Global ideas for Christmas dinner
We all love Christmas. More than just a time for singing and celebration, it is a time for family gatherings, gift giving, collective thankfulness, sweet memories and great anticipation. It is also a time of the year where we indulge in food.
POLOKWANE – We all love Christmas. More than just a time for singing and celebration, it is a time for family gatherings, gift giving, collective thankfulness, sweet memories and great anticipation. It is also a time of the year where we indulge in food.
The Fusion Boutique Hotel marketing manager, Victoria Stander shares how other cultures celebrate Christmas and how you might incorporate their ideas into your own festivities. She also shares what Fusion Boutique Hotel will be serving for Christmas lunch.
“In the UK, turkey is the star of the Christmas dinner. This is not so different from many tables in the US. Classic accompaniments are bread sauce (a thick, textured sauce made with day-old bread) and Christmas pudding. The Christmas pudding is stored away for weeks and allowed to mature. On Christmas Day, the pudding is steamed again. When it is time to serve, the pudding is doused in flaming brandy.
In Japan, KFC, the fried chicken chain is the hot place for take-out on Christmas Day. It is so popular that the chain lets customers reserve their Christmas party buckets two months in advance. This fast-food festivity reportedly started as a result of a successful ad campaign in the 70’s. Now, people line up outside KFC stores for Christmas, sales go through the roof and Colonel Sanders wears a Santa suit and hat to wish customers a Merry Kentucky Fried Christmas.
“In the Caribbean-, there is no eggnog. Toast to the holidays with Sorrel punch, a seasonal island drink that gets its bright red colour from hibiscus flowers. The flowers and other ingredients like cloves and cinnamon are steeped in water overnight to make an aromatic liquid, which can be combined with rum to make a sweet cocktail.
“In Italy, On Christmas Eve, Southern Italians celebrate with a dinner called the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which features seven seafood dishes prepared every which way. There is no traditional menu, but there are some popular dishes, including pan-fried smelts, calamari and homemade linguine with clams, baked eel.
“In France, If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to borrow this tradition from the Provence region: 13 desserts are set out on Christmas eve. The number of sweets is a nod to Jesus and the Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper.
“On Christmas Day, you will be spoilt for choice at Fusion Boutique Hotel. The delectable menu begins with a wonderful selection of breads, preserves, pates and chesses. For the main course, you will enjoy succulent stuffed turkey, a roast leg of lamb and special seafood pasta served with all the bells and whistles one could dream of. End off this feast with a traditional Christmas pudding, unique crème brulee or dark chocolate cheesecake.”
