Christmas is a time for indulgence, and there are few things better than enjoying a festive meal with loved ones. I recently visited The Botanist to enjoy a Christmas menu, including a hanging kebab.
Christmas is a season of indulgence, but let’s face it, the traditional roast can become a bit tiresome even before the big day arrives. Between festive meals with mates, office Christmas dos and family get-togethers, we can easily hit our limit of turkey, roasties and all the trimmings.
Yet, there’s something undeniably special about braving the chill to enjoy a hearty meal with loved ones. I decided to shake things up a bit and headed to the Botanist, a restaurant chain found across the UK, for a unique spin on the classic Christmas feast.
The West Bridgford branch had been transformed into a veritable winter wonderland, resembling nothing less than an arctic lodge. The cosy and welcoming ambience set the perfect mood for the evening, making me eager to dive into their Christmas menu. Throughout December, they offer a two-course or three-course lunch, as well as a three-course dinner.
As it was an evening visit, I went all out with the three-course meal. My boyfriend and I kicked off the feast with the Christmas sharing platter, the only starter option, but it certainly ticked all the boxes, reports the Express.
As the platter was brought to our table, we were both pleasantly surprised by the generous portion sizes. Served on a large tray, we had a smorgasbord of starters to sample.
The fried camembert bites, served with onion marmalade and saffron aioli, were a melt-in-the-mouth delight. The pigs in blankets, glazed with sweet cranberry, stood out from the crowd.
Houmous with spice-roasted chickpeas was presented in a garden spade, a playful nod to the Botanist’s theme. This quirky serving dish proved practical too, as we scooped up the aromatic hummus with chilli oil-drizzled garlic flatbread.
The standout on the sharing board was the Korean fried chicken, smothered in spicy gochujang and fresh coriander. It packed quite a punch, so I’d suggest saving it for last to avoid overpowering the other starters’ flavours.
Then came the main attraction. The Botanist is renowned for its hanging kebabs, typically served in three varieties: chicken, lamb kofta, or crispy panko halloumi.
But Christmas calls for a festive twist. I opted for the turkey hanging kebab, featuring roast turkey, stuffing, and pigs in blankets.
These Christmas dinner essentials were skewered and served hanging from a stand. A sweet glaze sat atop the stand on a small plate, which could either be poured over the kebab for a dripping effect or removed for use as a side dip.
The meal also came with a separate dish of all the trimmings, featuring crispy roast potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts and red cabbage. The dish was certainly a showstopper, but what really took me by surprise was just how succulent and moist the turkey turned out to be.
Despite its reputation as a somewhat dry meat, the chargrilled flavour worked wonders in enhancing the turkey, making it absolutely bursting with taste. My boyfriend opted for the 8-oz sirloin steak, served with vintage cheddar and beef-dripping dauphinois potato, plus a red wine jus.
He was thoroughly impressed with his steak and appreciated having a slightly less festive option on the Christmas menu. Other main course options include pan-fried salmon with herby mash and mushroom bourguignon pie.
We were both rather full from our starters and mains, but naturally, we couldn’t resist trying the desserts. The sticky toffee pudding was light and airy, and the gingerbread ice cream added a lovely touch of Christmas warmth to the dish.
Meanwhile, the millionaire’s brownie provided a decadent finale to a delightful meal, with vanilla ice cream paired with fudge pieces, crushed honeycomb and chocolate butterscotch sauce rounding everything off perfectly.
And it’s not just the food that gets a festive makeover at the Botanist. They’ve also got some seasonal drinks on offer, including winter spiced mulled wine and two cocktails – Partridge in a Pear Tree and It’s Mine Old Fashioned.
I indulged in the Partridge in a Pear Tree cocktail, a delightful blend of Absolut Vanilla Vodka, pear, cinnamon, a hint of lemon juice and prosecco. The Botanist truly knows how to bring Christmas to life with a contemporary twist on festive classics.
Prices for the two-course meal start at £26.95, while the three-course option begins at £39.95, depending on your chosen date. For more information, visit thebotanist.uk.com.
