Party Foods and Christmas Dinner from Donald Russell

07 Nov Party Foods and Christmas Dinner from Donald Russell

Whether you intend to treat yourself or someone else to something a little extra special during the festive season, Royal Warrant holder Donald Russell has something to suit everyone’s taste – from mouth-watering savoury party food and Christmas birds to irresistible desserts and more. I recently had the immense pleasure of trying out some of these culinary delights – here is what I found.

The Perfect Starter

The first item I tried was a bag of Queen Scallops.  Caught from sustainable, well-managed fisheries on the west coast of Scotland, these naturally low-fat Queenies (as they are affectionally referred to by locals) are presented beautifully – complete with roe – on their shells. Taking just minutes to cook under the grill and extremely tasty – especially when served with garlic butter – they make the perfect, unique starter to any seasonal dinner. A 250 g bag (approximately 8 to 14 pieces, depending on size) of these little treasures costs just £9 – excellent value for money.

Finger Party Foods

Next, I tried some of the exquisite party foods offered by Donal Russell, which included the:

Canapé Quiches: Currently sold at just £9.90 box (RRP is £11), this box of treasures contains 15 hand-finished, wonderfully light little cups made from the crispest, most buttery pastry I have had in a long time, each filled to brimming with soufflé-like fillings. There are five different fillings (3 cups each), including Confit Duck, Potato & Mushroom; Cauliflower & Broccoli; Tomato, Goats Cheese & Basil; Mushroom, Garlic & Parsley and Cheese & Bacon. Created using exclusive recipes, these magnificent little quiches are packed with pure, true flavour and will go down a real treat at any party.

Mini Artisan Sausage Rolls: Hand-made from free-range, top-quality pork shoulder, these fantastic little sausage rolls combine flavoursome sausage meat, tasty ham and just a little touch of onion encased in deliciously crispy, light puff pastry. Offering a sausage to pastry ratio of over 60 per cent (the highest possible) and completely free of artificial flavour enhancers and colourings, these utterly scrumptious little marvels cost just £7.90 for two packs of 8 at the moment (usual RRP is £9). Quick and easy to cook straight from frozen, they are perfect time savers; make an outstanding addition to any buffet and offer exceptional value for money.

Pigs in Blankets: Hand-made by experienced professional sausage makers, these delightful streaky bacon-wrapped pork chipolatas make your Christmas buffet complete. Free of artificial colourings/flavour enhancers, they are unbelievably tasty treats old and young alike will dive into with glee. 16 (2 x 8) of these flavoursome morsels will cost you £14 – a price well worth paying.

The Patisserie Selection

Last, but by no means least, I tried the Patisserie Selection. Containing 12 beautifully formed, elegant confections carefully hand-crafted by Didier’s Patisserie, London (a fellow holder of a Royal Warrant), each box contains one each of the following:

• Caramel Mandeltorte
• Chocolate & Caramel Tart
• Chocolate Tart
• Croustillant
• Lemon Tart
• Opera Cake
• Sweet Potato & Marshmallow Tart
• Orange & Chocolate Tart
• Passion Fruit Tart
• Sticky Toffee Tart
• Succes Tart
• Vanilla Chouquette

Gorgeous to look at and even better to eat, these delectable little culinary delights are indeed fit for royalty – and currently available at a price of just £24 (normal RRP is £26). Highly recommended!

Other Products

Donald Russell does, however, offer more than these party foods. There is also a selection of fantastic, reasonably priced Christmas birds (including free-range Bronze Turkeys; Stuffed Whole Pheasants and Partridges; free-range Geese and more); there are packs of trimmings and then, of course, there is the ‘Ultimate Christmas Box’, which contains everything you need for a perfect Christmas dinner. All these culinary treats are available directly from www.donaldrussell.com

My Verdict

If the samples I had the pleasure to try are anything to go by, Donald Russell is definitely the go-to place for all your Christmas party foods and dinner needs – and these products will make exquisite food gifts, too.