It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Summer is truly a distant memory and there is a decidedly chilly nip in the air. Christmas is most certainly on its way!

That means one thing - whether we like it or not, it’s time to start preparation. There’s so much to do around the festive season but with some careful planning and little bit of help from us, your celebrations will be more magical than even the most perfect merry movie.

We carry a range of festive treats, each adding that certain something to proceedings but in this post we are going to be focusing on hampers. Whether you want to impress a total foodie with a well-thought out selection of goodies or fill up your own cupboards we are bound to have just what you’re looking for.

Add some sparkle with our Christmas Cheer Hamper, jam-packed with delicacies that will be sure to make any Christmas extra special. With festive favourites such as Port, Blood Orange and Pomegranate Jelly for cheese, luxury chocolates and a rather fine bottle of Shiraz, this would make a perfect gift for a loved one - or for yourself! 

Why not give someone a little taste of heaven this year with the Festive Treat Hamper? Butterscotch biscuits and lemon and sundried tomato olive oil will add some pizzazz to any party. For fans of fromage, the Cheese Lovers Hamper is guaranteed to go down a treat. A selection of cheeses including Brie, Whitby Jet with Seaweed and Charcoal Cheese are accompanied by Pickled Pears, Chutneys and Moscato Grape Nectar to name just some of what’s included.

Available all year round, The Helmsley Hamper is a specially selected collection of delicious treats that showcase our wonderful, award-winning town of Helmsley. Enjoy some local pheasant pate, classic Yorkshire bitter, sweet strawberry and rhubarb jam and Hunters of Helmsley Dry White Wine whilst supporting local fare. Speaking of Christmas tipples, we haven’t failed to notice that the nation is going gaga for gin, and we don’t blame them! Surely there is no better time to indulge in some botanical goodness than over Christmas with our G&T Anyone? Hamper. Enjoy dry gin expertly paired with premium Indian tonic alongside a gin and lemon chocolate for good measure!

Trendy tipples and fashionable foods

The 2016 Waitrose food report recently uncovered some interesting insights into how and what us Brits like to eat and drink and the latest must-have trends.

In the past year, we’ve reportedly particularly enjoyed churros, seeds, seaweed, cactus water and coconut flour, to name but a few, with the ‘Instagram Generation’ leading trends. Usual suspects including takeaway-inspired foods remained popular but supermarkets reported a huge rise in those enjoying healthy eating. Alongside familiar salads that continued to top charts, spiralized vegetables enjoyed a surge in popularity as the nation went crazy for courgetti, butternut squash noodles and cucumber strips.

As well as annual trends, the report also described how we shop each month. Unsurprisingly, come summer our intake of alcohol sees a sharp rise. In June, the UEFA European Championships and Rugby Union Internationals contributed to beer sales increasing by almost 9%. August saw a 104% increase in Rosé sales following the Frosé trend, a yummy frozen cocktail of rosé, lemon juice and sugar. We also started to stock up on BBQ items as early as May with sales of meat rocketing up by 41% that month.

When January swung back around many decided to take part in ‘Dry January’ and cut back on the booze, allowing soft drink sales to rise by 47%. That was before we went flipping mad for pancakes in February with a 77% increase in baking ingredients.
Instagram also reported that in early 2016 Sushi, Avocado and brunch items such as eggs were the most snapped foods by far. The report indicated that those aged 18 to 34 regularly post pictures of their meals on social media leading to certain foods becoming incredibly popular. Younger generations are leading the way as 18 to 25 year olds are five times more likely to have shared a picture of their food in the past month than over 55s.

Here at Hunters of Helmsley we’re obviously fans of food and drink that tastes good but also looks gorgeous too! We carry a range of items guaranteed to make the most picture-worthy brunches possible including local bacon, free range eggs and freshly baked bread.

Any #TeaLover will enjoy our selection of beautiful brews from Taylors of Harrogate, Cartwright and Butler, Teapigs and Pukka. We also stock an array of healthy and tasty treats including Yorkshire Provender’s pea and mint soup, Staal smoked salmon and Biona Organic coconut flour, an alternative to traditional flour.

Let’s be honest, whether it’s fashionable or not we are still going to enjoy a lovely glass of wine when we fancy one. We carry a Taste of Paradise sparkling rose, Yorkshire Lass white wine and Strickland Estate red wine to name only a few. A photo of those glistening in a glass would no doubt get mouths watering!

So, if you’re hoping to become ‘Insta-famous’ or begin trending on Twitter look no further… for the rest of us some tasty food and a refreshing drink will do just fine.

No need to fear, beer is here!

There’s nothing quite like reaching for a perfectly chilled beer after a long day. Us Brits go wild for it, with reports claiming that we guzzle down an average of 15,000 pints every minute (hiccup!)

However, our love affair with the barley brew is nothing new, the origins of beer actually date back to somewhere between 3100 and 3500 BC after it was discovered at Godin Tepe in the Central Zagros Mountains of Iran. Many historians report that in the past beer was considered cleaner than water, meaning the public used it as a major source of hydration. Low alcohol versions were even given to children! It’s also said that more intoxicating and calorie laden varieties were drunk by working men who needed a thirst quencher, pick me up and an energy provider in one quick gulp.

Back to 2016, the Guardian newspaper recently reported that for the first time since records began, more beer is now sold in shops than in pubs, clubs and restaurants. The British Beer and Pub Association found that 51% of the 44m hectoliters of beer sold in Britain were sold by the off-trade. This rise is said to have been caused by shops being able to offer alcohol at a lower cost to the buyer and the growing popularity of drinking at home.

Here at Hunters we love a beer and carry a huge variety of 40 locally brewed bottles. So whether you’re seeking an old favourite or something brand-new and interesting, we have what you’re looking for. 

Why not pick up a bottle of The Great Yorkshire Brewery's Yorkshire Moors, a firm favourite here at 4.6%. We also stock Trebroom Brewery’s range of delicious drinks including Baron Saturday, 5.2%, Kettle Drum, 4.3% and Yorkshire Sparkle, 4%. Last but certainly not least is the Yorkshire Legend bitter, made by the Helmsley Brewery Co. - a local gem!

If beer isn’t your bag check out our range of refreshing Ciders including the various Ampleforth Abbey flavours and Yorkshire Cider from The Great Yorkshire Brewing Company. If you’re in the mood for a wine or two, Ryedale Vineyards Yorkshire Lass white wine and Yorkshire Sunset’s rose are bound to hit the spot.