Now I’m not saying I don’t love a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, I do. Although we don’t have turkey in my house, it’s usually roast duck on Christmas eve and a massive joint of beef on Christmas day and then all the leftovers on boxing day. Yes yes, we love our traditional Christmas food. But, sometimes it can be a little overkill and I’ve been on the hunt for some alternative Christmas dinners! I find December becomes filled with catch-up dinners with friends before we all head our different ways for the break. And this year I’m heading off on an incredible trip around Thailand, Laos and Cambodia for three weeks so even more reason to be merry before we leave! But instead of menus filled with turkey and pigs in blankets I’m going to propose some of these alternative Christmas dinners in London.
1. POPdown @ The Vaults – the interactive Christmas dinner
First up on my list of alternative Christmas dinners is POPdown in The Vaults. Bespoke dining company Cuission have brought back their hugely popular and interactive supper club to the Vaults in Waterloo for a 3 month residency.
It’s £39 for four courses with the menu incorporating the best of Autumn and Winter produce. All the ingredients are so fresh and the quality of them shine through. I think my favourite dish of the night was: brussel sprouts, chestnut mushrooms, clemintine, grains. The flavours and textures worked perfectly. The chefs plate the food up in the middle of the room and you can chat to them as they do, help to plate the food yourself or even serve it out to the other tables. I went last week and loved the experience – it’s great fun! Full review to follow.
The cocktails here are all made with fresh ingredients on site, no cola or lemonade here. They’re delicious! And at £20 for a great bottle of red you can easily get into the Christmas spirit!
Come with your other half or book out a table and come with a group of friends. Available until 16th January 2016.
2. Flesh & Buns – the fried chicken Christmas feast
Flesh & Buns has brought back its hugely successful Japanese Fried Chicken Festive Feasting Basket. It all comes from the Japanese obsession with eating KFC on Christmas Day – it may not be a classic in the UK but feasting on fried chicken has been a Christmas tradition in Japan since the 70s. Sounds pretty good to me!
The feast is for two and comprises of a steamer basket of buttermilk and shichimi fried chicken with a barbecue mayonnaise, fresh salad and the famous fluffy steamed buns. There’s also a chocolate Yamazaki cake and of course there is a great drink of offer – a spiced rum and grenadine hard shake. What a great entry for alternative Christmas dinners in London!
Designed to share, the Japanese Fried Chicken Feasting Basket is priced at £37.00 for two. Available until 23rd December.
3. Andina – the Peruvian christmas dinner
December normally means lots of naughty food and plenty of alcohol (for me anyway!). So when looking for alternative Christmas dinners to enjoy this year I was very happy to come across the festive menu from Andina. This is one of my favourite Peruvian restaurants in London and a great option for something a little lighter.
There are two menus on offer both of which include nibbles, ceviches, classics, salads, sides and dessert. Some of the dishes I’m most excited to try are: braised lamb shank with palo blanco cocoa beans; turkey breast, mirasol chilli, apple, sultanas; and the sautéed brussel sprouts, amarillo chilli, pecan nuts and pineapple sound great. On the slightly more expensive menu you also receive a welcome cocktail – Chispa Roja which consists of cranberry and cinnamon-infused pisco and sparkling rosé wine. Sounds rather good!
The festive menu is for groups for 8 or more so grab your friends and head down. There are two menus on offer – £38/£50 per person. It might be on the expensive side but you get a lot of food!
4. Barrio Central – the Carnival Christmas dinner
This is definitely one of the more affordable locations on the alternative Christmas dinners list. Barrio Central has a special menu for December with some great twists on their classics.
Located in the middle of Soho there is a great Christmas party vibe here and with a happy hour that runs until 8pm it’s the perfect place to be merry with friends! Our favourites included Catch The Pigeon (pink Pigeon spiced rum and Barrio’s own special tropical mix) and the Papa Don’t Preach (Blackwell run and Wray and Nephew with crème de peche and fruit juice).
On the menu there’s a selection of snacks, tacos and nachos. We particularly enjoyed the Pavita Slider which consisted of smoked turkey, sour cream, cranberry and caraway jam and pickled red onions served in mini potato buns. The Al Pastor Taco was also very good – achiote marinated pork, slow roasted pineapple, onion and coriander.
On top of the normal menu there are party menus on offer during December starting from £14.95 together with cocktail masterclasses and photo booths. Head down with friends and enjoy the music and cocktails!
5. Boneyard, Shoreditch – the Christmas burger
Maybe more of a Christmas dinner in a burger rather than an alternative Christmas dinner!? But I mean it looks ridiculously naughty and good! I’m really looking forward to trying this one!
Christmas dinner has been sandwiched between Boneyard’s delicious brioche buns. There’s a turkey burger, a crispy bacon patty, stuffing, brussels, cranberry sauce and mustard. They also manage to cram in molten cheddar and pickled red cabbage! Beef gravy is served on the side for dipping.
If their Thanksgiving burger is anything to go by their Christmas burger at £8 is going to be epic! Head here post Christmas shopping in Boxpark, grab a beer in one hand and kick back with their burger in the other.
And there you have it, my Top 5 alternative Christmas dinners on offer in London this December. What’s your favourite alternative Christmas dinner this year? Let me know!
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Aah I’m really going to miss being in London for Christmas – I love the idea of seasonal celebrations with a twist! All of these options look delicious but the Peruvian festive menu looks especially appealing!
Yes, Andina is a great restaurant, my favourite Peruvian in London! I’m away from Christmas day so I’m getting all the festive celebrations in before I leave! Have a wonderful Christmas! xx
That’s exactly what I’ve been doing too as I’m back in Bombay now! Thank you, wishing you a very merry Christmas too 🙂 xx
I’m loving the sound of Andina, even for post-Christmas celebrations! I’ve been dying to try that place!
Honey x The Girl Next Shore
Oh you have to go – Andina is one of my favourite restaurants in London! The food is so fresh and delicious!x