MENU dorset issue 5 magazine | Page 45

Christmas on the west coast Enjoy the stunning sea views at WestBeach, if you can drag your eyes away from the food… Chef’s Christmas Tip “Prep as much as you can in advance so you can enjoy the day. Enlist helpers and put some Christmas carols on. Make it a family event. And go easy on the sherry because timing is key!” MENU For a fresh alternative to a traditional roast, you can't beat the sublime seafood at West Beach. We can’t imagine anything more stressful than cooking Christmas dinner in an open kitchen. Best leave that to the calm professionals you’ll find at this stylish, relaxed seafood restaurant. Perched right on Bournemouth beach, we might be tempted to swerve the traditional turkey too and go for the turbot to sample their fresh, local fish. Then again, pigs in blankets are the single best thing about Christmas. Although you need to leave room for the very Christmassy white chocolate and orange crème brûlée too. Such win-win decisions are the sign of a restaurant that demands a visit. No wonder it’s been pinned as a Local Gem two years running in the Waitrose Good Food Guide. 45 WestBeach Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5AA 01202 587785. www.west-beach.co.uk Talking Turkey Chef Marcin Pacholarz on his menu… Q. What’s your favourite dish on your Christmas menu this year and why? A. Local rack of lamb on a bed of fresh cabbage and crushed peas, with chestnut purée and mint jus. Q. Sum up your Christmas menu: A. “Anything but ordinary”. A WestBeach Christmas dinner is not your usual turkey dinner. We like to use the finest ingredients to elevate from the ordinary. Our dishes, whether you choose a traditional turkey roast or our signature seafood, are always elegant and refined. Q. What should we order if we want something a bit different? A. Try the turbot fillet served with pearl barley, burnt cauliflower and a delicious shellfish bisque. Q. Which local producer’s food on your menu makes Christmas for you? A. All of them! We encourage diners www.menu-dorset.co.uk to pair locally produced wine, such as Furleigh Estate, with their meals. Q. How do you do your turkey? A. On a bed of vegetable mirepoix with a bit of wine roast in the oven. Q. Which of your Christmas side dishes never fails? A. Each one of them.. even the sprouts! The crunch of a perfectly cooked roast potato, chestnut puree and parsnips, greens... I could go on! {