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ON THE COVER A TOUCH OF GRANDEUR Cook and
A touch of GRANDEUR
Cook and food writer Skye McAlpine shares her Christmas traditions
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WORDS CAROLYN BAILEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY
DINING AREA
Laden with festive delights, a long, rustic-style table takes pride of place in the dining space adjoining the kitchen. The huge dresser, from a Brussels fleamarket, has been repainted and lined with Antoinette Poisson wallpaper
HOME PROFILE
WHO LIVES HERE Skye McAlpine, cookery writer and author of A Table for Friends, her husband and their two sons THE PROPERTY A Victorian townhouse in south-west London
‘I love everything about Christmas, ’
smiles Skye McAlpine.
‘I really enjoy getting into the festive spirit and celebrating with my favourite people. I’ m obsessed with seeing everyone I love, so I squeeze in as many small celebrations as possible throughout December. The food is obviously a highlight – I can ’t wait to enjoy all the amazing dishes we only eat once a year. For me, Christmas lunch is not about sophisticated food or trying anything new – we have the same things each year. It’ s all about tradition for us.
‘I also love decorating the tree, choosing the crackers and finding the perfect presents for friends and family, ’ she adds. ‘And wrapping gifts. I’ m very lucky that our nanny Ellie gives me a hand – we do a couple of sessions together when the boys have gone to bed. On Christmas Eve, we have a cosy supper with close family and then go to midnight mass. ’
When it comes to the big day itself, the family follow a number of time-honoured traditions. ‘We kick off with a special breakfast of hot ginger tea, panettone or pastries on trays, then gather round the tree to open stockings, ’ explains Skye. ‘We have our lunch later on, after a
DINING AREA
Top, left This first-floor space is flooded with light from the large window dressed with curtains in a soft apricot shade. A Murano glass chandelier is an opulent touch above the festive dining table
FESTIVE TABLE
Left Skye’s wrapping paper and crackers are made of Italian-style marbled paper Above One of the many Christmas cakes Skye makes as gifts – continuing festive traditions is important to her
Skye loves decorating the Christmas tree. The sofa is upholstered in a pretty Jean Monro fabric
long family walk. We always spend the day with my mother and a few other friends we can persuade to come over; this year there will be six of us. They ’ll arrive for late-afternoon drinks before we sit down to eat. ’
Another annual ritual is Skye ’ s mother ’ s gift of a jigsaw puzzle featuring a memorable family photograph from that year. ‘The year we got married, she used a photo of our wedding, ’ recalls Skye. The fun continues into the evening, which is, she says, ‘ a time to play with the new toys, chill out in our pyjamas and eat up cold leftovers. We also sometimes watch a classic Christmas film such as TheMuppetChristmas Carol or WhiteChristmas. The children make the day come alive with their excitement, which is so infectious! We lean into the magic with them, which gives us plenty of excuses to make it extra special. ’
The family ’ s main Christmas meal reflects their love of all things traditionally festive. ‘The last couple of years we ’ ve eaten goose, and this year we plan to do the same, ’ says Skye. ‘We serve it with crispy roast potatoes cooked in the goose fat and heaps of vegetables. ’ And, while food might be her area of expertise, the cooking on this special day is very much a collaborative affair. ‘My husband is in charge of the bird, while I’ m obsessed with stuffing baked in trays until it’ s nice and crispy; my favourite is panettone, chestnut, pancetta and sage, ’ she continues.
Other trimmings include her mother ’ s red cabbage recipe, plus peas cooked with onion and stock, which she makes in advance. ‘We also have Brussels sprouts with chestnuts, ’ she enthuses. ‘I usually give bread sauce and gravy a miss but make up for it with cranberry sauce, which we all love. For dessert, we serve panettone and brandy butter, and I also make Christmas cakes decorated with glacé fruit and nuts. I keep to the traditional menu each year and sometimes just add a little extra; this year it’ s going to be a radicchio salad, which always looks so pretty.
‘I always keep the fridge well stocked so there ’ s plenty of food for Boxing Day, too, ’ adds Skye.
DETAILS
Opposite, top left Tucked away in a living-room alcove is a 1950s Fornasetti drinks fridge Opposite, top right Storecupboard jars are kept in plain sight on open shelves
Opposite, bottom left
Copper jelly moulds from Ebay form a striking wall display
KITCHEN
Skye’s oversized oven helps take the stress out of Christmas entertaining. The island is an old work table upcycled with a marble top and a shelf, and can be wheeled out to the patio when needed for any alfresco gatherings
with butter and cheeses – pecorino and stilton. I get a large Ocado order in a few days before Christmas, but the goose is from our local butcher and the cheese from [traditional cheesemonger]Paxton & Whitfield.
‘When I was a child, my mother made me an Advent calendar with a gift for each day in December, and I now do the same for my boys, ’ explains Skye. ‘It’ s a lot of work but worth the effort when I see the excitement on their faces. I also had my stocking at breakfast as a child and we do now, too. Another family tradition I keep up is making Christmas cakes as gifts. And I have special memories of my mother ’ s nativity scene with antique figurines, which she still gets out each year.
‘I love abundance, so I display bowls filled with fruits, nuts, satsumas with leaves, pomegranates, mince pies, chocolates and pears throughout the house. We eat them and refresh the bowls as we go, ’ says Skye. ‘When it comes to decorations, I go for a timeless look – gold and silver instantly conjure up Christmas and I like to mix these with a little surprise, such as touches of pink, as well as adding texture with velvet ribbons. My decorations have been accumulated over years and mean a lot to me, so I don ’t change things in a big way. I do make a few small updates, though.
‘I also introduce fresh flowers and foliage so the house smells of Christmas, and candles create a warm and cosy atmosphere and can easily be replaced; my favourites are beeswax for their texture and aroma. Each year, my friend Milli* makes a wreath for me – I love the moment of arriving at the door when it’ s up. And the final decorative touch is the Christmas cards, which I put up for everyone to enjoy. ’ HB
Opposite ‘This cosy space turns into Santa’s HQ in December, ’ explains Skye. ‘I hide all my wrap, ribbons and gifts under blankets. It’s also a welcome retreat from the excitement and a place where I can catch up on last-minute emails. ’ The room is painted in Rectory Red gloss by Farrow & Ball
LIVING ROOM
Opposite The piano is a focal point of this stylish but comfortable room, and comes into its own at Christmas. ‘My husband plays carols and we all sing along, ’ says Skye
STAIRWAY
Hand-painted wallpaper by Alasdair Peebles sweeps from the landing up and is complemented by flowers and foliage by Skye’s friend Milli Proust, a Sussex-based florist and flower grower
SKYE’S INGREDIENTS FOR A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
Organisation is key. Plan the menu in advance, taking the space in your oven into account. If you’re limited on room, use the hob for vegetables and sausages. Get as much cooking done in advance as possible. Prepare the vegetables and parboil potatoes the day before. Lay the table the night before and get the family to help if you can. My son always gives me a hand and keeps me company. Keep Christmas Day as simple as possible so you can spend time with the family rather than getting stuck in the kitchen.
GET THE LOOK
Reproduce Skye’s opulent glamour with plush furnishings and ornate accessories
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1 Mosaico square tray, £32, Amara 2 Petworth three-seater sofa, £2,738, Sofas & Stuff 3 Conservatoire mirror with gold mouldings, £373, Maisons du Monde 4 Large zig-zag rim Zagora bowl, £50, Raj Tent Club 5 Indusbar rug, £170, Jaipur Rugs 6 Wild Woodland wreath, £55, Bloom & Wild 7 Treacle footstool, £605, Loaf 8 Bistro-style chair, £299/two, La Redoute 9 Three glittered fern sprays, £15.50, Cox & Cox 10 Modena chandelier, £279, Lights & Lamps
S T Y L E I T F A S T F O R U N D E R £ 3 0
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