Specials

From his Oxfordshire kitchen, Raymond Blanc prepares his recipes for the biggest meal of the year. This Christmas, he creates a feast for friends and family, full of Gallic flavour but generously dusted with a frosting of British tradition. Golden goose takes centre stage, served with perfectly ruffled roast potatoes, chestnut stuffing and an intense orange sauce. A simple but elegant seafood chowder and a spectacular platter of Cornish shellfish with homemade mayonnaise would certainly grace the finest tables of France. And to finish, Raymond shares a true French tradition in a galette des rois - layers of puff pastry, almond cream, caramelised pears and a little surprise - a great dessert throughout the festive season. He also makes a sumptuous buche de noel, the ideal dish to prepare in advance for a stress-free Christmas feast. Along the way, Raymond visits Cornwall for oysters, Hampshire for chestnuts and the Camel Valley in the south west for a prize-winning bottle of bubbles.