It’s the beginning of December, lunchtime, and we are sitting wearing paper hats, recovered from recently pulled crackers. A Festive Feast, the first of the season, in Jamie’s Italian, the stylish, open dining room beside George Square. It’s quiet when we visit, by the time you read this the room will be the backdrop to a rolling culinary performance piece.
A theatre of food: animated patrons, meticulously planned and executed food, a retinue of staff directing plate traffic, chefs visible in the background at the pass, the pop of prosecco bottles being uncorked. People arrive here with a level of expectation, looking for a sense of occasion. At this time of the year, they deliver.
Jamie Oliver is hard to avoid at Christmas. He’s probably on at least one television channel right now, boshing ingredients into a bowl. Then there’s the latest book: 5 Ingredients, Quick & Easy Food. Destined to be a best selling present from Santa.
Before all that, way back at the start, prior to his television debut in 1999, Jamie was a pastry chef at Antonio Carluccio’s Neal Street restaurant, where he first gained experience with preparing Italian cuisine, and developed a relationship with his mentor Gennaro Contaldo. After becoming a food force in his own right, Oliver employed Contaldo to help run his collection of high street restaurants.
There are now Jamie’s Italian restaurants sprinkled across the country, with others appearing abroad, often in landmark locations.
We’re here for the set festive lunch menu, available for £29.95, and which starts with a glass of the aforementioned prosecco.
Two cans of tomatoes arrive. They are not the first course. Instead, an antipasti plank is placed on top with a selection of cured meats, cheeses, pickles and hunks of focaccia. All questions are answered as we plan our approach: start with the mortadella di Bologna, finish with the pecorino cheese.
It worked out well. The cheese in particular was excellent. We can imagine multiple portions of this starter being passed around large groups over the festive season. A welcome nod to strong Italian flavours.
Next, choice comes into play. Remembering Jamie Oliver waxing lyrical about porchetta on television, or maybe on his YouTube channel, that was a clear choice. The pork belly is wrapped with cranberry, apricot and sage for a taste of Christmas, served with apple sauce (more of this please). Picture perfect and really satisfying.
A flash-grilled beef steak, served with whipped truffle butter, chargrilled portobello mushrooms and Chianti red wine sauce. Sounds delightful, and it proved to be a rich, delectable treat.
The mains are served with an overwhelming supply of Brussels sprouts, rosemary roast potatoes and vegetables. A meal in themselves. We have seldom enjoyed Brussel spouts, but we did here, going back to the bowl for multiple portions after tentatively trying them out.
Now it really does feel festive, we are gloriously stuffed with food without having to be wheeled out of the front door. Space for dessert? Always.
We tried the Black Forest panna cotta which was light and unexpectedly complex. Also the festive dark chocolate tart which is a sugar rush of wonderful winter flavours.
The next time you see Jamie Oliver appear on your television, probably any moment now, consider it a reminder to make your way to George Square before the festive season is over.
Jamie’s Italian
7 George Square
Glasgow
G2 1DY
T: 0141 404 2690
On The Menu: Festive Feast at Jamie’s Italian Glasgow (£29.95 per person)
TO START
OUR FAMOUS ANTIPASTI PLANK
Tuscan fennel salami, mortadella di Bologna, salami piccante, buffalo mozzarella, pecorino cheese, snappy music bread, olives, pickles & grilled & marinated seasonal vegetables, all served with homemade rosemary focaccia
MAINS
GENNARO’S TURKEY RAVIOLI
Hand-filled pasta stuffed with slow-braised turkey & plenty of herbs, served with sage butter & honey-toasted chestnuts
JAMIE’S PORCHETTA
Slow-cooked free-range pork belly stuffed with cranberry, apricot & sage, served with silky celeriac purée, gravy & herby apple sauce
CRACKER RAVIOLI
Cracker-shaped spinach pasta parcels filled with buffalo ricotta, squash & chestnuts, served in a clementine butter sauce with crispy sage
OUR FAMOUS PRAWN LINGUINE
Fried garlicky prawns & Scottish langoustine tails with fennel, tomatoes, chilli, saffron, fish broth & lemony rocket
TRUFFLED FLASH STEAK
Flash-grilled prime British beef steak, served with whipped truffle butter, chargrilled portobello mushrooms & Chianti red wine sauce
All served with Brussels sprouts, rosemary roast potatoes & vegetables
DESSERTS
ZUCCOTTO DI PANETTONE
Panettone stuffed with vanilla ice cream, candied fruit & nuts, in hot chocolate sauce
JAMIE’S BLACK FOREST PANNA COTTA
Light, wobbly vanilla cream with amarena cherries & chocolate shavings
FESTIVE DARK CHOCOLATE TART
Blossom honey ice cream, hazelnuts, candied cherries & orange zest
TIRAMISÙ
Coffee-soaked sponge, mascarpone cream & chocolate
Finish your meal with limoncello for £2.50 & Kimbo coffee for £1.50