A host of restaurants and suppliers are helping make Christmas easier for everyone this year with a selection of food and drink boxes and hampers. Simply order, unbox, cook and serve. Here's our selection of the ones to savour this festive season.
What: The BoSsam Feast from Mister S
Perfect for: Christmas Eve with the entire family
Enjoy a truly festive feast courtesy of Mister S. The BoSsam Feast has something for everyone, including a show-stopping centrepiece of Andarl Farm pork shoulder, house flatbreads with all of the trimmings (think spicy peanut rayu, apple hoisin, zingy black garlic, preserved lemon yogurt and crisp fennel slaw) all topped off with two fresh salads.
Cost: €85 available at misters.ie
What: Brown Bag cocktails from The Twelve
Perfect for: New Year's Eve drinks
Enjoy a taste of The Twelve’s famous libations delivered right to your door. Their festive drinks subscription service includes a selection of unique beverages designed by Simon King, the hotel’s own creative and talented cocktail king. Raise a toast with three of their bespoke cocktails (serves six), as well as some rarities, treats and little surprises included in every pack.
Cost: December Subscription Box, €90 at thetwelvehotel.ie
What: Sixes from Allta
Perfect for: Topping off festive meals
Uber-cool Dublin city wine bar Allta is delivering its finest bottles of wine nationwide this December. Choose your own box or put your faith in Ian Fitzpatrick, Allta’s sommelier, who will be putting together a special Christmas box, keeping it seasonal but interesting, with two to three options to try. Expect one sparkling, one orange wine, one white and a big warming red, and even possibly a bottled cocktail from award-winning Bar 1661, whom Allta have partnered up with for the occasion.
Cost: €110-€200 at alltabox.ie
What: Restaurant Chestnut's roots box
Perfect for: The food enthusiast
This roots box from the Ballydehob Michelin-starred restaurant offers a selection of culinary elements that their head chef Rob uses in the kitchen, for guests to enjoy cooking with at home. Influenced by his heritage, expect fine oils, preserves, spices and specially-created sauces.
Cost: €85 excluding postage of about €10 at restaurantchestnutwestcork.ie
What: Bean Delivered selection box
Perfect for: Christmas morning coffee
Bean Delivered, the monthly Irish roasted coffee subscription service, is curating gourmet Christmas coffee boxes to keep you fuelled this festive season. Featuring coffee from Imbibe, West Cork Coffee, Farmhand, Upside, Bean in Dingle, Sumo, Calendar and Carrow Coffee Roasters plus espresso pots and pourers from Arran Street East and cups by Luke Sisk, these boxes are perfect to keep engines running throughout the festive season.
Cost: €120 each at beandelivered.ie
What: The Ultimate Vegan from Fallon & Byrne
Perfect for: Vegan and dairy-free guests
Vegan does not mean joyless, as this bounteous hamper from Fallon & Byrne amply demonstrates. Stock up on plant-based essentials and treats, complete with red and white wine, from the Dublin grocer.
Cost: €140 at fallonandbyrne.com
What: Bosca Rua from Café Rua
Perfect for: A taste of the west
The Castlebar restaurant has been creating this special box of Co Mayo delights since May this year, but expect an altogether more festive bundle this December. Bosca Rua Na Nollag includes a Rua cranberry sauce with orange and port, a bag of Rua Christmas Blend coffee from their coffee roastery in Westport, Noo chocolates made in Mayo too, along with a bag of home-made shortbread, Rua apple chutney and a handwritten Rua postcard.
Cost: €40 including postage at caferua.com
What: Have a LovELY Christmas at Home from Ely wine bar
Perfect for: Two-course decadence
Tuck into the best of locally-sourced seasonal delicacies, ready to eat, straight from Ely. Start with smoked salmon and house-made Guinness bread, then enjoy loin of lamb and slow-cooked beef cheek for main, each with a recommended wine suggested by their award-winning sommelier. Each box is topped off with a special greeting by local artist Ruth Cahill.
Cost: From €55 at elywinebar.ie
