There wasn't a Scrooge in sight this weekend as hundreds turned out to eat, drink and be merry at the Taste of Christmas exhibition.
With eight top restaurants to sample and stall upon stall of festive delights, the Excel centre in London played host to the three day event. From spiced apple crumble and salt beef sandwiches to traditional turkey, there was more delicious food than you could shake a Santa's hat at.
With top chefs in attendance too, you could get a few last minute tips from the best. I was able to get a seat for Michelin starred Michel Roux Jr. and Rachel Allen, who cooked duck and a lip-smacking tiramisu. Stalls offered up everything from home-made Christmas decorations to cheese and chocolate - their was something for everyone and plenty of tasty samples to draw you in.
Each restaurant created a themed three course sampler menu with minature portions, so you can enjoy plenty without over-doing it. Highlights of the day included a delectable Welsh black sirloin with straw potatoes and house sauce from Covent Garden restaurant, Roast. A classic steak and chips if you will, the sirloin was juicy and flavourful with the peppercorn-style sauce adding a hit. From Gary Rhodes signature W1 eatery, I tried the smoked salmon and cream cheese terrine with lemon dressing. The lemon was zingy, fresh and perfect for Christmas Day starters - that's if you haven't overdone it on the Quality Street!
Another favourite of the day was from Indian restaurant, The Cinnamon Club, who offered up smoked marsh lamb saddle with marsala mash potato and saffron sauce. It was by far the tastiest meal of the day and didn't disappoint. With a craving for something sweet I headed back to Gary Rhodes who served up mandarin tart with chocolate sauce; the perfect alternative to Christmas pud in my opinion.
Taste of Christmas is the festive version of the Taste of London summer festival, which I attend every year. As a virgin to the Christmas alternative I was pleasantly reassured to find an excellent calibre of food and shopping that you would expect from this renowned foodie's heaven. A bandstand complete with carollers and with a mulled wine in hand the day came to an end. It's the perfect way to get in the festive mood, try some fantastic food and do some Christmas shopping.
Stacey Malvern is a BitchBuzz Style columnist and Editorial Assistant at ASOS.com. With an insiders guide to working in fashion and all the shopping tips you'll ever need, you can follow her on Twitter @ASOS_Stacey.