1. Trends in Christmas Menus An Early Assessment
Prepared by:
November 2013
Project #3938

2. 2013 Christmas Menu Trends An Early Assessment

3. Christmas Menu Data Collected From Select Concepts:

4. Within Limited Menu Data, Proteins Look To Favour Beef In 2013
Leading Proteins On Limited U.K. Christmas
Main Dish Menus (Oct-Dec 2013)
Available Pricing* – Prix Fixe Christmas Menus
Henry J. Bean’s:
3 course lunch – £19.95 per person
3 course dinner – £ £26.95 per person
4 course dinner – £ £28.95 per person
Nicholson’s:
Two courses – £19.95, Three courses – £24.95
Tiger Tiger:
Full Menu:
Lunch - £ £33.99
Dinner - £ £45.99
Deluxe - £ £69.99
Buffet:
Finger - £ £36.99
Fork - £ £39.99
Grande - £ £59.99
Frankie & Benny’s:
3 Courses – £19.95
*Price ranges vary based on daypart & date of visit
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

5. “Roasted” Most Popular Preparation Method On Select Chains’ Entrée Items
Menu Examples:
Nicholson’s: Roast Turkey; Roast turkey with sausage meat stuffing, wrapped in bacon, served with all the trimmings and a Yorkshire pudding
Tiger Tiger: Oven Roasted Salmon; with new potatoes & white wine, caper & parsley sauce
Henry J. Bean's: BBQ slow-roast pork
Vintage Inns: Parsnip, Stilton and Cranberry Nut Roast; served with honey roasted parsnip and onion gravy (vegetarian)
Frankie & Benny’s: Half Roast Chicken; A succulent half roast chicken served with pork and sage stuffing, Christmas potatoes, creamy mash, pigs in blankets and roasted seasonal vegetables smothered in our rich gravy.
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

6. Unsurprisingly, Potatoes Most Prevalent Ingredient/ Flavour Offered With Entrée Items In 2013
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

7. Starters and Sides Lean On Soups and Prawns In 2013
Appetizer/A La Carte Side Dish Formats On Limited U.K. Christmas Menus (Oct-Dec 2013)
Menu Examples:
Nicholson’s: Tomato And Davidstow Soup; With farmhouse bread and an English herb oil (vegetarian)
Chef & Brewer: Smoked Salmon & King Prawns; Oak smoked Scottish salmon, king prawns and balsamic glazed beetroot garnished with cherry and semi-dried tomatoes and a horseradish cream
Tiger Tiger: Mushroom & Leek Fricassee;
Sliced chestnut mushrooms and julienne of leek, sautéed in garlic butter and finished with double cream. Served in a crispy baked pain de campagne roll .
Frankie & Benny’s: Butternut Squash Soup;
A traditional winter warmer; creamy butternut
squash soup sprinkled with chilli flakes. Served
with warm ciabatta on the side
*Vegetarian Items include: puff pastries, fricasees, skewers and crostini
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

8. Cream As An Ingredient And Flavour Leads Starter And Side Items In 2013
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

9. Christmas Pudding And Cakes Featured Desserts In 2013
Dessert Items On Limited U.K.
Christmas Menus (Oct-Dec 2013)
Menu Examples:
Vintage Inns: Rich Christmas Pudding; served warm with brandy sauce
Chef & Brewer: Butterscotch Christmas Pudding Slice; A decadent festive fruit pudding slice topped with butterscotch, served with hot brandy sauce
Beefeater: Black Forest Gâteau; Finished with Kirsch-soaked dark cherries, a whip of cream and chocolate sauce
Frankie & Benny’s: Frankie’ s Festive Chocolate Fudge Cake; Our warm chocolate fudge cake served with chocolate orange ice cream and single cream to pour
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

10. Chocolate By Far Most Popular Flavour/Ingredient For Dessert Items In 2013
Base: Christmas menus: Nicholson’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Henry J. Bean’s, Beefeater, Vintage Inns,
Chef & Brewer, Tiger Tiger
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

11. Previous Christmas Menu Data Slides Taken from the February 2013 Christmas Menu Presentation

12. 2012 Protein Menu Data Average Price – Combo Plates On U.K. Christmas
Main Dish Menus, By Segment (Oct-Dec 2012)
Leading Proteins On U.K. Christmas Main Dish Menus
(Oct-Dec 2012)
Segment 
Price Range
Average Price
Casual Dining
£8.99-£59.95
£29.37
Pub Chains/Groups
£6.95-£70.00
£25.37
Base: Oct-Dec 2012 – (Casual-Dinning) 23 items menued on 9 U.K. Christmas-themed main dish menus;
(Pub Chains/Groups) 41 items menued on 9 U.K. Christmas-themed main dish menus
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.
Black & Blue Steakhouse; Christmas At Black And Blue - Kir Royal On Arrival. For The Table: Mixed Olives And Bread. Butterfly Prawns, Homemade Soup Of The Day, Deep-Fried Camembert With Cranberry Sauce, Smoked Chicken And Vegetable Salad. Sirloin (200g) Served With Bearnaise Sauce, Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Breast With Pesto, Salmon With Dill Creme Fraiche, Or Baked Field Mushroom, Grilled Vegetables, Goat's Cheese. Dessert: Ice-Cream Sundae, New York Cheesecake Or Chocolate Brownie. Tea/Coffee. - £35.00
Davy's; Venison & Smoked Bacon Meat Balls - With Red Onion Gravy. Main Choice On Christmas Prix Fixe. All Main Courses Served With Seasonal Vegetables & Potatoes. - £24.95
The Restaurant Bar & Grill; Christmas Set Menu Lunch - Starter: Parsnip, Chestnut & Apple Soup, Goats Cheese & Beetroot Salad, Or Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon. Mains: Roast Salmon Fillet, Oven Roast Turkey, Or Mushroom Risotto, Roast Potatoes & Seasonal Greens For The Table To Share. Dessert: Black Forest Eton Mess, Christmas Pudding, Or Selection Of Our Homemade Ice Creams. - £22.00
Taverner's Carvery; Christmas Fayre - Choose 3 Courses. Starters: Tomato And Basil Soup (V), Breaded Mushrooms (V) Or Prawn Cocktail. Mains: Roast Turkey, Beef Or Gammon Or Mushroom Wellington (V) All Main Courses Include Choice Of Potatoes And Vegetables From Our Carvery. Desserts: Christmas Pudding Served With Brandy Sauce, Irish Cream Cheesecake Or Spiced Plum Streusel Crumble. - £8.99
Ye Olde Cherry Tree; Christmas Day Menu - Starters: Melon And Sorbet; Seared King Scallops; Mushroom Vol-Au-Vent; Tomato And Roasted Pepper Soup Or Duck And Port Rillette. Mains: Fillet Steak Wellington; Butter Roasted Turkey; Fig And Goats Cheese Risotto Skewers; Seared Salmon With Brown Shrimps; Or Lamb Rump. Puddings: Apple And Loganberry Crumble; Cinnamon And Cherry Terrine; Yule Log; Rich Christmas Pudding; Or Cropwell Bishop Stilton. - £54.95
Base: Oct-Dec items menued on 41 U.K. Christmas-themed main dish menus
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

13. 2011 Protein Menu Data Average Price – Combo Plates On U.K. Christmas
Main Dish Menus, By Segment (Oct-Dec 2011)
Leading Proteins On U.K. Christmas Main Dish Menus
(Oct-Dec 2011)
Segment 
Price Range
Average Price
Casual Dining
£8.99-£100.00
£23.49
Pub Chains/Groups
£5.99-£48.00
£23.20
Base: Oct-Dec 2011 – (Casual-Dinning) 45 items menued on 17 U.K. Christmas-themed main dish menus;
(Pub Chains/Groups) 38 items menued on 11 U.K. Christmas-themed main dish menus
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.
Crown Carveries; Christmas Day Menu Courses. Choose From Starters: Fanned Melon Dressed With Fresh Fruit And Rich Fruit Coulis, Prawn Cocktail With Sliced Baquette, Broccoli And Stilton Soup, Chicken & Mushroom Pate. Entree: 4 Hand Carved Joints, Poached Salmon, Stuffed Butternut Squash. Dessert: Christmas Pudding With Brandy Sauce; Yule Log With Fresh Raspberries, Fruit Coulis And Cream; Profiteroles With Chocolate Sauce; Passionfruit & Orange Tart.- £32.99
Ember Inns; Christmas Menu - Starters: Roasted Squash, Pecorino & Thyme Soup (With Crusty Bread); Sweet Orange Melon (With Fresh Berries, Tangerine & Cointreau Coulis); Seven & Wye Valley Smoked Salmon (With Creme Fraiche, Brown Bread & Butter); Oak Smoked Chicken Liver Parfait (With Toasts & A Redcurrant & Juniper Jelly). Mains: All Mains Served With Roast & Mash Potato, Honey Roast Parsnips, Button Sprouts & Carrots. Prime Roast Turkey Breast (with Sage & Onion Stuffing, Pigs In Blankets & Roast Gravy); 7oz Filet Steak (With Wiltshire Bacon, Mushroom & Red Wine Sauce); Slow Cooked Duck Confit (With Blackberry & Vintage Port Sauce); Chestnut & Goats Cheese Roulade (A Sweet Chestnut, Rosemary, Red Onion & Goats Cheese Roulade); Grilled Sea Bass Fillets (With Thermidor Sauce, Green Beans, Asparagus & Herb Crushed Potatoes). Puddings: Christmas Pudding (With Brandy Sauce); Orange Spiced Chocolate Tart (With Vanilla Ice Cream); Baked Vanilla Cheesecake (With Freshly Whipped Cream & Logan Berry Compote); Cheese & Biscuits (Mature Cheddar & Goats Cheese With Biscuits & Grapes). Tea Or Coffee With Chocolate Truffles. - £39.95
The Angel Inn; Christmas At The Angel Set Menu - Available For Lunch And Dinner In The Bar Brasserie And For Lunch In The Restaurant. Pick 2 Or 3 Courses. Starters: Little Moneybag, Rosemary Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Melon, Citrus And Pomegranate Salad, Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork Terrine. Mains: Traditional Roast Turkey Dinner, Minted Lamb Wellington, Silver Hake Filet, Truffled Celeriac And Rice Cake. Desserts: The Angel's Own Christmas Pudding, Milk Chocolate Espresso 'latte', Baked Blue Cheese Mousse, Cranberry & Walnut Tart. - £15.95
Base : Oct-Dec items on 39 U.K. Christmas themed main dish menus
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

14. For More Information Please Contact:
Patrick Noone
Vice President