Around the world festive feasting

and lavish parties – all with a German twist. German Gymnasium is open throughout December, with special celebrations on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and over the New Year. Executive Chef, Bjoern Wassmuth’s December menus will include Roasted chestnut crème with truffle foam; Tafelspitz of slow cooked beef rump with Austrian hash, creamed spinach, chive sauce and grated horseradish and apple; and Hazelnut praline pot with soured cream and celeriac puree. Meanwhile in the Grand Café, a clock will chime at 4pm daily, signalling the beginning of the German tradition of Kaffee und Kuchen where guests can enjoy Apple strudel with vanilla sauce, Sachertorte with Chantilly cream, and to drink, Black Forest Coffee with Kirsch and whipped cream. Find out more by visiting, www.germangymnasium.com Yashin Ocean House Kensington favourite, Yashin Ocean House, is serving an exquisite Japanese sharing menu of some of their most popular and delicious dishes. From chargrilled Chilean seabass and sukiyaki rolls to miso cappuccino and paradise prawn tempura, the menu offers a taste of Japan together with the most contemporary cooking techniques. A must for any Japanese food fans, visit www.yashinocean.com for more information. Flesh & Buns Following its success last year, Flesh & Buns will be bringing ‘finger lickin’ holiday cheer back to London with the Japanese Fried Chicken (JFC) Feasting Basket. Until December 23, 2015, diners at the Covent Garden restaurant will be able to tuck into a steamer basket of Buttermilk and shichimi fried half-chicken with BBQ mayonnaise, served with a salad and signature steamed buns, followed by a rich and chocolatey Yamazaki cake and all washed down with a Spiced rum and grenadine hard shake. Designed to share, the Japanese Fried Chicken Feasting Basket is priced at £37.00 for two. For availability visit their website, www.bonedaddies.com/flesh-and-buns/ Tokimeit? Situated in the heart of Mayfair, the newly opened Japanese restaurant, Tokimeit?, is the perfect place for an unusual but glamorous festive feast. Highlights from the menu include Wagyu Rei Shabu - thinly sliced Wagyu shabu shabu garnished with ponzu jelly and edible flowers, and a table simmered Wagyu Sukiyaki served with onion and watercress in miso dashi with a side of creamy truffle sauce and a variety of sashimi sets and sushi rolls. To book a table please visit, www.tokimeite.com Hutong This winter Northern Chinese restaurant, Hutong, will be offering a whole goose served with butterfly buns and three special sauces - roast goose gravy, black pepper sauce and home-made plum sauce. The goose will be carved table side and beautifully presented for guests to enjoy. This limited edition dish is available from November 30, 2015 to December 30, 2015 and is priced at £95 which is for a minimum of five people. It must be pre-ordered when a restaurant reservation is made for dinner. To book a table please call 020 3011 1257, alternatively you can email them direct, [email protected] Chai Wu With an eight course tasting menu of luxurious dishes including crystal Sea Bass with Tiger Prawn truffle dumplings, Szechuan style clap pot Chilean Sea Bass and Lobster and warm chocolate, mandarin ice cream mini sphere and popping candy, Chinese restaurant, Chai Wu, located in Harrods, will provide a festive taste of China in the opulent surroundings of London’s most famous department store. The menu is based on two people and costs £88 per person. For more information please visit, www.chaiwu.co.uk/#menu-christmas-menu Arabica Bar & Kitchen Celebrate Christmas at Arabica Bar & Kitchen with alternative festive flavours from the Levant. This year, Arabica have crafted six Christmas menus, guests can choose from three set meze menus suitable for groups of any size, or three seasonal feasting menus for parties of five guests or more, consisting of six meze to share, follow by a main course and a dessert. Examples include spiced venison boregi, woodland mushroom and truffle man’ousheh, and double cooked duck with cinnamon, honey, cardamom and mastica. Arabica also offer seasonal cocktails with Middle Eastern spices and liquors such as quince 75, bramble spritz and Levantine sour, and authentic delicacies such as sweet mincemeat baklawa can be enjoyed for dessert. To book a table and for more information please visit, www.arabicabarandkitchen.com/christmas Tommi’s This year, Tommi’s Burger Joint is bringing the festive cheer with their limited edition venison burger. The venison patty is topped with creamy brie, rocket, pickled red cabbage, green pepper mayo and cranberry sauce. Like all of Tommi’s burgers, only carefully sourced British produce is used, with meat from HG Walters butcher in Baron’s Court, and bread from Millers bakery. Available now until the end of December, so come all ye faithful burger fans, and get one whilst you can! For every £9.90 venison burger bought, £1.00 will be donated to Age UK Westminster. http://www.burgerjoint.co.uk/ Mango Tree Belgravia Thai institution, Mango Tree Belgravia, will be celebrating Christmas this year with a Thai inspired festive menu. Beginning with a sharing platter including grilled king scallop with Thai spicy garlic sauce, grilled lamb marinated in honey and crispy soft shell crab with salt and chill seasoning, the menu goes on to include main courses of beef massaman, baked seabass marinated in Thai herbs and smoked turkey breast in black bean sauce and culminates in a delicious mango cheesecake for a Thai alternative to Christmas pudding. The menu will be priced at £49.95 and is available for parties of four or more. Please visit, www.mangotree.org.uk/ for more information. Busaba Eathai For the first time in its 15 year legacy, Thai restaurant group, Busaba Eathai, has specially created celebration menus and seasonal beverages for the festive season. Three menus are available, the Christmas specials menu is suitable for individual and small group dining. For £16.90 per head guests will enjoy a snack, small plate and a main. Two group dining menus are suitable for eight guests or more, offering snacks, small plates, mains and desserts for the table to share. Drinks bundles are available for group dining to help the festivities flow. To book a table please visit, www.busaba.com/christmas As Britons we’re quite traditional when it comes to our Christmas dinner, nothing beats a nice plump turkey with all the trimmings and a fruity Christmas pudding topped off with a hefty dollop of brandy butter. But if you’re fed up with the norm and after something a little different this season head to London for a festive treat that will take you on a journey of culinary delights from across the globe.