How To Create The Perfect Christmas Dinner, According To David Stevens, Head Chef At The Wolseley

Photo credit: Wolseley
Photo credit: Wolseley

From Esquire

David Stevens is head chef at The Wolseley, the revered Mayfair restaurant favoured by late Esquire writer-at-large AA Gill and pretty much anyone in the know about London's fine dining scene.

We asked him for his tips on how to take your Christmas feast to the next level, from the nailing the turkey and the trimmings to creating the perfect cocktail to serve afterwards (or first thing in the morning: it is Christmas, after all).

Photo credit: The Wolseley
Photo credit: The Wolseley

Cocktail

"Combine the following ingredients, and enjoy:

  • 30ml old forester

  • 20ml Ramos Pinto

  • Dash of cinnamon powder

  • 5 dashes of Chocolate bitters

  • 2 dashes of Orange bitters"

Brussels Sprouts

"When I lived in the states, we used to shave our sprouts and it’s still how I like to cook them today when making Christmas lunch at home.

Start by shaving the sprouts and set aside.

Then, mix pecan nuts with a very small amount of egg white, salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper and roast in the oven.

Finely chop streaky bacon and cook in a pan, with no oil, until nice and crispy. Drain off the fat and keep. Cook the sprouts in a large pan with the saved bacon fat. To serve, toss the sprouts with the chopped bacon and crumble over the roasted pecans to finish."

Bread sauce

"The secret to bread sauce is to soak the bread overnight and take your time. Let the bread sauce tick over on the stove with the mix of spices. I go for nutmeg, cloves and a bay leaf. At the end, stir in a good sized nob of butter - it’s Christmas!"

Turkey

"The best advice I can give for carving turkey is firstly, it might sound daft, but a sharp knife is essential. Secondly, once you take the turkey out of the oven, cover to keep warm and then leave the bird to rest for 20-30minutes. Once the meat has relaxed and cooled, it will allow you to carve nice even thin slices."

If you're still looking for the perfect Christmas gift - or just to update your kitchen in style - check out the new Wolseley shop featuring hampers, glassware and more.

('You Might Also Like',)