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December 19, 2017

Romantic Christmas gifts

Looking for a gourmet Christmas gift? Here are some suggestions from the 5pm Christmas Gifts page which might tickle the palate of the food-lover in your life.

And if they are not exactly what you are looking for, you can browse all of our Christmas Big Deal dining offers here.

Five Course Menu + Glass of Prosecco for 2 from Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or

Gourmet Christmas gift
Looking for a gourmet Christmas gift? Brian Maule is one of Glasgow’s most respected chefs.

We could tell you why so many people rate Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or as one of Glasgow’s very best restaurants.

Or we could let Brian’s former boss, a certain, Michel Roux Jr. do the talking:

‘It is a delight to me to recommend someone who I have had the highest regard for twenty years. Our eleven years at le Gavroche showed me time and time again what he was capable of and it is a thrill to see these standards maintained at le Chardon d’Or.’

Experience Chef Maule’s cooking with today’s Big Deal on a five course menu for two at Chardon d’Or.

This Big Deal with Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or is a great opportunity to dine in one of Glasgow’s best restaurants.

It could be used for a luxury lunch; a very thoughtful Christmas gift, an indulgent pre-theatre bite or a romantic meal with someone special.

Bag today’s Big Deal from Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or and see what Michel Roux Jr. was talking about.

£72 for a 5 course menu + glass of Prosecco for 2 from Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or. Gourmet Christmas gift from Chardon d’Or? Buy here.

Five Course Dinner + Champagne for 2 at The Pompadour by Galvin

gourmet Christmas gift
Pompadour by Galvin offers the finest seasonal Scottish produce in one of Edinburgh’s most elegant dining rooms.

If you are looking for an indulgent gourmet Christmas gift, try this Big Deal on the seasonal menu at The Pompadour by Galvin, part of the five star Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh.

The restaurant takes its name from the celebrated Madame de Pompadour, the favourite mistress of King Louis XV of France.

Madame de Pompadour was installed in the magnificent Palace at Versailles and the extravagant, listed interior décor of The Pompadour reflects the sumptuousness of the French royal court.

In fact, the restaurant has long enjoyed the reputation of having the best table in Edinburgh with impressive views overlooking Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle through the panoramic arched windows.

With three AA Rosettes to its name, The Pompadour is as famed for its cuisine as it is for its dining room.

The restaurant is led by brothers Jeff and Chris Galvin who have earned multiple Michelin stars and AA Rosettes. Acclaimed chef Dan Ashmore is the Executive Chef charged with overseeing the brothers’ vision.

As the name suggests, the exact dishes on the seasonal menu may vary but typical examples might be the fillet of North Sea hake with crushed cauliflower cheese, Parmesan gnocchi & jus gras followed by the roast poussin with braised thigh, pink fir potatoes & Jerusalem artichoke.

£89 for a 5 course dinner + Champagne for 2 at The Pompadour by Galvin, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian.

Two Course Sunday Lunch with Fizz for 2 in the award winning Cristal Restaurant at 5* Mar Hall Luxury Resort, Renfrewshire

gourmet Christmas gift
Cristal Restaurant at Mar Hall offers contemporary cooking in an Edwardian dining room.

A home-cooked Sunday lunch is a thing of beauty.

Apart from the shopping, prep, cooking and washing up. Plus the risk of overcooked meat, underdone roasters and an overheated cook.

There is another way.

This is a gourmet Christmas gift where someone else does all the heavy lifting.

Kick back and enjoy a spectacular Sunday lunch for two in the elegant Cristal Restaurant at Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort in rural Renfrewshire.

The dining room is beautiful with 20 foot windows looking out over the rolling countryside; stunning decorative ceilings; refined modern fabrics and eye-catching art by Archie Forrest.

With an accent on the finest Scottish produce, the food is as captivating as the surrounds.

The Big Deal is for a two course Sunday lunch for two people at Mar Hall. A glass of sparkling wine for each diner is included.

Choose between a starter and main course or main course and dessert. The menu changes regularly depending on the produce in season. Typical starters might be the chicken liver parfait or the fennel-cured organic Shetland salmon.

Popular main courses include the 6oz sirloin or lamb rump with all the trimmings or the wild garlic and sage gnocchi with spinach, sprouting broccoli and asparagus.

Today’s Big Deal of a Sunday lunch at the Mar Hall Resort introduces diners to an idyllic Edwardian world of elegance.

With availability until the end of March, it would make an excellent gourmet Christmas gift.

£29 for a 2 course Sunday lunch with fizz for 2 in the award winning Cristal Restaurant at 5* Mar Hall Luxury Resort, Renfrewshire

Butcher’s Secret Cut of Scotch Beef with Red Wine for 2 at Bistro Deluxe by Paul Tamburrini at Macdonald Holyrood Hotel

gourmet Christmas gift
Butcher’s secret cut of beef at Bistro Deluxe by Paul Tamburrini at Macdonald Holyrood Hotel.

Have you been to Bistro Deluxe by Paul Tamburrini yet?

The chef’s new restaurant opened at Macdonald Holyrood Hotel late this summer and it is attracting fantastic reviews.

With almost 30 years in the hospitality business, Paul Tamburrini has a rock solid CV that starts with a stint training at Marco Pierre White’s L’Escargot and takes in several of Scotland’s most notable restaurants.

With his own name over the door for the first time, this is Chef Tamburrini’s chance to really demonstrate his signature blend of French cuisine and the finest Scottish ingredients.

And this Big Deal for a superb sharing cut of steak plus a carafe of wine is a great introduction to the chef’s new restaurant.

This offer is valid until the end of February 2018. You could buy now and book in for the early part of 2018.

January always seems less bleak with an evening of steak and red wine in the diary.

Available seven days a week, the offer is for two people to share the butcher’s secret cut of Scotch beef. This 550g cut of beef will be carved for two and served with sweet potato and bourbon purée, confit field mushrooms and crisp lettuce hearts.

To accompany your meal, the sommelier will carefully select a carafe of red wine.

As mentioned, Chef Tamburrini has worked in many of Scotland’s most prominent restaurants over the last three decades.

It would not be a surprise if he earned the bistro more awards on top of its existing AA Rosette.

This Big Deal would make a wonderful gourmet Christmas gift and a great introduction to Bistro Deluxe.

£49 for butcher’s secret cut of Scotch beef with red wine for 2 at Bistro Deluxe by Paul Tamburrini at Macdonald Holyrood Hotel.

Leiper’s Attic

Scottish produce
Seasonal Scottish produce is at the heart of the menus in Leiper’s Attic.

Recently opened, Leiper’s Attic is a Scottish restaurant in the upstairs space above Cottiers bar, theatre and wedding venue. The Hyndland Street restaurant takes its name from William Leiper. In  conjunction with Daniel Cottier, Leiper created the spectacular church building that is today known as Cottier’s.

It is an atmospheric space which works well for romantic dinners and family celebrations.

Leiper’s Attic is a showcase for the glories of Scotland’s natural larder. In particular, wild fish, game and beef which is dry-aged in the restaurant’s own special lockers.

The menus are highly seasonal. Sample starters might be the hand-dived scallops with lemon, whisky, baby capers and sea herbs or the beef tartar with roasted bone marrow, wild mushrooms, white onion and soda bread.

Fillet and sirloin steaks, a cote de boeuf cut and whole lemon sole all feature on the grill section. Other main course options might be the wild sea bass, pheasant or a roasted venison loin with butternut squash, kale, celery, wild mushrooms, honey and five spice sauce. Dessert could be a dark chocolate ganache, sticky toffee pudding or a selection of cheeses from IJ Mellis.

Leiper’s Attic is currently offering a Big Deal valid in January and February. £25 will buy a £50 spend on food from the a la carte menu. If you are looking for a flexible gourmet Christmas gift, this is it.