Festive frivolities happening throughout December:

As Christmas is fast approaching here’s our look at what is happening throughout this festive month. From Christmas menus to ‘Bad Santa’ mince pies we’ve got it covered.

 The Northall at Corinthia Hotel

After you have purchased gifts for family and friends in Covent Garden, head over to The Northall at Corinthia Hotel to marvel at the edible ten foot tall Christmas tree and indulge in their Festivi-Tea Afternoon Tea.

More info: http://www.corinthia.com/hotels/london/the-festive-season-2014/

Shake Shack

This Christmas they will be serving the Shackdog’n blanket, mince pie concrete and a mulled shack red alongside their signature hot chocolate (heated frozen custard) for the perfect energy boost between the Apple store, Jack Wills and Mulberry – or whatever takes your fancy this festive season!

More info: www.shakeshack.com/location/london-covent-garden/

The Ritz London

Located in the heart of Piccadilly, The Ritz is the perfect place to stay for the ultimate Christmas shopping trip. With famous shops such as Harrods, Harvey Nicholls and Fortnum & Mason within walking distance and Bond Street on your door step, all genre of shopping is covered.

During a Christmas stay at The Ritz, residents may also enjoy a special Christmas afternoon tea or ‘Live at The Ritz in the magical surroundings of The Ritz Restaurant.

More info: www.theritzlondon.com/Christmas_Index.html

The Café at Hotel Café Royal

The Café are offering a selection of creative Christmas treats, including the ‘Mincearoonie’, a festive twist on their signature macaroon.

Hotel Café Royal is offering diners the opportunity to have their presents wrapped while eating in the hotel’s Ten Room restaurant. In the lead-up to Christmas on Saturday 13th and 20th December, Hotel Café Royal has teamed up with Wrapsody, to offer a bespoke gift wrapping service with an array of options to select from.

Available to diners of the Ten Room restaurant, the £35 three-course ‘Christmas Wrapped Up’ menu will be available from 12-4pm during the three Saturday’s in December, inclusive of the opportunity to have up to five presents complimentary gift wrapped while they eat. An additional £1 donation per diner will be made to the hotel’s nominated charity, Kid’s Company.

 More info: http://www.hotelcaferoyal.com

Festive Afternoon Tea at Stoke Place

Stoke Place’s afternoon tea has joined the festive spirit and during the month of December will change to include season favourites:

• ‘A Selection of classic afternoon tea sandwiches’


• Smoked turkey and English mustard


• Ford Farm cheddar cheese, red onion compote


• London Cure smoked salmon and cranberry on rye


• Free range hen’s egg and cress


• Cucumber and chive cream cheese


• Freshly baked traditional plain chocolate or golden raisin scones


• Served with Devonshire clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon

Mini mince pies

Assorted speciality of mini homemade pastries and cakes

The ‘Stoke place’ Christmas cake

Price: £24.50 per person

Champagne Festive Afternoon Tea - £34.50 per person

More info: http://www.stokeplace.co.uk/festive-afternoon-tea

Parlour

As always, Jesse’s Christmas menu is playful and nostalgic putting a creative edge on those old dishes that remind us of our childhood…his quirky Christmas menu will start off with the likes of ‘Father Christmas salad with clementines and…reindeer’ and ‘mctucky’s seasonal popcorn turkey nuggets’.

Choices for main include ‘the chrimbo turkey kyiv’ and ‘scrumpy glazed pulled pork with apple slaw’. Last but certainly not least will see the likes of a ‘Christmas tree artic roll’, ‘clementine and cranberry tricalore jelly’ and Jesse’s signature ‘toasted marshmallow wagon wheel’.

Price: £35

More info: www.parlourkensal.com

Bad Santa at The Lido Café

This December and January sees The Lido Café in Brockwell Park transform into a cosy, winter cabin where you can expect to be warmed from the chilly outside air. The transformed Café will transport customers from the frosty streets of London into an inviting interior of spiced candles, cosy blankets and comfort food.

The Lido Café will be serving a very naughty mince pie aptly named ‘Bad Santa’. This indulgent treat will be a warmed mince pie served with a ball of homemade salted caramel ice cream on top. It doesn’t stop there! It will arrive alongside a ‘Mince Pie White Russian’ – the vodka having been infused with spices and candied fruit… totally irresistible!

The award winning Café is a completely unique space, and absolutely perfect for a group Christmas lunch or dinner. The specialty Christmas menu offers a delicious three course meal with Prosecco, tea or coffee and additional Christmas treats, all available in December!

More info: www.thelidocafe.co.uk

To book: 020 7737 8183 / Christmas@thelidocafe.co.uk

La Tagliata- ‘Tis the season to be jolly

Looking for somewhere to have your Christmas party? We offer a selection of Private Dining Rooms and can host from 6 to 60 people! Choose from our intimate library, relaxed pantry or atmospheric cellar where you can escape the winter chill.

The five course Christmas menu combines our signature dishes with a festive twist including risotto with porcini mushrooms and truffle cream, followed by La Tagliata and finishing with panettone and velvety custard to warm your cockles!

Price: £35 per person.

More info: http://www.la-tagliata.com/

To book: Call 0207 247 2818 / reservations@la-tagliata.com

Mestizo

Forget mulled wine and mince pies – at Mestizo it’s all about margaritas, mescal and mole, mole, mole this Christmas! With its long tables and the biggest tequila bar in Europe this is the ultimate place for your Christmas party! There are three menus to choose from, so there is something for everyone whether you’re a taco, tamale or enchilada fan.

Mestizo restaurant and tequila bar will be leading the way in Christmas Posada festivities this year in flamboyant Mexican style. London’s most authentic Mexican restaurant will be hosting its annual Posada parties on Thursdays 11th and 18th December to ensure that the Christmas season starts with a feisty tequila bang! On both evenings Mestizo will be offering the first 20 people to say ‘In Mexico we celebrate the Posadas’, a complimentary shot of tequila!

Price: £26, £28 and £30

More info: http://london.mestizomx.com/events

Bayou

Celebrate Christmas Creole style with a taste of the Deep South of America at Camden’s The Bayou. The highlight of their Christmas menu is their take on the traditional – The Bayou hog roast dinner.

The whole table can enjoy the smoky pit roasted hog which will be carved in front of you and served with roasted potatoes, Creole salad, collared greens, apple sauce, sausage gravy and biscuits.

Open late with live blues and New Orleans style cocktails including their signature bacon and maple syrup old fashioned and with three menus there’s everything your party needs for a NOLA inspired Christmas.

Price: £18.50 per person

More info: http://thebayoucamden.com/xmas/

Comptoir

For a festive feast with a Middle Eastern twist head to Comptoir Libanais this Christmas!

Serving a great value menu you may be happy to see there’s not a turkey or sprout in sight on the Comptoir Libanais Christmas menu. Kick things off with a magnificent mezze to share, including flavour-packed dishes like Lamb Kibbeh and Baba Ghanuj.

For the main event, seafood lovers will adore the grilled pomegranate salmon or for something more meaty opt for the lamb kofta tagine. puddings are not to be missed…especially the festive baklawa or if you’re feeling more virtuous sip on a cup of refreshing, fresh rose mint tea.

More info: http://lecomptoir.co.uk/findUs.html

Las Iguanas

Looking to spice up your Christmas with some Latin American flare?

Las Iguanas have the perfect answer for those looking for a more relaxed Christmas party affair…

Perfect for parties of ten or more, the Christmas Spread menu includes some of Las Iguanas signature dishes downsized into fun-sized bites. Think mushroom quesadilla, mini tortilla rolls packed with brie and mango, juicy jerk chicken skewers, mini empanadas filled with turkey and zingy cranberry salsa, little gem lettuce leaves stuffed with oven dried tomatoes, feta and chimichurri and salt cod and potato croquettes or “baubles” in the name of Christmas cheer!

Price: £12 per head

More info: http://www.iguanas.co.uk/menus

Sixtyone

Sixtyone is a stunning, neighbourhood restaurant in south Marylebone serving great food with big, bold flavours inspired by the travels of Chef Patron, Arnaud Stevens.

With its location ideal for a post-Christmas shopping lunch and plush private dining room - perfect for intimate dinners - Sixtyone has some fabulous dishes on their festive menus this year.

Butter poached, Sixtyone’s turkey comes with a bacon leg terrine, and for those that want something a bit different, the Sea Bass “Coq au Vin” is a must-try.

End your festive feast on a high note with Sixtyone’s signature salted caramel and chocolate tart with marshmallow – after all Christmas is the season of indulgence!

More info: http://sixtyonerestaurant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Festive-Menus-2014.pdf

Spiaggia

Brand new restaurant, Spiaggia, have a very special Christmas menu consisting of:

Platter of assorted Italian Salumi

‘Bosca’ Piadina with Toma cheese, wild mushroom and truffle oil Tomato, garlic and basil Bruschette

Tagliatelle with smoked salmon and asparagus tips in Prosecco sauce

OR

‘Penne Spiaggia’ with Piquant tomato sauce and smoked Ricotta cheese

Fillet of lamb neck served with salad of Fregola, grilled vegetables and pine nuts

OR

Chargrilled Spiedini of prawns, salmon and baby octopus served with roasted baby potatoes

OR
Aubergine ‘Parmigiana’ served with rocket and parmesan salad

Italian artisanal cheese platter served with assorted condiments, grapes and breads

Traditional ‘Panettone’ with cinnamon & brandy custard

Centred on a passion for all things Italian, the unique concept behind Spiagga (‘beach’ in Italian) is to create a chilled-out urban beach-themed retreat in the heart of the capital.

Retro-cool neon signs invite you to ‘Dive in’ and ‘Relax’ (in Italian, of course), and downstairs in the chilled out basement bar – or ‘lower deck’, accessed by an intriguing hidden entrance – you can do just that, with daybeds to lounge on while you sip deliciously decadent beach-themed cocktails and enjoy a casual game of backgammon.

Price: £37.50 per person

More info: http://www.spiaggialondon.com/assets/pdf/christmas-menu.pdf

Let us know what you're up to this Christmas either in the comments below or over on @canteentweets