Each Christmas, the 5pm Dining blog always looks forward to the first Brussels sprout story of the season.
Usually, it’s a scare story which aims to terrify readers with the thought of a sprout-free Christmas.
Surely we all remember the great sprout drought of 2010? It was one of those terrible winters when the freezing weather meant that farmers were unable to harvest the sprout crop and the nation stared down the barrel of Christmas dinner without sprouts.
Bumper Brussels crop
Things are looking rather rosier this year. In fact, farmers are predicting a bumper Brussels crop. Apparently, the warm autumn and unusually mild winter has resulted in a sprout crop which is not only more abundant but has also produced larger than average sprouts.
Intriguingly, The Daily Telegraph has a story about a Dutch firm which is looking for some help naming a new strain of Brussels sprout.
Bodyweight in Brussels
The member of the public who suggests the winning name will receive their body weight in sprouts.
Presumably, the runner-up will be given twice their bodyweight in Brussels.
The 5pm Dining blog actually likes sprouts. Even so, we were taken aback to learn that Marks and Sparks is apparently selling cartons of sprout juice this Christmas.
There is a line in the sand which should not be crossed and Brussels sprout juice pole jumps right over it.
If all this spraffing about sprouts has put you in the mood for some brassica action then you can search 5pm restaurants for places that offer Christmas menus.
Simply go to the 5pm Dining page, enter the date, location and number of places you want to book and then refine your search by ticking the Christmas box under the Offer type heading on the left.