Fear Not - Help Is At Hand

The Age

Tuesday December 19, 2006

CAROLYN HOLBROOK, HILARY McNEVIN, SALL GUDGEON

Two kinds of people are reading Epicure this morning; those who are turning the pages, between sips of pot-brewed orange pekoe tea and bites of jam-slathered sourdough; perusing the recipes and the wine recommendations and thinking (perhaps a little smugly) of those Christmas presents tucked away in the cupboard. And then there's the other kind; speed-reading; scanning the industry gossip for their name, flicking over the restaurant review and noting the all-important score; perhaps glancing at the recipes. These people have done nothing, though there are only days until Christmas and they're starting to panic. Breathe deeply. I suspect the number of people for whom buying presents, food and drink becomes a crazy and comprised last-minute cram-job grows each year, in this work-crazy world. Never mind, here are some food, drink and gift ideas that might save the day.

-- CAROLYN HOLBROOK

Forgotten to pick up the Christmas pud?

Here is the lowdown on some offerings likely to still be in stock.

Trampoline Gelato Xmas Pud

Brandy-soaked sultanas, figs, nutmeg, slivered almonds, cinnamon and allspice mixed through milk gelato base, topped with couverture chocolate. Comes in small (eight serves, $30); medium (16 serves, $45); large (24 serves, $60). Other flavours available. Order from Trampoline Gelato shops; three days' notice required.

Sauced Christmas pudding

Moist and beautifully flavoured steamed pudding with mixed dried fruit, brandy and spices. Comes in 850g (serves eight, $28) and 1.75kg (serves 16, $46) sizes. Christmas fruit cakes also available.Sauced, stall 91, I shed, Queen Victoria Market.

Wardlaw Plum Pudding

These puddings have a big reputation, and rightly so. The Wardlaw shopfront has gone, but you can still buy the puds if you turn up at 169 Martin Street, Brighton, or call 9596 0133. Five sizes are available, from 150g ($5.90) to 2kg ($59.90).

Last-minute lunch

Christmas can often be loaded with intense expectations for just one day and what happens around the dining table seems to carry an enormous amount of that anticipation. That dining table need not be at home. Going to a restaurant on Christmas Day is as common as watching Gran get tipsy by mid-afternoon. Allowing someone else to do all the work is certainly relaxing. Here is a list of restaurants open on Christmas Day and with tables available when we went to press.

-- HILARY MCNEVIN

Vue de monde

430 Little Collins Street, 9691 3888.

Set menu of four courses $350 per person.

Grosvenor Hotel

10 Brighton Road, St Kilda, 9531 1542.

Set menu of four courses $90 pp.

Vin Cellar

212 High Street, Prahran, 9510 2820.

Set menu of three courses $79 pp.

The Press Club

72 Flinders Street, 9677 9677.

Set menu of four courses $129 pp.

Sofitel

25 Collins Street, 9653 7744.Buffet $160 pp.

Koko at Crown

Level 3 Crown Towers, 9292 6886.

Set menu $90 pp.

Hilton on the Park

192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, 9419 2000.

Buffet $155 pp or four-course set menu $175 pp.

The bottle-shop dash

The best bet for last-minute liquor purchases on Christmas Day are bottle shops attached to hotels. Most are open 10am-5pm. Some drive-in bottle shops, such as the BWS outlets, open as early as 9am. If you need something a bit more special, such as a bottle of Grange, go to the Botanical in South Yarra and choose from its amazing wine wall. McCoppins in Fitzroy, Abbotsford and at Food Works in Clifton Hill are great for special gifts of the alcoholic variety too and will be open on the day.

-- SALLY GUDGEON