Wining, dining and more

Eating and drinking are essential to life but food and drink are also two of life's pleasures. Besides the people who live to eat, most of us enjoy a good meal with an excellent wine to accompany it, whether it is eating out or in.

What with Christmas festivities on the way, wining and dining plays a large part in bringing together family and friends.

Some of us will be eating out more at this time of the year, while others will be entertaining at home.

Tomorrow's Eating & Drinking Guide, out with The Times, caters for both. It is a celebration of Christmas goodies with a difference. You will find delicious festive meals for vegetarians and people with dietary requirements, as well as some great ideas for cakes, besides the normal Christmas fare.

Gaudy decorations are out and Frieda Diacono shows us how to decorate a Christmas table simply and effectively.

How about trying out a Dickens' menu straight out of A Christmas Carol?

And if you are worried about your small children driving you mad when busy in the kitchen preparing for Christmas, Eating & Drinking suggests a way to keep them busy cooking!

The travel section features Vietnam and Asia's nouvelle cuisine.

Maltese abroad do us proud. Read about Bernard Sammut Alessi, pie chef extraordinaire, who has become famous for his Simple Simon Pies which are sold exclusively to Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh and through his website.

Find out what Soprano Lydia Caruana, one of our best cultural ambassadors, Ambassador Salv Stellini, chairman of the CHOGM task force, Stephen Sultana, advisor to the Commonwealth Business Council and Adrian Bajada, president of the Federation of Industry, talked about and what they thought of the food at the dinner hosted by Flavours at the Golden Sands Hotel. As usual you will also find a number of listed restaurants around the island you will want to try out and you can win two great hampers and a meal for two at Mezè in St Julians, or solve the elimination game and win a meal for four at the Intercontinental's Carissa Restaurant.

The Eating & Drinking Guide is designed and produced by MediaMaker and published by Allied Group. Editorial is by Pamela Hansen (phansen@timesofmalta.com)
eatinganddrinking@timesofmalta.com