1 December 2005

Hamming It Up

George Scott Spanish Delicatessen

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Un jamón ibérico de Jabugo, complete with its own wooden stand and pre-sharpened knife.

This little shoulder of piggy was delivered by the hands of a dashing (and delightfully knowledgeable) young man called George Scott, who was so passionate about this rare, rich, acorn-fed ham, he came into my house and taught me how to slice it. We ate small slivers with glasses of cold sherry. And my true love has regretted it ever since.

Talk about calling birds; I haven’t stopped. For, by the twelfth day of Christmas, I was so taken with George, I ordered:

Six leather shot glass carriers,

Five jars of olives,

Four small chorizos,

Three boxes of cinnamon biscuits,

Two blocks of sweet quince paste,

And a large jar of wildflower honey.

All made by hand on his homeland, the Trasierra estate in Spain.

For pre-Christmas orders, call (07708 708739). To see products online, go to george-scott.com.