Christmas Menus 2023 First Draft

Monday, November 27, 2023

First cut of menus for Christmas 2023. Work in progress. Main meal only. Vegetarian. Christmas Eve dinner to Boxing Day.

Christmas Eve

Food

• Sugared, chocolate-coated, gilded, and silvered Brazil nuts and almonds
• Chickpeas and cannellini beans with hispi cabbage and cavolo nero
• Frangipane
• Soft cheeses

Drink

• Sparkling water (eg, Vichy Célestins)
• Kir Royale with a twist of hibiscus
• Sparkling white wine (Maybe a Franciacorta)
• Sweet wine with the desert (Recioto?)
• Atlantic coastal brandy with the cheese

Christmas Day

Food

• Friselle with tomato, oregano, basil and rocket, chilli flakes
• Creamy risotto with butternut squash and Brussels sprouts, sage, dried Senise peppers
• Mince pies with brandy cream or brandy butter
• Hard cheeses and blue cheeses, nuts, dried fruit, charcoal crackers

Drink

• Sparkling water (eg Ferarelle)
• Negroni
• White wine (to be decided - or maybe a Puglian orange wine?)
• Dryish champagne with the mince pies
• PX or Port with the cheese

Boxing Day

If the weather is bearable, do this as a picnic.

Food

• Filo parcels with festive vegetables and smoked tofu
• Soured red cabbage with winter spices and bitter orange
• Stollen, brandy butter

Drink

• Sparkling water (eg S. Pellegrino)
• Mulled wine
• Brandy