A few suggestions for a gourmet Christmas dinner
15-12-2009
What if, just this year, you decided to prepare something other than the good old turkey, chestnut stuffing and Christmas pud? If you chose instead to serve a few unique, exotic delicacies for the holidays?
 Gironde caviar Caviar - that terribly immoderate symbol of wealth - is now such a rarity that the quality and taste of the deluxe roe may seem less important than the fact of simply owning some and being able to offer it to guests. Read more  Vintage sardines Sardines for Christmas? Are we joking? Certainly not! I would even venture to say that vintage sardines are going to wow your guests! Read more  David Hervé’s claire refined oysters from Marennes-Oléron David Hervé raises oysters the old-fashioned way, including a two- to three-month refining process which provides the shellfish with a goodly quantity of trace elements, giving a very pronounced hazelnut flavour and an intense lingering aftertaste or ‘finish.’ Read more  France Haliotis ormers Bred in the open sea and fed on fresh seaweed, France Haliotis ormers are surprisingly fresh and tender. Yvon, chef at L’Armen restaurant in Brest, gives us his recipe (video). Read more  Iberian ham Over the past few years, European epicureans have developed a veritable passion for the ham made from the meat of Iberian black-trotter hogs (pata negra) fed with acorns (bellota). Read more  Paul Renault’s poultry Enjoying a nice plump fowl with family and friends is one of the great pleasures of Christmas. If the majority of European gourmets are familiar with Bresse chicken, those who have heard of Paul Renault are a rare breed. Read more  Bernard Mure-Ravaud’s alpine Beaufort cheese In December you should have no difficulty finding one of France’s best cheeses in finer cheese shops everywhere: alpine Beaufort. Read more  Genuine Belgian Speculoos from the Maison Dandoy Genuine, traditionally crafted speculoos are 100 % natural, made from flour, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, eggs and cloves without additives or preservatives. Read more  Leonardi’s Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Supposing you’ve got one truly exceptional Christmas gift to give, my choice would be a small bottle of balsamic vinegar from Modena. Read more  Samuel Tinon’s Hungarian Tokaji wines There’s nothing like a glass of fine Champagne to kick off a holiday feast like Christmas dinner, and nothing like a glass of fine Hungarian Tokaji, or Tokay, to end one. Read more |