Last week I was utterly spoilt as Spinneys Dubai brought Christmas forward a few weeks. I arrived at Spinneys HQ for their ‘Christmas Preview’ and was completly blown away by the festive cheer. Let me set the scene for you- Stepping out of the lift and I was instantly hit by the smell of Mulled Wine (obvioulsy the non spiked version) but Wow, the smell was magic! I turned the corner into the dining room to take my seat and felt a little teary. The room was filled with beautiful decor, the music made you feel wintery (hello, Mr Buble- Its been a while) and not forgetting the fresh Christmas tree in the corner, which are now available in srores. The whole ambience just gave me goosebumps!
The talented Spinneys chefs where on hand to give us all their tips and tricks and let me tell you, they have Christmas well and truly covered. You wont need to give a thought to Christmas dinner preparation this year because at Spinneys you can order in store and choose from a wide variety of delectable Christmas treats. Chef Mark Evans has you covered, from tantalising turkey breasts with cranberry and orange marmalade, to a whole fresh side of sublime salmon, Spinneys guarantees a magical at home festive feast like no other.
For the main event, those with a love of tradition will be spoilt for choice with a beautiful range of turkeys, including Irish, organic Tegel or a whole turkey crown with fresh maple and chestnut chicken stuffing and smoked turkey bacon. Meat lovers will delight in the Welsh lamb rack, tender Wagyu beef sirloin or the festively fresh rolled lamb with figgy pudding stuffing. Beef, dripping with horseradish and chive butter, is sure to be a stand-out festive favourite.
Rounding off a magical meal, Spinneys offers a platter of only the best and most luxurious cheeses, including Brie de Meaux, Manchego and Chaource. Paul Crawford who is Spinneys cheese buyer and expert (amazing job right?) explained how they picked their top Christmas cheeses. Fun fact: They actually go and visit the farms to find what they think will be perfect for families at Christmas. The Spinneys Food Mag Editors, Emily and Amy then went on to show us how to make a beautiful Christmas wreath out of meringues, whipped cream with cinnamon, fresh berries and mint. This literally took less then 5 minutes to make and yet was so beautiful and tasty!
For the piece de resistance, take your pick from a range of delicious desserts including tarts, pies and puddings. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a cake taking centre stage and Spinneys has released its limited edition hidden orange Christmas cake. Made with a range of festive spices, the speciality cake contains a whole candied orange to infuse the dessert with strong citrus tones – utterly delicious. But hurry, limited quantities are available, so get yours quick before you miss out.
Anyone can order their Christmas menus in store until the 15th of December. Easy preparation, no fighting with the crowds to grab the last few items on the shelves (memories of one Christmas evening in Ireland just popped into my head), just first class, fresh and festive produce lovingly prepared for you in advance by the Spinneys team!
They are there to spread a little magic, so let them! With aisles full of delicious goodies from perfectly pre-prepared turkey dishes through to succulent, ‘easy to cook’ sides, and a range of Christmas crackers and decorations to suit the whole family. I especially like their range of Christmas lights. They will certainly come in handy in our house!
As you can see there is need to worry about anything this Christmas. Perhaps picking the best seat in the house whilst you watch Elf on the big screen when the meal is over, will be your biggest decision of the day. Dont forget to wear your matching Pajamas! Has to be done. Someone needs to convince Mr O that this should be a yearly photo op!!
If you are looking for some amazing Christmas recipes click here and enjoy their step by steps. Trust me, If I can follow it – Anyone can! Be sure to also pick up the December issue of the Spinneys Magazine for more recipes and inspiration.
Thank you Spinneys for making life so much easier…
Happy Loooong Weekend Dubai!
Love Helly x