Heston's Feasts - Specials (2009)

Renowned chef Heston Blumenthal returns to create the ultimate Christmas Feast, inspired by the most incredible festive dishes of the past. Heston believes that past Christmas dinners were much more inspired and truly extraordinary compared to today's fare, and there definitely won't be any dry turkey, mushy sprouts or rock hard Christmas pudding on the table. Instead, Heston creates a delicious and spectacular menu with every bite a surprise to the senses. Heston's Christmas Feast includes a lavish appetizer loved by King Charles II and made from the world's most unusual ingredient - whale vomit; the Roman Emperors' favourite snack, edible dormouse; a venison dish fit for a medieval king; and an entirely edible Christmas scene complete with flavoured snow. The feast is served to celebrity diners including actor Charlie Higson, broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, comedienne Arabella Weir, former rugby player Matt Dawson, actor James Purefoy, and journalist Kate Spicer.

Fancy this for lunch? Sea cucumber tea? Wolffish and chips? Trout candy floss, or a chocolate starfish? Heston Blumenthal turns to the sea in this special episode of Feast. He is on a mission to unlock our oceans' alternative larder and create the ultimate sustainable fishy feast that will completely change the way we think about seafood. Heston dives straight in at the deep end as he creates an amazing sustainable seafood menu. He takes a trip to the fjords of Iceland to catch a dangerous fish the Vikings loved, goes diving for sea cucumbers in Scotland, and turns trout and crab into a delicious dessert. For his starter Heston conjures up a Fishy Afternoon Tea complete with a side of Laughing Gas. This is the perfect prelude to the magnificent main course, Heston's Day Out at the Seaside with Wolffish Cheeks and Saucy Seagull.