Life’s a Beach
Chef’s
Christmas Tip
“Preparation, preparation, preparation! Get as
much made the day before
for your dinner to relieve a lot
of stress on the day. DON'T
overcook the turkey, cook
legs and breast separately.
Breast always cooks
quickest.”
There’s seasonality to be jolly about at
Bournemouth’s Urban Beach…
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Kick off proceedings with the awardwinning Bloody Mary (see page 16).
This unpretentious, modern hotel bistro is all
about relaxed dining, where the only stuffiness to
be found this Christmas is inside the turkey.
Urban Beach is proud to serve food made with
local, sustainable ingredients in an informal
setting that's ideal for a celebration. The bar is
more than capable of fuelling a decent party with
local beers, mulled wine and expertly made
cocktails including the ridiculously festive
sounding minced pie daiquiri.
Talking
Turkey
Chef Francis
Baumer tells us
about this year’s
festive feast.
Urban Beach Hotel
23 Argyll Road, Bournemouth, BH5 1EB,
01202 301509
www.urbanbeach.co.uk
Q. What’s your favourite dish on your
Christmas menu this year and why?
A. Braised feather blade of beef, an
underrated and under-used cut of beef
full of flavour and meltingly soft.
Q. If you had to sum up your festive
menu in a sentence, what is it?
A. It's a very familiar combination
of flavours, but with enough interest
for food lovers using British locally
sourced ingredients.
Q. What should we order if we want
something a bit different?
A. Pressed terrine; it's a good looking
dish made with skill and technique.
Q. Which ingredients on your menu
makes Christmas for you?
A. Parsnips, dates, figs, blue cheese,
mulled pears, turkey, stuffing,
cranberries, chestnuts, Brazil nuts,
mincemeat, Christmas pudding.
Q. Which of your Christmas side
www.menu-dorset.co.uk
dishes never fails?
A. Sprouts with bacon and nutmeg,
cranberry and port relish, and
chestnut stuffing.
Q. What would you have for dessert?
A. Christmas pudding ice cream.
Q. Any special touches that makes
your festive feast really special?
A. All I can say is my only secret
ingredient in every dish is a large
pinch of tender loving care!