Homeware:
Tala food tins
Tala started in 1899, producing Victorian kitchenware. These tins boast classic food packaging designs. I love them. Flour £7, Self-raising flour £8.95, Caster sugar £7.58, Icing sugar £6.99, Cocoa powder shaker £7.91. Or a set.
Label printer
I like to make lists and I like to make labels. Here is a beautiful label maker, the Niimbot B21 (Dymo you need to up your game) by Jingchen. You download an app and create your labels, which are then printed out on this sage green retro style machine.
Keep your glasses handy
Found this brand of glasses chain at the airport. I’m at that age where I don’t need glasses all the time but am short-sighted and need them for driving and er, properly seeing stuff. They are strong and vibrant. £20 from Cotivision.
Copper water jugs
You can buy these Ayurvedic pure copper jugs £20.18 (they become ‘charged’ with the properties of copper) or even cheaper from Indian shops in the Alperton or Wembley areas in London. They age nicely too.
Peugeot salt and pepper grinders
This brand known for cars applies similar technology to kitchenware. I’ve often lusted after the classic chrome pepper and salt grinders but these lacquered versions are a delight.
Forest Green pepper grinder £27.99
Saffron Yellow salt grinder £27.99
Striped plates
Slightly obsessed with all things striped right now. I found this yellow striped plate on the left in Minori, Italy this summer. Dragged it all the way back to blighty then discovered it was produced by a British firm Summerill and Bishop. So cute for food styling.
21cm avocado green striped side plate £52
28cm lemon yellow striped dinner plate £58
Travel
Oh how I lust after these stripey vintage look suitcases. Admittedly not cheap but not as expensive as the ones from Globe-Trotter. From Hey Chesto £395
Books
Books on Trees:
I’m crowdfunding my own tree book – full of recipes using tree derived ingredients, so very much food focussed. It’s called ‘Cooking with Trees’ and will be published by Unbound. You can pledge to buy a book to help get it published, from £35 for a signed hardback book. Pledge here. (Thank you so much).
Other books on trees I recommend that are already published include Trees by Paul Smith and Tree-Spotting by Ros and Nell Bennett. The first is a large coffee-table book that is beautifully designed showing intricate bark and leaf patterns, timber houses, the science, the eco-systems and the diversity. The second is a smaller, handier volume, but nonetheless equally beautiful, written by a (botanist)mother and (designer)daughter team, a guide to British trees.
Gardening:
Plants from Mitzi and Maud such as this Calamondine citrus plant which produces tons of fruit. Right now they are selling kumquats £60
Brilliant and readable book by Adam Alexander on the heritage and history behind certain vegetables, The Seed Detective.
Food gifts
Fruit Cheeses:
You could do worse than buy one of my home-made fruit cheese made in vintage moulds (mould not included). They come in different sizes from small, medium or large. Most are apple/clove flavour but I have a couple of quince membrillo ones too. They take ages to make and dry out hence the price. Perfect for a decorative Christmas cheese board. They last forever too.
Small £5 (email me)
Maldon Sea Salt
The best sea salt. Use for finishing only, not in cooking water unless you are very rich. Crumble over salads, pasta, fruit, vegetables, bread, olive oil, anything. Cameron Diaz says this was the best present she ever got.
Barry’s Tea
The best tea from Ireland. Red-orange hued, bright, tannin but not overpoweringly so, clean flavour. Six boxes should last you a bit.
Foodie fashion
I love Kate Spade‘s style and the label has many food-themed accessories. I just wish I could afford them! These are in the sale right now.
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