Tom's Deli

Apologies for the silence, we’ve just been so busy making gingerbread houses, brewing mulled wine and generally spreading the Joy.

It’s really worth a visit just to take a look at chef Fabio’s architectural creations – if Gretel and Willy Wonka were to have a love child, its name would be Fabio.  And the mulled wine recipe basically evolved as such: ‘Try this’, chef Nathan says. ‘Ooh that’s lovely! But it needs more brandy’. Perfect.

Other seasonal highlights include Cartmel puddings, both Christmas and Sticky Toffee – pour over some thick Jersey cream and you’ve got yourself a big hug in a bowl, as Mr Wallace would say.

Beautiful Italian tins of Amaretti biscuits and fruit filled Gubeletti, and Perbillini Artisan Panettone, made slowly in the traditional way, fresh and in small batches. We’ve also got master chocolatier Sven Herzog making us some gorgeous boozy truffles, and if you come in on Friday 14^th you can try before you buy as he’ll be doing a tasting session with us. Very exciting.

Santastic

And cheese! Sweet Baby Cheesus! The hand-ladled Stilton in beautiful blue ceramic pots are a brilliant present, and we’re stocking up on super stinky cheeses like Vacherin Mont d’Or – smells like a French dairy farmer’s armpit, tastes like a creamy piece of heaven.

Can’t decide what to get your girl/boyfriend/cousin/colleague/mentor/hairdresser? How about a little of this and a little of that, all wrapped up in a nice wicker hamper with a big bow on top? Either have a rummage around the shop and pick out some lovely bits and pieces, or just let us know how much you’d like to spend and we’ll use our super special deli skills and know-how to put it together for you.

Ho Ho Holy Mother Mary, it’s going to be a delicious Christmas this year!

I used to think I liked Cheddar!!  Been eating it for years and years, you know, enjoying all the usual home comfort specials.  Grilled on toast, ploughman’s, jacket potato, cheese n’ onion sarnies (inch thick butter natch) , even on spag bol if there was no parmesan in the house – yum!!!

HOWEVER ……….. after tasting Godminster I realised that I’d never even tasted proper Cheddar!!!  It is in an entirely different league!!  It barely resembles the medium block of rubber, supermarket special that I was used to tossing in my shopping trolley!  Totally game changing!!!

It’s texture, depth of flavour and spot on tang has opened up an entirely new arena for my cheddar appreciation!  I really can’t recommend it enough – I almost defy anyone to taste it and say it isn’t anything other than exceptional.

Also it’s quite timely to let you know that they sell it in heart shapes aswell as the round version!  Great if you happen to have a foodie beau that would prefer to sidestep the routine chocs or cuddly toy!!!   Knockout Cheddar and a good bottle of rouge surely ticks most people’s boxes??

Valentines is two weeks on Tuesday!!  Yikes!

Happy eating!! xx