Christmas
is at once both immensely fun and immensely terrifying – especially for the
person tasked with creating a menu. Rather than churn out the same old fare
year after year, the festive chefs-elect are embracing the idea of change and adapting
the menu to include dishes not traditionally
associated with Christmas.
The
important thing to remember when trying a new Christmas menu is to prepare
everything well in advance, says London-based chef Sally Clarke.
‘Getting ahead is so important,’ she says. ‘Entertaining at
Christmas isn't just about food – it's about looking after guests. Don't have a
drink until you are satisfied that everything is well on the way to being
done.’
Venue
South
Africans and Australians famously boast of spending Christmas Day at the beach,
charring sausages and burgers over a barbecue. While the idea of a BBQ doesn’t
quite work in the UK, there are other options open to the adventurous. One
option is to take one or two Forman
& Field Christmas hampers to the
countryside for an impromptu picnic. Wrap up warm and it’ll provide an
unforgettable experience, with none of the forced claustrophobia.
Alternatively, hire a venue and descend en masse with an assortment of family
and friends for a large-scale banquet-style Christmas.
Starters
Starters
are mostly about the presentation, so they provide the perfect opportunity to
indulge those creative urges. Try creating pastry ‘spoons’ filled with hummus, taramasalata
or prawns in mayonnaise. Mini sausage rolls are always popular – try making
them a little different by filling them with caramelised onions. If creating
starters is one job too many, just buy some in advance. Dip into some cheese
hampers or put in an order with a local deli – the
joy of starters is that almost anything goes.
Mains
While
turkey may have been the staple Christmas main for over 100 years, the old bird
is getting a little tired. If choosing a main that everyone is happy with
proves difficult, consider making a couple of relatively simple options.
Roasted carp with peppers and pancetta is a traditional Balkan Christmas dish,
while spiced beef with roast vegetables or dumplings will leave plenty of time
for other Christmas activities. Those averse to meat will be more than happy
with vegetarian
options that include a carrot and cashew fan or a
smoked bean curd bake.
Desserts
For
many people, Christmas pudding has all the appeal of an unexploded mortar
shell. After a large meal, the thought of shovelling in an overly large slice
of super-dense cake can be deeply troubling. Why not spare the communal pain
and try one of the many alternatives out there? Lemon tart, jelly, or Seville
oranges steeped in Cointreau are all far lighter options, and ones that can be
made suitably Christmassy with just a few minor additions. Other valid choices
include a mulled mixed berry terrine, tiramisu, and Clementine meringue or
spiced winter fruit compote.
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