With December approaching thick and fast, Christmas themed foods have entered the chat. From festive pizza and fancy ramen, to once a year desserts, here's what we're day-dreaming about eating this week in the capital...
1) The Christmas slice, Mani
Mani are coming in hot with their latest menu addition, and how better to start silly season than with a Christmas slice of pizza. Topped with their house sausage, roasted sprouts, a Hegarty’s cheese bechamel, Guanciale and herb stuffing, all drizzled with a Ballymaloe Cranberry sauce, this fluffy Roman slice is served with a side of gravy, just in case you thought things couldn't get better.
2) The Christmas bowl, Sprout and Co.
For a lighter festive alternative than massive Christmas-dinners-between-bread, Sprout and Co. have just launched their seasonal bowl packed with herb roasted chicken, sweet potato, miso glazed sprouts and pickled cabbage, topped with a cranberry vinaigrette and crispy stuffing. We expect the queues to be out the doors at lunchtime for this bowl of yuletide yum.
3) Grilled gambas, Woodruff
Amidst the slew of all the Christmas food content that's starting to pop up like crazy, this bowl of grilled gambas from Woodruff in Stepaside is a brain cleanser. Served with taramasalata and katsuobushi on a kimchi pancake, it's a welcome diversion from all the turkey and ham we're about to overdo.
4) Truffle wagyu shoyu ramen, Nomo Ramen
We weren't sure a bowl of the good stuff could get this fancy, but it has. This warming bowl of truffle wagyu shoyu ramen (an upgrade on their shoyu ramen menu staple) is available only from Fridays to Sundays at Nomo Ramen this festive season, so plan accordingly.
5) Mont Blanc '24, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen
Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen's pastry kitchen is one of the strongest in the country, and those who are lucky enough to be enjoying the Christmas tasting menu (we are all very envious) will be treated to this beauty of a dessert. Their version of the Parisian-born "Mont Blanc" is slightly more sophisticated than a pile of chestnut purée topped with whipped cream, but what else would we expect.
