In his column for this week's SNJ (Nov 30) Gerb Gerbrands talks about festive food.

If the wintery weather is turning your thoughts to the festive season, our local pie company Plenty! Pies is already busy working on the recipe for this year’s special Christmas pie.

It’ll feature venison and lots of delicious seasonal flavours, like cranberries, citrus peel and chestnuts.

The Christmas pie will be available at the market from 24 November.

This year, for the first time, you can order a box of six pies (or two boxes, or more…..) as presents for the pie lovers among your family and friends.

As the pies freeze really well, they’ll make the perfect gift whenever they’re given.

Don’t forget that having a few pies in the freezer is a great standby for guests whether planned or unexpected, or to relieve the pressure of producing yet another meal; simply select your choice of fillings, order at the stall and collect at the market on a date to suit you, including Saturday 22 December!

Specialist Christmas cake and Christmas pudding bakers Faithfull Quality Baking and Yum Yum Fine foods will also be returning to market with both making their first appearance of the season on the 24th November too! Chrimbo is coming folks!

This week sees the return of Bow in the Cloud vineyard who have finished the grape harvest and have reported a good crop. This will be there only appearance at Stroud in November so don’t miss them.

Rapeseed Oil fans should be aware Stainswick Farm are at market a week earlier than usual this Saturday.