Friday, 06 October 2017

Gregg Wallace is a festive enthusiast who says, “Love Christmas, bring it on! Roast potatoes, stuffing, quality gravy and of course, big thick sticky puddings! All of this, a couple of bottles of wine and your loved ones around you, what could be better?!” Wallace is one of the celebrity chefs who, along with food and drink experts from Gino D’Acampo to Olly Smith, and masters of interior decoration led by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, join the line-up at the Ideal Home Show at Christmas. Including free entry to the Eat & Drink Festival running alongside it at London’s Olympia, London’s largest Christmas exhibition takes place from 22 to 26 November 2017.

Italian cook Gino D’Acampo says “Christmas is a fantastic time of year, Brussels sprouts are one of my favourite vegetables. I can't understand why people turn their noses up at them; there are lots of delicious ways to serve them other than boiling them to death. The main thing: don't overcook them ...they're delicious!” D’Acampo takes to the Foodie Stage to share his tips on creating the perfect Italian Christmas.

“For me, cooking at Christmas is about providing the wow factor while keeping it simple,” says Gino D’Acampo. “I can’t wait to get on stage and have some real Gino-style fun. And this year I'm going to be doing something I’ve never done before at the show. As well as cooking up something delicious, I'm going to host my first live question and answer session with the audience. Ask me anything. You have been warned...”

In the Christmas Theatre, Vanessa Feltz and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen give their take on this year’s interior trends and decorating for Christmas, while TV beauty expert Hayley Sparkes gives tips on looks for the Christmas party season.

“Decorating for Christmas is one of my favourite annual activities. I encourage everyone to really go for it with their decorations, be crazy, be vibrant and share the festive spirit however and wherever they can”, says interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

On the Foodie Stage TV chef and MasterChef host Gregg Wallace cooks a favourite Christmas recipe while MasterChef finalist Steve Kielty puts his own twist on Christmas cooking. Larger-than-life TV cook Rosemary Shrager suggests alternative Christmas puddings and for those doubtful over which knife to lunge for, gives a masterclass in table etiquette.

Wine expert and author Olly Smith says, “Christmas is a time to reach for those ingredients we tend to overlook at other times of the year. Spiced cocktails with ginger, hot buttered rum and warming mulled cider come into their own when the roaring fires are lit and the Christmas baubles are well and truly out!” Olly shares his top festive drinks and favourite wines with experts giving advice daily on wine tasting, the art of cocktail mixology, and pairing wine with foods.

2016 Great British Bake Off winner and London-born Candice Brown shows the live audience how to cook her favourite Christmas cakes and biscuits, and Channel 4’s First Dates host Fred Sirieix joins chef Joo Won to create fine Asian fusion cuisine. Nadia Essex from TV’s ‘Celebs go Dating’ guides singles through the Christmas party season.

Theatre demonstrations include paper decoration, Christmas wreath and table centrepiece classes, as well as Christmas decoration workshops for all the family. The bandstand stages performances from rock and gospel choirs to everyone’s Christmas favourite: the Salvation Army. Swing bands, carol singers and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Ella Shaw, guarantee a Christmas spirit while visitors take advantage of everything for Christmas under one roof.

Tickets for the Ideal Home Show at Christmas 2017 are now available from £11.00*, http://www.idealhomeshowchristmas.co.uk and by phone on 0844 209 7330.

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T&Cs

*The transaction fee is £1.70. Please note that this fee is per transaction and not per ticket. Children aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your company's access charge.