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.
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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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.
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Quince, walnut and honey cake Recipe: Quince, walnut and honey cake, perfect for afternoon tea
Knobbly quince is a delicately fragrant fruit that fills the kitchen with the most incredible aroma, says Melanie Johnson.
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Gelber Berlepsch apples on a branch. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The best apples you've never heard of: From Winter Banana to Pommerscher Krummstiel
Charles Quest-Ritson takes us beyond the Granny Smith to explore other varieties of this quintessentially English fruit.
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Credit: Giles Christopher The utterly inessential shopping list: Spooky shoes, the art of the tarte and a royally good sweatshirt
Forget about the big things. You can keep the necessities. Don't tell us about the must-haves. In a new series, Country Life's 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: Ellenborough Park Ellenborough Park: A luxury getaway for any country sporting enthusiast
Octavia Pollock takes a trip to Cheltenham to experience the best that this equestrian retreat has to offer.
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Credit: Paul Wilkinson Photography Gidleigh Park review: Country house hotel perfection in Devon
Gidleigh Park has been on Toby Keel's bucket list for a decade and a half. He finally ticked it off this summer; was it worth the wait?
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Credit: Melanie Johnson How to make butternut squash gnocchi with scallops and mascarpone
Our kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson shares a lovely recipe using this most delicious of seasonal ingredients.
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Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Jason Goodwin: The secret of Mona Lisa's smile? It's that smell coming from the kitchen
This week, our columnist reveals his secrets for creating a beautiful home-made cooking stock which will let you make all manner of wonderful dishes.
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Credit: PR Pics from Clarence Court eggs - Yes to re-use Curious Questions: How do you make perfect – absolutely perfect – scrambled eggs?
For such a simple dish, there's a dizzying lack of agreement about how to make scrambled eggs properly. But after an extensive test, the best way of making them has now been revealed – and thankfully, it's refreshingly simple.
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Dulce de leche tart with pear and almonds Credit: Melanie Johnson - yes to re-use Recipe: Dulce-de-leche tart with pear, almonds and ice cream
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Credit: Rose Lloyd Owen Recipe: Arctic roll with basil ice cream and passionfruit curd
Top caterer Rose Lloyd Owen shares her recipe for a childhood comfort food favourite with a delicious twist.
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Credit: Simon Brown Farm Girl Chelsea review: A healthy haven for the fashion-forward
The Farm Girl Chelsea is an photo-ready dream for anyone hoping to eat greener, enjoy a signature cocktail or two and upload some new Instagrams. Rosie Paterson paid a visit.
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Rose Lloyd Owen's cauliflower multi-seed bread Credit: Rose Lloyd Owen via Lois Brown @ Anteater PR Recipe: A seeded cauliflower loaf that's a fine gluten-free bread
Top caterer Rose Lloyd Owen shares a delicious bread recipe that's ideal if you're catering for people with gluten intolerance – or just people who love a tasty loaf.
