As the big day draws nearer its time to relax and take your mind off thoughts of the time you will be spending in the kitchen preparing Christmas fayre and all the various events leading up to the 25th when you will be invited out for meals with business colleagues, friends and family.
Really the last thing you want to be eating is Christmas food prior to Christmas so why not go for a truly different but celebratory meal by still having a Christmas Feast but Lebanese style.
Comptoir Libanais in the Trinity Centre, next door to the cinema, is the perfect place to relax, enjoy a Christmas feast with a difference and it won’t break the bank.
Although it was a freezing night when we arrived the moment we entered Comptoir Libanais all seemed sunny with the brightly coloured décor and art deco murals.
Once at our table we decided to partake in a cheeky glass of wine and opted for Clos St Aphonse Red(Vegan), the restaurant’s Lebanese house wine. It was medium bodied with a rounded black and red fruit and delicious undertones of spice and liquorice and highly pleased my wine buff colleague and certainly warmed us up.
Our Christmas Feast began with a Mezze to Share. This was more than adequate for the two of us. I loved the vine leaves, one of my favourite dishes I learned to love when living in Australia. These were stuffed with rice, pine nuts, extra virgin oil and pomegranate seeds. This was one of the twoVegan dishes on the platter the other was Aubergine with Tahina which consisted of fried aubergine with tahina, garlic, parsley, sumac and pomegranate seeds – truly delicious such a contrast of flavours.
The two other foods on the platter were a Lamb Samboussek of pastry parcels with minced lamb, topped with black and white sesame seeds and served with a garlic sauce, whilst the Harrissa Chicken Hommos was smooth and creamy. All this plus warm flat bread was a meal in itself.
There were four choices of mains I went for the Roasted Sea Bass Fillets. This was a generous portion and the fish was succulent and tender with the braised fennel and tomatoes, olives and garlic dressing adding flavour to what can sometimes be a rather bland dish.
My colleague chose the Harissa and Honey Grilled Baby Chicken. The marinate of harissa and honey gave a fusion of flavours to the dish that came with a very generous portion of spiced Lebanese potatoes.
Could we manage a dessert? Eventually was the answer. My colleague went for the Rose Mouhalabia. This is a traditional Lebanese rose water milk pudding that came with a tangy compote of red berries.
My choice of Christmas Date Pudding really pleased. The sticky date pudding was coated with white chocolate and served with a vanilla ice cream drizzled on top, date syrup and nuts. This is a very filling dessert be warned. You may need extra time in between each spoonful.
The Christmas Feast menu includes Vegan and Vegetarian Dishes. Situated in the centre of town its great for pre-theatre meals, shopping trip lunches and perfect for date nights!!!! Go on treat yourself!
Comptoir Libanais, The Trinity Centre. Open: Seven Days a week Mon-Sat 11.00am-10.pm – Sunday 11.00am-9.00pm.
To book call 0113 3509751M
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