The Great Christmas 2011 Guide: Dining In (And Win An Agua Hamper!)

Susan Sheng | Dec 16, 2011 12:00 pm | 10 comments | 4163 reads

Is everyone having a good Friday? In a festive mood? Yes? Excellent. Today we're bringing you a roundup of Dining In options this Christmas: hams, turkeys, geese and Christmas hampers. Hampers are great – they double as a picnic basket after Christmas and are usually full of very tasty things. We've got one of Agua's delish house-made Christmas hampers to give away too. Are you feeling lucky?

HAM & TURKEY

A Food Affaire
Roast ham comes in at RMB 220/kg. Whole roast turkeys at 115/kg, with stuffing and gravy sold separately at RMB 140/kg. A Food Affaire prefers five days notice, but will accept orders two days in advance.
Available at four April Gourmet locations: Xingfuyicun Lianbao location, Park Avenue location, Richmond Park location, DD’s Market location in Riviera Gardens. (135 0107 1114 for pre-order)

Boucherie Michel
Turkeys at RMB 100/kg. Please reserve two to three days in advance, with a RMB 100-200 deposit.
1/F, Jiezuo Dasha, Xingfucun Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (6417 0489)

Chef Too
One size of turkey (12-14 pounds) for RMB 1,280. Sides include stuffing, mashed potato, sweet potato casserole, carrots & broccoli, cranberry jelly, apple pie, pumpkin pie and dinner rolls. If Christmas ham is more your style, purchase by the kilogram (up to 7-8kg) for RMB 228/kg. Ham comes with no sides, but does include gravy. Book a week ahead for turkey, and two days in advance for ham.
Opposite west gate of Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang District (6591 8676)

Kempi Deli
Take-home Tom turkey at RMB 168/kg, roast goose at RMB 148/kg, roast leg of lamb at RMB 128/kg and honey ham at RMB 148/kg. You can pick from a selection of sauces: rosemary, cranberry, apple mint and red wine jus. Book a couple days in advance.
1/F, Kempinski Hotel, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (6465 3388 ext 5741)

Sureño
RMB 1,300 for a whole turkey, packed in-crate with house-made gravy.
B1/F, The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6410 5240)

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS

Agua
House-made jams, preserves, biscuits and Agua's specialty charcuterie will be available both in a hamper (RMB 688) or separately. All items are made by Chef Jordi Valles, except the Iberico Bellota cured ham. Prices for individual items range from RMB 30-240, and bulk orders are accepted. Agua, 4/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6559 6266)

China World Hotel
Hampers filled with sweets, puddings, honey-glazed ham and turkey. Customize your own options for gifting or eating. Prices vary. China World Hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6505 2266 ext 37)

Kempi Deli Until December 26, take your pick of hampers. Prices vary. Kempinski Beijing Lufthansa, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (6464 3388 ext 4227)

Kerry Hotel Beijing
With a focus on sweets, Kerry Hotel's hampers offer Christmas log cakes, stollen, cookies, chocolates and other holiday delights. Kerry Hotel Beijing, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (8565 2088)

Ritz-Carlton Beijing
Filled with Italian-influenced foodie favorites like olive oil, gourmet pasta and rooibos tea, these hampers have a Mediterranean twist. Still, expect a chocolate santa or two. Classic hampers are RMB 1,188 and a deluxe hamper at RMB 1,588. Ritz-Carlton Beijing, China Central Place, 83A Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (5908 8777)

To win an Agua Christmas hamper, just tell us in the comments what you think is the best thing to have come out of Spain. Personally, I'd say Rafael Nadal (boy so fly!) We'll pick a winner at 6pm next Monday (Dec 19), so you can piit in time for Christmas. Good luck!

Photos: Susan Sheng & courtesy of Kempinski Beijing Lufthansa Centre

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mgx2222's picture mgx2222 Submitted by Guest on Mon, 12/19/2011 - 01:10

mgx2222 wrote:
Jamón ibérico de bellota

Generally speaking, people who love different foods usually are more positive thinking.I think that peope from any place who can focus on making delicious foods is a sign of prosperity.
What's more, those who can make pork so tasty and delicious are very talented. Local customs and even climate can have a effect on the uniqueness of the way in which foods are prepared locally. All these reasons combined, makes the Spanish ham so special and unique.

Therefore, I would say that 'Jamón ibérico de bellota' is my answer.

ericmu's picture ericmu Submitted by Guest on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 23:49

Tapas! Om nom nom. Tortilla espanola (how do they make egg and cheese so delicioso), chorizo and figs, lavender and manchego with honey, pulpo a la plancha, eaten with crusty bread and olive oil, and washed down with plenty of sherry and sangria. At risk of sounding even weirder, the alcohol-soaked fruit left at the bottom of the sangria pitcher is the bomb. If you asked my girlfriend, her favorite Spanish import would be Javier Bardem. Dude plays a convincing stalker/assassin--how hot can he be? Dubious.

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