Hop along to Hunters of Helmsley to pick up egg-sactly what you’re looking for this Easter

As the chocoholics amongst us have no doubt noticed, Easter is on its way and for us foodies the countdown is officially on!

Alongside succulent joints of lamb, freshly baked hot cross buns and fresh fish Fridays, chocolate eggs will of course be on the menu. Eggs and chicks are prevalent during celebrations because they symbolise new life and rebirth, something that we enjoy during spring when animals are born and greenery fills our countryside once more. Within the Christian religion, an egg is also a symbol of the rock used to seal the tomb of Jesus Christ ahead of his resurrection.

Luckily for us, modern Easter eggs aren’t made of rock, or chickens’ eggs for that matter, but of delicious chocolate! The first chocolate eggs appeared in France and Germany during the 19^th century, were solid in their form and had a very bitter taste. As culinary developments were made and new techniques invented, the chocolate used became sweeter and the insides were hollowed. Since then the demand for chocolate Easter eggs has sky rocketed with us Brits now buying over 80 million on average every year!

Here at Hunters of Helmsley we love Easter, the long weekend and a chance to celebrate with family and friends. We have a huge selection of eggs and much more just waiting to be popped into your basket this season.

With the average UK child now receiving 8.8 eggs every year, it’s often difficult to find something individual and different. However, we have the solution….look no further than our friends at Ampleforth Plus. Their incredible selection is available in-store now and will leave your little ones in awe. Designs include wacky dinosaurs, classic ducklings and lambs, and a very happy green frog.

As well as local suppliers we also have a huge range of luxury branded eggs. Firm favourites Green and Blacks’ chocolate eggs are all organic and come in a variety of flavours. Lindt and Lindor provide an egg-ceptional amount of both eggs and supporting chocolate gifts. Butlers dark chocolate eggs, wrapped in opulent purple packaging, are the perfect option for someone seeking something not-so-sweet, whilst their bags of mini eggs will come in handy should an impromptu Easter egg hunt take place.

For praline lovers, the Libeert Easter egg’s hollow Belgian chocolate shell comes filled with mini praline eggs. Those seeking an eggs-perience will also love cracking open the real egg shell exterior of a Gut Springenheide egg to reveal its indulgent praline interior.

If you’re looking for smaller gifts or add-ons, why not take a look at our selection of mini eggs and none-chocolate Easter presents. Our cute lamb mugs are perfect for that first cup of tea of the day, whilst our egg cups come complete with little chick’s feet and a very sweet design.

With all of that in mind you would be hopping mad to miss out on the Easter fun we have in-store!

The cherry on the cake – help us be cream of the crop with the Great British Food Awards

We’re absolutely delighted to have been nominated for the second year in a row as Best Independent Retailer in the North of England in the Great British Food Awards!

We were over the moon to be awarded a highly commended last year, but how amazing would it be if this we got crowned overall winner?!

Well to be in with a chance, we need to ask YOU, our loyal customers and friends to vote for us! To do so, you need to log on to www.greatbritishfoodmagazine.com/awards before 17th July. It should only take two minutes and you can vote in as many or as few categories as you like. As an added bonus, voters will also be put into a prize draw to win one of 36 prizes worth £7,000, including holidays, hampers and kitchenware. So it’s well worth doing!

There are five Northern businesses in the category, and to us it was no surprise that three of us are in North Yorkshire! There’s so many fantastic foodie businesses in the region, we’re extremely lucky to have it all on our doorstep. 

The awards, which are now in their fourth year, celebrate the country's finest home-grown ingredients, as well as those who produce and cook with them, and includes categories covering food writers, TV personalities, cookbooks, restaurants and retailers. Results will be announced in September, and celebrity judges include John Torode, Rachel Allen, Val Warner and Nathan Outlaw.

We love what we do, and good food and drink is our obsession – especially when it’s locally produced. We’re so lucky to be able to combine our professional live with a personal passion. Winning awards is lovely, but we feel like we’ve won the jackpot every day! But we couldn’t do it without you, our loyal customers. So thank you for your support – it means more than you could know!

Spring into action this season

Lambs are starting to leap through green fields, the days are getting longer and the weather is beginning to warm up. Spring is almost here!

Of course, for us foodies the season also brings with it Easter weekend, a time for feasting with family and friends. As the bank holiday weekend draws closer and balmy evenings spent in the garden become a possibility we’re thinking about all things Spring.

If you’re planning a couple of get-togethers over the long weekend you’re sure to need plenty of beverages ready for thirsty guests. We love a refreshing Masons Gin paired with an icy cold Fever Tree tonic water or how about a delicious Sloe gin from SLOEmotion? The brand’s Yorkshire Fruit Cup No 7 mixed with lemonade tastes of summer days!

Those seeking a perfect bottle of wine will be spoilt for choice. We carry more carefully selected (and personally tested, of course!) Sauvignon Blancs, Merlots, Pinot Grigios, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs than you could need and are on hand with expert knowledge should you want it. For beer lovers, our selection of 40 locally brewed bottles includes ales, beers, lagers and ciders sure to suit a variety of palettes.

Following a night full of lovely drinks, a big brunch could well be in order. We recommend Ian Taylor’s free-range farm eggs, poached and served with locally reared back bacon and freshly baked bread. All of which are available in store and guaranteed to fuel you ahead of a walk around Helmsley’s beautiful countryside to clear those cobwebs!

A charcuterie board is a guaranteed crowd pleaser that will turn any gathering into a celebration. Enjoy smooth Somerset Brie on top of a Peter’s Yard Crisp Bread, or how about a slice of Port Salut or some Stinking Bishop to really tantalize your taste buds. Add some green olives bathed in garlic oil and herbs or stuffed with pimiento peppers for a taste of the Mediterranean. And finish by bringing some perfectly aged salamis to the table. We have a huge selection in store that can be chosen and sliced to perfection before you bring them home, you can even have a taste to decide which one is your favourite before you buy.

Those looking to feed the masses with a quick but luxurious meal should look no further than our selection of pastas and sauces. We have an extensive range of authentic delicious bronzed and egg  Italian pastas that can be quickly cooked and served, the ideal dish to have squirreled away should unexpected guests come calling. Add some truffle oil or grated truffles to really liven up the dish. Alternatively, a baked camembert can be quickly prepared and enjoyed in a relaxed sharing atmosphere, perfect to enjoy by a roaring fire should the British weather elude us!

Of course, Easter also brings along with it a lot of the nation’s favourite sweet treat, chocolate! Keep your eyes peeled for a full blog on our Easter offerings or head in store to check out our selection of eggs and much, much more.