As a mostly Catholic country, they take the whole thing pretty seriously. A few traditions include going to mass, carol singing and burning the yule log.
However, like most cultures at this time of the year, the biggest festive traditional revolves around eating – which I certainly like the sound of.
If you fancy adding a little Italian twist to your festive period this year, I want you to look no further than Cibo on Liverpool Street. This little Italian restaurant is a lesson in how casual neighbourhood dining should be done- and it makes the perfect place to get cosy this winter.
In the run-up to Christmas, you can enjoy their festive set menu of three courses for just £19.95 per head- which makes things easier at this expensive time of year.
Enjoy a starter of homemade fishcakes with chilli jam, or filo-wrapped goats cheese or even their signature chicken liver pate.
Follow this by a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings if you are feeling traditional, but if I was you, I would not be able to say no to their festive Italian dishes.
Take for example the roasted lamb chops cooked with rosemary and garlic with a red wine sauce or the pan-roasted salmon served with courgette, dill, baby prawns and a cream sauce. Yum!
But it doesn’t stop there – you can also enjoy any pizza or pasta dish from the menu too, which is perfect for fussy eaters or those of you who just cannot say no to a pizza!
Let’s not forget about dessert! Again, you can have your pick of the menu which means traditional Italian tiramisu and sticky toffee pudding. Naturally, you will also find a Christmas pudding on the menu too, served with rich brandy and butterscotch sauce – let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be Christmas without it.
This menu is cheap, cheerful and oh so delicious with a fun Italian twist on your normal festive grub. I reckon this menu would be perfect for an office party also – but make sure you get it booked up in plenty of time – I have a feeling bookings will be flying off the shelves this Christmas!
Cibo, 3-11 Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4NW
0161 834 9741
www.ciboitalian.co.uk/christmas-new-year/
