Food & Drink notes

The super bowl; green fingers; look sharp; starter's orders

The super bowl

The super bowl

Admit it. If you haven't done it by now you're probably not going to get round to making your own Christmas pudding. But with a bit of crafty decanting into a pretty and very convincing pudding basin from Cucina Direct, you might be able to get away with it. The Staffordshire ironstone basins in four sizes (from 1/4 pint for £13.95 to 6 pint for £20.95) and different floral prints, are just as good for mixing, serving, or displaying. 0870 420 4300; www.cucinadirect.co.uk

Green fingers

You'd have to be off your trolley to dash round the supermarket for Christmas dinner. Thankfully the Organic Farmers' Market has rounded up some of the best, award-winning, all- organic producers in the West Country. Beef from Higher Hackell Farm, chocolates from The Cocoa Tree, lamb from the Well Hung Meat Company, vegetables from Rod and Ben's, are joined by all the ingredients for an organic Christmas dinner: turkey or goose, cheese, sauces, plum pudding and brandy butter. And the veg, like this sprout tree (£1) won't be fresher. Order by 2pm on Monday, Rod and Ben's pick the veg on Thursday and it's delivered on Friday. 01392 875678; www.theorganicfarmersmarket.co.uk

Look sharp

Knife sharpeners aren't the most glamorous pieces of kitchen kit but they're essential if you don't want to make a Horlicks of carving the joint. From Taylor's Eye Witness in Sheffield, where the best British cutlery still comes from, the shiny chrome Chantry Classic sharpener takes the effort out of honing your blades and looks good too. £35 from www.premiercutlery.co.uk and good cook shops and department stores nationally.

Starter's orders

If plain cold-smoked salmon seems a little passé, move on to hot-smoked, or even smoked-salmon pâté. Hebridean Smokehouse does both hot and cold peat-smoked salmon and sea trout, and for an economical but still delicious taste of either (or both) has added cold and hot smoked- salmon pâtés. Each pâté comes in a 200g jar for £5.95 or buy a gift pack of both plus a pack of organic oatcakes for £14.95. Prices include delivery; orders from 01876 580209; www.hebrideansmokehouse.com