Seafood featuring on UK holiday menus

As U.K. diners embrace more ethnic foods, they are also seeking out seafood dishes during the holida…

As U.K. diners embrace more ethnic foods, they are also seeking out seafood dishes during the holiday season and into the new year. “What we are seeing a lot of is U.K. diners embracing authentic global foods, many of which feature seafood and shellfish,” said Elizabeth Freier, associated editor for Technomic U.K.

To that end, many U.K. restaurants and pubs are featuring seafood on their menus this year, instead of or in addition to traditional turkey dinners. At Balls Brothers, which operates 19 bars and restaurants in London, is offering specials such as lobster burger and glass of champagne, a half-grilled lobster with 8-ounce steak, and three lobster slides with skinny Fries and glass of champagne.

The Living Room Restaurant & Bar features beer-battered tiger prawns as well as pan-fried sea bass with two sides for GBP 15 (USD 24.34) at some of its locations. It is also selling pan-fried monkfish with parsley fishcake for GBP 18 (USD 29.13) throughout the holiday season.

Brown Bar & Brasserie ‘s Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve menus both feature a choice of fresh half of lobster and scallops Thermidor with over-roasted vine cherry tomatoes. The restaurant chain also offered a three-course menu for Boxing Day that includes the option of baked supreme of salmon for GBP 25 (USD 46).

Italian chain Prezzo Restaurant’s three-course Festive Menu for Christmas includes several seafood options, such as king prawns and calamari for starters and spaghetti with king prawns for an entrée. French chain Café Rouge’s Christmas Party Menu features a Scottish smoked salmon starter and a filet de tilapia entrée.

After the holidays, a number of U.K. restaurants will kick off 2013 by highlighting lower-calorie fare, according to Freier. “Because seafood is often perceived as a lighter alternative to heavier meats like steak, many restaurants will offer a number of seafood preparations for calorie–conscious consumers,” Freier said.