by Bob Mundle

Created on: November 02, 2009   Last Updated: November 04, 2009

Personal Gourmet Presents for Christmas

Christmas is coming, and the geese are getting fat...so runs the old carol, and let's face it, Christmas is always the perfect time for self indulgence, and a perfect opportunity for indulging others. Whether your loved ones and friends prefer food that is rich is calories and chocolate and cream; or of a more savoury nature; or juicy steaks or fowl (not foul); or, God bless them, vegan; there is a lot to be said for giving something a bit more special than just the latest DVD or CD; or the must-have electrical gadget of the moment. You can really utilise your creative powers and your knowledge of the intended recipients tastes to ensure that the Christmas present you bestow this year shall be the one that is remembered throughout 2010, and that definitely won't languish in the closet to be hastily taken out and dusted off every time you visit; or, even worse, be recycled and end up in your stocking at Christmas 2011.

Of course there are a multiplicity of Gourmet Food Suppliers on the internet and with one click and a hefty bite of plastic you can simply leave the tasteful choices to them you can purchase a Harrods Christmas Hamper (complete with cute Teddy Bear aaahhh) from a measly(?)55 punds sterling, all the way up to 550 (![My keyboard grows faint...] Or shop at rivals Fortnums (their hampers come in a lovely wicker basket emblazoned with the motif F & M that is perfect afterwards as well, a wicker basket, I suppose; but one that you can put in the boot (or trunk) of your car so that when you pick the kids up from school everyone can see it...'pretentious, moi?' As Basil Fawlty's client in Fawlty Towers observed), for slightly cheaper prices ranging from 50 pounds stirling - 500.

If you are fortunate enough to live in the USA, the land of the free, you will find that internet suppliers such as The Gourmet Retailer are happy to cater to your every need and to assure you that they 'really represent you and accurately convey your sentiments' (I quote). Their wares include sympathy baskets (why one should need those at Christmas unless it is pity for your waist line, I cannot say?) but are not actually for free, a bit like Joni Mitchell, bless her heart. But wait a minute. A personal present is supposed to be personal. Then, as Jean-Luc Piccard would say in Startrek Next Generation: 'Make it so.' The answer, of course, is mix and match , and to remember that bigger, isn't necessarily better... and the beauty of

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