Eat, drink and be merry with winter menus at The Royal Exchange.

We all want some. Whether it’s figgy pudding or sumptuous beef Wellington, one of the best things about Christmas is the food. Holiday dining brightens the dark nights and brings us together — and it tastes absolutely brilliant. This season, let your table overflow with the dishes of The Royal Exchange. From fine-dining menus from our resident chefs to treats you can pick up for the pantry, and from Korean haute cuisine to hearty British fare, there’s something for every palette. A heaven for foodies (and pretty good for the rest of us, too).

Culinary legend Fortnum & Mason is now serving its winter menus. They’re everything you’d expect from this brand, famed across the country for its classic, elegant approach to the best of English cuisine. A particular hit in the Fortnum’s Bar and Restaurant has been the Beef Wellington — not least because the dish is served flambéed at your table with that exceptional eye for detail and flair which makes Fortnum’s so special. But do check out the other new arrivals, from winter warmers like Parsnip and Celeriac Soup with Walnuts to the St James Christmas Pudding. There’s also the anticipated White Truffle Menu, with tagliatelle, risotto and cheese toasties bringing the best out of this luxury seasonal flavour.

Over at Jang, Chef Dana’s take on Christmas dinner is nothing short of a bravura showstopper. The main event consists of a Côte De Boeuf with bone marrow galbi sauce served with crispy sprouts, potatoes and carrots in teriyaki sauce. On the side, dig into Korean Fried Turkey with spicy cranberry sauce, as well as Pigs In Blankets & Rice Cake Skewers with miso mustard sauce. Pair it with a 2020 Chianti Classico, or a 2019 Rioja Crianza from Spain — and enjoy the culinary fireworks.

The Libertine, too, has pulled out all the stops with its festive menu. What else would you expect from an establishment that prides itself on hedonistic indulgence? From starters like this Duck Rillette on toasted brioche with cornichons and fig chutney to classic mains that show the award-winning restaurant at its best: Roasted Norfolk Turkey Crown (with all the trimmings) and a cranberry and mulled spice sauce; or Heritage Beetroot Wellington with rosemary roast potatoes, glazed root vegetables and red wine gravy.

Our bakeries and patisseries have not failed to rise to the occasion with a selection of Christmas specials. Until the 29th of December, Buns From Home will be serving the delicious mince pie double-baked bun from their Royal Exchange bakery. It’s classic and enchanting: a cinnamon bun filled with a homemade mince pie filling and frangipane, then topped with candied orange and icing sugar. An oh-so-sweet solution to keeping the spirits up throughout the cold winter days.

Finally, discover Ladurée’s Traditional King Cake with frangipane. Or, as the brand puts it, “one more occasion to get together and celebrate the joy of being together, all in gourmet style.” Gourmet is correct — at the heart of this masterpiece lies the subtle interweaving of flavours: where this “sumptuous cream made from finely ground almonds unites with an incomparably light puff pastry.”