Dining Guide | All about Eating and Drinking in Chiang Mai ...

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? ? Considering the number of different nationalities who live in or visit Chiang Mai, the city can probably be considered one of the most international places worldwide. With this diversity of nationalities comes an equally large diversity of cultures and traditions, including culinary traditions. Nowhere does this become more obvious than during important festivals like Christmas. While it would go beyond the scope of this article to explain in detail all the different national Christmas customs, we just want to highlight? some of the most common culinary Christmas traditions as observed in different Western countries.?

While Christmas in Germany is mainly celebrated on Christmas Eve, that day is usually kept simple in terms of food. As Olaf from Thapae Gate Lodge, one of the most authentic German restaurants in town, explains, Germans traditionally enjoy easy-to-make dishes on Christmas Eve, like potato salad and sausages, such as as Wiener Wurst, Bockwurst or Weisswurst. The primary Christmas meal, however, is enjoyed on Christmas Day. The two most traditional dishes are roast goose and roast carp, which is usually served with potato dumplings or roast potatoes and different forms of cabbage, such as brussel sprouts and red cabbage. Popular Christmas sweets and pastries include Marzipan, ginger bread ("Lebkuchen") and fruit cakes and fruited breads like Christstollen. In France the main Christmas meal, called Reveillon, is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve after the Holy Mass. The name of this dinner is based on the word "reveil" (meaning "waking"), because participation involves staying awake until midnight and beyond. As Jean-Jacques from LaTerrasse explains, the Reveillon usually starts with appetizers like oysters, escargots and/or truffles, the precious mushrooms. A typical main course includes some type of poultry, such as turkey, chicken or goose, accompanied by vegetables. This is followed by a large cheese plate. In between, to clean the palate, people usually slurp some hard liquor, such as Calvados ("le trou normand"). As a dessert the traditional Buche de Noel is served and the Reveillon is completed with a "soupe a l'onion", the famous French onion soup. In the Provence in the Southern part of France a typical Reveillon also includes what they call the "13 desserts de Noel" (13 Christmas desserts) Christmas Day is traditionally a family day where the French have an?extensive multi-course lunch that lasts for several hours. Appetizers usually include seafood such as raw oysters, and the famous Escargots de Bourgogne, stuffed with butter, parsley and garlic. As a main course people often have leg of lamb with green beans on the side, even though other meats can also be served. This is followed by a "plateau de fromage", the obligatory cheese plate, and rounded off with a Buche de Noel. Needless to say, all these dishes are accompanied by generous amounts of French wine. For a real French Christmas meal we recommend La Terrasse.

Italy

Italian culinary Christmas traditions vary from region to region. Yet, there are many dishes that are popular throughout the country. As Sebastiano from La Fontana explains, there are two main Christmas meals.? Christmas Eve supper, called "Vigilia di Natale", is eaten before the Holy Mass on December 24th. It usually consists of lighter dishes like seafood, such as eel and salmon, served with vegetables and salad. After the Holy Mass people often have the famous "Panettone", a sweet bread loaf with dried fruits, which best goes with sparkling wine ("vino spumante"). Christmas Dinner, or "Pranzo di Natale", is the main meal on Christmas Day. Like in France, it usually starts at lunch time and lasts several hours. Typical appetizers include cold cuts, oysters, smoked salmon and "Bresaola" (air-dried beef, a Northern Italian specialty), tramezzini, etc. The first course ("Il Primo") consists mainly of pasta dishes such as Lasagne, Pasta al Forno, Tortellini in Brodo di Cappone (tortellini in chicken broth), Ravioli, but also Risotto. The second course ("Il Secondo") is all about meat. It usually includes roast turkey, roast beef, stuffed chicken (Pollo Ripieno), or roast lamb, served with roast potatoes (Patate al Forno), fresh salad and vegetables. Christmas sweets ("Dolci") that are popular all over Italy are "Panetton, Pandora (similar to Panettone but without the dried fruits), and Torrone.

Spain

?? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? Most people in Spain go to Midnight Mass or 'La Misa Del Gallo' (The Mass of the Rooster). It is called this because a rooster is supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was born. Most families eat their main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve before the service. The traditional Spanish Christmas dinner is 'Pavo Trufado de Navidad' which is turkey stuffed with truffles (the pricey mushrooms). Specialities vary by region. In Galicia, for example, a region in north-west Spain, the most popular meal for Christmas Eve and for Christmas Day is seafood. The owner of Rioja II ?will have more stories to tell about a typical Spanish-style Christmas, and spoil you with plenty of authentic Spanish dishes, not to forget Sangria and Spanish wines!

United Kingdom

Christmas dinner in the United Kingdom is eaten in the afternoon of December 25th. It usually consists of roast turkey, roast goose or duck, sometimes with ham or, to a lesser extent, pork. This is served with roast potatoes, boiled or steamed vegetables such as brussels sprouts and stuffing. Other accompaniments include chipolatas or "pigs in blankets" (small sausages wrapped in bacon) and cranberry sauce. The classic dessert is Christmas pudding (or plum pudding) with brandy butter and/or cream. Also popular are Trifle, Christmas Cake, Mince Pies or a Yule Log, a chocolate cake similar to Buche de Noel. A common tradition in the United Kingdom is to use the turkey's wishbone to make a wish. Two people pull opposite ends of the wishbone until it breaks, with the person holding the larger fragment of the bone making a wish. For those who fancy an English Christmas dinner we recommend The Red Lion

USA

Many Christmas customs in the United States have been adopted from those in the United Kingdom and other European countries. Accordingly, the centerpiece of the Christmas dinner table are roast turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, served with roasted root vegetables, brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. Sometimes ham, roast beef or goose are served instead of turkey, particularly since turkey is the mainstay at dinner for the American holiday of Thanksgiving in November. Regional meals vary and include Turkey teriyaki in Hawaii, oysters and ham pie in Virginia, Scandinavian dishes in the Upper Midwest, and of course Mexican specialties in the Southwest.

Desserts also often reflect the country's ethnic diversity and include pumpkin pie, Marzipan, sugar cookies, panettone, fruitcake, apple pie, carrot cake, oreo pie, and mince pie. The first address for American food in Chiang Mai is The Duke's who is well known for their Chirstmas specials. Another great place to check out is Butter is Better, the American-style diner and bakery which will have many Christmas treats to choose from. For details please inquire directly at those places.? Did you know?? About the Goose

• ?The custom of having goose for Christmas began on Christmas Eve in 1588 when Queen Elisabeth the First was having dinner. While goose was being served, she received the news of the victory of the English Fleet over the Spanish Armada. In her joy, she declared the goose to be an indispensable part of the Christmas dinner.
• ? ??In ancient Egypt the goose was the symbol of the creator-god Amen, and it was sometimes said that the universe itself was hatched from a "cosmic egg" produced by this deity. ?

Source: http://www.diningguidechiangmai.com/2012/10/traditional-christmas-feasts.html

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