Once upon a time, Christmas food meant turkey, stuffing, mulled wine and a good old-fashioned figgy pudding.
But then restaurants and fast food chains got involved.
This year it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry has a “Christmas menu”, but most have about as much festive spirit as Scrooge himself.
From adding cranberry to everything, to calling a burrito “festive”, here are some of the worst offenders.
Nando's
Nando's
The first of the cranberry crimes is courtesy of Nando's.
The fast food chain's Christmas menu stars a standard chicken burger with "PERi-Berry Chutney" featuring cranberries, raspberries and blueberries. Snore.
The fast food chain's Christmas menu stars a standard chicken burger with "PERi-Berry Chutney" featuring cranberries, raspberries and blueberries. Snore.
Ask Italian
Ask Italian
Turkey may not be the norm for a traditional Italian Christmas, but mushroom soup? Really Ask Italian?
The 'Super Festivo' meatball main isn't much better. Nothing says "Bah Humbug" like buffalo mozzarella.
The 'Super Festivo' meatball main isn't much better. Nothing says "Bah Humbug" like buffalo mozzarella.
Zizzi
Zizziinstagram
Adding "cranberry shavings" and a few brussels sprouts does not make a salami-based pizza festive, Zizzi.
And don't even get us started on the random shoulder of lamb.
And don't even get us started on the random shoulder of lamb.
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Busaba
Busaba
Busaba's Christmas specials include Thai spiced crab and prawn cocktail with Sriracha mayo, king prawn parcels in Thai basil broth and chilli lamb stir fried in sizzling woks.
Sounds delicious, doesn't sound Christmassy. Don't pretend it is.
Sounds delicious, doesn't sound Christmassy. Don't pretend it is.
KFC
KFC
KFC is trying to persuade us chicken is the new turkey – convenient.
Its festive burger comes with a hash brown, cheese, lettuce, cranberry sauce (obviously) and sage and onion stuffing mayonnaise.
Its festive burger comes with a hash brown, cheese, lettuce, cranberry sauce (obviously) and sage and onion stuffing mayonnaise.
Benito's Hat
Benitos Hat
Sorry Benito's Hat, but there's nothing "festive" about an orange-infused pork belly, crackling and cranberry burrito.
But as 50p of each of these Christmas specials is going to charity, we'll let you off (this time).
But as 50p of each of these Christmas specials is going to charity, we'll let you off (this time).
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