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PROUDLY SPONSORED BY MARC BEREEN: CHRISTMAS BIRD
BOX AT CHARLOTTE QUAY Dinner on the big day is looking like a very different prospect for many people this year, particularly those city apartment dwellers unable to travel to be with family and friends. Mindful of this, Marc Bereen and the team at popular waterside restaurant Charlotte Quay have come up with a solution to help people make their Christmas dinner at home in the city a bit special. As Marc puts it, “We are aware that Christmas will be very different for lots of people this year, so we thought we’d help make staying at home in the city really memorable, with an elaborate dish made simple.” Carefully prepared by chefs in the Charlotte Quay kitchen, the generous three course Christmas Bird Box includes a succulent three-bird roast made from delicious locally sourced turkey, duck and chicken, and comes complete with everything needed to create the perfect Christmas celebration at home. To start there’s a choice of two tantalizing starters with crab and crayfish with Guinness and treacle bread or organic chicken & fois gras terrine. Then it’s on to the main event which sees each meaty centre-piece prepared ‘tur-duck-en’ style, rolled in smoked Alsace, and packed with fragrant rosemary, lardo, apricots and sourdough stuffing. The tasty roast is also accompanied by an incredible selection of trimmings bursting with festive flavour. Delicious duck fat roast potatoes nestle alongside maple and thyme glazed carrots, sprouts with bacon and chestnuts and spiced red cabbage infused in cinnamon and cloves, with side sauces of chicken jus and homemade cranberry. For afters, there’s a choice of a delicious dessert of Christmas pudding with brandy and nutmeg custard or an Irish cheese board with quince and homemade crackers. The enticing meal comes pre-cooked, vacuum packed and ready to go, with a set of easy to follow instructions. “All the hard work has been already done in our kitchen”, says Marc, “so just pop it in the oven for 45 minutes and you’re all set for a spectacular Christmas dinner to remember.” The delicious Christmas Bird Box comes with plenty to feed four people, and is available for pre-order now at charlottequay.ie FILE UNDER WOW! Hamper lovers are undoubtedly spoiled for choice this year, with a gorgeous array of festive fare showcasing some particularly nice Irish produce. Glasthule-based chef Audrey McDonald has quietly launched her unique take on ‘hampers for epicures’ in her first food foray since the Cookbook Café closed earlier this year. Audrey’s hampers contain a terrific selection of homemade seasonal goodies, including spicy panforte, Rosemary and chilli infused extra virgin olive oil, Aine’s handmade chocolates, spiced Christmas nuts, Arancello and Prosecco. There’s also a scented candle from Tipperary Crystal, all invitingly enveloped in a traditional hand-crafted wicker basket. Email queries to auds100@icloud.com CHRISTMAS FEAST BOX – THANKS PLANTS Looking for a plant-based alternative to the annual meat fest? This holiday season sees the innovative folk at Thanks Plants branch out beyond their popular vegan sausage range to offer a flavoursome alternative to the traditional stuffed turkey crown. Their Christmas Feast Box features a plant-based Festive Roast with all the trimmings, one of each of their sausage range and a luxury vegan gravy by Porter & Nash. Serves four to five people. thanksplants.co DECEMBER STREET MARKET IN DUBLIN 8 At the end of a hugely frustrating year for those working in the food and drink sector, recent kite-flying about lifting the Lockdown made planning for December reopening particularly difficult. Kudos then to 57 The Headline for pulling off the feat of a December Street Market, complete with pods to help artisan producers display their wares and send their goods out into the world. The hospitable neighbourhood bar and eatery has also commissioned a cool Dublin 8 Tote Bag to help carry off all that swag, with €2 from each sale going towards Women’s Aid. @57TheHeadline Meanwhile, the Lismore Food Company recently launched their eye-catching selection of elegant, beautifully packaged hot orange hampers paying homage to the art of afternoon tea. Enjoy their signature hand rolled, baked sweet and savoury biscuits, snacks and confectionary alongside a carefully chosen selection of tea and coffee, rich hot chocolate, blonde chocolate bars with cacao nibs, raw Irish honey and some tasty jams and preserves. thelismorefoodcompany.com 2021 FOOD TRENDS You don’t need a crystal ball to see what’s coming down the tracks on the food front in 2021. Expect a continued focus on food as medicine, as our collective concerns continue to centre around health, wellbeing and staying local. In the wake of the 2020 Covid experience, interest in immunity boosting diets has really taken off, while the trend towards more plant-based foods, alcohol-free drinks and Growing Your Own looks likely to spread even further next year. With more intense curiosity about the provenance of the food and drink we consume, and further emphasis on food with a purpose, the future looks bright for Dublin’s artisan producers, many of whom are already well ahead of the game on this one. Pssst – Got some food ’n’ drink nuggets you’d like to share with Totally Dublin readers? Feed them to us for consideration… Email: MM@hkm.ie