Have a French festive meal without going to France

Brought to you by

Famous for its stunning fairytale castles, beautiful landscapes and gastronomical delights, the Loire Valley region is located in the heart of France and offers one of the most diverse ranges of wines in the world.

Wines from the region include fruity rosés such as Rosé d’Anjou as well as sparkling white and rosé Crémant de Loire, Sparkling Saumur and Vouvray. There are also white wines to suit every taste such as the fabulously crisp and dry Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine as well as the powerful and aromatic Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. The red wines of the region range from a young and light Chinon to a more robust, ruby red wine like Saumur.

Sadly a trip to experience these wines on their home turf is off the cards this year, but Loire Valley Wines and Taste France Magazine have teamed up to create 'French Christmas In A Box' DIY recipe kits – so you can recreate that je ne sais quoi without setting foot out side your house. 

The festive French meal kits are centred around high-quality seasonal French produce that make impressive dishes from across the Channel. The meal kits will transform a dark December evening into a festive soirée for two in under an hour - they’re a cinch to prepare.

Each recipe kit comes with:

• All the ingredients to cook a three-course meal for two (vegetarian, pescatarian and meat options available). All you need is salt, pepper and a little bit of olive oil.
• Two bottles of wine from the Loire Valley paired with the menu choice – no French meal would be complete without great wines.
• An easy step-by-step recipe guide.

Check these videos out to whet your appetite...

Menu 1: The Fish Feast

Cured salmon, honey and mustard dressing, artisan crackers

Mushroom & truffle pâté stuffed mushrooms

Paired with: Saumur Brut de Loire, Bouvet-Ladubay

A sparkling wine with a nice zingy, zesty freshness, mingling with soft honeysuckle and apple flavours. With this quality and value, it's your go-to party fizz to both kick and round things off.

-

Whole oven-baked sea bream, herb butter, honey-glazed roasted carrots

Paired with: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2019, Champteloup

This dry but rounded white wine is made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape. Fresh fruit aromas with citrus and exotic fruit make it a perfect apéritif and a great match for this festive whole fish.

-

Profiteroles, chocolate sauce

Paired with: Saumur Brut de Loire, Bouvet-Ladubay

Menu 2: The Bird Feast

Pork rillettes, pickled quince and artisan crackers

Pear carpaccio, Roquefort, walnuts

Paired with: Château Mauny 2016, Crémant de Loire

Pale yellow with golden hints, this sparkling wine made from Chenin Blanc expresses the freshness of the Loire, with bright flavours of apples and grapefruit and subtle notes of honey. It bursts with energy and fruitiness, before finishing with a tight acidity. Perfect with the nibbles and the apple galettes.

-
Guinea Fowl Supreme, chestnut puree, candied chestnuts, jus

Paired with: Sauvignon de Touraine, Jean-Christophe Mandard 2019

This is textbook Touraine Sauvignon Blanc: crisp, crunchy and refreshing, with subtle grassy aromas and a hint of tropical fruit. It will live up to your festive guinea fowl.

-
Warm apple and almond galettes, crème fraîche

Paired with: Château Mauny 2016, Crémant de Loire

Menu 3: The Vegetarian Feast

Whole baked Camembert, Honey, Garlic & Thyme

Paired with: Sparkling Vouvray NV, Maison Bougrier

A beautiful sparkling with delicate characters of white peach, honeyed apricot, quince and a touch of fresh pastry. Perfect with both the baked Camembert and the chocolate tart.

-

Mushroom & Carrot Bourguignon, Mash

Paired with Chinon, Lulu l’Alouette, Cabernet Franc 2018. 

Organic, fragrant and light, the Lulu L'Alouette is mouthwateringly approachable in its youth. Expect fruity hints of raspberry and redcurrant to brighten up your bourguignon.

-

Chocolate tart, Espelette pepper

Paired with: Sparkling Vouvray NV, Maison Bougrier

For more information visit tastefrance.com