Make carats the star of your Christmas dinner

AN award-winning butcher is telling people how to add some festive bling to their Christmas dinner – by covering their goose in gold.

Danny Lidgate has teamed up with Amazon Fresh to bring you what may well be the most decadent bird you have ever eaten. The golden geese come from the owner of C Lidgate - the fifth generation butchers in Holland Park - and will be delivered to customers once the bird is cooked and rested.

Gilding roast birds was the ultimate sign of wealth and opulence at 16th century banquets and was a rumoured favourite of Henry VIII.

The grandeur of these golden dinners was a display of the host’s wealth and made for a spectacular centrepiece for the guests around the table.

Mr Lidgate has already rolled back the centuries by working with Amazon Fresh to produce medieval mince pies, complete with beef mince, and now they are taking a step back in time with the golden goose.

TV food historian Annie Gray, who has also worked on the project, said: “Gilding food has long been a mark of tremendous prestige, showing off wealth and the skills of one’s cooks.

“Gold not only looked good in and of itself, but it reflected the light from fires and candles, glittering across the table and competing with the rich jewels and gold and silver-embroidered clothing of the privileged diners around it.

“In the medieval and Tudor era, gilded roast centrepieces were the ultimate showstopper on the winter feast table. A cheaper option was to use paste containing saffron or safflower, but nothing beats real edible gold. Rich, buttery and packed with flavour, roast goose is a great Christmas day alternative to turkey. Customers are constantly seeking out food that not only tastes great but also looks great too.

“What better way to achieve this than by using high-quality edible gold leaf to astonish your guests this Christmas.” The golden goose weighs 4.5-5kg, feeding up to six people, and costs £98.50.