From chocolate sardines to Mojito nougat…forget leftover turkey and get on these
Perineum, gusset, doldrums…just some of the charming names given to the period between Christmas and New Year. Yes it’s a rest from work, valuable time with family and all that jazz - but it can nevertheless feel like no man’s land, neither here nor quite there. And with vitamin D deficiency now well and truly set in, the weather doesn’t help either.
Our prescription? A little Spanish sunshine in the form of Lunya. If you’re hosting over the holidays, it’s the ultimate Gordo Go - and it’s open every day ‘til 2019 save Christmas itself.
From chorizo to cheese and the UK’s largest array of Spanish beers, wines, sherries and spirits - not to mention every other Catalan essential you can think of (and even those you can’t) - this gorgeous store on the corner of Hanover Street and College Lane is packed to the rafters; literally, just look up to see the famous jamón.
Lunya owners Peter and Elaine Kinsella are passionate about the food and drink of Catalunya (the local word for Catalonia), travelling to Spain throughout the year to source the best seasonal produce and bring it back to their multi-award-winning Liverpool deli, restaurant and bar. As they source direct from suppliers and are amigos with some of the smallest artisan producers in Spain, you’re unlikely to find many of the products and ingredients elsewhere in the UK - cue gastronomic gifts galore and loads of festive nibbles that don’t revolve around leftover turkey.
Off for the compulsory annual visit to see Uncle Fred and Auntie Pat? A hamper will impress ‘em - Lunya do classics or bespoke versions that you can fill with your own selection of goodies, from charcuterie to cheese, drinks and chocolate.
Booze-wise, Lunya trumps it too … Need a tipple or few to get through all those long-lost family visits? How about a Spanish-distilled gin and tonic or the nutty liqueur Lafuente Bellota (£22.95), made with acorns and apparently very popular with the ham curers who supply Lunya. A selection of Spain’s very best cavas, meanwhile, is a good bet for New Year’s Eve - or whenever... The Vilarnau Brut Reserva Gaudi Gift Pack (£34.60) includes two Vilarnau flutes and a pretty bottle covered with stunning Gaudi designs, plus (naturally) a bottle of apple-reminiscent fizz produced from a blend of Macabeo, Parellada and Chardonnay grapes.
Last but definitely not least, check out Lunya’s Spanish sessions for some 2019 gift inspiration: there are wine and sherry tastings throughout the year and even a ham-carving masterclass for February. It’s all about the jamón.
Lunya Liverpool, 55 Hanover Street, Liverpool One, L1 3DN
