Having a last minute rush to find the perfect place for Christmas lunch? Look no further than FOUR’s round-up of the best Christmas menus from the world’s most celebrated chefs and restaurateurs, including master of Italian cuisine, Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Italyand British chef Jason Atherton and his newly opened restaurant concept in London’s Fitzrovia, Berner’s Tavern. Read on for more…
Berner’s tavern
Where: Fitzrovia, London
Who: Jason Atherton
How much: 3-course, £130
British chef Jason Atherton continues to take London’s fine-dining scene by storm with his ever-expanding culinary empire, and now this top-notch Christmas menu available at his recently launched restaurant concept Berner’s Tavern in London’s Fitzrovia.
Jason’s festive menu features: Seven and Wye valley smoked salmon; game terrine,roasted iron bark pumpkin soup, or classic prawn cocktail with a mandatory mulled wine sorbet to start; Norfolk Bronze turkey, Devon ruby red rib eye with Yorkshire pudding, roasted gnocchi wild mushrooms, shaved chestnuts, artichoke milk with truffle and roasted south coast bass, samphire, kale and wholegrain mustard for mains. To finish, guests can tuck into classic Christmas pudding with brandy anglaise, chestnut and caramel apple éclair with salted caramel ice cream, chocolate and orange trifle, coffee and mince pies or a selection of British cheese with pear chutney, for £130 per person.
Tom Aikens
Where: Chelsea, London
Who: Tom Aikens
How much: 3-course, £80; 6-course, £130
Trailblazing British chef Tom Aikens is the Norfolk-born, flame-haired chef of Tom Aikens restaurant in Chelsea which took London’s fine-dining scene by storm when it re-launched in 2012, following a refurbishment.
Located in London’s stylish South Kensington, Tom Aikens Restaurant is the perfect place if you’re looking for a last minute haunt for a Christmas party meal, with a chic menu available up until 23 December, offering roast scallop with braised oxtail, truffle and parsnip; Beef Short Rib with fermented grains, beef tendon lovage; and the Candied Beetroot dessert with yogurt parfait, sweetened beets and port syrup.
Osteria Francescana
Where: Modena, Italy
Who: Massimo Bottura
How much: 9-course, €500
Get your festive celebrations all wrapped up with a trip to Master of Italian cuisine, Massimo Bottura’s three Michelin starred Osteria Francescana in the heart of Modena, Italy.
While Osteria Francescana is closed from the 24 December until 26 December for Massimo to treat his own family to spot of festive dining, gourmets can rest assured knowing they can return to the restaurant on New Year’s Eve to see in 2014 in true style. The menu, a stunning array of 9 courses, cooked and prepared by Massimo himself, features a selection of creative dishes, including ‘On the rocks: the Maine coastline’ (lobster, caviar, mussels and razor clams on rocks) and ‘Sea urchin spaghetti from Naples to Hokkaido’ (sea urchins and claims in the Neopolitan traditions of aglio, olio e pepperoncino).
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Where: Napa Valley
Who: Christopher Kostow
How much: $395-$2,000 in donated to local charities in honour of each chef participating
Now in its sixth year, ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ is a unique festive affair held at world-renowned chef Christopher Kostow’s three Michelin star restaurant, Meadowood, in Napa Valley, offering guests the opportunity to indulge in a selection of the best fine-dining menus, cooked by twelve of the world’s leading chefs (think Denmark’s Rasmus Kofoed and David Chang in New York), while supporting local Napa Valley charities: The Holly Cranston Foundation and the Napa Emergency Women’s Services.
The festivities started on Friday 6 December, seeing Andy Ricker of Pok Pok restaurant in Portland and New York cook up a divine dinner, featuring wines by leading wine estate, Grgich Hills.Wrapping up this Saturday 21 December, Twelve Days of Christmas will be drawing to a celebratory close with a dinner cooked by Christopher Kostow himself and his sous chefs, featuring phenomenal wines by Harlan Estate.
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
Where: Oxford, UK
Who: Raymond Blanc
How much: varies
“I love Christmas. Growing up in Besançon, Christmas was always white. The silky slopes and hills allowed skiing and sledging for my two brothers and I from far above our village right through to the last house. At home, as a child, I longed to be master of the celebrations, to show my family how much – despite my naughtiness – I loved them! One advantage of my numerous punishments was being made to stay indoors and observe my mother, intent on her mysterious culinary tasks and preparations; the boudin blanc, the plucked goose, Bûche de Noël and the delicate papillotes, sweets or chocolates twisted into coloured cellophane. Now, having grown up in Britain, and having met so many of you here at Le Manoir, I hope to share the festive celebrations inspired by both French Noël and English tradition.” – Raymond Blanc
For a full itinerary of what master of French cuisine, Raymond Blanc, has in store for guests visiting Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons this festive season, download the ‘Noël et le réveillon at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons’, here.
Gidleigh Park
Where: Devon, UK
Who: Michael Caines
How much: 2-courses, £45 per person, 3-coures, £58 per person
Nestled within 107 acres of scenic woodland and grounds of Dartmoor National Park, British chef Michael Caines’ two Michelin starred restaurant, Gidleigh Park, is the perfect destination to celebrate a winter-warming Christmas with friends and family – especially those with a penchant for good food.
The Christmas day lunch menu features goat’s cheese terrine, loch duart salmon confit, veal ravioli, Cornish bream and Devonshire turkey, not to mention hot orange and Grand Marnier soufflé and caramel cardamom parfait for dessert.
The Standard Grill
Where: NYC
Who: Andre Balazs
How much: 5-course, $125, plus wine, $55
When visionary hotelier Andre Balazs opened The Standard in Manhattan’s ultra-hip Meatpacking District, A-lister’s flocked en masse to indulge in its luxurious surroundings which offer stunning views of New York and the mighty Hudson River and a steady flow of fine-dining eats and delicious beats available from its signature restaurant, The Standard Grill and rooftop bar.
If you’re looking to impress that certain someone this festive season, then a trip to New York and The Standard could be the ticket. The Standard’s Christmas Eve menu features a lavish selection of smoke salt cured tuna amuse bouches, a lobster salad to start, followed by seared diver scallop and a third course of dover sole before the all-important dessert: raspberry-vanilla or double chocolate “bûche de Noël” (Yule log). All courses come with wine pairings for a generous $55 dollars on top of the menu price of $125.