Monday 24 October 2011

Let’s make Christmas - The Food Blogger Gift Swap


It occurred to me just the other day that we food bloggers don’t often get the chance to meet up and yet we love nothing more than a cup of tea, something delicious to eat and a good natter about a recipe.  So I decided to organize just that. 

So I spoke to the lovely people in one of my absolute favorite shops in the world, Fortnum & Mason and they thought it was a wonderful idea for a get together and the swap has been arranged on Friday 18th November 3 – 6pm.  I love their gifts and if ever I haven’t got he time to make something then I know many of their goods are hand made and, as you can see from my pictures they make fabulous gifts.

I am so excited not least because we’ll all get to sample Fortnum & Mason’s delicious world famous tea and eat cakes and mince pies but we’ll get the chance to meet world class baker Dan Lepard, who’s recent book Short and Sweet is looking to be one of 2011 Christmas best selling baking books.


There are now just 3 spaces left 

If you'd like to come please add your comment below and tell me what you favourite thing to make at Christmas is and what your blog is called. 


On the day 
You will need to bring along your gift to Fortnum & Mason's 4th floor at 3pm (with your name and the recipe must be attached in an envelope.)  Your gift needs to be entered into the swap by 3.45pm. Your gift get’s a number and a category.  At the end of the event you get to pick out the tickets (According to how many gifts you brought with you ) out of the hat and leave with the gifts correlating to the number that you have picked from the hat it's like a raffle and you will leave with someone else’s gifts.  I wanted to add a bit of gentle competition to it all ... so Dan Lepard has very kindly offered to judge the gifts and the timetable is as follows: 

4 -5pm Dan Lepard will judge the entries and pick the winning gifts.

5 .45pm you pick a ticket out of all the entries and you leave with a gift.  

The gift categories are:
1 Pickles and preserves
2 Sweets
3 Alcohols / Drinks
4 Cakes, biscuits and baked goods


The Prizes are as follows
1 Overall best gift.  –  Fortnum & Mason Hamper
2 Best preserve / pickle is Aga Preserving Pan & Maslin Pan
3 Best sweets Rococo Chocolates course with Laurent Couchaux -  the Principle Chocolatier at Rococo Chocolates and winner of Chocolatier of the year 2011
4 Best drink - Champagne tasting class with Leiths Cookery school resident wine expert, Richard Bampfield this fun, informative tasting of the world’s most desirable tipple is the prize for the best drink
5 Best baked goods Signed book Short and Sweet by Dan Lepard & a Kenwood kMix KMX58 Stand Mixer, Citrus Yellow
mixer by a leading brand of Kitchen appliances Kenwood.  ( Hurrah for British design!) 

The Rules
You must share your recipe and blog about your gift using the Fortnum & Mason Let's make Christmas Logo in the blog post. 
You may enter up to 3 categories. Minimum entry is 1 category. 
You must provide an envelope with the recipe inside and your name and email address. Ingredients must be clearly marked to accommodate andy food allergies. 
All gifts must be packaged in a way that is appropriate for someone else to transport home. 
Prizes will be sent directly to the winners.  If you win you will need to leave your address with me at the end of the day. 
All decisions by the judge are final  and there are no cash or product alternatives. 
All gifts must tbe hand made, and credit the recipe to the author if appropriate.
You must be over 18 to participate. 





69 comments:

  1. I have been SO looking forward to this Vanessa! I even changed my train ticket to come! I shall be there with my gifts......probably boozy!
    Cannot wait to meet you and all of the other bloggers I have met!
    Karen
    XX

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  2. forgot to say my blog is www.london-unattached.com

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  3. This sounds amazing, I would love to be able to join you all.

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  4. i'm sooooo excited about this!!!!!!!!... i'm going to do a dummy run of my gift this week... can't wait to meet you all!!!!!

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  5. Sorry, forgot to say that my favourite things to make at Christmas is chocolate truffles. My blog is http://www.craftstorming.com.
    Best wishes
    Laura

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  6. Im SO excited about this!Gorgeous choice of venue! The perfect start to the festive season!

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  7. Hi. What a nice idea !!
    I'd love to meet other food bloggers in London!!!
    I like to make all sorts of sweet treats for Christmas, from nice nutty cookies to gingerbread. But one of my favourite is the traditional "bûche de noël" (pardon my french!), some kind of moka & chocolate buttercream swiss roll.
    Just delicious !

    My blog is called http://foodforthoughts-blog.blogspot.com/ (recipes are both in french & english).
    See you soon hopefully!

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  8. Count me out of the ranomiser, I'm afraid. I'd love to come, but it's not going to happen.

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  9. Hi Vanessa. This sounds so brilliant and can't wait. Will be great to meet some of the bloggers I chat to.

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  10. I'd be interested in coming. One of my favourite things to make is a German biscuit called Zimtsterne, they are so good!

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  11. What a lovely and fun event. I'd love to come if the randomiser wants me. My blog is www.susaneatslondon.com

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  12. Oh Vanessa, I would have loved this meet-up so much, and am even going to London that weekend (for the Bob Dylan concert), but sods law, we don't fly in until Saturday morning :-(((

    Hope you all have the best time ever.

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  13. I am so excited to be coming, and am looking forward to seeing you again and meeting so many of my other blogger friends. x

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  14. My first job after I graduated was Hamper Clerk at Fortnum's, I loved it, and it's still my favourite London store! Such a splendid venue for a fantastic event.
    Thank you for my invite via Nazema, really excited to meet all these lovely, creative people I 'know' by way of their super blogs!

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  15. Amazing idea! I'd love to come and meet the people behind some of my favourite blogs :)
    My favourite things to make at Christmas is mulled wine and glazed hams, both make the whole house smell like Christmas!
    Hanna
    www.cornercottagebakery.blogspot.com

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  16. I am really excited about this - I have a few recipes to decide on. Hope to entry at least two items, maybe three. Heidi xx

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  17. Forgot to say my blog is called HeidiRobertsKitchenTalk.blogspot.com

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  18. Vanessa,
    I am delighted to be coming along thanks to Nazima@Working LondonMummy.
    I only moved out of London 4 years ago and miss it terribly still, so the thought of popping over to a blog event at Fortnum's fills me with joy!
    Really looking forward to meeting you and many other food loving bloggers and joining in with the gift swap, Thank you,
    Laura x

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  19. Oh I am so excited! I think I am more excited about this than Christmas this year !!

    Vanessa
    x

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  20. Thanks so much for the invite Vanessa! Already thinking about what to bring along to swap! TOO EXCITED! :)
    My favourite thing to make for Christmas is... believe it or not, fluffy, crispy roast potatoes! But don't worry, I won't be bringing that along to the swap...
    Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting others too.
    Christine @ www.thebountifulplate.wordpress.com

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  21. What a fabulous idea. I along with so many others would love to come and meet everyone. My favourite thing to make at Christmas is a Gingerbread House. My blog is http://lheureduthe-jennifer.blogspot.com.

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  22. What a brilliant event. I would love to come along. My fav treat to make at Christmas is eggnog...sweet, boozy and delicious! My blog is www.ladyrhubarb.com

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  23. This is such a great idea - I got to meet some bloggers for the first time recently and it was so nice to put faces to names. Sadly, I'm stuck in work, so I can't come but I can't wait to hear all about it. Great work on the organising.

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  24. I love making florentines and macaroons (not to be confused with macarons!) as they are family traditions for Christmas. I'm hosting Christmas this year rather than returning to Ireland so I'll be making huge batches of them! My blog is www.onemilliongoldstars.com.

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  25. I'm in!!!!....if you'll have me :) My blog is www.handtomouthblog.com

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  26. What a brilliant idea!! Would love to meet all the fellow foodie bloggers! Fingers Crossed!
    My fave thing at xmas is chocolate log with cream & maybe if it doesnt snow this year a slow pit cooked turkey ! & trimmings!
    My blog is www.yummychooeats.wordpress.com
    Selina x

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  27. What a wonderful idea - I live too too far far away.My sister Jennifer's blog is L'heure du she would love to go. I will send her my best ever in the world Mince Pie recipe, it is the best and everyone that taste them are blown away!

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  28. I love EVERYTHING about xmas; the tree, the lights, the excuse to create new recipes.

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  29. Really looking forward to this event! F&M is one of my favourite places in London!

    I'm hoping to bring something for either 2 or 3 categories, including something baked of course!

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  30. My blog is www.sarahbakes.co.uk !

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  31. What a wonderful idea! I would love to come too. Oh but what should I bring? Cherry brandy? Plum syrup? or the worlds's yummiest Texas butter pecans? Pascale xxx

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  32. I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday afternoon :) What a lovely idea. Christmas for me is all about homemade chutney, I've always got a few jars to hand to give as gifts during the festive season! My blog is www.well-seasoned.co.uk many thanks x

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  33. Hey Vanessa, Thank you for your message!
    What a gorgous idea - I'd love to be involved :-)
    I'm OBSESSED with making Christmas things (to the point where it drive my husband up the wall). A couple of years ago I made about 35 different preserves for the family (insane - my advice - just give 'em all the same next time) which husband lovingly labelled with rude haiku.
    I'm thinking maybe chocolates this year though, or possibly personalised gingerbread men. SO many possibilities!

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  35. This sounds super exciting - I'm wondering what preserves and goodies I could bring if chosen.

    http://penelopespantry.blogspot.com

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  36. What a great fun idea Vanessa. Would love to participate. I like making sweets and little bites like coconut fudge balls.

    My blog is http://www.slowfoodkitchen.com

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  37. Hi Vanessa, what a great idea! I love it!
    The last gift swap I made was in early university years and I miss it so much!
    My best thing to make for Christmas is ... Pfeffernusse! Or filled Medjool dates...
    My blog is Orangethyme.blogspot.com and I would love to come!

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  38. I love swapping things and this is a very meaningful and yet creative way to do it! I love making salty and sweet cookies, choc truffles and tie them on the tree with ribbons to make edible treats. I also make mean lemon curd! My blog is atCatharines.blogspot.com

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  39. Wistfully wishing I could be with you for this. Maybe we'll hold a mini version in the UAE

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  40. Im so sorry Vanessa, but I will not be able to make this amazing event :(( Please count me into your next event, I wish I could be there but have fun and let me know how you get on. love Carmela xxx

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  41. Now I know I'm coming and have bought my train tickets, I'm getting quite excited. Can't wait to meet you and all the other bloggers - don't get many opportunities down this neck of the woods. Have an idea as to what to make, but it's a difficult one, it needs to be light, transport well, stay fresh, look good and most importantly of all taste good - what a challenge.

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  42. Wow! I would love to take part in this event. My Xmas hampers went down really well last year with family & friends so I've decided to do it again with new recipes this year. I cannot get through Christmas without my festive gammon, flavoured with cloves, star anise & redcurrant jelly. It is wonderful with homemade apple & cranberry chutney. My blog is

    www.eathealthybuttasty.blogspot.

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  43. This sounds like an amazing event and I'm hoping very much that the randomizer likes me :-) I adore Christmas. We are a family of gluttons who have lived in many different countries so we have a 7 course Christmas banquet in order to capture all the culinary traditions. My favourite things to cook as part of said banquet are: chestnut stuffing for the turkey, brussel sprouts with cream and cumin, buche de noel. I love food, cooking and blogging. My blog is chezmmmoi.wordpress.com. Hope to see you all at Fortnum & Mason!

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  44. This sounds like an amazing event and I'm hoping very much that the randomizer likes me :-) I adore Christmas. We are a family of gluttons who have lived in many different countries so we have a 7 course Christmas banquet in order to capture all the culinary traditions. My favourite things to cook as part of said banquet are: chestnut stuffing for the turkey, brussel sprouts with cream and cumin, buche de noel. I love food, cooking and blogging. My blog is chezmmmoi.wordpress.com. Hope to see you all at Fortnum & Mason!

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  45. What a fantastic idea, as for what to make, Mulled Wine Jelly is top of the list, Whisky mustard, Cherry Brandy Truffles,- oh dear, rather an alcoholic theme going on! My blog is http://talesfromthegiantswood.blogspot.com/

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  46. How lovely! A bloggers Christmas party! We always used to do a self-employed Christmas party, this is a bit the same. I like to make cantucci biscuits made with Provencal Glacé Cherries. I know it sounds more Italian than Provencal, but it is a tradiiton to eat candied fruit here at Christmas and I happen to like cantucci biscuits. My blog is www.provencecalling.com

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  47. Now this sounds like real festive fun. A good way to start the Christmas countdown. I'd love to come. My website is www.simplysplendiferous.com

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  48. That sounds like a brilliant get together. Lovely people and the opportunity to give someone a gift. I'd love to come

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  49. What a wonderful idea, yet again! I would love to come as Christmas is my favourite time of year. My favourite treats are mince pies, mini Christmas cakes, Vanilla Kipferl (Austrian Christmas biscuits) and Chokladbollar (Swedish Christmas chocolates). My blog, Sarah's Kitchen Diary can be found at http://sarahskitchendiary1.blogspot.com

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  50. How very exciting. I have few things in mind to make and bring. Perhaps some pickles and definitely something baked. My favourite things to make at Christmas is the Christmas dinner itself. So many fabulous traditions. SO looking forward to meeting everyone.

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  51. What an amazing idea for an event Vanessa. I would so love to be part of this but am on hol that week. Can't wait to hear all about it.

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  52. My absolutely favourite thing to make at Christmas is chocolate truffles, in a variety of flavours. I also looooove making 'sopa de almendras' - a delicious hot drink/pudding served in Spain....oh, and sugar mice...oh dear, I think the list could go on forever! My blog is called italianinspiration.wordpress.com

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  53. I'm glad I saw this RTd because I made a mental note to do something about it a while back & then forgot!

    My fave thing to make at Christmas time are festively themed pies in a jar - pie it forward, baby!

    My blog is: http://iamafeeder.net

    Jax x

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  54. Hi Vanessa,

    I'd love to pop along, Spiced Ginger Shortbread is my favourite xmas baking past time!

    My website/blog is www.benvear.com

    Best xx

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  55. Oh what a fabulous idea... Would love to join if not too late.. Will bring some Christmas cake pops.

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  56. Hi Vanessa,

    Here is what I will be bringing with me: http://charlotteepike.blogspot.com/2011/11/lets-make-christmas.html

    Can't wait to see you.

    Charlotte x
    @gofreecakes

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  57. I only wish I lived closer, but a ticket from Virginia beach, va is a little too much. I would love to meet all of you lovely ladies, I am so excited to see a post of the recipes and winners.

    I post all sorts of food on my blog http://pineconesandacorn.blogspot.com/ and only chocolate recipes on http:// onceuponachocolate.blogspot.com/

    I would love to post about your adventure, is that ok?

    Thank you have a great day.

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  58. Hi there -- I've got a job this Friday and can't make the event. I'm devastated. I'm sure it will be fabulous and I've spent some time planning what I would make. I'm sure you've got a waitlist though -- so please give my spot to someone else, and have a very very good time.

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  59. Gosh, I wish I'd found out about this sooner! Sounds like a fantastic event. Am I too late? I would love to meet so many of my favourite food bloggers, especially as I am fairly new to food blogging. My favourite thing to make at christmas are traditional Cornish pig fairings, pig shaped biscuits that can be hung around the house.

    My blog is http://www.lostartofeating.com/

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  60. WOW, what an absolutely amazing idea. I would have so loved to have been a part of it, but unfortunately I'm all 'Christmas fayre'd up' this weekend and so will be at home boiling away at the stove making jars of jams and chutneys. Please please do consider me for future events like this, I'd love to meet up with fellow food bloggers and give homemade gifts :)
    www.whatiatelastnight.com

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  61. This is my idea of heaven, unfortunately I am currently living in edinburgh so won't be able to come. Have you seen love and olive oil's cookie swap. It is that same idea just via post. xx

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  62. I would love to come, but unfortunately unable to, so I have blogged about your event on my website:
    http://www.sarahknows.co.uk/index.php/2011/11/edible-christmas-gifts/

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  63. What a wonderful idea.
    Unfortunately I couldn't make the 12,000 miles to get there even if you chose me :(
    I feel so excited reading all about it which I suppose is the next best thing.
    What a fantastic venue and to meet up with everyone would be just so thrilling.
    I hope you all have the best time ;D

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  64. Vanessa can I add my Raspberrycello to the gift swap list, not sure how to do it though. Do I link it somehow x

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  65. what a great idea for christmas, it had never occurred to me, but I will love to participate in this food blogger gift swap if you let me

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  66. hi, that is a nice idea and Can't wait to see you. I know it sounds more Italian than Provencal, but it is a tradiiton to eat candied fruit here at Christmas and I happen to like cantucci biscuits.

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  67. Hi Vanessa I read about this event last year ans was so disappointed not to be able to participate, I was wondering if you were organising something similar this year?

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If you are reading my blog I must warn you that I am not impartial. I want to influence you. I want to make you stop for just a moment and consider the effect of a lifetime of seemingly insignificant decisions and how making small delicious choices can change the world.

I believe that we can change the world one bite at a time.

It's a delicious revolution.