I’m in Leigh-on-Sea again and this time we’re at my brother’s place for Christmas. It’s the first time we’ve headed to another locale in the UK for the holiday season and we’re finding it all a bit novel – and it’s our first time being by the sea (uh…actually the Thames estuary) for Christmas! We’re enjoying our morning walks by the water.
Christmas Eve was a flurry of activity – all food shopping for the days ahead and then a seafood dinner. We had crabs with butter (an experiment with sambal butter didn’t exactly work out) …
… and one steamed sea bass …
… and two roast chili and black bean sea bass.
Rice and purple sprouting broccoli rounded out the meal.
Christmas Day started off with fried eggs for breakfast, fortification for a planned walk to see the remains of Hadleigh Castle. Unfortunately, the route turned out to be very muddy and we ended up walking around Old Leigh instead…which is where we discovered that most (or all) of the pubs in Old Leigh were open on Christmas Day! We ended up having tea there to warm us up before heading back to the flat.
The feasting at home started with pate and a baked camembert…
… and finished with a roast chicken, gratin dauphinois, pigs in blankets, and kale braised with onions, garlic, chili and anchovies.
Anyway, Happy belated Christmas to all of you! I hope your days have also been filled with lots of eating! And do keep warm with that cold weather alert on in the UK.
Fri, 26 Dec, 2014 at 20:46
Yum! Love the baked camembert!
Fri, 9 Jan, 2015 at 22:11
Thank you! It was actually my first time making it!
Fri, 26 Dec, 2014 at 20:57
All that food looks lovely! What a great not-entirely-traditional meal!
Fri, 9 Jan, 2015 at 22:24
Thank you! It was a fun mix of things!
Sat, 27 Dec, 2014 at 09:06
Looks like a novel kind of Christmas – all good!
Fri, 9 Jan, 2015 at 22:32
😀 Thank you!
Wed, 31 Dec, 2014 at 11:43
what a lovely array of foods! happy 2015:)
Fri, 9 Jan, 2015 at 22:32
Happy 2015, Kat!!!