Nigel Slater's The Christmas Chronicles

[Dillidilly]

I bought this wonderful book for my daughter as part of her Christmas present last year. Then I treated myself to a copy in the spring!
It's a fantastic book, full of stories, photography, poetry and 100 recipes for the Christmas season. As a hardback book with gold foil detailing it would even look gorgeous laid out as part of your Christmas decorations.

Each chapter roughly follows the days leading up to Christmas, and we've decided to read and share our thoughts about each chapter in the run up to Christmas, starting from late November if I remember correctly.

I thought it would be a lovely thing to share with someone you love. Currently £18.29 on Amazon.

Can I join you when you start reading along ? Also to share pics of favourite baubles. Is Amazon about the best price for the book ?

Of course you can @TheDogsMother!

@Geamhradh

Here's my Christmas bookshelf. Nigella and Delia come down onto the sofa in September. Nigel follows when his Chronicles begin.

This shelf is such goals (teenage speak for you there)

I didn’t know Delia has 2 Christmas books?!?

@Geamhradh who is the book called Advent by please?

Admittedly, the 2 main books I have are on your shelf Geamradh (do I guess an Irish person who loves winter?!) - Sarah Raven and Hairy Bikers. The other 2 are kids books. Maybe I should get rid of a soups book as I only ever open that for 1 recipe....

The two Delia's are just her old one and her new one. I have a thing about reading old recipe books as nostalgia. Tickles me watching the old Delia's on YT, where she explains what pasta is, and how you can find it in big London supermarkets etc. Love it! That's another thing I do every Christmas- watch all the Delias and Nigellas. Occasionally a bit of Jamie. (but I find him a bit shouty.

The Advent book is a bit rubbish tbh. I picked it up for about a quid. It's got lovely photos but spends a bit too much time being all "craft with the kids" for me.

I feel I need to warn you away from the horror that is Merry Midwinter (not on that shelf) which is horrific! Dreadful hippy dippy woman who lives off the grid and follows the seasons (yet spends £££££s on fancy ribbons for her wreaths) and is the most annoying person ever. it bills itself as a "cornucopia of nostalgia" but is just utterly smug. It's relegated to a non Christmas shelf! As punishment!

@BiddyPop, not Irish but obsessed with language, winter, the North. I'm going to be Scandinavian in my next life.

I'm off to find the hairy bikers book!!

I think Nigel is probably wondering what's happened as World of Books has only got one copy of his book for £89

All hail Ebay! Hairy Bikers cookbook will be here by Friday

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265197434907?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=265197434907&targetid=1280824612938&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045006&poi=&campaignid=12125451065&mkgroupid=122721231597&rlsatarget=pla-1280824612938&abcId=9300480&merchantid=113628281&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6NmHBhD2ARIsAI3hrM3n0gX0CuKe6QPlACk_XBgJ06Ph54I0pimdxLvJaLzmq2wLgR7f5aIaAjpeEALw_wcB

eBay has this little treasure on download...........

@Geamhradh I rewatch Delia, Nigella, the Hairy Bikers, Jamie and of course Nigel in the run up to Christmas every year too lol!!
Love it so much, it's like seeing old friends.
Has anyone else noticed what a tetchy cook Delia is in the old Christmas series? She always seems to cook with irritated, jabby movements. I love the episode where she introduces us to something new called mulled wine, and talks us through making this exotica!

[quote Dillidilly]@Geamhradh I rewatch Delia, Nigella, the Hairy Bikers, Jamie and of course Nigel in the run up to Christmas every year too lol!!
Love it so much, it's like seeing old friends.
Has anyone else noticed what a tetchy cook Delia is in the old Christmas series? She always seems to cook with irritated, jabby movements. I love the episode where she introduces us to something new called mulled wine, and talks us through making this exotica![/quote]
Yes!
In one of the recipes she uses a tomato as garnish and takes up a whole paragraph telling you how to slice it.
I think she's mellowed a lot- she came on a MN webchat some years ago and was brilliant, unlike Nigella who was "you'll find the recipe in one of my books" and answered about 4 questions. Nigel of course was an utter delight and just kept saying "thank you for being so nice to me"

Does anyone else remember watching the film Toast about Nigel's childhood? I've just checked, and was shocked to see it was 2010!

I've got the Christmas Chronicles on kindle and will be joining in the read-along.

I also have Mary Berry's Christmas book and the Irish Countrywomen's Association Christmas book - this one is currently silly money on Amazon but there are copies on Abe Books. It's a mix of cookery/craft/traditions but I enjoy the way Nigel moves through the festive season.

I think I need another cookbook though. Is the Hairy Bikers one the top recommendation? I've got Delia's Cookery Course and Nigella's Domestic Goddess - both of them have a Christmas section and to be brutally honest I make the same things year after year (hamstrung a bit by allergies, general dislikes and a veg dodging teenager) but maybe I'll find something...

I do remember Toast. Can't believe it was that long ago!

Like a PP I have a love/hate relationship with Nigel. My DH calls him "Creepy Slater" and I can sort of see what he means but then I love his recipes, the way he describes food and the general aesthetic of his cookery shows. So I keep returning. I'm glad to hear he's nice in person!

Nigel narrates a podcast for the Christmas Chronicles, from what I gather it's slightly abridged from the book, but so great to listen to in the lead up to Christmas open.spotify.com/show/32VwReW1L31DMCyRqUl3hh?si=Rc-8p9BeSjaw7s93E_hddA&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

I want the Irish Countrywoman's book. One day I hope to find a bargain!

I have:

Jamie
Delia
Nigella
Mary
Hairy Bikers
Nigel
Gordon
I think there's a GH one too.

I have one of the old Good Housekeeping books.
I've also had my eyes on the Irish Countrywoman one for years.
If anyone needs facilitating, I just spotted Nigella, the Hairys, Delia and Mary B all at about £3 each on World of Books.
(This happened while I was hurling Delia Summer, Nigella summer and James Martin Winter into my basket )

@Dillidilly toast was brilliant loved Helena bonham Carter jn it, might try and find it on dvd!

Is there a Jamie Christmas book?

I haven't seen Toast but I read it years ago, very interesting book.

There is a Jamie Christmas book! I only own Jamie and Nigella, so need to get the collection growing. I am off on mat leave until January and really want to spend this time perfecting my christmas cooking!

Just need slightly cooler weather...

I like the first two Jamie Oliver books, the recipes are really good.

This sounds right up my street! I love the idea of a read-along thread, so I'll definitely buy it in time for that! I normally only buy Kindle books, but it sounds like this one is worth getting in hardback. I shall add it to my other favourite Christmas traditions, including re-watching The Box of Delights every year .

The readalong sounds great...

I loved Toast on TV then went to see the stage play. The guy who plays young Nigel is brilliant and they hand around sweets and little cakes to the audience (pre-Covid obviously).