The perception of the image -conscious Golden State is that if you take two glasses of wine you’re an alcoholic which is why we’re focusing today on California Drying.
And, yes it is me speaking here, extolling the virtues of non-alcoholic wine.
It’s the one day we all get together with our families and bitch about everybody who isn’t there… and you too can eat like royals this Christmas?
Forget what you’ve seen on telly about their hilarious tradition of giving each other cheap presents because that’s just mean and condescending.
Do the Cath: Cath Kidston
No, we want to know about their gamey pleasures, or maybe now that Chuck is in charge of the firm at Sandringham in Norfolk, it’ll be all nut roasts and organic veg.
And thanks to our old friends at interior and culinary specialists Cath Kidston we can give you an insight into royal favourites.
Royals get stuffed
Elfy meal! Get stuffed up
Of course anybody who has slaved at the stove for Christmas dinner (er, that’ll not be me) will tell you that the secret of any festive meal is the stuffing.
And Cath tells us people are already starting to plan their menus, as searches for “stuffing recipe” have
increased by 238% within the last three months, reaching a 9,900 average.
From a classic turkey stuffing to a mushroom one, there are numerous recipes that will
satisfy the Christmas appetite.
This recipe by Good Housekeeping combines all the traditional ingredients but with a little twist to
give the stuffing a moreish texture – crumbled and chunky sourdough bread.
Meat-free and perfect for vegetarians, this stuffing recipe is a go-to for any Christmas-loving family!
No prizes for who the Windsors want to get stuffed this Christmas, of course.
Royal puddings
Hot stuff: The Christmas pud
Talking of big puddin’-faces…
The Royals favourite dessert recipe has been revealed by chefs in the Royal Kitchens on the Royal
Family Instagram account.
The recipe features 40ml of brandy to add extra spice to the heart-warming dessert (or maybe cherry brandy as Chas is in charge).
But you can substitute it with orange juice or cold tea if you don’t want to use alcohol.
In the Royal Kitchens, the Christmas pudding mixture is stirred up on the Sunday before the Advent
season, hence it’s called stir-up Sunday.
The Sussexes aren’t coming: Charles and Camilla
The search for “Christmas pudding recipe” increased by 1,038% within the last three months.
And the warmth of your festive welcome in the Balkans cannot be cooled by anything as small as a World Cup semi-final… it’s a Christmas cracker in Croatia.
It’s just that this time because the football extravaganza is being held in December it’s Christmas trees.
And that they are having to wrap up warm when they take to the streets to celebrate another victory like the one they savoured against Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Today, of course, it’s another South American behemoth.
But this remarkable country of only four and a half million proud souls is used to fighting above their weight.
And they may also have a secret ingredient which can explain the question that is often asked… how do thy do it?
Divine intervention
Dressed to kill: Medjugorje
And that is the Man upstairs, and a woman too, his mother.
At least that’s what I was told by the Franciscans preaching in the Marian hub of Medjugorge.
And OK it’s really Bosnia & Herzegovina but try telling that to the good folk of that town.
Where the only thing that vies for attention on the stalls and the shops are Croatian flags, chequered football tops and pictures of the sainted Luka Modric.
And where the bartender at the Irish Centre in the town gets his music deck out.
And plays Dynamo Zagreb songs and their games on the big screen.
Z is tops
Zagreb is, of course, the country’s capital and by dint where the biggest markets are with a bunch of awards behind it.
Its Christmas market opened on 26 November and will run until 7 January 2023.
Look out for the creative shop-window displays, shimmering lights and decorations adorning the cobbled streets of the upper town.
Sample the roast chestnuts, sarma (sour cabbage rolls filled with minced meat), paprenjaci (peppery gingerbread cookies) and vanilla half-moons.
And watch out for the paper that they shoot from the Gric Cannon every day at noon.
Beautiful advent
Tree-mendous: Opatija
Venture to the coast between now and January 8 and you’ll find Opatija which has been hailed as ‘the most beautiful advent by the sea’.
And which has the added attraction of an ice rink by the sea.
Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion is its centrepiece, with kiosks offering festive specialities, divine desserts and mulled wine.
While we’re advised that the charming fishing village of Volosko has the catch of the day.
Pearl of the Adriatic
Pearl: Dubrovnik
For many, Dubrovnik is ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’ and it certainly was for James Joyce.
Its own winter festival until January 6 covers an array of locations including the iconic Stardun in the old town with festive concerts.
The festivities of the old town are set against a backdrop of thousands of glittering lights.
For even more sparkle and merriment…
Head to the colourful Winter in Lapad Bay, which comes complete with ice-rink.
Get connected
Luka here: Croatia’s finest
While Šibenik will get you connected with the New Year with the Stereo MCs on the main New Year’s stage in the square in front of the Cathedral of St. Jakov.
Where you can also enjoy Ireland’s finest, music icon Róisín Murphy.
The celebration starts at noon in the legendary park with the performance of the Šibenik Bagatin band.
And in the evening a program on two stages awaits visitors.
It’s all a Christmas cracker in Croatia..
And thanks to our friends from Croatia for the Sretan Božić.
We’ll of course let their concierges do the heavy work and take you through them all.
But we will give you just a slice with their Marie Antoinette Day.
Your day at her beloved Château de Versailles outside Paris will start when your butler prepares a shower or bath.
Before waking guests up gently with citrus milk, the Queen’s favourite drink, as part of a “Queen’s Wake Up” ritual.
You dormez vous, the bed is scented with Airelles’ signature perfume.
Breakfast overlooking The Orangerie, guests will head to the Domaine de Trianon where they can enjoy MA’s beloved English Gardens.
Ease your muscles with some deep relaxation at the Valmont Spa at La Grand Controlle.
Merci Macaron
A French macaron: And another one after that
Before enjoying a macaron-filled Marie Antoinette Afternoon Tea with MA’s favourite drink – hot chocolate with orange blossom.
Before or after afternoon tea, guests can enjoy the highlight of the day with a dress-up experience.
Channel your inner MA trying on period costumes with a hair and make-up artist.
It’s all an experience that definitely passes the sniff teat.
And that’s exactly what the Marie Antoinette-inspired fragrance workshop does.
The sniff test
Bow for a belle: Dress up like Marie Antoinette
Make perfume infused with roses from the Versailles gardens.
During this memorable session, uncover the secrets of Marie-Antoinette’s favourite perfume and recreate some of the unique creams and lotions used at Court.
So there we are… let’s forget the cost-of-living cake and let us eat cake Chez Antoinette. Price from €2,000.
The Queen Mum liked her gin, Princess Margaret her Champagne, Prince Charles his Cherry Brandy but we suspect it was a cup of cha for the Queen.
The QM’s drinking holes counted racecourses up and down the country, Mags the Caribbean and especially Nylon Beach in Tobago and Chuck the Isle of Lewis.
For the Queen though it was her many palaces around Britain.
And especially those where she spent most time relaxing… Windsor, Balmoral and Sandringham.
So if you want to toast her memory this weekend raise a cup with that most British tipple, tea.
And add to the 100 million drunk by Britons every day, almost as many as are queueing to see the Queen’s coffin.
The Royal cuppa
Take a seat: The Willow Tearooms
Britain’s love affair with East Indian tea began in royal circles with a hangry 7th Duchess of Bedford.
Anna’s answer was to take tea served with light snacks which became the phenomenon of afternoon tea.
The fashion took hold throughout the land and onto our doorstep in Glasgow, the Second City of the Empire.
Queen tea: And is that a tea cosy?
With the Mackintosh Tea Rooms which celebrate the high-chaired furniture and interior decorations of the Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
And that’s just the cup of tea for more modern home furnishing British institution Cath Kidston.
With Cath kindly giving us a tea-potted history of cha around the world.
Crowning glory: Cath Kidston in Southampton
Of course all the tea in China isn’t all the tea in the world but it was where we first got the taste.
When Emperor Shen Nung went for a seat under a Camellia sinensis tree in 2737 BC.
The story goes that a few leaves fell into his boiling drinking water to try the accidental infusion and tea was born.
There’s more to this tea
Tea in bed: OLCOTE in Sri Lanka
His tea rituals he mapped out in Ch’a Ching (Tea Classic), the first book about tea written during the 8th century.
Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian in its philosophy, Chinese tea ceremonies are centred around peace, mindfulness, and appreciation.
And as many as the tea leaves in a cup, their most famous ceremony is the kung fu tea ceremony, sometimes known as gong fu.
Of course the tea we all know and love in the UK is from the Jewel in the Crown.
No, not the curry house.
But where Our Little Corner of The Earth, or OLCOTE, the hotel retreat of my old Sri Lankan-Irish force of nature Tess De Kretser will pour.
The beauty of the Caribbean is that they all have their own take on island life and we can put our own mark on each which is why we give you Kabawe Libre in St Lucia.
And if that sounds like Cuba Libre then that’s deliberate.
And because the St Lucians hosted me so well on their trade show in Dublin you can have that pitch for free.
Apt really because that’s what Libre is and because the rum flows liberally throughout the West Indies.
When in rum
All shapes and colours: Rum in the Caribbean
Kabawe is the Creole word for Rum Shop.
And the St Lucians value theirs just as much as the birthplace of rum just down the water in Barbados.
Which is why the exotically-named St Lucia Tourism Authority CEO Lorine Charles St Jules is promoting the Kabawe Krawl experience.
Best explained by the woman herself:
“The aim of the Kabawé Krawl is that visitors to our shores experience the unique Bar, Rum, and Culinary adventures in Saint Lucia.
“This will allow for the tourism dollar to be spread through our smaller communities and local hot spots nationally.”
She explained that there was a process.
And that all interested bars will undergo an onboarding process.
Domino dancing
Happy chappies: Dominoes in Barbados
And they will be trained in customer service and safety management.
Of course the first starting point for me would be a bunch of oul’ fellas in the back room.
Slamming down dominoes and stamping down on a floor with sand on it.
And not the type we get in my own homeland of Scotland to mop up the slops.
But authentic grains from the beach outside.
Irie Barbados: With Jevan and Donna
We know what a rum shop should look like from limin’ with the locals in Barbados earlier this year and on previous trips.
And we’re keen to explore our old pal Marc’s new Island Time Rum Tour.
You make me feel so fine which is why I’ll be celebrating the day that’s in it with red red wine and Georgia. And the rest of the world.
Now we’ve been getting high on the black grape for 6,000 years since the ancient Georgians thought to bury grape juice underground in the winter.
All of which makes you wonder how it took until 2014 and Jace Shoemaker-Galway to establish Red Red Wine Day.
Like all the best ideas you kick yourself that you didn’t come up with it first.
Own it, Eoghan
Gang of four: With Eoghan, Teresa and Sharon
Or that someone you know didn’t, such as the Doyen of Irish Travel and Irish aficionados, Eoghan Corrie.
Who on every trip would regale us with his global tales of derring-do when he had a glass of red in his hand which is always.
And, of course, who knows more about wine than I’ll ever know.
Which is that after the Georgians first bottled the grape the Egyptians got in on the act in 3100BC.
You (and me) are probably more familiar with a Bordeaux red.
And that has been around since 71AD.
Georgia on my mind
By George: With the Georgia ambassador
Of course, Ambassador George didn’t want to talk to me about French red or Egyptian vintage when he invited me around to the Egyptian Embassy in Dublin.
And regaled me about the world’s first winds from his country.
And sent me home with a bottle, although not 5,000 years old although I wouldn’t have complained.
Whatever your red, and we have a standing joke in the family based around Effin’ Merlot, channeling the film Sideways.
And give a thought to our fave drink. Red red wine and Georgia, the birthplace of a favourite tipple.
