Christmas 2020: From snow globe gin to vegan roasts, these are the food launches you need to know about
This year has been a whirlwind, with most of the summer months spent in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As much of the year has flown by, Christmas will be here before you know it. Major supermarkets have already started to reveal their food and drink ranges, and itâs not even October.
However, with less than 100 days left until 25 December, itâs never to early to start planning (or salivating over) your Christmas dinner.
Weâve gathered up whatâs on offer, from sharing platters, light-up gin (yes, really), alternative meat options to suit all dietary requirements and more puddings, trifles and profiteroles than you can throw a stick at.
No matter how big or small this yearâs festivities will be, youâll be able get prepped and ready for a feast with our guide to all the festive food youâll need, which we will keep updating as new ones launch.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Aldi
Decidedly moreish, budget supermarket Aldi, has gone all out with itâs Christmas range for 2020.
For your main, feast upon its multi bird roast, truffle pigs in blankets, loaded mini Yorkshire puddings that are topped with a sausage stuffing ball, halloumi wrapped in bacon and crab claw meat.
However if youâre a fan of pigs and blankets, youâll also find a vegan alternative and a two-metre long one, who knew we needed so many?
But thatâs not all, for starters, enjoy gin and whisky infused smoked salmon, while for desert thereâs mini mince pies, Sicilian lemon tart or sticky toffee pudding.
Thereâs also an impressive range of cheeses to complete a board, paired with grapes and copious amounts of wine, such as Goosnargh gold double Gloucester, kidderton ash goat's cheese and Stratford blue cheese.
Available in-store soon
Marks & Spencer
If you love Percy pigs, youâll be pleased to hear as part of Marks & Spencerâs Christmas range, it includes a dedicated merry Percymas biscuit tin (ÂŁ5), which weâll be snacking on throughout opening present and as an after-dinner snack in between glasses of mulled wine.
For our main meal, weâve got our eye on the perfect turkey crown (ÂŁ50), stuffed with pork and cranberries and wrapped in cured bacon, which is called fool-proof, so even the most amateur of cooks will be able to master a Christmas dinner.
The popular Plant Kitchen no chicken kiev (ÂŁ5) is also making a comeback if youâre opting out of eating meat this year. The soya based breadcrumbed kiev has a tasty garlic and parsley filling that will have you (and everyone else) coming back for more.
When it comes to desert, the supermarket has gone all out with a triple chocolate panettone ( ÂŁ10), as well as classic mince piece (ÂŁ2.50).
Available in-store from mid September and online from 1 October
Morrisons
One look at Morrisons seasonal offering and youâre guaranteed to be excited already. Itâs menu boasts tsar cut smoked salmon with soy dressing ( ÂŁ8) to start, turkey cushions layered with pork, and bacon stuffing, hand-wrapped with maple cured streaky bacon (ÂŁ23), and a Belgian chocolate orange pudding (ÂŁ6) to finish
Accompany your meal with some festive tipples, our go-to is going to be the light snow globe gin liqueur (ÂŁ18) thatâs available in two flavours, clementine or rhubarb, and comes in a light-up bottle to reveal a woodland scene with edible snowflakes. Yes, you read that right.
If youâre after a plant-based Christmas dinner, youâre spoilt for alternative dishes including tempura âno prawnsâ (ÂŁ4), a vegetable tarte with winter root vegetables, vegan cheese and apple sauce (ÂŁ5), a vegan âbeeflessâ wellington (ÂŁ5) and a vegan trifle (ÂŁ5).
Available from mid-September
Tesco
Impress your dinner guests with Tescoâs range this year, which promises impressive meat centrepieces, innovative plant-based dishes and twists on traditional dishes.
Some of its top picks include French trimmed crackling pork loin, with truffle and porcini butter (ÂŁ15), giant pigs in blankets (ÂŁ2) or a plant-based succulent and tender no-turkey crown (ÂŁ5).
Seeing as us Brits canât get enough pigs in blankets, thereâs no shortage here , and thereâs even plant-based pigless blankets.
Some of its sweet treats include ginger-spiced chai tea-soaked cake (ÂŁ9), plant-based mince pies (ÂŁ1.25) and a free-from, gluten-free Christmas pudding (ÂŁ1.50).
Itâs also revealed that itâs signature flavour this year is maple and orange, a sweet mix youâll find on its easy carve duck with a maple and orange glaze, chocolate orange and maple bauble cake and orange and maple florentines, to name a few of the products.
Available from 28 September
Waitrose
For an indulgent meal that spares no detail, head to Waitrose for your Christmas food shop.
Some of its must-haves to add to your menu are the British venison wellington thatâs topped with porcini mushroom, brandy and thyme, juniper and blackberry (ÂŁ30), pork and 'nduja croquettes (ÂŁ6 for 10) for pre-dinner snacking and seafood and lobster thermidor pâtĂŠ (ÂŁ6).
If youâre leaving it to a free-for-all buffet for guests to help themselves, weâd recommend dishing up the cider cured ham with apple and bay (ÂŁ25), an involtini and antipasti platter (ÂŁ10).
Finish off your meal with a hearty slice of chestnut and pear with rum panettone (ÂŁ8).
If youâre vegan, try the festive filo swirls made with Moroccan inspired spiced vegetables with apricots and raisins (ÂŁ6.99) but for now, thatâs all thatâs on offer from the supermarkets plant-based meals, so keep that in mind when youâre filling your basket.
Available from 21 September
For more food and drink, read our guide to the best Champagne, prosecco and sparkling wines for all occasions
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