The Michelin-starred chef’s Christmas dinner was a welcome feast, giving home-cooked perfection without the preparation. Everything was delicious, but I’d just make one small tweak
Christmas is nearly here and plenty of us are already worrying about the menu and guest list for lunch or dinner. But I’ve just sampled a delicious festive spread, with everything delivered straight to your door ready for the oven.
Devised by Gordon Ramsay’s former Michelin-starred chef, Steve Allen, the straightforward Christmas dinner is a dream come true, packed with French flair and festive convenience, featuring mouth-watering dishes made using the “finest seasonal ingredients”.
When Côte At Home (by Côte Brasserie) unveiled their hugely popular Christmas and New Year specials, I was among the first to give it a go. If you’re after home-cooked perfection without the prep chaos, then I’d definitely suggest this luxurious Christmas banquet — it’s thoroughly delightful.
Upon opening the large Côte At Home delivery box, you’ll discover a tempting array of everything required for your Christmas meal -—and I particularly appreciated that all the packaging was fully recyclable.
The Festive Turkey Feast, which I sampled, is priced at £134.95, but feeds six people generously. Chef Steve Allen, whose Michelin-starred background includes Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Pétrus and Claridge’s, has put together a selection that’s “indulgent, elegant and unmistakably Côte”, reports the Express.
The Festive Turkey Feast features marinated British turkey breast from Larchwood Farm, accompanied by honey-glazed pigs in blankets, Brussels sprouts à la Française, apricot and mustard glazed Chantenay carrots, and roast miso parsnips with shallot and thyme jus.
Simply unwrap the food and place it in your oven – with detailed instructions and timings provided for everything, making it remarkably hassle-free.
The standout for me was the succulent turkey; it genuinely was delicious. Similarly, the pigs in blankets were outstanding, the entire Christmas dinner is of exceptionally high quality and well worth the price.
It was just myself and my partner sampling the complete meal. It fed us for three days, there’s certainly enough for six people; the portions are generous.
The roast potatoes were also spot-on, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside just how everyone enjoys them. Personally I wasn’t as keen on the parsnips — and I would add slightly more butter to them if I was preparing this festive meal again.
The Brussels sprouts à la Française were really tasty and everything was packed with delicious flavour, yet so straightforward to prepare, it left me wanting to sample more Côte At Home food deliveries. They are absolutely brilliant for special occasions.
Celebrities such as Dame Judi Dench “can’t get enough”, she’s one of thousands “returning year after year” for these indulgent, easy-to-cook French feasts delivered straight to their doors. Every December, Côte at Home’s festive range has become something of a tradition for many households, offering delicious, straightforward dishes “full of joie de vivre”.
For those seeking something more indulgent than traditional turkey, The Chateaubriand Feast (£164.95, serves six) puts a French spin on the classic with a succulent 1kg cut, “served beautifully, and surrounded by all the same trimmings”.
Vegetarians are also well catered for, with the new Tartiflette Feast for four (£49.95) combining melted Camembert and shredded Fable mushrooms with spiced braised red cabbage and golden roasted vegetables.
Every celebration needs appetisers and Côte delivers with delicately smoked beetroot-cured salmon (£14.95), rich chicken liver pâté (£8.95), or smooth Jerusalem artichoke soup (£6.95).
The dessert selection features the Côte Christmas pudding (£14.95), mince pie pain perdu (£8.95), or golden brandy butter madeleines (£11.95).
For post-celebration mornings and quieter moments, the Festive Breakfast Box (£67.95) includes flaky croissants, jams, granola, sausages, bacon, eggs, fresh orange juice and Crémant de Bourgogne bubbles.
The Buffet Box (£76.95) suits casual entertaining, containing French cheeses, charcuterie, smoked salmon, potted crab and chicken liver parfait, with artisan breads and preserves — ideal for New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. To ensure every toast hits the mark, Côte’s Festive Drinks Package (£79.95) provides everything needed for Christmas morning from Buck’s Fizz and Palooza Rouge for the main meal, through to a bottle of Port to accompany the cheese board.
For those celebrating New Year’s Eve in style, Côte’s special feast (£169.95 for six / £84.95 for two) kicks off with beetroot-cured salmon paired with horseradish cream, before moving on to British and Irish Côte de Boeuf served alongside gratin dauphinois and black garlic jus, culminating in a dark chocolate financier with cherry compote. Exceptionally sophisticated.
The mastermind behind these “generous and joyful” offerings is Steve Allen, executive chef at Côte Brasserie. A Michelin-starred culinary expert, Steve has perfected his skills at prestigious establishments including Pétrus and Claridge’s, bringing decades of fine-dining expertise to each festive creation.
Côte at Home’s seasonal menus can be ordered immediately, with countrywide delivery running from December 18 to 23, though advance booking is crucial — these packages typically vanish quicker than the final roast spud.
