Our Food Buyer's Favourite Picks

As January continues at its familiar slower pace, we’ve been turning to the store for a little inspiration and something to look forward to. And while the weather can’t quite make up its mind, there’s no better place to spend time than our Food Hall.

With freshness and healthy intentions on everyone’s minds, we asked Antony, our Food Hall Manager and Buyer, to share his favourite ingredients and finds for the month - bringing a little excitement (and plenty of flavour) to the season’s quieter moments…

A new addition to our pasta and grains collection, Belvedere Organics creates beautifully simple ingredients made with 100% organic Einkorn wheat, grown on their family farm in Tuscany. One of the very first grains cultivated by ancient civilisations—and remarkably unchanged for thousands of years— Einkorn is naturally rich in protein, fibre and essential minerals such as zinc and iron, and is often valued for its gentle, nourishing qualities.

Made by Italian artisans using traditional bronze dies, this pasta has a subtly nutty flavour and a wonderfully rustic texture. Delicious tossed simply with good olive oil and roasted vegetables, it’s equally perfect with a favourite sauce or pesto for an easy, comforting meal.

If you’re craving more oriental flavours and feeling a little more adventurous this January, Poon’s Wo Sauce deserves a place at the top of your list. Inspired by the celebrated XO-style sauces that originated in Hong Kong in the 1980s - a nod to the luxury associated with XO cognac at the time - this rich, savoury condiment is made with dried scallops and shrimp, Jinhua ham, chilli and garlic.

Delicious with rice and the perfect partner to soy sauce, it has a wonderful way of transforming simple everyday ingredients into something unmistakably full of Chinese flavour. Stir it through sauces, stews, stir-fries, rice and ragùs - or even spread a little on toasted bread for an irresistible snack.    

GIMBER is a versatile, organic drink made with Peruvian ginger, lemon, herbs and spices, created to support wellbeing in a modern, fast-paced lifestyle. Naturally low in calories, vegan, gluten-free and completely alcohol-free, it’s a refreshing thirst-quencher with a real kick, delicious served hot or cold.

Now a familiar sight on the shelves of some of Europe’s most exciting bars and health food stores, GIMBER’s range of elixirs can be enjoyed in countless ways, each one as tempting as the next. Antony’s particular favourite is the Sweet Lily Elixir, which takes the original recipe and lifts it with exotic notes of turmeric, pineapple and passionfruit.

Born in the Cotswolds and made in small batches in Gloucester, Haka Premium Rum is a bold, characterful spirit crafted from rich molasses and Demerara sugar cane. Not for the faint-hearted, it offers an intense symphony of vanilla, caramel and spice - best enjoyed slowly, sipped neat or poured over ice.

Haka is produced by The Boutique Distillery, founded with a passion for nature, engineering and craftsmanship. Powered by renewable solar energy, the distillery uses handcrafted copper stills made from upcycled materials, alongside innovative condensers that use up to eight times less water than traditional systems. They also work closely with local growers and support local farmers, making Haka a thoughtful choice for those who value flavour, quality and sustainability in equal measure.

If you have a sweet tooth, and love discovering extraordinary ingredients with unexpected flavour pairings, this rich preserve deserves a place on your list. With deep, caramel sweetness and a gentle hint of warmth, it’s a truly indulgent spread, made even better spooned over vanilla ice cream or enjoyed with the flaky, buttery layers of a fresh croissant.

For more delicious discoveries, browse the rest of the Eclectic Collection online…

Perfect for helping fend off winter lurgies, these remedies are packed with fermented, whole crushed fruits - what Aqua de Madre calls “Mother Nature’s secret saviour.” Available in three delicious flavours, the fermentation process helps make the vitamins, antioxidants and natural goodness easier to absorb, offering a gentle boost to your immune system during the colder months.

And there’s even more to love: Aqua de Madre donates 1% of profits to women-focused charities worldwide, helping to nurture and strengthen communities. It’s all in the name - a tribute to the mothers who shape the world, and to the ‘mother’ culture at the heart of fermentation.

Creamy, rich Belgian milk chocolate, lightly infused with vanilla and studded with crunchy, salty pretzel pieces, this bar offers the perfect balance of sweet and savoury in every bite. And once you’ve tried it, there are plenty more irresistible Meurisse ‘tablets’ to break into next…

Celebrating their 180th anniversary this year, Meurisse founded Belgium’s first chocolate factory in Antwerp in 1845 and have been creating exquisite chocolate ever since, with sustainability at the heart of what they do. They also helped create several famous chocolate brands before the First World War. With a focus on sourcing the finest ingredients and supporting farmers, employees and the planet, every bar feels like a truly satisfying treat, especially when you’re craving something sweet.

You may not have come across them before, but Spanish Arbequina olives are prized for their gently sweet, aromatic flavour and beautifully low bitterness. Cold-pressed and unfiltered, this olive oil brings a smooth, buttery finish to any dish, and the beautifully designed bottles are reason enough to give it pride of place in the kitchen.

For an extra hint of flavour, try the infused oils too, from Lemon and Mandarin to Hot Chilli - a simple way to add a little more indulgence to everyday cooking.

If you try just one new ingredient this month, make it this one. A true chef’s favourite, Peanut Rayu delivers the perfect balance of salty and sweet with a gentle chilli kick—an everyday sauce that’s both vegan-friendly and a total flavour bomb in a jar.

Not to be missed, it’s delicious drizzled over eggs, ramen and brothy Asian soups, spooned onto steamed vegetables, or stirred through rice, noodles and stir-fries. Just a warning… one jar is often the beginning of a new obsession.

Juicy Gordal olives, handpicked in southern Spain and lifted with the gentle warmth of cayenne chilli - what could be better for a pre-dinner aperitif? Produced by one of Spain’s most respected olive growers and available in two sizes, these Picante Gordal Olives are a must-have cupboard staple, ready whenever you need an effortless little treat.

And once the olives are gone, you’re left with the beautifully designed tin, perfect to reuse for all sorts of purposes.