Day: December 6, 2007

This year marks Fortnum & Mason's 300th anniversary.

From their FAQ:

In 1707 Hugh Mason had a small shop in St Jamess Market and a spare room in his house. The Fortnum family had come to London from Oxford as high-class builders in the wake of the Great Fire, helping to establish the St Jamess and Mayfair areas as the most fashionable in London. William climbed another rung by taking a post as footman in Queen Annes household – and the room at Mr Masons. The Royal Familys insistence on having new candles every night meant a lot of half-used wax for an enterprising footman to sell on at a profit so while the Queens wages paid the rent, Williams enlightened sideline melted down into enough to start a respectable business. The rest, as they say, is grocery.

To commemorate the event, they are selling, for this year only, The Tercenturian Hamper. It needs The Capitalization. You see, it's £20,000.

It contains:

* Cup of Excellence Coffee Gift
* 3x 250g caddies; Ladies’ Travel Set includes Jewellery Roll, Slippers, Mask and Cushion
* 25 Person Foie Gras en Croûte, 1.09kg
* Balsamic Treasure Trove, 2x 250ml bottle, 3x 50ml bottles
* Two pairs of Cashmere Socks in pink and grey
* Side of Smoked Scottish Wild Salmon, min. wt. 1.6kg
* Beluga Caviar, 200g tin
* William Yeoward Caviar Glass Dish
* Château d’Yquem, 1er Grand Cru Sauternes 1996 5 ltr Jeroboam
* Le Montrachet Grand Cru, J Prieur 1995
* Leather Cigar Holder
* Two William Yeoward Champagne Flutes
* William Yeoward Champagne Jug
* Three-tier Rich Celebration Fruitcake, min. wt. 8kg
* Château Latour, 1er Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 1970
* Gentleman’s Leather Jewellery Box
* Silver-plated Elephant Place Settings
* Two Cashmere Scarves in pink and brown
* Silk Box filled with a Selection of Chocolates, 2kg box
* Beaufort Cheese, min. wt. 2kg
* Cropwell Bishop Whole Baby Stilton, min. wt. 2.2kg
* Highgrove Ham, min. wt. 5.7kg
* Krug Champagne, Vintage Collection 1981, Magnum
* Tercentenary Champagne Truffles, 250g drum
* Vintage Port, Fonseca 1955
* Herend Tea Set for Two
* Tercentenary Ceramic Tea Caddy containing White Tea, 40g
* Château Margaux, 1er Grand Cru Classe Margaux 1983
* St James Christmas Pudding, 1.81kg ceramic basin
* Griottes, 227g wooden box
* Fortnum’s Favourites, 2.8kg box
* Wood and Steel Cigar Cutter
* Baron de Lustrac, Armagnac 1900
* Hand-engraved Stationery
* Wine Notes Book in Leather
* Entertaining Book
* “The First Three Hundred Years”, Fortnum & Mason Book
* Chunk Comb Honey, 14lb jar
* The Paragon Crackers, box of six
* William Yeoward Glass Honey Pot
* Lime Curd, 908g jar
* Lemon Curd, 908g jar
* Fortnum & Mason Apron, Oven Glove, Tea Cosie and Tea Towel
* Two leather Luggage Tags in red and black

Presented in a three-tiered English willow hamper set.

TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS OMGWTFBBQ!!!11!11!11oneone!!1!