圣诞大餐和伯明翰的圣诞市场 (Christmas Dinners and Birmingham)

我已经不记得狄更斯《A Christmas Dinner》里的细节了，书里大量描述了维多利亚时期英国人是如何准备圣诞晚餐来庆祝圣诞节的。写这部短篇的时候狄更斯只有22岁，这部短篇成为狄更斯后来创作名著《圣诞颂歌》（Christmas Carol）的基础。

圣诞节对我来说并未有特别的意义，每年我也只是和老公选一家有特色的餐馆去享用一顿丰盛的晚餐，倒是充分体现了中国人“民以食为天”的主旨。今年倘若说有什么不同，就是吃的次数增加了。见朋友、见亲戚，吃了个不亦乐乎~~

莱斯特（Leicester）朋友的圣诞家宴

同去年一样，今年被在莱斯特（Leicester）的朋友叫去她家吃圣诞晚餐。朋友是马来华人，所以在她那里看到的黄皮肤却也说着英语。席间，谈论起读的书，朋友突然问了我一句：那书是叫《水浒传》？还是《水许传》？出国这十年接触了太多不同文化背景的人，所以我很理解她这并非玩笑的问题。倘若退回十年我可能真要被这种问题给雷死！虽然她们在马来西亚说自己是华人，但很多人却从未去过中国。我在朋友家接触了几个马来华人，有一个在英国30年，连自己的中文名字都不会写。

我在英国这八年时刻感受着中西文化的撞击，一直在想这些马来华人他们住在英国又是如何看待自己的国籍和背景呢？她们到底是马来人？中国人？还是已把自己当做英国人呢？

伯明翰的圣诞晚餐（中式）

我一直为伯明翰没有一家象样的中餐馆感到惋惜。去了伯明翰N次，在伯明翰也吃了N次饭。总觉得唐人街上的中餐馆提供的饭菜，个个都好似香港的茶餐厅或者大排档。那菜单一看都是叉烧饭、煲仔饭之类的。这是我夏天的时候去点的泰式海鲜面。超辣，没想到在英国还能吃到这么辣的面！食物还都不错，但是吃饭的环境着实一般，倘若想要商务请人吃饭就差了许多。

这次老公的弟弟的女朋友选了一家中餐馆－The Henry’s（http://www.henrysrestaurant.co.uk/）。因为以前她选过一家中餐馆让我大倒了一番胃口（见前文：伯明翰之行）。这次本没报什么希望的，谁知道发现餐馆环境超好，做出的菜味道也好，难得中国人开得餐馆竟然每盘菜的装饰也做足了功夫。强烈推荐一下！：）虽然以粤式风格为主，但是中文菜谱上也有很多北方菜和四川菜。我点得煎酿三宝，老公弟弟说他们是不知道也不会点的。竟然连那盘蒜蓉空心菜都被吃了个精光。看样子英国人也并非不吃蔬菜，只是不会做罢了。

象往年一样，老公今年选了位于伯明翰的一家米其林餐馆：The Simpsons（http://www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk）。餐厅是一座乔治亚时期的建筑。

我和老公去得早，那天餐馆竟然全都坐满了。我们还是圣诞节头几天去的。如果是圣诞节那天肯定又是订桌难。

刚被领到餐桌旁，侍应生便奉送了这道餐前汤。刚端上来的时候我心下觉得几分好笑。这么大的一个碗，侍应生就舀了两、三汤匙的汤在里面。不过细尝一下才越发显出精致。几颗松籽、一小块奶酪，细品之下竟然有七、八种不同的原料，每一款原料都有自己特殊的味道。却又搭配得相得益彰。

即使连面包也是四种不同的口味，新鲜出炉，松软可口。

我的头盘：Scallop ravioli, boc choy, sesame seeds, lemon grass and ginger

老公的头盘：Fillet of halibut, burnt sweetheart cabbage, watercress and dill

我的主菜：Roasted guinea fowl, pastilla of confit leg, pomegranate, aromatic couscous, date & lemon purée, cumin sauce

我还是第一次见到把石榴放入菜中的，竟然连石榴籽都是温软的，我还在想石榴难不成是做熟的？ 的确，但是却又保留了新鲜石榴的口感。一道菜里面各式味道却有七、八种。细细体味，每种相搭配却又是另一番滋味。我特意拍了一张吃的时候的照片。

老公的主菜：Loin of Balmoral venison, broccoli purée, sweed, walnuts, blueberries,  juniper sauce

我是第一次领教在菜中运用水果、干果的，竟然有意想不到的口感和味道。

主餐完毕，餐馆赠送的一款甜品：Apple Crumble ,但与英国传统的Apple Crumble又有其不同之处，内似有法国特有的奶酪香。

老公的餐后甜品：A selection of pasteurised & un-pasteruised English and Continental cheeses

我的甜品：Chocolate and parline tart, chantily, mandarin and lemon thyme sorbet

老公为我拍的照片。可以看到餐厅里已经全都坐满了。

 突然间看到桌子上有一张卡片，原来是伯明翰的慈善组织（St.Basils）同餐厅合作，凡是在这里吃饭，每天每张桌子都会自动捐给慈善组织1镑用于帮助伯明翰无家可归的人。老公并不知道，月初因为支持朋友公司的活动，我已经做了一回赞助！这瞬间竟然让我想到朋友的公司这几年来年年为这慈善组织所做的一切，让我心生敬意。

最后餐馆附送的糖果，我根本早已吃不下了。

伯明翰为了迎接圣诞节，特别搞了一个德国法兰克福圣诞市场，上百个摊位。我以前在其他城市见过类似的市场，不过象这么大规模的还是头一回见。

夏天的时候，曾经去伯明翰的运河边拍了几张照片。现在一起奉上。记得当时看到那个高跟鞋的花架时，不自觉地竟想到了Summer，想象她会不会喜欢这样的高跟鞋呢？^-^

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Christmas Dinners and Birmingham

Before I came toEurope, all I knew about Christmas was from books. When I was a child, I read “The Little Match Girl”, which was my first impression of Christmas. Roast goose, Christmas tree and joy all belong to rich people, whereas cold, hunger, loneliness and death are for the ordinary people.

 

When I read Dickens’ – A Christmas Dinner, I can’t remember the details now, but still remember how Victorian people prepared a Christmas dinner. At that time in my mind that English should all dress like in the book and eat in that manner. Many years later, when I came toEngland, I realized that mince pie was translated into Chinese – 肉馅饼（minced meat pie）is completely wrong. Actually there is no meat in the mince pie since Victorian time. The filling is preserved fruit. No matter how much you know about a country unless you living in that country, you would not notice how much of what you know is wrong.

 

After I came toEuropeas a student, Christmas was more a holiday than a festival. I did enjoy seeing the lights on the Christmas tree flashing from windows when I passed by each house. I liked to see all family members were sitting in the cozy lounge chatting and laughing. The flames of the fireplace warmed up the whole house, also warmed my heart when I passed the house. When I passed by these houses with my friends, we always dreamed one day that we could have a home like that. I could open gifts with my kids under a Christmas tree.

 

In reality, there is no decoration in my house apart from a Christmas tree. T keeps telling me that Christmas is for children. I had been invited by a friend inLeicesterto her home for a Christmas celebration. Her house is not big, but warm and cozy. I like the atmosphere there – flashing lights in the garden, decorated Christmas tree, windows and ceiling.  

 

Dining in Birmingham (Chinese Restaurant)

 

After I had been so many times inBirmingham, I always think it is pity that I can not find a descent Chinese restaurant in such a big and diversified city. There are lots of Chinese restaurants aroundChinaTowninBirmingham. However the food there is like from noodle shop in Hong Kong or from the street food vendors inAsia. It is suitable to eat there with intimate friends after shopping, but it is not suitable for business purpose. Maybe this country does not need to entertain customers anymore, not like inChina, at least I do not feel it necessary. This photo was taken in summer when I had in a Chinese restaurant inChinaTown– Thai style seafood noodles.

 

Before Christmas, we met T’s half-brother and his partner for dinner one night inBirmingham. Two years ago, his partner chose Wongs inBirmingham, which had been voted for Top 20 Chinese restaurants inBritain– must be English locals voted. I was the only Chinese there and there was no menu in Chinese in the restaurant. The food was awful. This time when she chose two Chinese restaurants and sent the web links to T, we made final decision to meet in The Henry’s. To my surprise it is a very good restaurant. It is the best I had so far inBirmingham.

 

It is a mainly Cantonese restaurant, however if you read their Chinese menu that you will see they also provide many dishes from northernChinaandSichuanstyle. I ordered three dishes from Chinese menu – Tofu,Sichuanstyle chicken and stir-fried green vegetable. T’s brother and his partner enjoyed very well. They said that they would never order something like these. Even stir-fried green vegetable was completely finished. I always think English do not like vegetables.

 

 

Dining in Birmingham (The Simpsons)

 

Same as every year, T and I chose a Michelin star restaurant to have our Christmas dinner – actually we always have it before Christmas. This time T chose The Simpsons in Birmingham. Simpsons at Edgbaston is converted from a Grade II-listed Georgian building with a Victorian Interior.
When we arrived, we were shown into a luxuriously-upholstered lounge to enjoy olives and an aperitif before being shown to our table. I did not have a chance to take a photo here as it was completely full.

 

This is the place where we had our dinner. We started early around 7.00pm. Later you will see from the photos it was also fully occupied.

 

This is the soup provided by the restaurant.

 

Bread is made fresh everyday and served piping hot. An impressive array of bread was brought to us in a basket. These were all excellent with lovely fluffy interior and the right amount of seasoning. Ten years ago when I first came toEurope, T told me the best dish for him is bread and butter. I was laughing in my mind. Ten years after I have the same conclusion now. Has my taste changed?

 

My starter – Scallop ravioli, boc choy, sesame seeds, lemon grass and ginger.

 

T’s starter – Fillet of halibut, burnt sweetheart cabbage, watercress and dill.

 

My main course – Roasted guinea fowl, pastilla of confit leg, pomegranate, aromatic couscous, date & lemon purée, cumin sauce

 

T’s main course – Loin of Balmoral venison, broccoli purée, sweed, walnuts, blueberries,  juniper sauce.

 

Before we ordered dessert, this apple crumble was provided by the restaurant.

 

T’s dessert – A selection of pasteurised & un-pasteruised English and Continental cheeses

 

My dessert – Chocolate and parline tart, chantily, mandarin and lemon thyme sorbet.

 

T took this photo for me in the restaurant.

 

Inadvertently, a small card on the dinning table attracted my attention. I picked it up and read it – it is cooperation between restaurant and the charity – every table will donate £1 for the chairty. I played with the card while my mind was floating to something else.

 

The last dessert was a selection of multi-flavoured macaroons, chocolates and sweet.

 

The surroundings were beautiful. The taste of food was delicate and amazing. It uses various ingredients that you will never think to use in cooking and even mixture with fruit. The service was impeccable. One of the dining areas is the veranda, just outside the room where we are dining. The veranda flooring itself is laid with limestone with glass panels used as the roof, partially covered with blinds, to create a greenhouse effect, allowing natural sunlight to flood in. Martin told me that he had dinner on the veranda. I believe that the restaurant would be absolutely stunning during summer, which makes me thinking about to bring T here again for his next year’s birthday.

As usual we using T’s points and stayed in Hyatt Hotel overnight. We can see plane take off at the airport from the room window when it is clear and sunny day. Every time when T and I come toBirminghamto visit his mother we live here. I never had the chance to touring around. This year we had the chance to look around the canal which I had been thinking of for several years.

 

When I saw this high-heel shoe, I remembered Summer told me that any shoes over10cmcould arise her desire to buy.

 

There are still many places I want to see inBirmingham-Aston Hall, back to backs, the place where T was born, worked and lived before. The place his father was teaching before. The last but not the least is to watch a football match!

 

Next day T and I shopped around and I took the chance to see the German Christmas market. I saw one before inBath, but the size was much smaller.

 

T never knows what he should buy for me as Christmas gift. I wrote a list of things that I will buy for him. Then he asked me to prepare another list for myself. When I wrote the list, I had a feeling like shopping grocery in the supermarket. I bought most items myself in the end – bought the books and DVDs, which I wanted to buy for a while.

 

I told T the rumor that the end of the world will be on 21^st of December in 2012. T was so happy to hear that and said finally there is no need to buy Christmas gift for me and no need to put up the Christmas tree! 😉