Festive Food FOOD

FESTIVE FOOD

Christmas and sumptuous spreads go together like, well, turkey and cranberry sauce. 50, as Glasgow and Edinburgh's restaurants unveil their festive menus, now's the time to book ahead for that special meal.

Words: Kirsty Knaggs

As the last Christmas of the millennium approaches, its time to banish all bad memories of festive feasting. Forget the dehydrated turkey and bullet-like brussels With the feuding family, and instead use the occaSion to gather together a bunch of like-minded mates and head Out for a totally different Christmas experience. In fact, some of The Li‘st’s favourite haunts are themselves embracing the Yuletide spirit, In Glasgow, Scottish restaurant Stravaigin has a very speCial Christmas menu, featuring a three-caurse lunch for £19.95 and dinner for £27.95. The inventive dishes marry ingredients such as pork, pumpkin and pancetta, and duck With polenta and sav0ury apple won ton. Proof positive that the shrivelled chipolata is a thing of the past. Vegans and vegetarians need not feel left out either, as the 13th Note Cafe is offering exceptional seasonal fare from the start of December alongSide their already mouthwatering menu Follow

it up With some music downstairs, or stay put and sample the legendary all-year-round cheesecake.

Another way to spice up traditional notions of Christmas food is to look to international CUiSine. With restaurants in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, Pancho Villa’s could well be the place for the MeXican- style festive fiesta. Positively encouraging a party mood With their secret reCipe Strawberry Margarita, the staff are as up-for-it as the customers, and the food comes highly recommended too. Also represented in both Cities is Khublai Khan and their Mongolian barbeque is about as far from the boring old Christmas dinner as you could possibly get. Enjoy hours of entertainment Just selecting your own ingredients from the Wide range on offer, then watching them being cooked right at your table. The proceedings are launched With a free shot of chilled Mongolian vodka, Which is even more reason to forego Aunt Hilda’s annual offering of sherry.

Still on an international tip, celebrate the season With an oriental flavour at The Dragon Way, one of the busiest Chinese restaurants in Edinburgh. Their banquets are something pretty speCial, and ideal for large groups as you get to taste a variety of excellent dishes. Christmas banQUet prices start at £14.80 for lunch and £26 or £21 for dinner.

Maybe What you and your friends really need is a change of scenery. If so, seek out The Frances Ann

Narrowboat Restaurant at the OgiIVie Terrace Moorings in the Shandon area of Edinburgh. This is the City's first narrowboat restaurant, and prowdes an intimate and unusual setting for a Christmas meal The menu uses traditional festive ingredients With a tWist, such as spiky chestnut, Wild mushroom and cranberry loaf, or lamb cooked in a blueberry and mint sauce. Advance booking is adVIsed, as it is for all our recommended Christmas meals.

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12 Ashton Lane Tel 0141-334 5007

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Millars Restau rant 515 Sauchiehall Street Charing Cross Glasgow

Tel: 0141 248 2016 Taste the difference

Authentic exquisite Afro Carribean, Creole and Cajun cuisine

BOOK NOW FOR CHRISTMAS WE OFFER BOTH TRADITIONAL AND AFRO CARRIBEAN

Have a different Christmas this year!

CHRISTMAS MENU

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EDINBURGH’S FIRST NARROWBOAT RESTAURANT OGILVIE TERRACE MOORINGS ' SHANDON ° EDINBURGH

EVEING MEALS - PARTIES - EVENTS

EXCLUSIVE FOURTEEN SEAT DINING AREA WITH TOP QUALITY CUISINE . . . YOU’VE JUST GOT TO TRY US! FOR QUOTATIONS AND MENU ADVICE PLEASE TELEPHONE US ON THE NUMBERS BELOW OR CALL IN.

0131 539 1165 or 07957 588 252

21 Oct—4 Nov 1999 THE “ST 107