A Christmas to remember

Christmas 2008
A Christmas
to remember
Festive food and drink ideas
to make the season special
All wrapped up
How to take the fuss out of
Christmas preparations
Make it count
More time to celebrate with
our inspired New Year menu
The night before Christmas
If ever there was a time to believe
in magic, surely it would be
Christmas Eve, when Santa and
his helpers bring joy to good children
everywhere. Lugging presents
about is hard work, so be generous
with the port and mince pies, and
don’t forget a carrot for Rudolph!
Welcome to our Christmas issue of ocadolife. Inside, we share all the
wonderful things that will help to make your Christmas a perfect one, from
special seasonal dishes to charming festive decorations.
Amongst the highlights, we think you’ll love our sparkly Christmas market
feature and our sensational ideas for party-popping cocktails. You’ll also
find plenty of great menu ideas to make catering for Christmas and New
Year simple, along with lots of handy tips to save you time and money.
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year from everyone
at Ocado.
Warre’s Warrior Special Reserve Port, 75cl, £8.97
Walkers Assorted Shortbread, £5.40
Waitrose Luxury Butter Mince Pies, £2.19
Waitrose Organic Carrots, 1kg, £1.49
All items are subject to availability. Prices correct at time of going to print.
Winter spices From pomanders to puddings
and mulled wine to mince pies, these exotic,
aromatic spices will ensure you bring Christmas
to all your senses. Prices from £1.49
Stock Our collection of
fresh stocks will help to
flavour soups and sauces,
and make sure that watery
gravy never darkens your
table again. 500g, £2.49
Brussels sprout stalks
Behold, the symbol of Christmas
dinner! These sweet, nutty Brussels
sprouts are grown close to Boston
in South Lincolnshire, and arrive still
attached to the stalk for longer life
and extra juiciness. 600g, £1.59
Ice-cream A tub of creamy, rich Beckleberry’s
ice cream makes an epicurean alternative to
traditional festive puds. Choose from four
decadent flavours: Winter berry, Cinnamon and
armagnac, Blackcurrant and kirsch, and utterly
wicked Christmas pudding flavour. 500g, £3.99
Mixed nuts Sideboards
and coffee tables cry out for
a big bowl of nuts at this time
of year. Don’t disappoint them
by stocking up on some of our
delicious nut selections. Prices
from £1.49
Goose fat Stored in a traditional glass jar,
this pure French goose fat comes from geese
that are allowed to feed freely – something that’s
sure to make your roast potatoes taste even better.
350g, £3.10
Satsumas The smell? The colour? The taste?
That little fizz of zest as you first break through the peel?
Whatever it is, there’s something that sends us wild for
these juicy seasonal treats. 800g, £1.99
Sharing the very best of what’s around right now.
picked
Along with all the scrummy food and drink you’d expect to find at Ocado, you’ll also discover a
treasure trove of useful Christmas goodies to help you plan ahead. Our Christmas aisle is packed with
Christmas cards, chocolate decorations and wrapping paper; along with batteries, ribbon and ‘Santa
Stop Here’ signs, so the big man can’t miss your house!
While you’re busy wrapping gifts and writing cards, kids can join in the preparations by making these
charming gingerbread decorations to hang on the tree – or any corner of the house that needs a touch
of Christmas cheer!
No time like the present
Don’t forget...
Duracell batteries Prices from £2.87
Gift bags and tags Prices from £1.00
Advent calendars Prices from £1.99
Ribbons and bows Prices from £4.00
Scotch Tape Gift Wrap £2.35
Christmas cards Prices from £3.00
Sellotape Original Prices from £1.17
Crackers Prices from £10.00
Wrapping paper Prices from £3.00
Tree decorations Prices from £1.99
Spiced Christmas Biscuits
See our Recipes section at Ocado.com
Christmas is a great excuse to throw a fabulous festive get-together. But serving
your guests sensational party food doesn’t have to mean lots of preparation, as
our simple but stylish canapé menu shows.
Get the party started
Impress your
guests for less
When cocktail chit-chat turns to
the credit crunch, won’t it be nice
knowing you’ve thrown a great
party for less than £5 per head?
Use our menu to lay on enough
snacks and canapés for a
party of 12.
Happy snacking Start with bowls of
finger food like Tyrrell’s hand-cooked Mixed
Root Vegetable Chips, 150g, £2.79.
As well as all-year-round favourites like
Sweet Chilli and Red Pepper, why not try
seasonal Honey Roast Ham and Cranberry
flavour, 150g, £1.69.
Made to delight Bigham’s gourmet
party canapés are hand-prepared, and
made entirely from fresh, additive-free
ingredients. They’re simple to prepare,
and even come with baking paper
supplied, so all you need is an oven
and a baking tray.
Bigham’s Gourmet Canapés
Choose nine from the selection below.
Prices from £6.99. Three for the price
of two.
Drunken Devils on Horse Backs
Mini Beef Wellingtons
Truffle & Wild Mushroom Tartlets
Apple Stilton & Walnut Puffs
Salmon Miso Wraps
3 x Tyrrells Potato Chips, 150g, £1.69
Mushroom Mozzarella & Truffle
Arnachi Balls
Duck & Sweetcorn Pillows with
Sesame Dipping Sauce
1 x Tyrrells Mixed Root Vegetable Chips
150g, £2.79
2 x Waitrose Fresh Dip Selection,
400g, £2.39
2 x Waitrose Green Olives, 200g, 89p
2 x Waitrose Pitted Black Olives,
350g, £1.05
Exclusive but economical,
all this gorgeous food
comes to just £58.46
Raise your spirits
Keep a clear head
Whether you’re bringing a bottle
to the Christmas party, giving a gift
to someone special or just planning
ahead for the big day, our fabulous
range of fine wines and spirits are
sure to have everyone celebrating.
With so many delicious non-alcoholic
drinks to choose from, being a designated
driver can be a blessing these days.
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, 70cl, £18.79
Southern Comfort, 700ml, £15.96
Amé, various flavours, 1 litre, £2.09
Labrot & Graham Woodford Reserve Distiller’s
Select Bourbon Whiskey, 70cl, £26.00
J2O, various flavours, 4x275ml, £3.46
Pepsi Raw, 300ml, 99p
Ever-popular classics like Coca-Cola,
Britvic J2O and Schweppes are just the
ticket for long, refreshing drinks, while
our mouthwatering selection of fruit
juices and cordials will quench even
the biggest party animal’s thirst. Try
them on their own over ice, or
use as a base for flavour-packed
non-alcoholic cocktails.
Mixing it up
It’s party season, so enjoy the party
mood with our choice of three popular
Christmas spirits and liqueurs. Each one
can be enjoyed straight, or used as a
base to make some of the most convivial
cocktails around.
Irish Coffee Floater
Apple Jack
Classic Mojito
•
•
•
•
• 25ml Jack Daniel’s
• Apple juice
•
•
•
•
•
20ml espresso coffee
50ml Bailey’s cream liqueur
A good glug of cream
Chocolate shavings
Make a fresh espresso. Decant
carefully into a coffee mug or
heatproof glass. Add 50ml
of Bailey’s, top up with thick
double cream and sprinkle
chocolate shavings over the
top. Heavenly.
Add apple juice to a measure
of Jack Daniel’s and garnish
with a good wedge of lime and
ice. Serve immediately for an
eminently refreshing drink.
50ml Bacardi rum
15ml of lime juice
Two heaped teaspoons of sugar
Fresh mint
A dash of soda water
Pour the rum into a tall glass, add
the sugar, lime juice and mint.
‘Muddle’ well to release the oils
in the mint. Top with soda water
and finish by adding crushed ice
and a wedge of lime.
Finally, for those who miss their
favourite alcoholic tipple, we stock a
good selection of non and low-alcohol
beer and cider, so you can enjoy a
pint or two and still stay on the right
side of the law.
Coca Cola Fridge Packs 10 x 330ml, £3.48
Schweppes Tonic Water, Soda Water,
Lemonade 12 x 150ml, £3.02
Top of the pops
Christmas cheers
Why not launch your celebrations with something
memorable, like a glass of Perrier Jouët Grand Brut,
or, even better, vintage Perrier Jouët Cuvée Belle
Epoque champagne.
With so many fantastic bottles of wine to choose from,
picking the right one to suit the occasion can be a
lengthy business. Let us save you a lot of headscratching with our seasonal top six wines.
Light, fresh and delicate, Perrier Jouët Grand Brut
boasts a wealth of subtle, flowery aromas that make
it the perfect dry champagne for Christmas.
Two for the party
Or, for the very best in vintage champagne, we
recommend Perrier Jouët Cuvée Belle Epoque. This
amazing single grape champagne has incredible
floral aromas that spring forth from every glass,
complemented by a creamy texture, fine mousse and
mouth-watering freshness. Presented in a stunning Art
Nouveau bottle, it makes a beautiful gift as well as a
wonderful champagne worthy of Christmas Day.
Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque, 75cl, £94.99
Perrier Jouët Grand Brut, 75cl, £24.99
Brampton Viognier With flavours of orange blossom and
dried fruit, this fabulous white wine could have been a rather
tasty cake in another life. 75cl, £6.39
Chateau Pech-Latt Organic Corbieres This easydrinking red is a full-bodied blend of Carignan, Grenache
Noir, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvedre. Heaps of spicy, juicy
red berry flavours are guaranteed to make it a party favourite.
75cl, £6.99
Two for somebody special
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc Hints of smoke and herbs, but
still plenty of room for gorgeous gooseberry fruit flavours.
Some say it reminds them of a splendid Sancerre; we say it’s
sure to remind the recipient of the kind person who gave such
a thoughtful gift. 75cl, £9.99
Coma Vella Mas d’en Gil Prioriat This gloriously soft,
spicy red wine is made from Garnacha and Cariñena (as
Carignan is known in Spain) from 40 year old vines, it’s a
well-balanced fruity wine which is ready to drink now, or can
be laid down for a future Christmas. 75cl, £18.99
Two to keep all for yourself
St Aubin 1er Cru Thomas This Premier Cru comes from
Burgundy’s legendary Côte De Beaune region. The Vineyard
has a reputation for producing world-class white Burgundys,
and this superb peachy, buttery Chardonnay is simply too
good to share. 75cl, £16.99
Mount Difficulty Cherry flavours and a long, long flavour
mark out this Pinot Noir as a wine of the very highest quality.
This sensational wine comes from Otago, New Zealand, and
rightly bagged a silver medal in 2006. 75cl, £20.99
founders’ message
More Christmas for your money
With economic uncertainty dominating the
headlines, we’re all looking for ways to cut
the cost of Christmas this year. And by driving
down prices across our website and helping
you plan ahead, we’re doing our bit to make
sure you still enjoy a magical festive season.
We know it’s easier to keep control of your
budget when you know what’s around the
corner, which is why we’re currently introducing
a new pre-pay delivery scheme called Ocado
On Demand in certain areas.
Of course, we already have low delivery
prices, but being able to make a single
up-front payment in return for unlimited
deliveries could help you save hundreds of
pounds over the course of a year. And with
fuel prices so unpredictable, it makes perfect
sense to leave your car at home, and get your
groceries delivered straight to your door.
Rediscover the joys of an
old-fashioned Christmas by
making home-made
gingerbread decorations and
transforming leftovers into
delicious new dishes like our
festive risotto recipe.
Unfortunately, increased travel costs haven’t
been the only thing affected by this year’s fuel
prices: food prices and energy bills have risen
sharply over the past 12 months too. With more
and more people under pressure to reduce their
grocery budgets, we decided to meet this challenge head-on earlier this year by benchmarking the price of all our branded goods with
Tesco, “Britain’s biggest discounter”.
* Each week we compare and price match branded goods with Tesco. Price match applies
to standard retail price of identical products only and excludes temporary promotions.
Please see Terms & Conditions at Ocado.com for full details.
A lot of people were surprised that we’d taken
such a radical step, and looking back, it was a
pretty scary thing to do, but the overwhelmingly
positive response from our customers proves
that we were right to do it.
But price matching Tesco* isn’t the only bold
step we’ve taken this year. Ocado has just
become the first online food retailer in the
world to display ‘use-by’ dates for all the fresh
produce on its website. By enabling you to
plan your week’s grocery shopping, we hope it
helps you make the most of your food budget,
and reduce the amount of food you end up
throwing away.
By taking these positive moves to lower prices
and reduce costs, we hope to give you a little
more spare cash to spend on treats and
presents this Christmas.
A merry Christmas and a happy New Year
to you all.
Tim, Jonathan and Jason
Ocado Founders
Selection of greetings cards from £1.30 and candles from 95p
Gourmet gifts Even the most finicky foodie will be left
dumbstruck by our fabulous selection of decadent delights like
Opie fruits in liqueur, Waitrose and Duchy Original Christmas
hampers, and exclusive Lindt white and dark chocolate reindeer.
Hampers from £25.00 Gifts from £2.49
Chocolate heaven Christmas isn’t
Christmas without Cadbury’s, whether it’s classic
stocking-fillers like Cadbury’s Buttons or moreish
treats to share, like a Dairy Milk Carton filled
with milk chocolate chunks. Prices from £1.99
Fun and games Our present sack is bulging with exciting
toys and games suitable for all ages, from Playmobil for younger
children to classic board games like Monopoly for bigger kids.
Prices from £2.49
Winter wonderland
Choosing the perfect Christmas present for family and friends should
be a pleasure, so take a little time to explore our inspirational festive
fantasia and find exactly what you’re looking for.
Heavenly preserves The Bay Tree make a tasty range of
relishes and chutneys, including Christmas Relish, Special
Berries with Port and a tangy Boxing Day Chutney bursting
with apricots, coriander and orange. From £10.00 per pair.
Sensuous skin treats Whether it’s for
yourself or as a truly special present, make
sure you take a long look at these beautifully
packaged organic natural remedies from
Neal’s Yard. Prices from £8.00
Seasonal red roses Our exclusive bouquet of seven
beautiful roses complete with winter berries and foliage will
brighten up any Christmas table. £12.99
Our guide to a gourmet holiday
Christmas with all
the trimmings
Kick back and start the big day with a
relaxing breakfast like Eggs Benedict – an
indulgent blend of smoked salmon (or bacon),
scrambled eggs and hollandaise sauce –
served on freshly toasted muffins.
Put the final touch to your five-star breakfast
with a perky glass of bubbly, or perhaps that
much-loved Christmas tipple: Buck’s Fizz. But
if it’s still a tad too early for champagne, why
not treat yourself to a pot of fresh organic
tea or coffee, like Clipper loose tea, 250g,
£2.29 or Cafedirect Fairtrade Machu Picchu
coffee, 227g, £3.19.
You’ll find the Eggs Benedict recipe in
our Recipes section at Ocado.com
The more the merrier
Christmas dinner is one of the great traditions of the festive period, so feast your eyes on our superb range of organic
turkeys. For a real treat, we think that our three bird roast – goose, chicken, pheasant – will provide a suitably splendid
main course. To accompany this, our vegetable bag is packed with potatoes, parsnips, broccoli, Brussels, carrots, and
will serve up to eight people. You might like to try Brussels sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts (See our Recipes section at
Ocado.com); and, for a final, crowning touch, good old-fashioned ‘pigs in blankets’ (chipolatas wrapped in bacon).
Festive finery For the main
course, we recommend a bottle
from Montana’s Letter Series.
Terraces Pinot Noir, 75cl, £13.99,
is a rich, silky red, while Brancott
Sauvignon, 75cl, £11.99, has the
crisp, light flavours you’d expect
from a good Malborough wine.
Both wines from this celebrated
New Zealand wine-grower are
simply stunning with turkey.
The pudding club
Boxing clever
For an old-school English dessert,
it’s hard to beat Christmas
pudding with cream or brandy
butter, or, for the height of
indulgence, a rich plate of
cream-filled profiteroles. For a
lighter alternative, try that
traditional Italian favourite,
panettone, with a chilled glass
of dessert wine. Find our
Christmas Pudding recipe in our
If you’re planning to invite friends or family over for Boxing Day,
a traditional ham or gammon joint is easy to prepare, and makes
a delicious centrepiece to the table. You could also bring out the
remainder of your turkey (if there’s any left!) with a selection of
pickles and relishes for an informal cold meat feast.
Recipes section at Ocado.com
If you’ve still got room, serve
chocolates, Sultan’s Rose and
Lemon Turkish Delight, 325g,
£1.99 or Bonne Maman Pâtes
de Fruits, 180g, £2.99 for a
final gastronomic treat.
Short and sweet
Campbell’s Rutherglen Muscat
(main picture), 37.5ml, £8.99
Domaine Pouderoux Vendange
Tardive, 50cl, £9.99
Maury Royal Tokaji Blue Label,
25cl, £9.99
Prepare the perfect Christmas ham using our easy recipe –
just visit our Recipes section at Ocado.com
Our selection of 28 thick-cut Top Tier cheeses includes tangy
Cheddar, Stilton, Camembert and a frankly incredible cave-aged
Gruyère. Prices from £3.19
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR
OCADO CUSTOMERS
Rice and easy
With Boxing Day over, now’s your
chance to use up any leftovers.
We’ve got a gorgeous recipe for
a gourmet Christmas risotto that’ll
make the most of all those yummy
bits of ham or turkey – see our
online Recipes section for a full
step-by-step guide.
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Takes 30 minutes
900ml approximately, chicken stock or
fresh turkey stock made from the carcass.
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
25g unsalted butter
400g Carnaroli risotto rice
150ml dry white wine
Approximately 200g cold turkey,
chopped or shredded
2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
50g parmesan, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
See the full recipe in our Recipes section
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Throwing a party for New Year’s Eve is great fun, but the idea of cooking for a crowd can be
daunting. That’s why we’ve put together this magnificent three-course meal, which takes just over
an hour to prepare and cook from start to finish. That means more time relaxing and enjoying the
celebrations. After all, if you only make one New Year’s resolution, it should be to give the old
Two minutes to midnight
year a good send-off, and start the new one the way you mean to go on!
Once Big Ben strikes, serve
Keep it cool
vintage Waitrose Special
Reserve champagne, 750ml,
£24.99 and you’ll find the
handshakes and hugs will be
all the warmer, especially if
served with an assortment of
luxury dark, milk and white
chocolates.
To eat
To drink
Midnight Sun
Starter
Eazycuizine asparagus and gruyere
tartlets, 4 x 130g, £6.49 served with
crème fraîche and lumpfish caviar.
When your guests arrive, greet them with a shot of our
exclusive Midnight Sun cocktail as a chilled aperitif.
With the meal, a bottle of Cuvee Royale Cremant de
Limoux, 75cl, £7.99 makes a worthy accompaniment
to our delicious starter. Follow by pairing the salmon
fillets with a chilled bottle of Paul Blanck Pinot Noir
Alsace 2005, 75cl, £10.29; then give pudding a big
fat kiss courtesy of a sumptuous half-bottle of Chateau
Doisy Daene Sauternes, 37.5cl, £11.99.
700ml, £14.19 and Rubicon
Main
Eazycuizine herb-crusted salmon fillets,
400g, £6.49 served with new potatoes,
mange tout and sugar-snap peas.
Dessert
You’ll have a ball making our fun Easy
Berry Trifles. Find out how to make them
in our Recipes section at Ocado.com
Mix a shot of Finlandia Vodka,
Exotic Lychee Juice, 1 litre, 97p
in a chilled shot glass. Add ice
and a twist of lime for a
welcome burst of midnight sun.
The soft touch
Treat yourself with Umi’s range of
toe-tinglingly lovely smellies, creams
and scrubs. Prices from £1.99
The festive period is often crammed with excitement, so
make sure you pencil in plenty of pampering time too, to
relax and unwind. Try our selection of beauty products
from aromatherapy pioneers Tisserand – just perfect for
an indulgent wallow in the bath. Prices from £2.99
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Even the men of the house can
enjoy a little TLC with Nivea’s For
Men range, which includes face
wash, shower gel and moisturiser.
Prices from £2.45
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Planning a night on the town? Pop a pair of
Scholl Party Feet gel cushions into your shoes to
give your feet some extra comfort. 1 pair, £3.96
JACOB’S C REEK. WELCOME TO OUR PLACE.
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