Take four of the UK’s greatest chefs, a table full of sumptuous looking food, mix with a spattering of Christmas decorations and you have the recipe for the Ultimate Festive Feast!
To celebrate Taste of London: The Festive Edition landing at Tobacco Dock next week (19-22 November) some of the UK’s greatest chefs sat down to dine on the Ultimate Festive Feast with some wonderful consequences.
Chef of the moment Tom Kerridge, one of London’s finest Mark Hix, the UK’s youngest female Executive Head Chef Sophie Michell and Michelin stared Frenchman Pascal Aussignac sat together to enjoy a festive feast fit for a king. Each of the talented chefs were asked what would be gracing their tables this Christmas and a number of the delicious and exciting dishes were created for them all to enjoy a little earlier than usual.
The feast consisted of classics like a juicy goose, plump and tender free range organic turkey, a baked ham studded with cloves, crispy goose fat roast potatoes, red cabbage, sprouts pan fried with pancetta and honey, roasted parsnips, pigs in blankets, gravy and lots of sauces. Not forgetting the compulsory Christmas cheese board oozing with ripe and flavoursome fromage including stilton, camembert, comte and montgomery cheddar. No festive feast is complete without mince pies and a Christmas cake. Add in a bit of glamour with a stunning Macaron tower, sumptuous seafood platter and Pascal’s favourite ingredient the Sea Urchin. Don’t forget the more unusual but equally as delicious ingredients such as roasted pheasant and a meaty game pie.
The four chefs had a lot of fun writing menus for the feast and more importantly getting stuck in. We asked them what was so special about the festive period…
Tom Kerridge said “The festive period is a super special time for me, both pubs are shut and I can really enjoy cooking for myself and my family and friends.”
“My Christmas is not complete without… Pigs and blanket, they make a Christmas meal, I keep going back for just one more!”.
“I loved today’s festive feast. Great company and a feast fit for a few dozen kings.”
When asked for his top tip for a stress free Christmas day, Tom said “Don’t worry too much, just prepare, then relax and enjoy!”
Sophie Michell told us “I love the festive season, especially working in a hotel, the build-up starts early, I find it so exciting, London is buzzing with festive spirit.”
For me a festive feast is all about… “I love the traditional food like turkey, ham and crisp roasties but also Christmas is all about seafood, champagne and macarons!”
Pascal Aussignac said “Christmas is all about family, smiling faces, sharing, celebration and cooking. Once a year it is the most wonderful time. I love to eat things which are rich and extravagant like truffles and sea urchin”.
Mark Hix confirmed, “For me Christmas is all about tradition. I love game birds and a full feast to enjoy”.
