insideKENT Magazine Issue 80 - November 2018 | Page 67

CHRISTMAS
Christmas (and Boxing Day)
Dinner is served!
THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE LOVED ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS DINNER, AND OF
COURSE ITS BOXING DAY SEQUEL, WHICH CAN BE A RERUN OF THE MAIN EVENT OR A DAY-
LONG GRAZE OF LEFTOVERS...PREFERABLY SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO SLICES OF BREAD. THE
GRAVY, THICK AND LUSCIOUS, COVERING THOSE CRISPY-ON-THE-OUTSIDE-SOFT-IN-THE-MIDDLE
ROAST POTATOES; BRUSSELS SPROUTS WHICH, EVEN IF YOU WOULDN’T GO NEAR THEM DURING
THE REST OF THE YEAR, ARE MANDATORY ON A CHRISTMAS DINNER PLATE; AND SUCCULENT
TURKEY (OR WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR CHRISTMAS BOAT). ADD TO THIS ALL SORTS OF SAUCES
AND CONDIMENTS AND ALL THE LITTLE EXTRAS LIKE MOREISH PIGS IN BLANKETS AND MAYBE EVEN
A YORKSHIRE PUDDING OR TWO (PERHAPS NOT FOR THE PURISTS…), AND YOU’VE GOT A MEAL
THAT IS GOING TO LAST FOR HOURS, IF NOT DAYS...
The only downside to this mammoth fabulous
festive feast is making it. There is a lot of effort
that goes into creating so much delicious food
and, when you just want to be enjoying the
fun with everyone else, it can sometimes feel
as though you’ve drawn the short straw.
This year, why not do something different?
Why not shun the kitchen and spend your
precious hours socialising and drinking fizz
instead of peeling spuds and sprouts? A great
idea – and one that’s becoming evermore
popular – is to book yourself and your family
into a gorgeous Kentish restaurant where all
the hard work will be done for you. It’s a
memorable and indulgent way to spend
Christmas Day, and insideKENT has the
ultimate Christmas and Boxing Day dinner
guide for you. All you need to do is turn up
and eat...
The Dog At Wingham // Wingham
www.thedog.co.uk
SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: Crown Prince squash soup,
Jerusalem artichoke crisps, pumpkin seeds
and white truffle
Main: ballotine of turkey, duck fat sautéed
potatoes, sprouts, carrots and black cabbage
Dessert: green cardamom chilled rice pudding
with pear and brandy sorbet
Price: £110 per person.
The Bull // Wrotham
www.thebullhotel.com Frasers // Egerton
www.frasersegerton.co.uk
SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: smoked kipper paté, pickled fennel,
sourdough bread
Main: turkey with all the trimmings
Dessert: chocolate hazelnut brownie,
orange sorbet
Price: £25 per person. SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: beetroot-cured salmon,
pickled fennel, wasabi
Main: Frasers Estate game casserole,
Kentish blue cheese croute, Chapel Down
nectar infused pear
Dessert: pear and almond frangipane tart,
spiced damson and apple compote,
amaretto ice cream
Price: £32.50 (3 courses), £26.50 (2 courses).
Tudor Park Marriott // Maidstone
www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/tdmgs-
tudor-park-marriott-hotel-and-country-club
SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: poached and smoked salmon,
tiger prawns, crab cocktail, smoked
assorted fish
Main: roast sirloin of beef with traditional
Yorkshire pudding from the carvery
Dessert: Christmas pudding with brandy sauce
Price: £89 per adult, £44.50 per child (5-12).
The Kings Arms // Westerham
www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/
kent/kings-arms
SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: duck and fig terrine
Main: trio of wild Scottish venison medallions
Dessert: lemon and
stem ginger brûlée cheesecake
Price: £62.99 per adult, £21.99 per child.
Eastwell Manor // Ashford
www.eastwellmanor.co.uk
SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: Muscat pumpkin soup,
parmesan crouton
Main: free-range turkey with all the trimmings
Dessert: coffee and mince pies
Price: £42 per person.
Royal Wells Hotel // Tunbridge Wells
www.royalwells.co.uk
SAMPLE MENU CHOICE:
Starter: Blacksticks blue cheese and
walnut soufflé
Main: roast turkey breast and thigh
Dessert: luxury boozy Christmas pudding
Price: £69.95 per adult, £35 per child.
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