The Chester Grosvenor team test festive food from Cheshire
PUBLISHED: 00:16 09 December 2011 | UPDATED: 20:25 20 February 2013
The Chester Grosvenor team test festive food from Cheshire
We went to the Michelin-starred Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor restaurant to ask executive chef Simon Radley, head chef Ray Booker and pastry chef Luke Frost to pick out the tastiest treats around COMPILED BY THALIA THOMPSON
Joseph Heler
Blue CheshireA hamper packed with local goodies makes the perfect Christmas gift. We went to the Michelin-starred Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor restaurant to ask executive chef Simon Radley, head chef Ray Booker and pastry chef Luke Frost to pick out the tastiest treats around
COMPILED BY THALIA THOMPSON
Cheese
Best on test
★★★★★
H.S. Bourne
Mrs Bournes Mature Cheshire
8.84 per kilo
hsbourne.co.uk
01948 770214
Made in Malpas
This traditional crumbly Cheshire cheese has a powerful full-on flavour that mellows out in the mouth, leaving a rich and almost sweet aftertaste. Delicious.
Aballu Artisan Chocolatier
Handcrafted trufflesHighly Recommended
★★★★
Joseph Heler
Blue Cheshire
11.50 per kilo
joseph-heler.co.uk
01270 841 500
Made in Hatherton, Nantwich
Blue veins run through this golden orange tinted cheese but the taste is very mild and sweet. A good light flavoured cheese.
Highly Recommended
★★★★
Tiresford Guernsey Gold
Golden Cheshire Brie
3.00 each
tggcheshireyogurt.co.uk
01829 734080
Made in Tarporley
With a mild nutty flavour and creamy texture this attractively golden-coloured cheese is made from Guernsey milk and easily holds its own against French Brie.
Pippo
Toffee and hazelnut biscottiAlso Recommended
★★★
Larkton Hall Cheese
Crabtree
14.00 per kilo
01948 820520
Made in Hampton, Malpas
Made from unpasteurised milk, this lightly acidic alpine style cheese is very pleasant and more-ish. Would make a good breakfast cheese.
Sweet Treats
Best on test
★★★★★
Aballu Artisan Chocolatier
Handcrafted truffles
5.00 for 10
aballu.co.uk
07918 882585
Made in Wrexham
Pant Glas Preserves
Pink grapefruit and cranberry marmalade
With a beautifully smooth ganache filling, these delicious truffles come in a host of flavours. The toffee pudding truffle was particularly good, capturing the essence of the pudding perfectly.
Highly Recommended
★★★★
Pippo
Toffee and hazelnut biscotti
2.90 for 5
Pippocheshire.co.uk
Made in Middlewich
Generously studded with whole hazelnuts and with perfectly balanced caramelised flavours coming through from the toffee, these are very more-ish biscuits.
Highly Recommended
★★★★
Tinakianna
Petit fours
2.00 for 6
tinakianna.co.uk
01928 787262
Made in Norley
Mrs Darlington’s
Mincemeat with brandy
Excellent presentation a box of these would make a lovely gift. The sponge is beautifully light, there are some interesting flavours and the toppings arent overly sweet.
Also Recommended
★★★
Kokonoir
Hazelnut and Belgian milk chocolate hot chocolate sticks
2.25 for two
Kokonoir.com
01244 534 352
Made in Broughton
The hazel and chocolate flavours work very well together and stirring these chocolate lollipops into a cup of hot milk brings a touch of theatre into making a hot drink.
A taste of Christmas
Best on test
★★★★★
Pant Glas Preserves
Pink grapefruit and cranberry marmalade
2.00 113g
jam-chutney.co.uk
01745 570867
Made in Llanasa, Flintshire
My Gineration
Silky raspberry liqueur
A great balance of bitter and sweet, with a very pretty colour and plenty of whole cranberries giving extra definition to the texture. A lovely marmalade and the small sized tasting pot makes it an ideal stocking filler.
Highly Recommended
★★★★
Mrs Darlingtons
Mincemeat with brandy
2.25 410g
mrsdarlingtons.com
01270 250710
Made in Crewe
A well-rounded and flavoursome mincemeat, the spicing is subtle rather than overpowering. The ingredients include orange marmalade, adding to the fruity taste.
Highly Recommended
★★★★
Eddisbury Fruit Farm
Cheshire apple juice with mulled spices
3.00 75cl
eddisbury.co.uk
0845 094 1023
Made with apples grown and pressed on the farm
Alison’s Homemade
Mulled cranberry and orange cordial
Lovely Christmassy aroma. Strongly spiced with cloves, cinnamon and ginger, this could be added to a cocktail or to red wine for an almost instant apple gluhwein.
Also Recommended
★★★
Purple Laura Creations
Mulled plum jam
2.50 227g
Purplelaura.com
Made in Congleton
A very good plummy flavour with extra depth coming from the red wine and the very mild and gentle spices. The jam has a good texture with plenty of big chunks of plum
Drinks
Best on test
★★★★★
My Gineration
Silky raspberry liqueur
5.00 40ml
mygineration.co.uk
01244 851395
Made in Mollington
With its unmistakable aroma of raspberry and refreshing natural fruity taste, this would be delicious in a cocktail or poured over ice-cream, but its almost a shame to do anything but drink it as it is
Cheshire Life December 2011Highly Recommended
★★★★
Alisons Homemade
Mulled cranberry and orange cordial
2.75 500ml
Made in Sandbach
A fabulous pink-orange colour and subtle warm spicing from cloves, nutmeg and cassia. This makes a lovely non-alcoholic drink and can be served hot or cold.
Highly Recommended
★★★★
Willington Fruit Farm
Winsors premium blend
2.30 75cl
willingtonfruitfarm.co.uk
01829 751216
Made from apples grown in Willington
Wonderfully full orchard flavours in this delicious cloudy apple juice made from fruit grown and pressed on the farm. An excellent all rounder.
Willington Fruit Farm
Winsors premium blendAlso Recommended
★★★
Hawarden Estate Farm Shop
Katy apple juice
2.50 75cl
Hawardenestate.co.uk
01244 533442
Made from apples grown on the Hawarden estate, Flintshire.
This pale coloured single variety juice has a refreshing crispness to it perfect for people who prefer a sharper taste to a drink.
The print version of this article appeared in the December 2011 issue of Cheshire Life
We can deliver a copy direct to your door order online here
