December Newsletter | Ho Ho Ho from Hugh

Christmas recipes, videos and news from River Cottage

View this email in your browser Season's Greetings, As December brings 2019 to a close, it also wraps up our 20th birthday year here at River Cottage.   It has been such a pleasure to invite friends new and old to join the celebrations across the seasons of our momentous year. Most recently we hosted a 7-course dinner, welcoming the wonderful Angela Hartnett MBE and her team to join me and my head chefs in our kitchen at HQ. It was a fantastic evening of delicious dishes and lively conversation, the perfect finale to our year of events – as you can see HERE. I can't wait to spend time with my family this Christmas. I've got a big pile of books accumulating - and given that my children have proposed a kitchen takeover for the 24th, 25th and 26th I might actually get to open one.  So I am no longer taking responsibility for a goose, or a rib of beef, as I have in recent years, and there is talk of shellfish on Christmas Eve and venison on Christmas Day. I'm leaving it all up to them – though putting in a gentle plea not to forget the plants. If I'm seen in the kitchen at all, it will probably be rustling up a salad of shredded Brussels sprouts,  thinly sliced apples and toasted pumpkin seeds – perhaps with a kimchi-spiked dressing.   A huge thank you to our River Cottage team for working so hard and in such good spirits, to create a year of unforgettable anniversary celebrations. And my heartfelt thanks to you too, for continuing with us on our journey to celebrate food that's not only delicious, but inspires change. Merry Christmas! And here's to 2020! Last week we confirmed a new special event with Hugh taking place next April. Jump Into Spring with Hugh will be a six-course feast with a chance to meet Hugh and hear all his latest news. BOOK NOW If you know someone who would enjoy a visit to River Cottage why not treat them to one of our Gift Vouchers. Gift Vouchers can be redeemed towards all events at River Cottage HQ, as well as our Kitchens. FIND OUT MORE Earlier this year, Hugh's TV programme War on Plastic, co-presented with Anita Rani, highlighted the catastrophic damage our over-reliance on plastic is causing to the planet. Here at River Cottage, we love the festive season but not the waste that often comes with it. It is estimated there is over 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste thrown away on Christmas day in the UK alone!  Sustainability and provenance have always been at the core of River Cottage, so we embrace the festivities with a natural, hand-crafted and homemade spirit. This December we will be sharing tips and thoughts on enjoying a largely plastic-free Christmas so you can enjoy your festivities with a clear conscience. Hugh has written a blog for the River Cottage website urging us all to continue our War on Plastic over the festive season and keep an eye on our social media channels over the next few weeks to receive our tips and guide to a plastic-free Christmas. READ HUGH'S BLOG If your Christmas celebrations are in need of something extra special then book a place at one of our Christmas events. River Cottage HQ is an enchanting place to be at this time of year with frosts in the fields and fires burning brightly.  BOOK NOW If you are planning on doing lots of cooking this Christmas then don't miss our series of Knife Skills videos. These videos will teach you essential skills to make your kitchen prep go smoothly. Next in the series is how to fillet a fish. WATCH NOW If you're still looking for somewhere for your Christmas Party or a venue to get together with friends and family to celebrate the season, then head to your nearest River Cottage Kitchen. There's still some availability over the Christmas period and you can enjoy our three-course Christmas menu from just £24.95. BOOK A TABLE  We have the absolute pleasure of welcoming Melissa Hemsley to River Cottage HQ to celebrate the launch of her new cookbook 'Eat Green with Melissa Hemsley' on Friday 13th March.   FIND OUT MORE Our Spring and Summer 2020 events went on sale last month and are getting booked up already. If you are keen to visit us next year, do not leave it too long to book as many of our most popular courses are already close to selling out.  BOOK NOW If, like many others, food is one of your favourites elements of Christmas then head to the River Cottage Recipe pages on our website for a selection of festive favourites. You'll find dozens of tried and tested recipes, including this fantastic Smoked Duck with Orange from tutor Steven Lamb. GET THE RECIPE Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2019 River Cottage, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in on our website or joined one of our mailing lists.