No.1 whisky smoked salmon

Scottish salmon, hung and kiln-smoked over whisky barrel oak chips, birch and heather, and carefully hand-finished with Speyside malt whisky.

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Heston from Waitrose pear & fig mince pies in triple cheese pastry

This year, Heston has taken inspiration from the festive cheeseboard to sprinkle his magic on this award-winning mince pie. The cheesy pastry is delicious with the fruity filling – try it with Heston from Waitrose Tipsy Potted Stilton. 

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Will Torrent
Senior development chef

“I look after all things sweet: my job is like Willy Wonka meets Santa Claus.

“At Christmas, my wife and I do the Vicar of Dibley sketch for real, where we go to different family members’ houses and have the same dinner at different times. My favourite childhood memories are around cooking: making the Yule log and putting the little plastic figures on the Christmas cake. Christmas food has a magical ability to transport you back in time, and bring you comfort and joy. So we make sure customers have the best Christmas they’ve ever had from a food perspective, with restaurant-quality food at home.”

Ash Hewitt
Pig farmer, North Farm Livestock in Norfolk

“Our farm has been supplying Waitrose since before I was born. Christmas Day is the same as any day – some of us will get up early and do the feeding, then the next lot come in when it’s light and check the pigs. I’m not sure which I’ll do yet: it depends what mood I’m in!

“My partner Meg – who’s seen breaking the ice at the beginning of the ad – works on the farm too. We have Christmas dinner in the afternoon, once the kids have opened their presents. One’s 10 and one’s three, and they get really excited. That’s what makes it special: working hard throughout the year to make the kids happy at Christmas.”

Alfonso Perez
Meat and fish specialist, Waitrose Belgravia

“I’m originally from the Rock of Gibraltar, where Christmas is huge. We celebrate everything – every day is a holiday! Being around my family is the most important thing at Christmas. I lost my wife 15 years ago, but I’ve got three kids and six beautiful grandchildren. 

“There’s always a great atmosphere in the branch at this time of year. We have very good people working here, and the clientele is fantastic. We always put in the care: if a customer places an order for Tuesday, I’ll have it done on the Monday, so when they come in they can pick it up straight away. I always have a very happy counter.”

Elaine Harmsworth
Team leader, gardens and grounds department, Leckford Estate

“A guy who used to work here at Leckford brought in a couple of beehives, and when he left I thought it would be fantastic to keep the bees going.  I’ve had a few stings, but not many. It all depends on the queen: if she’s aggressive, then the whole colony is, so we obviously have a nice gentle queen.

“I’m a big fan of Christmas. I spend the actual day with my mum and my sister, and I am the instigator of Christmas at work. I always make sure we go out for a meal as a team, and really celebrate all the hard work we’ve done.”

Swanzy Kofi Essien
Customer delivery driver

“I work at the Customer Fulfilment Centre in Enfield. It’s great – the people, the atmosphere, and the help we get from the company if you need it.

“Christmas is a really big thing in Ghana. In the western region, where I come from, people dance, party and enjoy themselves. This year, I have family coming, and we’ll be eating Ghanaian food: jollof rice, banku and okra stew, and fufu, which is a cassava-based staple.

“At Christmas the deliveries become heavier, because of all the meat and bottles! It’s a special moment – you have the feeling of a new season coming, and that everything is going to be OK.”