Norway can you miss this festive feast
NIGELLA’S COOK, EAT, REPEAT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
BBC2, 8pm NIGELLA Lawson is warming her hands by a firepit (how very 2020) and telling us how she “revels in Christmas” amid a wintry scene of twinkly lights.
She even has enviable kitchen utensil tree decorations and a festive cocktail to hand – of course she does.
TV’s most alluring chef says: “I know that Christmas is different this year. But for me, it’s all the more important to make the most of every fairy light, every candle, every golden moment and every delicious mouthful.”
To be honest, she had us at cocktail. She starts by introducing us to her festive filing system.
There’s a sprouts wreath, Christmas tea towels and a seasonal rolling pin.
“One day I might be filled with an urgent need to make reindeerstamped pastry,” she insists. Linzer cookies, which look like posh Jammie Dodgers, are first on her list.
Then she puts her wellies on for a walk through the woods, divulging her plans and menus for a festive feast.
Back at home, work begins on the meal to be shared with a few select friends.
There is a Nordic theme here: pickled red cabbage and cucumber salad, no- knead black bread to accompany smoked salmon, the perfect partner to pink pomegranate fizz cocktails.
Norwegian pork ribs follow and there’s some squidgy gingerbread to gawp at.
Nigella signs of f by taking inspiration from a Dutch New Year’s Eve tradition of Oliebollen and Appelflappen – that’s doughnuts to us mere mortals.
As ever, it’s all mouth-watering and ever so slightly seductive.