This is the time of year when the supermarkets have been raided by punters who are eager to get their hands on ingredients for the big cookery event of the season at home – the Christmas dinner and other festive meals for friends and family. And this is the time, too, when celebrity chefs become ever more inventive and seductive, to entice customers to choose their recipes and cook books to help them on the way.

According to reports, Jamie Oliver’s cookery tips have been top of the pops, supported of course by a television series too. But other celebrity chefs have also become involved in the run up to Christmas. Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal joined forces to promote one particular supermarket’s festive marketing efforts. Other cooks, such as Nigella, suggested recipes on television and Gordon Ramsay even had a ‘cook-a-long’ on television on Christmas morning.

It has been said in the online press too that chefs have had to be more inventive than usual this year, notwithstanding this fierce competition and rivalry, given the increase in the price of ingredients.
Even in local online press, you can find profile-raising of chefs with their tips for the public in cooking the festive meal, how to choose ingredients, avoid mishaps, make perfect roast potatoes, starters, how to prepare in advance and so on.

The festive season is now largely behind us, but the tips from the chefs remain and, doubtless, efforts will be redoubled next year, to persuade us how best to celebrate in culinary fashion over Christmas.

Posted by Hayley on the 10th January 2012