Andrew Kay takes a look at this year’s seasonal party offerings
Andrew Kay takes a look at this year’s seasonal party offerings
Tired of Christmas? You must be tired of life! I love it; I love the parties, the shopping, the gifts, the games, and I love the food. For me, Christmas would not be complete with a snowball filled tumbler with a maraschino cherry, a box of dates, orange and lemon slices, chocolate liqueurs, figs, tangerines (whatever happened to tangerines?) and an occasional glass of sweet sherry. Oh yes, and turkey. Tired of turkey? Well to be honest I’m no great fan of turkey, although out of a sense of tradition I do like to do the full turkey dinner thing at least once; you cannot beat a good stuffing, can you, although I do eschew that silly American cranberry sauce … or ‘jam’ as I like to call it.
To be frank, a turkey dinner is often best eaten out. It’s a mind-blowing faff to get right at home, it fills the house with steam, and can so so easily go wrong. That is my overall tip; let someone else do the turkey!
We have plenty of other tips this week for your festive partying, from the strictly traditional to the adventurous, from lunches and dinners to full on, blowout parties – and back again, often in the wee small hours of the morning, slumped in the back of a cab with a party blower drooping from your satisfied grin.
At Christmas, I love to see what all of my foodie friends at the fine end of the dining scale have to offer, and this year there are some really great menus to choose from. At Drakes I see that chef Andy Mackenzie has some amazing treats in store. I particularly like the idea of his chestnut soup with smoked goose dumplings, and that’s just for starters.
At Graze, I would kick off with the Bloody Mary with brown crab and almonds before heading through their seven course platinum menu to the venison, berries, beetroot and raw chestnut, and I would definitely be going for their matched wine option too.
At The Foragers I can always find something local and seasonal to tickle my taste buds, and this year it’s the pan roasted partridge breast, confit partridge leg, pearl barley risotto, pickled enoki mushrooms.
Always top of my list for a big party at any time of the year is Donatello, they simply get it right with good service, good food and good value, and to my way of thinking their Tacchino Milanese is a great way to cook turkey.
In recent years, Chilli Pickle has taken the culinary world by storm winning so many accolades. Their Christmas
menu is yet to be announced, but there is no doubt that Chef Alun Sperring and his team will be dishing up some fiery festive fare to set you alight with delight.
Our very own Latest Music Bar will once again be offering parties to suit all pockets with delicious buffets and live entertainment – at LMB it’s party, party, party!
I’m a big fan of Breeze Brasserie and have in the past taken the Latest team there for an excellent Christmas lunch. Warm, friendly and generous, Breeze is a great choice and great value.
Terre à Terre continues to wow the world with their extraordinarily great vegetarian cooking, and at Christmas they do it all without even a sniff of turkey. But no need for alarm, no doubt head chef Matty Bowling will be conjuring up some seasonal dishes that incorporate traditional ideas and seasonal flavours.
Brighton Rocks is under new ownership and shaping up really well, with a spanking new menu of classic dishes, platters and small plates. With craft beers and great cocktails this is an ideal party venue that offers a private space for your party, too.
Bali Brasserie in Hove, a long standing venue serving delicious Balinese buffets, is always a great space in which to celebrate at any time of the year, but at Christmas it is extra special. As is the annual ice-rink by the Royal Pavilion, where you can fall flat on your bottom on the ice and cheer yourself up with something to
eat and drink afterwards.
If you fancy a ride through the frosty Sussex countryside, then head out to the Talbot at Cuckfield where from 1 December they will be offering a traditional Christmas menu for only £24.95 for three courses, not forgetting the crackers! Ah yes, it is, after all, all about those crackers.
The top tip is to get booking, as all the best venues sell out pretty fast. I’ve already booked for Christmas day – well, I’m past all the effort of shopping and cooking my own turkey – and no, it’s a closely guarded secret where I will be!
In advance … seasons greetings!
Foragers
“While many pubs are trying to serve up local grub with a seasonal twist, The Foragers have gone a step further. Several steps, in fact,” says Mimi Spencer of The Observer.
Over the last eight years, the team at this Hove gem have stubbornly stuck to their philosophy of using only the best local produce, and this commitment is still being acknowledged. The Foragers team have been winners at the Susssex Food & Drink Awards (Best Eating Experience) and at the Brighton and Hove Food & Drink Awards (Best Food Pub).
Over the festive period, The Foragers aim to exceed expectations once more. Their superb Christmas menu for groups of six or more is great value at £28 per head for dinner, or, even better, they are offering an early week promotion from Monday to Tuesday of £22.50 for the same menu. The promotion ends 17 December and conditions apply.
This pub has been a trailblazer in both sustainability and fine pub grub, and is therefore a must for all festive foodies.
The Foragers, 3 Stirling Place, Hove, BN3 3YU
01273 733134 / www.theforagerspub.co.uk
Breeze Brasserie
Award winners Breeze Brasserie know how to put on a fine festive feast, and one that will not break the bank. At £16.95 per person it ticks the right box for price, but a close look at the menu reveals that it ticks those food boxes, too.
Hearty roasted carrot and parsnip soup is a fine winter warmer, and a great option for vegetarians, whilst prawn cocktail or duck pate have a delightful seasonal feel. For mains, the traditional roast turkey is stuffed with walnuts and sage, chicken breast is topped with bacon and cheese, and a wild mushroom risotto cake comes with a creamed parmesan sauce, spinach and poached egg.
Of course there is a Christmas pud, but also Banoffee pie or even ice cream if you are needing to loosen that belt – and you may well. Breeze are not in the habit of serving dainty portions! There’s plenty of options for all. The wine list is well priced too, with house wines for £14.95 and the house champagne a modest £39.50.
With a friendly welcome, great service and smart interior they have space for parties of all sizes, large and small, at both lunch and dinner.
Breeze Brasserie, 98 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ER
01273 693377 / breezebrasserie.co.uk
Drakes
Celebrate this year’s Christmas party in style at Drakes, Brighton’s top boutique hotel. Drakes is all about sophisticated fine dining in an ambience of relaxed glamour, with excellent service and more than just a hint of fun.
Tables from 2 to 20 can be reserved in the restaurant, or for larger groups book the whole restaurant for a private, fun filled Christmas party. To add that extra special touch to smaller parties, the private dining room can be reserved for groups of up to 12 people. This includes the services of a designated waiter, and with no additional hire charge, makes this option all the more appealing!
Arrive at the hotel early for aperitifs or a chilled glass of champagne in the fabulous sea front reception bar, before making your way down to the award winning restaurant at Drakes. Having once again achieved the highest score of all Brighton restaurants in the 2015 Good Food Guide, the creative menus and impeccable dishes of Chef Andrew MacKenzie are certainly set to impress.
Why not make a night of it? As the bar is open all night for hotel guests, the celebrations can continue until late, then just mosey up to one of the beautiful hotel rooms for a great night’s sleep. It certainly beats worrying about missing the bus or queuing for a taxi to get you home!
The three course Christmas party lunch menu is £30 per person, and the dinner menu is £40 per person. For inspirational fine dining … when only the best will do. Contact the restaurant team to book your table now.
Drakes Hotel Brighton, 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1PE 01273 696934 (option 2)
w. www.therestaurantatdrakes.com
w. www.drakesofbrighton.com
e. therestaurant@drakesofbrighton.com
e. info@drakesofbrighton.com
Metrodeco
Metrodeco might have a reputation for its tea, cake and afternoon teas, but it is not widely known that we also serve alcohol and do a mean ‘tea cocktail’ – very much laced with booze!
If you want a smaller venue with a more intimate feel that gives a nod to the 1930s, then book your party with us. We are not short on atmosphere and can provide festive buffets or delicious canapés for your evening party. For daytime, our festive afternoon tea puts a new twist on this classic treat and can be taken with a tipple or two – it is Christmas, after all. We can cater to your requirements and prices start at as little as £12 per person.
We will be serving mulled wine and winter warmers, both ‘tea’total and not. So come and let your hair down – your secret is safe with us.
Metrodeco, 8 Upper St. James’ Street, Brighton, BN2 1JN
Donatello
Buon Natale! Celebrate Italian style this Christmas, at Donatello or Pinocchio, two great restaurants with something to offer every taste, budget and party size.
The restaurants are located in central Brighton and offer a choice of delicious set or a la carte menus with a fabulous selection of wines and champagne. At Donatello and Pinocchio, the festive menus start with a delicious two-course option featuring Italian favourites, which include pizzas and pastas for an extremely reasonable £8.95, including crackers and streamers.
Bring the whole family to enjoy the Donatello Winter Wonderland, a fantastic, fully interactive magical Christmas display outside the restaurant. Featuring an 8ft singing teddy bear and swaying reindeers, the display is sure to delight all ages.
Also at Donatello, for parties of 50 plus we can recommend varied entertainment to help your party go with a swing, and if you really want to ‘push the boat out’ this Christmas we can discuss our VIP menus with you.
Bookings are now being taken for Christmas 2014 at Donatello and Pinocchio, with group bookings for between 10 – 250 people. We hope you will join us for your Christmas celebration this year!
Donatello, 1-3 Brighton Place, Brighton, BN1 1HJ
Pinocchio, 22 New Road, Brighton, BN1 1UF
Please call us on 01273 771190 between 9am-5pm (Monday to Friday)
for any bookings/enquiries, or view our Christmas menus online:
www.donatello.co.uk/www.pinocchio.co.uk
Graze
Host your Christmas party at Graze restaurant and enjoy an incomparable dining experience. This Christmas, multi award winning Graze on Western Road offers a number of options for your celebrations.
The elegant and exclusive Regency Room offers intimate dining seating for up to 22 guests in an atmosphere of relaxed opulence. The room has its own private bar and audio system, making it the perfect place for a stylish celebration. Alternatively, book the entire restaurant for your private use and entertain up to 50 of your friends and colleagues.
This year, talented Head Chef Adrian Hawkins has developed three inspired menus to suit your tastes and budget. Choose from the a la carte-style silver and gold menus, or opt for the indulgent platinum tasting menu for a dining experience which captures the essence of the festive season and combines it with the innovation and creativity for which Graze is so well known. Enjoy dishes such as Bloody Mary with brown crab and almonds, and roast goose breast with carrot, gingerbread, quince and liver parfait.
Graze Restaurant, 42 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1JD
To view the full menus, see www.graze–restaurant.co.uk and for further information call Kate on 01273823707 or mail info@graze-restaurant.co.uk.
The Talbot
The Talbot is a traditional village pub with a great restaurant, courtyard and private function room – the Hay Loft – all set in the wonderful location of Cuckfield, a vibrant village in the heart of West Sussex.
The new owners are headed up by Dean Harding, a well established Brighton caterer who has introduced a great new menu with his Executive Chef Neil Bennett; dishes you know well, but with a modern twist and a superb Sunday lunch all served with a selection of local and regional real ales (of course, including Harveys) and craft beers from Belgium and New Zealand. There is also a new wine list, compiled by local merchant Hennings, with up to 12 different wines by the glass including sparkling Nyetimber.
The Talbot, High Street, Cuckfield, RH17 5JX
To book a table for lunch or dinner or to view the Hay Loft,
please call us on 01444 455898
www.thetalbotcuckfield.co.uk
Chilli Pickle
The Chilli Pickle always offers a very special alternative Christmas to the usual fayre. Real Indian food in their own unique style with bags of flavour, creative touches and festive flourishes.
The Chilli Pickle’s Christmas set menu is sure to add spark and pleasure to any planned Christmas party big or small.
Start off with the ubiquitous poppodoms served with their signature pickles and chutneys, hot Rajastani pickled onions and ‘Fruit & Nut Bhel Puri’ served in a street hawker style paper cone.
A sample of starters are ‘Prawn & Melon Gol Gappa’ mini puffed semolina shells filled with a cocktail of prawns, melon and spicy chutneys a take on India’s No 1 snack. Baigan Bharta a classic smoked aubergine stew paired with a light green chilli cheese naan for dipping. Rajashtani spiced lentil pastries with a crisp beetroot and apple salad. Goose Momos with a red currant chutney, again showing their style for matching.
Main courses have a wonderful selection of winter festive deluxe ingredients that are prepared using classic Indian techniques. Tandoori Venison with Orange Pulao served with North Indian clove smoked white sauce.
Plantation Pork Vindaloo chops with roasted cumin parsnips. Baked Paneer layered with herbs and jalapeno served with a barbecued vegetable skewer and smokey pepper sauce and plenty more to delight the palate.
Two desserts complete the meal beautifully ‘Coconut Kulfi lollipop’ with toasted coconut & hot chilli glazed pineapple and ‘Jaggery Rabri’ a creamy milk fudge pudding with cinnamon poached figs and ginger biscuit.
The Chilli Pickle has been around for six years now and although busy they never seem to be content to stand still but they also know what works, and this is why The Chilli Pickle has become a Brighton institution.
The Chilli Pickle, 17 Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE
01273 900383
www.thechillipickle.com
Brighton Rocks
Shake, rattle and roll your Christmas with Brighton Rocks – Kemp Town’s hidden secret. Tucked away on Rock Place, running between St. James’ Street and Marine Parade, Brighton Rocks is a fun and friendly bar and eatery offering a great selection of craft beers, fine wines and cracking cocktails alongside a daily menu of sharing platters, main courses and small plates (and, of course, Sunday roasts).
In the run up to Christmas, Brighton Rocks is the place to celebrate the festive season in style. Enjoy a three course sit-down menu for up to 20 friends and colleagues, including a welcome glass of sparkling wine, for just £29.95. Or keep it informal – but no less tasty – with a choice of finger food buffets starting at £14.95 per person.
The quirky heritage building offers a variety of spaces for private hire, including ‘the snug’ with cosy roaring fire, and a larger two-room private hire space on the first floor with its own bar.
Brighton Rocks, 6 Rock Place, Brighton, BN2 1PF
Visit www.brightonrocksbar.co.uk for the full lowdown on the festive season offering, and details of the new restaurant opening early 2015, or give the team a call on 01273 600550 and let Brighton Rock your Christmas!
Terre à Terre
Make an impression with colleagues, family and friends this year by celebrating your Christmas at Terre à Terre, the local go-to for the most creative vegetarian food in Brighton and always delivered with a cheeky little pun!
This year’s menu features Potsticker Eccles and Showflakes – a far cry from the traditional Eccles, think Lancashire Chinese Christmas crossover. Baubles and Boudin, allspice and pumpernickel, black salsify and bay.
Finished with Christmas Kulfi Cracker; palm pine baked apple kulfi cone with mince pie boondi! Intrigued yet? Christmas dishes will run alongside lots of familiar Terre à Terre seasonal fare, organic wines, cracking cocktails and more.
Let’s not forget their magnificent afternoon tea menu; multi-tiered savoury, sweet and traditional delights available from 2 – 5pm daily and and incredible selection of goodies to go, from chocolate kirsch cherries to boxes of salt caramel truffles and seasonal hampers.
The Terre à Terre Christmas and party menu, from £28 to £32, will be available daily for lunch and dinner from 19 November until early January. Limited party tables can be booked at the weekend, and there’s very large party availability midweek (Sunday to Thursday). Book now to avoid disappointment, and make a truly memorable Christmas!
Terre à Terre, 71 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ
01273 729051
www.terreaterre.co.uk
