December 25th 2024.
It's that time of year again, and the Houses of Parliament are serving up some extravagant and mouth-watering dishes for the holiday season. For those who appreciate the finer things in life, the House of Commons has a special Christmas menu that includes a delectable combination of champagne and duck meat. While some may be tightening their belts during the holiday season, the festivities at Parliament are anything but frugal.
The menu at Westminster is fit for a king, with options like turkey, mushroom, and smoked pancetta ballotine with wild boar stuffing. And for those who want a taste of luxury without breaking the bank, there are dishes like a caviar substitute made from smoked herring and a confit duck leg, both of which are actually cheaper than a typical pub lunch. In fact, for only £5.20, you can enjoy a roast turkey breast with all the trimmings, while a similar meal at a nearby pub will cost you almost four times as much.
If you're feeling extra indulgent, you can splurge on the most expensive dish on the menu – the chargrilled sirloin steak with roasted king oyster mushroom, green beans, French fries, and roasted garlic and parsley butter – for £24.25. And don't worry, the prices are all fair and benchmarked, ensuring that everyone, from parliamentary staff to passholders, can enjoy the festive feasts.
Last year, the Commons spent over £14,500 on various types of duck meat for their catering facilities, and this year's menu continues to feature this luxurious ingredient. One of the dishes on offer is a confit leg with bean cassoulet and green cabbage, available in the Members' Tea Room where politicians can catch up on the latest Westminster gossip while enjoying their meal. And for those with more refined tastes, there's whipped Golden Cross goats' cheese with walnut and black garlic gel and roasted fig compote, or lemon oil confit cod with nutmeg spinach, fennel soubise, and Avruga 'caviar' (which, despite its name, does not actually contain any fish roe).
But it's not just duck on the menu – there are also options like turkey, wild mushroom, and smoked pancetta ballotine with glazed parsnip and wild boar and apple stuffing, or pan-roasted venison loin coated in hazelnut with a braised venison pie. And no holiday meal would be complete without a traditional Christmas pudding, made in-house at the House of Commons, with brandy sauce and optional double cream or custard for only £2.65.
For those looking for a full dining experience, the Adjournment restaurant offers a three-course meal with coffee and petit fours for £28.65. The mains include a feather blade of beef with buttered spinach and pickled onion petals, or a roasted corn-fed chicken breast with honey roast carrots and parsnips. With options like these, it's no wonder that the House of Commons is a popular spot for current and former MPs, as well as over a million visitors each year.
The Commons takes pride in providing options for customers with dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and vegan dishes. And while the holiday feasting may seem extravagant, the House ensures that there is minimal food wastage and that the prices are fair for all. So this Christmas, why not treat yourself to some delicious champagne and duck at the Houses of Parliament? After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year.
This holiday season, the House of Commons is serving up a lavish and extravagant menu featuring delicious champagne and succulent duck meat. It's a fine dining experience fit for the esteemed members of Parliament and Lords at Westminster, with a variety of mouth-watering dishes to choose from.
Despite any concerns about budgeting among the British public, the festive dining options at Parliament are anything but frugal. The festive feast includes a delectable turkey, mushroom, and smoked pancetta ballotine with wild boar stuffing, a smoked herring caviar substitute, and a confit duck leg. And the best part? Many of these dishes are actually more affordable than a simple pub lunch.
For example, for just £5.20, one can indulge in a delicious roast turkey breast with sage, sausage, onion stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, and a pig in blanket. In comparison, a similar turkey roast with all the trimmings at a nearby pub would cost nearly four times as much. And for those looking for a more extravagant option, there's the chargrilled sirloin steak with roasted king oyster mushroom, green beans, French fries, and roasted garlic and parsley butter, priced at £24.25.
The House of Commons prides itself on offering fair and benchmarked prices for its catering facilities, which are open to parliamentary staff and other passholders. As the Christmas menus for 2024 have been recently published, it has come to light that over £14,500 was spent on sourcing various types of duck meat for the Commons' catering facilities last year. This year, duck meat makes a comeback on the menu, featuring a confit leg with bean cassoulet and green cabbage.
Among the various catering facilities, the Members' Dining Room is a popular choice, offering dishes such as whipped Golden Cross goats' cheese with walnut and black garlic gel and roasted fig compote on fig and fennel toast. Another delectable option is the lemon oil confit cod with pan-fried nutmeg spinach, fennel soubise, and a mulled Chardonnay butter sauce with sea rosemary. And for those with a taste for duck, there's an extensive selection of dishes, including wrapped hoisin birds, legs, and liver pâté.
Last year's orders for duck meat included French Barbary duck breast, which was the most expensive item at £6,308. The total amount spent on duck meat comes to £14,578, with other supplies including 'hot smoked duck breast' and Gressingham legs. Although the Commons did not disclose the suppliers or unit prices, citing potential damage to their commercial interests, they did ensure that the food served is in line with demand and minimizes wastage.
A spokesperson for the Commons stated that the catering venues are open to all passholders, including staff, contractors, and journalists, as well as the over one million visitors Parliament receives each year. They also mentioned their commitment to providing options for customers with specific dietary requirements, including vegan and vegetarian options.
But let's get back to the mouth-watering Christmas menu. In addition to the turkey ballotine and duck options, there's also a turkey, wild mushroom, and smoked pancetta ballotine with glazed parsnip, etuvé sprouts, and a wild boar and apple stuffing. For those who enjoy country pursuits, there's the pan-roasted venison loin coated in hazelnut, served with a braised venison pie, hispi cabbage, and a sloe gin jus.
And of course, no Christmas meal is complete without a traditional Christmas pudding. The House of Commons offers their own version, served with brandy sauce and optional double cream or custard for just £2.65. For a more formal dining experience, the Adjournment restaurant offers a three-course meal with coffee and petit fours for £28.65. Mains include a feather blade of beef with buttered spinach and pickled onion petals, as well as a roasted corn-fed chicken breast with honey roast carrots and parsnips and sauteed sprouts.
In conclusion, the House of Commons' Christmas menu for this year is a feast fit for royalty, with a range of delectable dishes to choose from. So why not treat yourself and indulge in some fine dining this holiday season?
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
