WITH the most magical time of the year just around the corner, pubs and restaurants are gearing up with their own festive menus.
Each year, pubs, restaurants and cafes get creative with their festive menus.
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From a Tiger Pig Sub to Quality Street lattes, this year’s holiday creations have already kicked off the season.
Turkeys might be in short supply this Christmas but several chains have already revealed that they are including the festive staple in their range.
Harvester, Nando’s and Costa are among the chains who have launched their menus so far.
But fans are still waiting to find out when the Greggs Christmas menu will be available.
McDonald’s lovers are also anticipating when it will unveil its festive range.
Below, we round up everything we know about restaurant and pub chain’s Christmas menus so far.
Harvester
Harvester’s Christmas menu has been unveiled – and it includes a Baileys profiterole sundae and an Xmas dirty burger.
The chain’s festive menu will be available to hungry diners from November 16 until December 31, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day
You can opt for two courses from £14.99, although prices may vary from branch to branch.
If you’re feeling hungry, then for an extra £3, you can go for three courses from £17.99.
There are four starters, six mains and six desserts to choose from on the menu.
Starters include tomato soup, oven-baked mushrooms, buttermilk-fried chicken tenders, and a king prawn cocktail.
For mains, there are three festive options on the menu, including a Christmas dinner with turkey or chicken and trimmings, a Christmas dirty burger including pigs in blankets, cheese and cranberry sauce, and cranberry BBQ ribs with chips.
Other mains to choose from include a fillet of salmon with mash and veg, a vegetable tart, and a 10oz sirloin steak – although that costs an extra fiver.
Room for dessert? You can pick from Christmas pudding, a Baileys profiterole sundae, vanilla cheesecake, a billionaire’s chocolate bar, a sundae, and an apple and blackberry crumble.
Costa
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Costa has launched its Christmas menu for 2021 – and it includes a pigs in blankets panini and Quality Street flavoured lattes.
Fans of the coffee chain are now able to pick up the new festive treats.
There are nine savoury items on Costa’s festive menu to choose from.
You could go for a bacon mac and cheese toastie featuring pasta and bacon bits covered in cheese sauce and bacon bits.
Even the toastie’s bread is topped with cheese.
If you’re a fan of pigs in blankets, then good news – Costa has launched two new products based on the festive favourite.
From next month you can get your hands on a pigs under blankets panini and maple glazed pigs in blankets flavoured potato chips.
Costa is rolling out two snacks featuring turkey despite warnings of shortages – a British turkey and the trimmings toastie or a turkey feast sandwich.
There’s also a pork and bramley apple sausage roll and a maple bacon, brie and cranberry panini.
Vegans don’t have to miss out as Costa has brought back the “vegan turkee”, cranberry and stuffing bloomer toastie including vegan meat, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce and spinach.
Starbucks
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Starbucks has also unveiled its full Christmas menu for the holiday season.
The chain is offering seven festive-themed sandwiches and toasties this year.
Its Festive Feast panini, featuring turkey, cranberry gravy, pork sage and onion stuffing, bacon and cheddar cheese, is back and priced at £4.49.
The Tis The Season turkey sandwich is also back, featuring turkey breast, smoked bacon, pork and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney and mayo for £3.79.
There are plenty of new sandwiches to try.
Starbucks stores will next week be offering a chocolate and orange s’mores toastie, which has mini marshmallows, smooth chocolate orange sauce and chocolate pieces for £2.99.
There is also a blue cheese and chutney toastie for £2.99 and vegans are even catered for with the Very Merry Beyond Meat sandwich for £4.49.
It is made with a pea protein paired with classic Christmas flavours, including citrus cranberry chutney, Dijon mustard mayo, sliced fresh tomatoes and a coconut oil alternative cheese slice.
You can also choose from five sweet treats.
The South Pole Sam shortbread biscuit has returned and has a new penguin friend called North Pole Nat. Both biscuits cost £1.85 each.
The Starbucks Christmas Tree Brownie has also made a comeback, offering a gooey chocolate brownie with buttercream and a sprinkling of gold dust. It costs £2.
You can enjoy a new Red Velvet Loaf cake that has a cream cheese frosting or a new Toffee Nut Latte cupcake that comes with its own festive themed and star. Both cost £2.09.
Meanwhile, customers have two new Christmas drinks to choose from as well as three old favourites.
The caramel waffle latte is a new menu item and comes with a waffle sauce topped with caramel whipped cream and a spiced caramel waffle crunch topping.
Caffè Nero
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The Caffè Nero Christmas menu is now available across all its UK stores and among the most exciting treats up for grabs are its Chouxnuts.
These tasty snacks combine choux pastry with a doughnut shape. Chocolate orange flavoured, they’re filled with a white chocolate mouse and smothered in smooth chocolatey fondant.
Also on the menu, is a Vegan Festive Feast Panini, made with soya protein and packed with a festive stuffing, cranberry sauce and spinach.
Meat-lovers can grab a Turkey Feast Panini or a Limerick Ham and Truffle Tostati Melt if they prefer.
Or for those with a sweet tooth, the amaretto mince pie should fit the bill.
Other decadent desserts on the menu include a Luxury Black Forest Roulade and a Salted Caramel Billionaire’s Cake.
For many customers, of course, it’s all about the drinks – so Caffe Nero has launched a range of festive beverages too.
Coffee-lovers can grab an indulgent Salted Caramel Latte drizzled with caramel sauce or a Gingerbread Latte dusted with cinnamon powder.
Or chocoholics might prefer a Hazelnut or Mint Choc Chip Hot Chocolate instead.
Customers with the Caffè Nero app could also be in line to win a year of free coffee from the chain.
The Christmas Crackers promotion gets you a cracker on your Caffe Nero app every time you buy a handmade drink in story.
You “pull” the cracker to get a prize.
These range from free items off the new Christmas menu or some extra loyalty stamps, to one free coffee or even free coffee for an entire year.
Nando’s
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Nando’s has revealed its Christmas menu, which includes a peri-peri gravy for chicken fans to enjoy this festive season.
As well as the spicy gravy, Nando’s is also offering a spiced clementine peri-peri baste as a new flavour option.
Other menu changes include return of its fino pitta, which was discontinued at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
The popular item consists of a toasted pitta filled with flame-grilled chicken thighs, grilled halloumi cheese, caramelised onion relish and garlic aioli.
Veggies and vegans can enjoy a revamped rainbow rice bowl, with spiced grains, long-stem broccoli, hummus, rainbow slaw, picked carrot and seeds.
The final new addition to the menu is a South African-based cider with a festive hint of toffee apple.
The updated menu is already available in all UK restaurants as well as on delivery and click and collect.
Subway
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Subway’s festive menu features a Tiger Pig Sub and Chocolate Orange cookies.
The range will be available from November 10 until December 28.
The Tiger Pig Sub is sure to be a big hit for 2021, featuring a giant bacon-wrapped sausage on crunchy tiger bread.
This year’s recipe includes tasty maple syrup and a dollop of ketchup.
If you don’t fancy a sub, you can get it as a salad or wrap too.
For vegetarians, the Brie Sub is a new item for this year’s menu, and is drizzled with a sweet onion sauce.
You can also add Brie on to any other sub, so meat-lovers won’t miss out.
Meanwhile, the Turkey SubStack comes with crispy hash browns and if you just can’t get enough of pigs in blankets, you can also order a pot of them on the side.
For those with a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Orange Cookie is back by popular demand and you can buy a box of 12 if you feel like sharing – or not.
Sub-lovers could also nab themselves a pair of socks to match their favourite sandwich on December 3 and 4.
You’ll get a pair with any festive purchase either in-store or by delivery while stocks last.
Find out how we rated Starbuck’s Christmas menu in our taste test.
We’ve also rounded up the best Christmas desserts from the major supermarkets this year.
Great gifts for foodies can also be found on our list of best Christmas food gifts this year.
Expert reveals how to make your Christmas tree look more decorated while using less decorations,
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