We live in such a multi cultural, secular world that for many of us Christmas is characterized more by the gastronomic blow out than it is by church or prayer.
And yet we are so conventional in our Christmas culinary choices.
For those who are tired of the same old, same old of mince pies and turkey dinners what follows are some alternative ideas:

TIRED OF TRADITIONAL XMAS CAKE?
Carlton Café (TEL: 012 460 7996) in Pretoria will sell you a novel Christmas cake – it is still a fruit cake but it is not only super boozy but it is also laden with dark chocolate chunks. NB. Closing on 22nd so order early.
Super Sconto (TEL: 011 728 7561) in Orange Grove, Johannesburg will sell you Italian style xmas cakes for those who are bored with Granny’s fruit cake recipe. They stock everything you need for a mid morning Italian Christmas moment: from Pannetone and panforte cakes Open half day 24 December, closed 25, 26.

TIRED OF BORING BRAAIS?
Sausages You Can Trust (TEL: 011 615 4184) will sell you New Orleans cayenne chorizo, sage Lincolnshire bangers, North African lamb sausages. All the sausages are gluten free and contain no preservatives. They will also sell you sausage meat without casings for stuffing Turkeys etc.
Webber Course – send someone you love on the Webber course so that next xmas they will be able to cook Christmas dinner for you. Shirley Guy at Food Affairs (TEL: 011 440 9258) covers everything from Christmas turkeys to giant pizzas and sexy lobsters on a Webber.

Congolese Market on Rockey Street in Yeoville – no telephone # but you can’t miss it – it’s opposite the KFC and it is a pistachio green covered market. The Congolese stall holders will sell you a Tilapia fish from the great Lakes to put on your braai. While you are there why not buy some yams and plantains and visit the aphrodisiac spice stalls.

TIRED OF TURKEY?
Samson Mulugeta (TEL: 011 726 2890) will make you an Ethiopian Coptic Church Christmas meal including a Doro Wat stew
OR you can go to Little Addis at 220 Jeppe Street, JHB CBD which is a whole building full of Ethiopian shops to buy foodie ingredients) and buy the ingredients and buy the berbere spices necessary to make it yourself.

RECIPE: TIRED OF MINCE PIES?
(Make Nigel Slaters super easy, super delicious Christmas mincemeat crumble!)

400g tart green apples (sliced thin – no need to peel)
450g shop bought mince meat
1 banana (sliced into rounds)
Juice of 1 orange
100g flour
75g butter
50g brown sugar
10ml water

· Set oven to 200C
· Put the apples in an oven proof dish
· Mix in the mincemeat, banana slices and juice
· Put the flour, butter and sugar into your blender and wiz it up briefly to make a crumble or work it with your fingers until you get a crumbly consistency. If the mixture is too dry (powdery not crumbly) add the water.
· Pour the crumble mixture over the top and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on top
· Serve with Crème fraiche