Christmas dinner in batter is a big hit
A BURTON fish bar is getting well and truly into the festive spirit by serving battered turkeyfilled Yorkshire puddings to capture the special flavour of a Christmas dinner.
Calais Fish Bar made headlines last year when battered pigs in blankets and mince pies went on sale – and this year owners are taking things a step further.
The chippy, in Calais Road, is serving up the new festive treat, complete with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce in a Yorkshire pudding, deep-fried and served with a portion of gravy.
Lovers of last year’s battered mince pies and pigs in blankets need not worry as they have made a return and are also on sale again.
Owner Andrew Charalambous, 37, said the idea for battering festive treats came from his children and when he put them on the chippy’s menu last year, the response was so amazing he vowed to make it even bigger and better this year.
Both Andrew and his wife Andrea, 33, say the Yorkshire puddings have taken over as their favourite festive treat on offer.
Andrew said: “The Yorkshire puddings are hand-prepared every morning so they are nice and fresh.
“We love them. The Yorkshire pudding is nice and crispy because of the batter and the turkey and stuffing really make it feel like Christmas.
“And the sweetness from the cranberry sauce really brings everything together.
“We have it with gravy as well so it makes it just like a proper roast dinner – that’s what it tastes like anyway.” All three festive items have already been selling well and the couple say they have stocked up to make sure they have enough for everyone, especially after one customer visited last year to order TEN pigs in blankets.
The new Yorkshire puddings are on sale for £3.50, the pigs in blankets cost £2 and the mince pies, £1.
In Easter this year, the chippy started frying Cadbury’s Creme Eggs, which became so popular they could not track down enough of the chocolate eggs to keep up with demand. The couple are always looking for new things to throw in the fryer, but Andrew has said he can’t foresee them laying on battered Brussels sprouts any time soon.
Andrew said: “I don’t sell anything I don’t like myself.
“If I don’t like it, I can’t try it and if I don’t try it I don’t know if it is good enough for my customers.
“I’m not the biggest fan of Brussels anyway so I won’t be doing them.”
Staff at the chippy, which has been run by the same family for 30 years, are hoping the Yorkshire puddings will go down as well as some of their previous offerings, and are always open to suggestions from customers about what they could try next.
OUR VERDICT
Burton Mail reporter Beth Pridding went out to sample the treats – and this is what she had to say.
She said: “I have to say, Andrew and Andrea were right when they said the Yorkshire puddings had taken the top spot.
“The batter crisps up the Yorkshire pudding while the cranberry sauce gives a great sweet taste. It tasted like an entire Christmas dinner in one mouthful.
“I’d certainly recommend it to anybody wanting to get in the Christmas mood.”