Christmas dinner in the comfort of home

The Christmas season brings a sense of joy and excitement every year for most.

However, for a lot of expats looking to partake in a traditional Christmas dinner in the comfort of their homes, it can bring a sense of anxiety. Where to find the turkey? What stores sell ingredients for fruit cake or stuffing? What restaurants cater? And where, oh, where can one find eggnog?

This year those looking to have the perfect Christmas dinner ― whether homemade or ordered in ― are in luck.

Many businesses and restaurants have planned Christmas dinner specials to help out those who might be feeling a bit homesick for traditional food and sharing it with close friends in a more traditional setting, rather than in a restaurant.

Order it in

Those who are not cooking-inclined, or lack the necessary facilities to cook a full Christmas dinner, don’t have to go cold turkey. Several places around Seoul will make Christmas dinner for take-out that holiday revelers can enjoy at home or wherever they plan to celebrate.

The Deli at Dragon Hill Lodge on the U.S. Army base in Yongsan is repeating their turkey dinner orders from Thanksgiving. A dinner that feeds 10 to 12 guests and comes with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls, stuffing and pumpkin pie runs for about $99.95.

If turkey is not a tradition at your house, it can be traded out for a baked bone-in ham or you can get the best of both worlds with a turkey-and-ham combo. There are also a la carte items available. However, base access is needed to pick up the dinners. If you are not in the military, you’ll need a friend who is to escort you on base. For more information or to order call (02) 6903-6716.

The Grand Kitchen Deli at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas Hotel in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, is offering a full roast turkey dinner with all the fixings. Side dishes include sweet potatoes, carrots, asparagus and traditional stuffing. Be sure to call a day in advance to place your order. The full dinner runs about 180,000 won for the 6 kg bird and the offer runs until Dec. 31. To place an order, call (02) 559-7653. 

Millenium Seoul Hilton’s Cilantro Deli’s roast turkey (Millenium Seoul Hilton)

Cilantro Deli at the Millennium Seoul Hilton is also offering a turkey dinner special for those who wish to celebrate from the comfort of their home. The dinner includes a 6 kg roasted turkey with all the accoutrements for 280,000 won. For more information or to place an order, call (02) 317-3064.

Make it yourself

For those who are adventurous enough (and have a big enough oven) to make Christmas dinner on their own, several stores, both on and off line, are offering all the fixings for a Christmas feast.

EZShopKorea has 7 kg frozen Australian turkeys available for 99,900 won along with stuffing mixes, pumpkin pie mix, jellied cranberry sauce and the ever elusive egg nog. The site delivers to anywhere in Korea and offers free ground shipping for all orders that are over 250,000 won and pay by bank transfer. Orders can take about two to five days to arrive after shipping. (www.ezshopkorea.com)

Another site, Nicemarket, is offering a 4 kg pre-cooked turkey for 88,500 won. The turkey comes seasoned with vegetable and herb stuffing and is sealed and bagged. The bird can fit in any regular-sized microwave or oven and just needs to be heated. It will feed about eight people.

Along with turkeys, the site is selling other holiday ingredients, including pound cake mix for fruitcake, pies and marzipan. Holiday decorations such as Christmas trees and lights will also be available for delivery to complete your Christmas party. (www.nicemarket.net)

Cooks can also check out High Street Market near the IP Boutique Hotel in Itaewon for their Christmas needs. The store is offering a whole, uncooked 5-6 kg turkey for 1,150 won per 100 grams, as well as cooked roast beef for 3,580 won/100 g and cooked Cotta ham for 4,100 won/100 g. For those who prefer something other than beef, turkey or ham, the store also has whole duck and lamb joints available.

A number of Christmas items are on 10 percent discount right now, including nuts, mashed potatoes, jellied cranberry, pumpkin paste, baking flour, baking cups, chocolate chips, cocoa and various spices such as nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon.

High Street Market offers delivery to anywhere for a fee, and free delivery for orders of 120,000 won or more to Hannam, Itaewon, Namyeong, Bogwang, Seobingko, Dongbu-Ichon and Seobu-Ichon. Call 02-790-5450 or email highstreetmarket2010@gmail.com for questions or to place an order. Also, visit their page on Facebook by searching High Street Market Seoul.

Other retail outlets with a supply of turkeys and other items needed for a home-cooked Christmas feast are Haddon House in Hannam-dong and all Costco warehouses in Seoul. A representative from Costco has said that their supply of turkey was limited.

By Emma Kalka (ekalka@heraldcorp.com)