Harvey Nichols Manchester Taste on Two: Christmas is A-Coming and the Blogger is Planning to Get Fat

One of the very nicest things about the run up to Christmas is the sudden proliferation of lovely things in the shops. Suddenly it seems like an excellent idea to pick up a small sequinned shrug, which admittedly offers no protection against the Mancunian elements, and team it with a sparkly hairgrip or two and an oh-so-cute bag which is too small to actually carry anything but which will be just right for any party one might get invited to.

And the Christmas food is even better. Monday evening saw the Taste on Two event take place at Harvey Nichols Manchester, a mini festival to showcase some of the goodies to be found in this most tempting of food halls - and whilst not specifically a Christmas event, I sampled many things that I can confidently say will contribute to my annual festive weight gain. Being Harvey Nics, the evening started with a cocktail and, more unexpectedly, the tying on of a rather desirable Harvey Nics apron, causing me to fear an imminent involvement in some kind of butchery class that thankfully never came. Instead, I wandered round a selection of tasting tables trying out a number of premium food and drink items, including Joe & Seph's amazing gin flavoured popcorn, Yee Kwan Ice Cream, Booja-Booja truffles and Manfood boozy jams (which I heartily regret not buying a truckload full of).

We also enjoyed demos from Tickety Brew, Woodall's Charcuterie (with cheese matches from Burt's Cheese), Harvey Nichols Wine Shop and Grey Goose Vodka, who showed us how to make three different Martinis and then - even better - permitted us to neck them. I had to drink a very great deal of both the wet and dry Martinis in an attempt to find a preference (the difference is in the amount of vermouth added) and still can't be completely sure without further testing.

At the end of a splendid evening I left clutching a quality goody bag which - along with the apron and the generous food and drink samples - made this a great value event at £15 a ticket. A lovely night - and I'm hoping to find more than a few of these choice items under my Christmas tree come this December...

Sad Farewell to In All Her Finery and its Cava and Cakes

Regular readers of this blog will know that on many occasions in the past I have extolled the virtues of a charming independent boutique on School Lane in Didsbury. For the last three years, the beautiful Fiona has solved my every gift dilemma with her handmade jewellery and impeccably chosen trinkets and baubles; even better, on selected Thursdays she has run "Cava and Cake" nights, generously plying her customers with fizz and cupcakes while they browse (she's clearly not stupid - I always buy far, far nore after a glass of cava, and suspect I'm not alone in this).

So it is with some sorrow that I report that next Thursday 9th December will be the final Cava and Cakes outing, as In All Her Finery will cease to run its shop premises from next year. And whilst Fiona will continue to sell her gorgeous goodies from her website and at craft fairs, School Lane will definitely miss her stylish presence. So pop along on Thursday to send her off in style; I'll be the one knocking back the cava and frantically trying to get ALL my Christmas shopping done.

- In All Her Finery is (for now) at 56 School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6RT, tel. 0161 445 5225; http://inallherfinery.bigcartel.com.

In All Her Finery, Didsbury: Jewellery (and Cake) Heaven

Few things can improve one's mood when the sun is shining brightly on a Saturday morning and you don't really have very much to do until Monday. Until, that is, a Facebook Message arrives from In All Her Finery, an emporium of gorgeous items whose virtues I have extolled many times before, tucked away on School Lane in Didsbury. After the success of the regular "Cava and Cake" nights, owner Fiona has decided to make the most of the unusually nice weather to do some lovely things on Saturdays as well; today, the lure (against which I put up only the briefest of token resistance) was a table outside the shop, laden with Fiona's cute handmade jewellery at reduced prices - earrings and rings at £5, nceklaces at £10.

As well as jewellery, Fiona also seems very adept at cake-making, and understands that browsing for gorgeous trinkets can often make one very hungry; thus I left clutching not only three pairs of earrings, but a lovely daisy cake as well - I was going to photograph it for the blog but unfortunately couldn't find an angle that concealed the parts of it I ate in the car on the way home. If you've yet to discover the delights of In All Her Finery then it's well worth following on Facebook or Twitter, as Fiona is very good at keeping followers updated with the latest situation re: cake and cava availability, as well as lots of offers and discounts.

A word of warning to this lovely local independent business though: make the most of the nice weather now. I break up for summer in just over a week, at which point the summer will become cold and wet until it's time to go back in September; you have been warned...

- In All Her Finery is at 56 School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6RT; tel. 0161 4455225; website www.inallherfinery.co.uk; or follow on Facebook or Twitter. Or actually, just go there - she'll give you cake :)