With the country remaining on adjusted level one of lockdown for the remainder of the festive season, it means we can indulge in all the Christmas dining that many restaurants are offering. However, if you’d prefer to have your Christmas food at home with less to no effort, these restaurants and chefs have you covered.

Cape Town

Lust Bistro and Bakery (Franschhoek)

Nothing says Christmas quite like fruit cake. Lust Bistro and Bakery in Franschhoek has added a luxurious take to this traditional Christmas treat. The restaurant is offering small batches of its handmade luxury fruit cake, slowly cured with premium brandy to order. The 1.3kg cake is available for R250 and the 2.3kg for R390. Stock is limited. Order at 021 874 1456 or contact justine@lustbistro.com

House of Dim Sum

House of Dim Sum specialises in traditional Cantonese meals made up of small dishes of dumplings and other bite-sized treats. These are offered as easy-to-prepare or cooked, ready-to-eat items in the comfort of your home. This year the delivery- and collection-only kitchen is trying something different with their Christmas feast spread. The meal kit includes crispy peking duck, pan-fried dumplings, fluffy pork buns, Christmas brownies from Yu Dessert Studio and more. The Christmas feast for eight people costs R1,400. Add a 20cm bamboo steamer and it’s R1,500. Order at www.houseofdimsum.co.za.

Station Street Kitchen by Chef Mynhardt (Paarl)

Chef Mynhardt together with his team at Station Street Kitchen are offering a festive treat in the form of a Christmas Box. This boasts a Christmas lunch that is ready to warm with simple instructions. The Christmas menu includes a huge festive roast Cornish hen chicken, pickled beef tongue, rolled and deboned stuffed lamb, golden pumpkin fritters, vanilla and rose-syrup beetroot salad, Christmas fruit cake, and more. This is complemented by foodie gifts from Montagu snacks and Willow Creek olive oil as well as delicious wines from KWV Cathedral Cellar. This is available for four to six guests at R4,250 and for eight to 10 guests at R5,250. The box can be collected at 24 Station Street in Paarl on the 24th of December. Deliveries can be arranged in the Cape Peninsula on the 24th of December at R550 per box. Order now by contacting manager@mynhardt.co.za or via WhatsApp on 084 916 4506.

Johannesburg

DW Eleven 13 (Dunkeld West)

In addition to DW Eleven’s Christmas lunch that is offered at the restaurant, Chef Martinus Ferreira will also be serving a separate Christmas menu for collection. This one includes seed loaf and butter, a choice between tuna escabeche or gnocchi for starters, line fish or sous vide lamb for the main course, and cheesecake or friandise for dessert. The menu costs R471 per person. Collection time for Christmas Day will be between 11am and 12pm. There are a limited number of collections available for Christmas Day, so all orders must be in by Christmas Eve. It is important that any allergies or dietary requirements are communicated when placing the order. Call the restaurant at 011 341 0663.

Les Creatifs (Bryanston)

Chef Kenosi Malebye, executive pâtissier at Les Creatifs, has created a lovely dessert series for Christmas. This is out of a need to recreate the traditional Christmas cake. “The cakes have a similar flavour profile, but are smoother, cleaner and elegant,” he says. The pretty cake series includes the Mont Blanc pistachio pie at R160; the raspberry, resin and nut roll cake at R620; the peach and Chantilly creme tart at R300; the nectarine and walnut tart with caramel centre and sweet jelly at R300; and the extra-large Christmas cake with strawberry confit and cappuccino centre for R1,700. These delights are available for delivery and collection from the restaurant. Some of the prices exclude delivery cost. Order from Les Creatifs at 068 182 7929.

Signature and Level Seven (Morningside and Kempton Park)

Signature Restaurant in Morningside and Level Seven Restaurant and Sky Bar at the Radisson Hotel by OR Tambo airport are fine-dining establishments by restaurateur Desmond Mabuza. Both restaurants offer the at-home dining experience complete with décor, flowers, cutlery, crockery, a sommelier and a chef. The experience is customised for customers wanting to dine in their own homes. Choose from the à la carte menu and receive a quote based on the number of guests, food choices, décor and wine selection. View more details for Signature here and for Level Seven here.

Why Cook Studio

Why Cook is run by chefs Yolanda Dlamini and Mathapelo Montsho who offer catering and studio services. Their Christmas menu is available at R3,000 for five people and R6,000 for 10 to 12 people. Included in the package is slow-braised short ribs, grilled spatchcock chicken, Thai prawn curry, and a deboned leg of lamb for an extra R600. These are served with aromatic rice, mini dumplings, roasted vegetable medley, Italian seasonal salad and avocado potato salad. For dessert, enjoy traditional mini malva, pudding with custard or berry trifle. Orders close on Sunday, 19 December. Place your order at order@whycook.co.za or 076 735 9728 and get more info here.

Pretoria

HL Culinary Experience

Chef Lebo Phala supplies high-quality and wholesome meals for the whole family.
Her Christmas menu has butter-drenched white wine turkey and herb and garlic roasted turkey breast as the main course. Sides include mashed sweet potatoes with bacon and sage; creamed corn; green bean casserole; roasted broccoli with lemon, parmesan and almonds; balsamic glazed butternut; Brussels sprouts; and cornbread with honey butter. Enjoy apple pie for dessert. The order is R8,500 for 12 to 15 people. Contact hlculinary@icloud.com or 083 694 8991.