Table d'hotel Christmas
By KAREN TAY - Sunday Star Times
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Christmas with the family can be a lot of fun, but nobody enjoys cleaning up the aftermath: dirty dishes, wine stains and a bathroom not fit to be seen in daylight.
Short of being a grinch and banning any festivities, the alternative is to farm out the tedious bits. Hotel Christmas buffets have come a long way from the days when selections were limited to roast meats, potato salad and a Christmas cracker.
These days most hotels offer not just a variety of cuisines and a la carte dining, but even a choice of different venues, including pool parties and rooftop barbecues. We round up the best hotels to visit for the ultimate Christmas feast.
AUCKLAND
The Langham
Christmas lunch at the five- star hotel is a classic, with three restaurants: Barolo, featuring European-style cuisine where you can get a six-course lunch or dinner including glass of Laurent- Perrier for $165 per head, SBF Brasserie, serving NZ- style buffet breakfast ($70pp), lunch ($155pp) and dinner ($135pp) or a Christmas Day afternoon tea at The Winery for $56pp.
83 Symonds St, Auckland,
ph (09) 379-5132 or auckland.langhamhotels.co.nz
SkyCity Grand
Groups of 10 or more can enjoy Christmas fine dining at dine by Peter Gordon, where a special six-course degustation menu costs $135pp or $200 with matching wines. A private dining room is also available for up to 16 guests but requires a minimum spend.
90 Federal St, Auckland,
ph (09) 363-7030 or www.skycityauckland.co.nz
ROTORUA
Heritage Rotorua
The Christmas Day buffet comes at $75 for adults and $37.50 per child (under-fives eat free), with half the menu consisting of fresh seafood such as South Island mussels, sushi and sashimi, marinated raw fish, poached salmon and steamed black tiger prawns. Not much here for vegetarians but they can always fill up on patisserie such as petit sherry trifles and berry cheesecake.
Cnr Froude and Tyron Sts, Rotorua, ph (07) 348-1189 or www.heritagehotels.co.nz
WELLINGTON
The Holiday Inn's Plate Restaurant & Bar
Traditionalists at heart will enjoy the special Christmas menu at Plate, where for $49pp they can enjoy an entree of chilli prawns with mango salad, a choice of stuffed turkey or glazed ham for mains and for dessert, Christmas pudding or apple strudel.
Featherston St, Wellington, ph (04) 498-3762 or www.platerestaurant.co.nz
Bolton Hotel
Bisque on Bolton has a special menu for the 25th including a glass of champagne and canapes on arrival. Then there is watercress vichysoisse, game terrine and caramel pot with praline cream, followed by mince tartlets, all for $165pp.
Cnr Bolton and Mowbray Sts, Wellington, ph (04) 472-9966 or www.boltonhotel.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH
The George's Pescatore Restaurant
For those willing to splash out, the newly-renovated Pescatore restaurant's five- course Christmas menu has such treats as Clevedon oysters served three ways, ham hock terrine, turkey boudin, crispy skin salmon confit and Christmas cake parfait for dessert, all at $170pp including tea, coffee or infusions and mince pies.
50 Park Tce, Christchurch, ph (03) 371-0257 or www.thegeorge.com
QUEENSTOWN
Millbrook Resort
If you can't afford a night at this five-star hotel by the water, then here's the next best option. The Millhouse's $195pp degustation menu offers apple and beetroot carpaccio, crab and paua salad and plum-glazed duck. For $95 per adult and $50 per child (12 and under), you can get Christmas lunch buffet with a selection of barbecued fare like wild venison, Southland lamb chops and prawn kebabs.
Malaghans Rd, Arrowtown, ph 0800-800604 or www.millbrook.co.nz
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