For any number of reasons, the person or persons responsible for cooking Christmas dinner in your house might not be up to it this year, so I have listed a few options below. Please book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. And if you do dine out this holiday season, consider the many people who are spending time away from their own friends and families to make this possible and tip generously.
Enjoy an exceptional view of the harbour and an even better meal at Lure Seafood Restaurant and Bar at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa on Christmas day.
Rev up your senses with truffle-scented French onion soup garnished with thyme-infused rouille and Gruyere puff. Savour spinach and chicory salad with house candied salmon and peppered walnuts, dressed with maple and brown butter vinaigrette.
Main course offerings include herb-roasted turkey with caramelized onion and brie whipped potatoes, wild mushroom and pine nut stuffing, and currant and cranberry confit, or beet stained Pacific halibut, local squash and chevre risotto with white balsamic emulsion and garlic chips. Finish with vanilla and pumpkin crème brulee, white chocolate torte and more. $45.95 (lunch) $54.95 (dinner) or $19.95 for a main course. 45 Songhees Rd. 250-360-5873
If your boss is feeling generous and wants to know where to take everyone for lunch, or if you want to get an early start on some turkey, the Hotel Grand Pacific has some space left for its popular Christmas lunch buffet which runs from Dec. 14 to 23 in the comfortably appointed Pacific Restaurant.
Start with a sampling of several salads, including winter greens with assorted dressings, Yukon Gold potato with dill and sour cream, and roasted carrot and almond salad dressed with orange and tarragon vinaigrette. Continue with domestic and imported cheeses and an assortment of smoked fish, charcuterie and vegetable antipasto, but save room for turkey, served with chestnut and butter croissant stuffing and almond thyme jus or salmon wrapped in phyllo pastry with dill scented scallop mousse, shaved fennel and preserved lemon cream.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a bevy of pastries, warm Christmas pudding drizzled with brandy anglais, crème caramel or fresh fruit. $25 per person. A spectacular à la carte menu is available for hotel guests only on Christmas Day, so why not consider spending a day or two downtown? 463 Belleville St., 250-386-0450.
On Christmas Day, Minnoz Restaurant and Lounge in Nanaimo's Coast Bastion Inn will offer a tempting menu for $45.99 person (10 per cent discount for those 65 and over, and $19.95 for children 10 and under).
Begin with spinach salad wilted with warm smoked tomato vinaigrette, bacon, toasted almond and crisp onions or roast butternut squash bisque garnished with crumbled candied walnuts.
Main course options include roasted turkey with apricot-sausage stuffing, garlic mashed Yukon potato, root vegetables and cranberry sauce, fresh sage turkey, or if you prefer, grilled New York strip loin steak or wild salmon wrapped with seared mango and prosciutto. For dessert, choose from warm milk chocolate bread pudding studded with sundried cranberries, candied pecans drizzled with crème anglaise or apple galette paired with maple walnut ice cream and berry compote, served with your choice of tea or coffee. 11 Bastion St., Nanaimo, 250-753-2977 ext. 2205
Of course some people want to avoid the cooking but would rather stay home. If you fall in that category and you live in Victoria, you're in luck because a couple of local caterers will do the work for you. In fact, one will even bring it to your home!
In partnership with Dine in Victoria, the folks at Little Piggy Eatery will deliver a feast to your doorstep on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for $33 per person. Tuck into turkey roasted with butter and fresh herbs, buttermilk mashed potatoes, traditional bread stuffing spiked with fresh sage, and brandied cranberry sauce. Complete this meal with buttered peas, maple-glazed carrots and pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream. If you're worried about the calories, just console yourself with the fact that the Little Piggy uses naturally raised turkeys and sustainable, local and organic products, and condiments are made from scratch to reduce sodium. Orders can be made through Dine in Victoria's online ordering system at www.dineinvictoria.bc.ca or by telephone at 250-361-3463. The owners recommend you place your order by mid-December as this offer is expected to sell out. Want tourtière or Christmas pudding? No problem. Contact the shops directly at 1019 Fort St., 250-386-1020 or D2-1284 Gladstone Ave.
Cheryl's Gourmet Pantry is also offering a tempting menu to solve your Christmas dinner dilemmas for $25 per person, available for pickup on Dec. 24. Slow roasted turkey will be offered with fresh sage dressing, pan gravy, cranberry orange compote, creamy mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts oozing with chestnut butter, and root vegetables roasted with balsamic and maple syrup. Non-meat eaters can indulge in entrées including stuffed squash and wild salmon.
Finish everything off with mincemeat pie. Cheryl advises that the components of this meal are also available, if you simply want to toss the bird in the oven and have someone handle all the vegetables. 2009 Cadboro Bay Rd., 250-595-3212.
