Fortnum and mason

[BurritoSquad]

Is fortnum and mason worth the price ?
I want something lovely for my grandparents who are in their sixties , they enjoy nice things but are on a budget and would class m&s as a treat . So is fortnum & mason stuff worth the price and if so is it worth getting a small hamper or just buying more stuff and putting it in a cheaper basket ?

Now Im craving a F&M hamper!

I now want a f&m hamper, had a look at them due to this thread 😂

Have to say I’m pleasantly surprised by the prices, I thought they’d be a lot dearer than they are (was pretty gobsmacked at the 1k one though!).

I got some children's crackers about ten years ago for a really special Christmas celebration, which were great. They haven't done the same ones since though. The £1000 ones look amazing but bonkers.

I'd highly recommend the chocolossus biscuits - chocolate macadamia nut biscuits in a thick, dark chocolate coating, amazing! DH buys them for me every Xmas.

Also the Xmas pudding jam, it's lovely.

I do a similar thing for my dad and step mum most years - it's usually a mixture of things from F&M, waitrose and Whole Foods. I usually see them earlier in December- when they next visit in the New Year they bring the hamper back and it's gets re-filled next Xmas!

I would say - YES they are expensive but soooo lovely. I wouldn't waste money on buying a hamper from them but do as others have suggested and put the goodies in one of their bags. If you are going to see them after Christmas then wait until the sale when all the Christmas stuff gets a good reduction.

I buy F&M stuff for my Mum and last year I made up my own hamper with their stuff. I highly recommend the Royal Blend tea, the Christmas Coffee (doesn't taste Christmassy but just a lovely smooth coffee), the Boxing Day Chutney/Pickle, the Mincemeat Shortbread (any of the biscuits really), the Christmas Puddings are very nice. My mum adores the Orange & Champage marmalade.

You could put a F&M tea towel in the hamper - they always have a nice Christmas one.

Well that's my in laws sorted for this year! Thanks, great ideas

If you like tea, order the tea advent calendar as a gift to yourself. Yes it’s a bit spendy but it’s so lovely!

Lovely but expensive. You can buy a f&m empty hamper on eBay and fill it with things you think they’d like. The f&m tea and Christmas pudding and some lovely bits from m&s and a few personal bits too.

I spent a fortune at F&M after a similar thread last year! Was supposed to be taking some of the stuff to Australia as gifts but then didn’t go.

Am going this year though...........

Off to browse..... can blame you lot I suppose!

The carousel tins of biscuits are great. Nice biscuits but the main point is that you wind up the tin by turning it and then it turns round like a carousel and plays a tune. The small one is normally £15 and the large one £25.

Fortnums ice mints are delicious and a real classic. It’s a blue metallic box and would look lovely in a hamper. They also do the big gold chocolate coins in various types

Their picalli! Chutneys! There are some really interesting ones

I don't think it matters if the recipient knows about F&M. My dh bought my mum F&M jam/preserves. It's ruined the cheaper nice jams I used to take her. All she wants is the F&M stuff! I explained to her I just couldn't pick it up for her as it was a v. expensive London shop. She had no idea. She especially liked the flowers on the bottom of the jar! 😂 She asks for the flower jam not f&m!

I had my last F&M order delivered to Sainsbury’s.

(The reality is that I order about once every 5 years when I need a special gift “last order” sounds much posher though!)

We used to receive a Fortnum hamper every Christmas and it was always a highlight.
I think your grandparents would be delighted.

@oreosoreosoreos tell me more about xmas pudding jam! Does it genuinely taste like xmas pudding?

Went to F&M yesterday to get my Christmas Pudding and one or two treats... Was nearly done when DH reminded me that jam/pickle count as liquids and I wouldn't get them on our hand luggage only flight home!

I was devastated... no Boxing Pickle... Christmas 2018 cancelled... there was no point having it.. but...

Delivery I hear you say... how I have made it to 45 without knowing this... Christmas is saved! This is why I love MN

My mum loves the teas in the tin, they have great kids that seal well so she can reuse them. Also as mentioned up there was, the carousel biscuits are lovely. I have a biscuit tin from my childhood that plays a Christmas song, it still works 30 years on.

Sorry for autocorrect typos! Lids not kids of course. And up thread, not up there was. Stupid iPhone!