So, that’s Fireworks season all wrapped up (fizzled out?). I hope you all had a blast (safely, that is), and your pets have gotten over all the trauma. And now that Guy Fawkes and Diwali have done their thing, it seems winter is on its way, and if you need evidence, look no further than our shop window, which is filling up nicely with all things festive. With a bit of luck, it'll look like Santa’s own living room by the weekend, without the weird bloke in the corner (no need for comments, I know what you’re thinking!)

Now, a funny thing that happens when we start stacking the shelves with our seasonal goodies. Suddenly, our customers go from “just browsing” to studying every item like it holds the secrets of the universe. I mean, they’re probably just looking for that one thing they saw in last month’s magazine, and while I applaud their dedication to the art of shopping, after 15 minutes of watching someone stare at a jar of chutney like it might reveal the meaning of life, I usually ask, “Looking for anything in particular?”

Most of the time, I can predict the answer: something a little special, maybe a really nice bottle of wine, something fancy but practical for my friend, or a box of chocolates that says “I didn’t mean it!"

But sometimes I’m thrown a real curveball – like the time someone asked if we stocked "pink risotto rice.” Yes, really. I told her we had some great risotto rice that was a bit bashful and it might blush if embarrassed- I didn’t get a response…  Another asked where our “Tej” was–I now know this is an Eritrean mead-type drink! Then there was the lady searching for something special for her grandfather, only to inform me halfway through that he’d actually passed away several years back – she bought herself some real Scottish Tablet instead.

Lately, though, the response I hear most is: “I’m just after a bit of inspiration!” Which is fair enough, when you have to shop for that impossible someone – you know, the person who has everything, uses none of it, and somehow makes you feel guilty whatever you buy or however hard you try.

Luckily, we have just the solution: Christmas hampers. Yes, the magic of hampers is real. You can build a lovely little bundle for as little as £20, and best of all, the person getting it will be genuinely thrilled. “Oh wow, a basket filled with all my favourite things!” It’s like a grown-up version of finding all the good Woolworths’ Pick ‘n Mix in one box.

Building a hamper is a piece of cake. You just start with one thing the person likes – say, cheese, gin, rum, wine, chocolates, biscuits or whatever gets their heart racing (you know them better than I do).  Then add a few bits around that theme, and boom, you’ve got a gift that says, “I put thought into this!” It only takes five minutes and looks like you spent hours agonizing over it. You choose the items; we’ll box and wrap it for you; and we can deliver to, if you’d like.

One customer recently built a birthday hamper featuring a bottle of local gin, some handmade jam, clotted cream fudge, Italian pastries, loads of different biscuits, and some indie beers from Finchampstead and Reading. All in all, it was under £60 and way more interesting than a pair of socks, or a mug that says, “World’s Okayest Dad. There should be some photos here for you to see.

So, when you’re ready, come down and make your own hampers. We’ll be here, armed with boxes, shred and festive enthusiasm. And if this message is on the short side, it's only because I’ve got several dozen boxes still to unpack – all filled with enough yuletide cheer to make Scrooge himself reconsider his life choices. Or, do it online at philsgoodfood.co.uk

Have a great week!

Cheers!

Phil

Phil’s Good Food in Wokingham, 2-4 Broad Street, offers a range of high-quality, ethically sourced products, from local honey to world-class cheeses, indie beers, wines, chocolates and much more. Our beautifully curated hampers make the perfect gift, or you can handpick your favourites, and we’ll create a bespoke hamper just for you!