results of Country Life’s 2018 Canapé of the Year award with Plain English and Champagne Gosset.
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15 sumptuous Christmas gifts for foodies
After something special for a person who really appreciates their food? Our suggestions are certain to have something that's just right.
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B3J4J3 A hand-written recipe book (cookbook) by a baking bowl in a Victorian Kitchen Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Jason Goodwin: 'Every housewife used to have a notebook in the kitchen, battered and splattered, its pages scribbled over'
Roped into a speaking at a literary festival at the 11th hour, Jason Goodwin reminisces about the old cookbooks his mother wrote and worked from, which are ever-increasingly falling out of style.
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Credit: Alamy Five tips to make sure that your dinner party is remembered for all the right reasons
While dinner parties at this time of year promise to be festive occasions, they can be a minefield of etiquette rules and formality faux pas. George Rouse, owner of George's Kitchen, shares the top five tips he swears by to carry off a flawless evening from start to finish.
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Credit: Chococo The utterly inessential shopping list: Christmas sushi, Shakespearean hand sanitiser and a lighter which will light any candle, any candle at all
Forget about the big things. You can keep the necessities. Don't tell us about the must-haves. Alexandra Fraser takes a look at a few little luxuries which, in a world too full of strife and woe, will help ease your way through life with a smile on your face.
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Credit: Alamy A delicious shepherd's pie recipe to take away the winter chill
Shepherd's pie is a true British classic which always hits the spot – this delicious take on the dish comes from chef Christian Turner.
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Credit: Colony Grill at The Beaumont How to make perfect macaroni cheese, creating your own béchamel from scratch
This comfort food classic needs a big jug of cheese sauce – but don't be tempted to get it out of a packet. The real thing is surprisingly easy to make form scratch and well worth the effort, as Christian Turner explains.
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A savoury crumble? This recipe from the Ritz has the unique accolade of being The Prince of Wales' favourite dish. Find the recipe below this story. Credit: John Carey for the Country Life Picture Library – fine for reuse How to cook The Prince of Wales’ favourite dish: Pheasant Crumble Pie
See how to make the Prince of Wales's favourite dish, pheasant crumble pie, as demonstrated by John Williams, executive chef at The Ritz in London.
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Credit: The Beaumont A perfect chicken pie recipe for the cold, dark nights ahead
This classic chicken pie recipe comes from Christian Turner of The Beaumont.
