GetStuffed FoodDrinkRestaurants
Eclectic tastes This year, why not turf out the turkey and can the cranberry for a change? The List explores alternative Christmas dinners from around the world
Tang’s This Christmas Tang’s restaurant on Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh is offering customers Japanese winter dishes shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, both cooked and eaten at the table fondue- style in a hot pot. Shabu-shabu has Konbu dashi stock, often seasoned with Ponzu sauce (Japanese soy and citrus) or Goma (sesame) sauce, into which thin slices of beef, pork, vegetables and tofu are dipped. Sukiyaki involves first frying strips of beef on a skillet, then covering these in a sweet soy-based sauce and adding further vegetables to the pot. ■ 44 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, 0131 220 5000, www.tangsrestaurant.co.uk
WEST WEST, the German brewery, bar and restaurant in the former Templeton’s Carpet Factory by Glasgow Green, will be marking the season as it always does by brewing up a special Weihnachtsbier, or Christmas ale, a dark, fruity beer with hints of cinnamon. The restaurant’s Christmas menu features many of their trademark Scottish-German crossover dishes, though for something warming and European you could go for goulash soup, jaeger schnitzel with its dark mushroom sauce, or Munich-style apple strudel. If beer’s not your thing, some mulled wine with a slice of stollen will transport you straight to Christmas Eve. ■ Glasgow Green, 0141 550 0135, www.westbeer.com 12 THE LIST 8–22 Oct 2009
Café Cossachok Café Cossachok is Scotland’s only authentic Russian restaurant, and their festive set menu is anything but standard fare. Utka s Yablokamy is duck roasted with green apples and served with potatoes, while Fish po Litovski is cod married with creamy cheese, potato, broccoli & spinach layers. Vegetarians need not fear either – a Moldavian take on goulash or some wholewheat blinis stuffed with aubergine and coriander are inventive and delicious options. Anyone with room for dessert should consider Pancakes Ded Moroz (pictured) – a warm pancake served with wild berry compote, ice cream and honey. ■ 38 Albion St Glasgow, 0141 553 0733, www.cossachok.com Joseph Pearce Joseph Pearce is fully embracing the winter warmers and hearty traditional feasts this Christmas. Try the bonde platter – a kind of Swedish ploughman’s lunch with crusty bread and butter, red onion relish, lingonberry jam, orkney oatcakes, isle of mull cheddar and a pickled onion and beetroot salad. Or how about braised Scottish lamb in Swedish ale with carrots, shallots and portobello mushrooms. A Scandinavian classic is dill-cured gravad lax salmon on a bed of salad greens, olives and sautéed potatoes. On 9 December and 16 December, there’ll be a full Swedish Christmas menu available including Julskinka – specially made cured ham. ■ 23 Elm Row, Edinburgh, 0131 556 4140, www.bodabar.com
Christmas at Apex Hotels We’ve got four great venues in Edinburgh with an impressive choice of festive celebrations
Party Lunches Party Nights
Themed Party Nights Restaurant Dining
from £24.95 pp from £24.95 pp £34.95 pp from £14.95 pp
Book now T: 0845 365 0001 E: party@apexhotels.co.uk www.apexhotels.co.uk
to ensure you get the best Apex Hotels | London | Edinburgh | Dundee
T H E N E W B E L L
/ 3 Course Christmas
1 Lunch £17.95
1
3 Course Christmas
Dinner £24.95 / 15 Salisbury Place EH9 1SL
Tel 0131 667 4654 1
/ 1
info@hellerskitchen.co.uk
www.hellerskitchen.co.uk
Christmas Lunch: 3 Courses £19.95 Christmas Dinner: 3 Courses £29.95 Coffee & Mince Pies
233 Causewayside EH9 1PH 0131 668 2868 www.thenewbell.com