Celebrated for its support of local producers and sustainable approach, the Forge in Chester is located inside the Hotel Indigo. While its festive menu launched in late November and is orderable up until Christmas Eve, the restaurant’s skilled kitchen team have also planned a special “Christmas Day Tasting Menu” for December 25.
Promising a Christmas lunch quite like no other, the afternoon experience features seven different courses to enjoy inside the eatery’s elegant interior. Dining begins with a hot bone broth accompanied by buttered house focaccia before a velouté (a velvety French sauce) made with cider and white onion is served.
A Korean-inspired dish with a festive flair follows in the form of Koji brined short rib with pickled onion, treacle and puffed rice. Next is a confit trout with apple, tarragon and Japanese ingredients, keta and dashi.
The menu takes a more traditional turn at the fifth dish and offers diners a choice. Guests can order a dry aged Cumbrian fillet, or a butter roasted turkey roulade with cranberry and sausage stuffing. Both dishes are served alongside classic Christmas trimmings including pigs in blankets, roasted potatoes, sprouts, parsnips, carrots and cabbage topped with red wine gravy.
A cheese course comes afterwards with Baron bidod served with the Welsh tea bread, bara brith and truffle honey. Dessert concludes the indulgent dining experience with sticky Christmas pudding, vanilla ice cream and salted caramel.
The Christmas Day Tasting Menu is available between 12 pm and 4 pm, and the restaurant is simple to locate on Grosvenor Park Road in Chester. The price per diner is £145.