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What Food Should You Serve At a Christmas Party?

Christmas is a very special time of year when food’s at the centre of things – after all, traditionally this was always

a time of feasting.

But choosing the right food requires a little thought, if your party is to be remembered as a Christmas cracker. So

here are a few things to consider.

Firstly, how formal do you want your party to be? An informal evening with lots of finger and buffet food or

something more substantial with people sitting at a table? The festive season can be an exhausting time for many

of us, so will you have the energy for a formal party that requires planning of menus and extra shopping?

If you opt for an informal gathering, then at this time of year the shops are full of pre-prepared party food, cakes

and snacks, to which you can add your own home-made sandwiches, salads and cheeses.

Think about how much time you’ll have for cooking on the day. If you’re going to be time tight, or don’t want too

much pressure, consider serving a hearty seasonal stew, prepared well ahead and heated up at the last minute.

This is not only a tremendous time saver but also will give you a chance to mix with your guests and enjoy

yourself.

When are you intending to have your party? At Christmas time you may be tempted to automatically opt for a

traditional turkey roast with all the trimmings and Christmas pud to follow. That may be fine if your party is early

in December, but remember, the closer you get to Christmas itself, the more likely it will be that people are

already getting tired of yet another turkey dinner and may welcome something different instead.

In that case, what about a less traditional, but still very special roast, such as rack of lamb or rib of beef or even a

delicious goose? If you aren’t sure how to prepare or cook them, you could start by asking your butcher for advice.

Or it could be an opportunity to push the boat out by serving some more indulgent and extravagant dishes like

Beef Wellington or a whole poached salmon.

But if you’re sticking with the tried and traditional, then consider ringing the changes on some old favourites,

such as using goose fat to give your roast potatoes greater richness and crunch, or roasting a mix of winter

vegetables like parsnips, celeriac and butternut squash, rather than the usual carrots, peas and sprouts.

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And don’t forget to cater for at least some vegetarians with non-meat but still festive dishes, such as a rich

chestnut and mushroom roast or a spicy Moroccan-style vegetable tagine. You may find non-vegetarians glancing

longingly at their neighbour’s plate!

But whatever food you plan to serve, make sure you get the bulk of your shopping done in good time and ideally

pre-order meat and fish and stock up on wine, spirits and soft drinks. Empty supermarket shelves on the day

could turn your party into The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Visit us for your Christmas party nights in Dundee.