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Can you eat & shop well on the motorway?

I’ve tried giving you the tastiest Christmas gifts for foodies that can be delivered to your door, right up to the last minute (and look out for tomorrow’s post for the really last minute versions). But what happens if you’re heading off on a long journey to somewhere remote, that hasn’t heard of dial up, let alone broadband, and you’ve remembered someone you’ve forgotten?

Well, supposing that you’ll have to tackle the motorway network, then what happens if you pull in and try the shop? Some of you might be lucky and find that Tebay is the nearest services, and perhaps their legendary farm shop might still be open, in which case you’re sorted for the foodie. But from everywhere else?

Well, I tried this this morning at Cambridge services on the M11. I would think I was in luck for most foodies, as there was an M&S Food. Of course, you could choose any of the Christmas specials, but you could also do things like tortilla chips and dips, preserves and pickles, tins of nuts, or a whole bag of clementines. I’d also be tempted to throw in the Ouidinot champagne (especially as there’s £5 off) and a bottle of port.

You might get even luckier if you pull into the services, and find one of the rare, but growing, number of Waitrose versions of these food havens. But what happens if there’s neither or they’re shut?

I wandered round the typical services shop, and was a little stuck. I might be tempted to buy the foot scrub in the foot shaped pack, although it may only be good for the sink. There wasn’t a proper book section, but a small selection of special offer cookbooks. If you could find something on local specialities you might be onto a little winner.

I did think you could do a whole nostalgic tastes bag (couldn’t find hampers, but eco friendly shopping bags). Salt & vinegar Monster Munch, Sherbet Fountain and maybe even a box of After Eights. You could probably find a suitably cheesy CD to really set it off (Best of the Nolans anyone?) although sadly no bottles of Snowball.

Sometimes the answer in these situations is generosity. Plunder the magazine racks, but don’t just buy one foodie magazine, buy a whole stack. Along with Olive, Delicious etc, there was more unusual stuff like Country Kitchen, Country Smallholding, Cake Craft & Decoration and Organic Garden & Home. There was ribbon that wouldn’t have looked bad, and my best tip if the wrapping paper isn’t great is buy the Financial Times. That salmon pink newsprint always looks classy.

The chocolate selection wasn’t inspiring, so I would have followed the same principle and just bought up every flavour of Green & Black chocolate. You can make pretty patterns with the colours, and the flavours are pretty good, with something for everyone. I’m very partial to the cherry and the almond, and you could do a fruit theme, all milk, all plain, or just go mad with the whole range.

I ignored the Slankets and strange electrical gadgets that only seem to come out at Christmas. I would go for a good flask, a water bottle, and a waterproof backed picnic blanket, as everyone can always use extra of any of those. And they speak of warm days ahead, which is always good.

And if you’re tempted to buy flowers, again be generous. The Christmas bouquets they had weren’t bad, but were mean. Buy three or four, and wrap them together. Again, you could employ the Financial Times trick, it’ll really upgrade those carnations.

So, I hope you turn up where ever you are going safely, after not too long on the road, and bearing gifts for everyone, and gifts that will ensure everyone is still talking by Christmas lunch. If in doubt, watch this to see the hazards of raiding the wrong part of the shop!

Fabulously atmospheric post of dining at motorway services by rightee on Flickr.