Special food items for a hamper

[Bey]

Hi I've got some lovely ideas off the gifts thread but would like a few more. Really special food items for a hamper.
Anything sweet or savoury just has to be a bit unique not something you'd pick up in a weekly shop. Want to really treat my brother and wife who's a bit of a foody to a nice selection of special bits and bobs he wouldn't usually buy.

TKMaxx is great for unusual food items

Ooh brilliant I'll have a look in it's not somewhere I'd have thought of as I don't have one close by but I'm actually going to a place that has one at the weekend thank you

Cherries in kirsch. Ndjua paste. Japanese furikake and japanese treats. Flavoured oils.

TKMaxx really extends the food selection at this time of year, they have lots of Italian foods so all different coloured dried pasta, panettone etc, but also American and German food brands too.

Thank you sounds like tk max is the one @EverythingLouderThanEverythingElse

Love the sound of Japanese treats too @SantaBarbaraMonica

A Georgie Porgie's Traditional Christmas Pudding - they are lovely! They do other flavours too if you know your DB will like them.

georgieporgiespuddings.co.uk/

This is one of my favourite things

https://www.cherrytreepreserves.co.uk/products/passion-fruit-curd

If you are in the North, look in Booths. They have some amazing things.

In addition to the passion fruit curd above, I would add Cherry Curd!

At the other end of the price scale to Booths, this week Lidl has some really nice Swedish things in. I just got some lovely Taste Award winning, triangular, wrapped in paper, crispbreads to keep for Christmas.

Thank you @APurpleSquirrel I've ordered a Cointreau pud was tempted to order one for myself too haha.

that curd sounds delicious @GettingStuffed

good shout about Lidl @WeirdPookah ill have a look see what's in

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bay-Tree-Marinated-Mini-Figs/dp/B088CG2ZC1/ref=asc_df_B088CG2ZC1/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463072859699&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3299357708372165774&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046083&hvtargid=pla-949467758787&psc=1&mcid=7764a7c2dba836a8b1f29d1d7e672c7c&th=1&psc=1

For a quick and easy pudding with a dollop of mascarpone or natural yoghurt...

cartmel do lovely puddings, they are based in the lake district but you can order online

Have a look on sous chef, even if only for ideas. I'd also suggest maybe a Spanish deli if you happen to have one near you or can find one online, for tinned and jarred things that are both delicious and and come in decorative packaging too, and spices too.

Local delicacies always go down well, are there any famous foods or drinks local to you?

Find a craft fair, farmers' market or some such nearby, and go and buy some locally produced preserves, chutney, pickles etc. There's one I went to about 6 months ago and bought the most fantastic chutney I've ever tasted and I've just checked - there's another craft fair this coming Sunday. I'm keeping everything crossed that the same stallholder will be there this time. 😋

Waitrose sell cartmel sticky toffee puddings (or they do up north!)

Great ideas thanks everyone, ordered a few more bit, can't wait to put it all together for them :)

Local specialist shops are great, ditto WI Christmas Market for preserves, local honey or fruitcake.

But you can find some great items from specialist producers in Waitrose or M&S Dry Goods section too. Some of the packaging is stunning and would look wonderful in a hamper.

I've bought wonderful big Spanish sweet crackers there before, flavoured with orange or aniseed, each wrapped in traditional wax paper within the packet. Quite big too, to give some substance to a hamper.

Sorry, can't link, but Google 'ines rosales tortas'. Quite a few places sell them, lots of flavours and a real treat to unwrap and eat.

I'm doing a food hamper for foodie younger DS, and I'm filling it with locally made produce. Little local shops and tourist info places are being goldmines!

Chilli jam - amazing with bacon
Fancy crackers for cheese (Peters Yard do good ones)
Strawberries in balsamic vinegar or cherries in syrup
Fancy olives
Truffle oil

Try Sous Chef , Fine Cheese Co (not just cheese items) and Truffle Hunter do lovely gift sets (also available on Amazon to save postage)

I like hampers with theme where the items can be used together rather than a random selection of items e.g. artisan cheeses, nice biscuits, chutneys and olives. Or drinks and nice nibbles, or a dessert / sweet treats hamper. I really despise hampers with a few tea bags, a jar of jam, a bag of nuts and a few other random items, none of which can be used together or I’ll need to buy additional things to go with them.

You'd really despise this hamper then 🤣

Some delicious nut butter from these guys

www.niftynutbutters.com

Candied nuts
Baklava
Giant truffles to put into hot milk for hot chocolate (never seen these fir sale but easy to make)