A South African Christmas

Christmas traditions and meals have long been a part of so many of the world’s cultures and can vary greatly from continent to country. Meals vary depending on local produce and local custom. However, Christmas celebrations and good food have always gone hand in hand and for many people the thought of preparing a Christmas meal is filled with stress, kitchen disasters and hour after exhausting hour in front of the stove. Not so for those who booked their Christmas lunch at the Beacon Isle’s Island Diner this year.

Both restaurants: warm Indigo Bay and intimate Coral Reef offered two seatings on the 25^th of December this year. The restaurant staff was busy from early morning, preparing food and decorating the tables for a festive feast. The theme was a traditional red and green; red being the colour of “festivity” and green signifying “life”. But you won’t find roaring fires and snowmen! There is no need as a truly summer South African Christmas is nothing short of paradise!

The restaurant started to fill up with families for the first sitting. They settled in with laughter and chatter amidst the sound of Christmas crackers and bottles being opened. Families snapped photos of each other and the beautiful view of the bay, while Christmas Carols floated through the restaurant along with the appetizing smell of Christmas lunch cooking.

An interesting fact to note is that in 1899, Queen Victoria of Great Britain had, amongst other dishes, the following on her Christmas Buffet: boar’s head, game pie, woodcock pie, roast fowl and tongue! Naturally, local produce for the region and familiar dishes for the era, but the Island Diner had something quite different in mind.

The restaurant offered what must be the quintessential South African coastal Christmas meal and the menu consisted of fresh bread basket for the table and crunchy Greek and Roast Butternut salads. A fantasy Christmas Platter to suit every taste bud was the central dish of the banquet. Faces lit up with anticipation as waiters, sporting Christmas hats, started to serve the platters. Laid out for all to share and enjoy were Christmas staples of roast turkey and glazed gammon, tender and juicy. Tender rump cubes and roasted lamb spelled out a truly South African celebration and the addition of fresh filleted line fish and crumbed calamari steaks were stars of a truly Beacon Island feast. The platters allowed families to share their food and time with each other on the special day of Christmas.

By the time dessert was served, steamy Christmas pudding on Amarula milkshake the good times were well under way. Those that would normally be rushing off to the kitchen to wash dishes and stow leftovers could lean back in the seats, watch the tables being cleared and relax. This is how Christmas should be… sharing a meal with loved ones, simply served, delicious and oh-so-easy!