BOUTIQUE CHRISTMAS

Zoe Anderson remembers the excitement she felt as a child when, in December, the nougat came out. “Just having something sweet in the house,” she smiles. “There were lots of things that would only appear that time of year, like pomegranates and giant bowls of nuts – I’d go nuts for them,” she says, laughing at the pun.

The festive season Zoe experienced growing up was a tasteful affair, with decorations comprised of beautiful vintage baubles, homemade garlands and sprigs – and not a string of tinsel in sight. “I’d beg for it, but my mum was a bit too posh for tinsel.”

Now left to her own devices, Zoe embraces Christmas with open arms. “I have fun with it. There’s always a colour scheme and a theme: last year it was Mexican – so the finer details were considered right down to the little bottles of Jose Cuervo tequila on place settings,” she says, adding that she loves all things Mexican, especially tacos and margaritas.

“If I’m entertaining at home, it’s always done over and above. I remember once preparing a dish containing Seville orange, I then decided we