I’m pretty thankful for a lot of things, but around this time of year I very much appreciate the spread of the popularity of Thanksgiving in London. It’s my favourite American holiday, mostly because it involves an orgy of gluttony topped off with zoning out on the sofa whilst someone else does the washing up. Think of it as Christmas, but without having to shop for your entire family beforehand. And no bearded fat man stuck in the chimney.

After various Thanksgivings spent sitting around the table (and a few stuck in the kitchen) there are a couple of things I’ve picked up over the years, which I’ve used – to varying effectiveness – in my celebrations of Thanksgiving in London. Freshly made cranberry sauce is infinitely better than canned. Pumpkin …

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately you might have noticed that there’s a credit crunch well and truly underway. Personally I’ve noticed the price of food inching up slowly – sneaky, sneaky supermarkets! One of my favourite alternatives for food shopping is heading to food markets in London. Although big ones like Borough Market might be a bit pricier than normal when it comes to shopping for certain items, but there are loads of markets where you’ll spend less than certain supermarkets. Plus you can feel smug in knowing that you’ve supported local farmers and traders instead of a giant, faceless mega-supermarket. It always makes me feel a bit better, anyway. 

But if you’re not quite as convinced as I am about the virtues …

Looking forward to Taste of Christmas? Get a preview as two of Gordon Ramsay’s chefs, Jason Atherton from Maze and Stuart Gillies from Boxwood Cafe, head up a webchat on Monday. Besides talking about this year’s festival, they’ll also be answering your Christmas foodie questions. If you’re hosting a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings this year – or are just looking for a good recipe for gingerbread – they’ll be on hand to answer your questions. Check out Gordon Ramsay chefs Christmas tips and …

These days, it’s all about getting more for your money. With the credit crunch situation getting more and more dire every day (at least, that’s what the news is telling us) there’s something to be said for a venue that can do just that little bit more. With that in mind, here are a few ways that we’ve found to make your pounds stretch just that little bit further and save money at London restaurants.

Make like the Americans
As in, tap water and a doggy bag. We know, we know, it’s embarrassing to ask, but it’s really not as hard as you think. There’s no point in spending a few quid on water from far off exotic locales when London water is just fine – and free! And if you don’t eat it, ask to take it home. Most places will be able …

With the credit crunch firmly chomping down on our poor, overspent budgets, the last thing we want to do is go all out and spend loads of money on stuff that we can get just as good for cheap. Who needs Prada when you can have Primark? That’s the way we’re all thinking these days.

And with that in mind, the same applies to restaurants. Here’s our pick of alternatives to spend your hard-earned pocket money on that are sure to give pricier places a run for their money. Why keep your wallet closed? Celebrate the credit crunch at London restaurants! …