Now, everyone is falling over ga-ga at the sight of Nigella in her Christmas kitchen. In fact, lots of comments were left on the article demanding recipes which I didn’t have. As lovely as Nigella is, the floating cherubs carrying ambrosia never quite matched up to the likes of the treats served up at River Cottage.

Tomorrow, we get a festive special from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage HQ. Naturally, Hugh won’t be gunning for the usual fare, which is why he’s so brilliant.

Not one to shy away from something a bit ambitious, Hugh is all set to cook up a medieval-style banquet to celebrate
this coming Yuletide. What is he intending to do? Throw out the turkey and go for a fine range of game birds. Hugh being Hugh, he sets off with his rifle with some pals a shoots his grub down from the sky. Home-made cider accompanies a jolly shaggy Hugh as he inevitably gets a bit drunk and probably flatulent from all that fine grub.

This is why I rate Hugh and his River Cottage very highly indeed. His River Cottage Treatment encouraged people to care about their food before it’s even hit the plate. In fact, he encourages you to literally care for it before it’s even dead. I wouldn’t trust a TV chef unless he knows how to slaughter an animal (obviously I’m not including vegetarian chefs… but I would expect them to be able to tell me how to grow seasonal vegetables). With Hugh, you’ll get a great selection of seasonal fodder… meat included… and that’s how we should all eat. Stop getting stuff that’s flown around the world fifty times and start thinking about putting your pounds back into your community. Take a leaf out of Hugh’s book and fill your belly and your heart… ’tis the season of goodwill after all. [Mof Gimmers]