Festive Gifts
From stocking filler tips to sharing presents, show the people in your life that you care with one or two of these gourmet treats.
December is the month for a bit of indulgence and spending time with the important people in your life. It's also a chance to think about what gifts you'd like to give and receive. But sharing presents doesn't have to cost lots of money. Giving something thoughtful to your loved ones counts for a lot.
In this issue, we share food and drink gift ideas for the foodies in your life, including yourself. From stocking filler tips to sharing presents, show the people in your life that you care with one or two of these gourmet treats.
You could make up a hamper of food and drink favourites, including a bottle of Henderson's, Birdhouse Tea and Little Mester cheese, or chocolate boxes from Cocoa Mester, like their festive box of mulled wine chocolates or their Winter Wonders box featuring sticky toffee pudding and sloe gin chocolates.
Food always tastes better shared with others, so we'd recommend arranging a get-together to enjoy a festive feast. You can buy a selection of meats and cheeses from Porter Brook Deli, together with a couple of Tipple Tail fruit cakes for dessert or cheese pairing. For something a bit different, try their stem ginger-packed Ginger Tingle with a Wensleydale. If you want vegan options, get your fill of vegan cheeses, wines and chocolates from The Incredible Nutshell on Chesterfield Road.
If you're stuck for ideas, we'd suggest spreading the joy by buying an experience. Treat that someone special to something they may not buy themselves and then you can share the Christmas cheer, perhaps a Trippets gift voucher for a gin tasting event or an evening at Elm on Gibraltar Street sampling some of their natural wines. Opposite are more ideas from some of Sheffield's finest, as well as their answers to the question: What do you want for Christmas?
Gift Ideas
Turner's Bottle Shop
298 Abbeydale Road, S7 1FL
"We'd recommend our popular three beer bottle gift boxes. Create your own or grab a pre-made box with a selection from local breweries. Alternatively, buy your loved ones some local favourite gins from True North and Robin of Locksley.
"I would love to receive a pack or two of smoked salmon from H. Forman & Son, home of the world-famous London cure smoked Scottish salmon." David Turner
Bullion Chocolate
Cutlery Works, 73-101 Neepsend Lane, S3 8AT
"We're doing a three bar gift set in a gold-foiled box for £20, or three minis for £6, at our new cafe at Cutlery Works, which would be a nice present.
"If someone was buying me a gift, I'd love a tour around one of our many local breweries. We're launching chocolate tours in the New Year too. Come and find out how we make chocolate, from bean to bar." Max Scotford
Treehouse Board Game Cafe
41 Boston Street, S2 4QF
"Fungi is a gorgeous card game for two players. It's about collecting mushrooms in a forest then cooking them up to eat. The art is beautiful and the theme gives it a lovely cosy feel to play inside on a chilly day. It's currently available to buy in our shop.
"A gift we'd like to receive...our fab local supplier Tower of Bagel now offers bagel making classes at Regather. We'd love to go along to discover the tricks of the trade from the one and only Jonny Bagels." Ruth Haigh
Upshot Espresso
355 Glossop Road, S10 2HP
"Our Christmas pick this year is the Travel Tumbler. 2018 has been a big year for an uptake on reusable coffee cups and we genuinely haven't come across any as stylish or practical as this. They look reyt snazzy.
"If I'm on the receiving end of gifting then you can't go wrong with a David Mellor rosewood kitchen knife. I'm slowly building up a full set." Sam Binstead
Locksley Gin
"For a lovely Christmas gift for someone who deserves something extra special, we recommend a bottle of our Morocello. Similar in style to a limoncello, we use organic Moro blood oranges from Sicily to get a gorgeous, fresh citrus blast.
"As far as gifts we'd like to receive, we're huge fans of Bullion Chocolate. We also like specialist ingredients that remind us of places we've been to." Cynthia King
Just Preserves
"We'd recommend our Christmas triple gift pack. It contains three small jars of Sheffield-made preserves: Christmas Chutney (Spiced Apricot & Date, perfect with your cheese board), Cranberry & Pear Chutney, and 'Bucks Fizz' Marmalade for a little luxury.
"I would like anything from one of the fantastic Sheffield food and drink producers that we are lucky to have. If I had to choose one, it would be a nice chunk of honeycomb from Sheffield Honey - a real treat." Matt Hulley
Food Events
Festive Markets & Food Events
This month there are plenty of opportunities to pick up handmade gifts and speciality food and drink at upcoming markets. There's Sharrow Vale Market on 2 December (12-4pm), where you can feast on delights from the likes of Whirlow Hall Farm, Brew Foundation and Nether Edge Pizza. Peddler Market at 92 Burton Road is on 7-8 and 14-15 December, with a rotating lineup of street food traders, live music, craft beer and cocktails. Nether Edge Market is on 9 December (11-3pm), where there'll be festive music and loads of great local food, drink and gift stalls.
Manchester Beer Showcase
Sat 1 Dec | 2-10pm | 362 South Road
To celebrate their fourth birthday, Walkley Beer Co host a showcase of cask, keg, bottled and canned beers from Manchester's best breweries.
A Christmas Carol - The Immersive Dining Experience
Sat 1-Sun 16 Dec | 4pm & 7.30pm | Theatre Deli
The Guild of Misrule are teaming up with Theatre Deli to present a rousing rendition of this timeless classic, served over a two-course Christmas feast cooked up by local suppliers.
Content from our allies
Now Then is funded by our allies - independent traders, community groups, charities and local government - who share our values. This content was produced independently of them. Ally mentioned in this article:
