Holiday treats abound around China

1 Feast from yesteryear

Brasserie 1893's Christmas feast is a truly indulgent Christmas lunch and dinner, a leisurely three-hour meal with a specially prepared spread of cold and hot yuletide delights: oysters, smoked salmon, terrine of foie gras, roasted pumpkin or seafood soup, artichoke risotto, honey-glazed ham, buttery poached Boston lobster and slow-roasted beef fillet. Dessert options: fruit compote served with salted caramel ice cream and smothered in chocolate sauce, Grand Marnier souffl?? and ginger spice and cheese log cake.

Dec 25; 888 yuan ($138) plus 15 percent service charge per person; Waldorf-Astoria Beijing, 5-15 Jinyu Hutong, Dongcheng district, 010-8520-8989.

2 Guilt-free sweets

Founded by a pair of Russian expat women who have been eating a raw vegan diet for the past four years, their Sweet Edition project focuses on desserts made with no processed sugar, salt, milk products, animal fats or flour. If this photo of their festive berry-topped tart for the holidays doesn't convince you, just try a bite.

400 yuan per kilogram; order through WeChat at Sweetedition.

3 Royal treat

Designed to keep His Britannic Majesty King Edward VII warm and active as he engaged in his outdoor winter pursuits, The King's Ginger liqueur has become a holiday tradition even for those who don't hunt grouse. This tasteful gift-boxed kit of a leather hip flask and two extendable cups, together with a bottle of the 41-percent alcohol, is perfect for sporting types.

Berry Bros & Rudd (Hong Kong), Suite 2305-06, 23/F, China Resources Building, 26 Harbour Road, Wanchai district; www.bbr.com; 65 pounds ($99).

4 Feliz Navidad

Celebrate Christmas with a Spanish twist this year, as executive chef Aitor Olabegoya presents a six-course menu at Migas, with signatures dishes including foie gras terrine, Iberico pork tataki, Barcelona-style seafood casserole and sweet-potato risotto with wagyu beef. Dessert is a flamb?? baked Alaska.

388 yuan per person, with special deals on Codorniu sparkling wine, 010-5208-6061.

5 Chinese Christmas Eve

Festive seven-course dinner menus at Qi restaurant include braised codfish with black garlic and teriyaki sauce in clay pot and stir-fried asparagus (pictured) as well as double-boiled sea cucumber soup with baby abalone and Chinese herb. Christmas Turkey is included as an appetizer.

688 yuan plus 15 percent service charge includes one glass of selected wine; the Ritz-Carlton, Financial Street Beijing, 1 Jin Cheng Fang Street East, 010-6601-6666.

6 Bombana hampers

Italian uberchef Umberto Bombana delivers holiday cheer to Beijingers in a red leather basket, packed with artisanal Italian panettone, pinot nero Masi Trentini or pinot grigio Bottega Vinai, a 15-year-aged balsamic vinegar, a chef's selection of Italian wheat and organic egg pasta; and a housemade foie gras terrine with figs and pistacchio. Holiday specials also available at the sibling 8-1/2 Otto y Mezze restaurants in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

1,088 yuan, No 9 Dongdaqiao Road in Parkview Green (FangCaoDi), Chaoyang district, 010-5690-7177.

7 Monkey business

Just in time for the gift-giving season, Slow Boat Brewery & Taproom will release a limited supply of The Monkey's Fist Imperial IPA (ABV 9.5 percent). "This is a new beer packaged in the biggest bottle the bottling line would handle", says Slow Boat brewer Daniel Hebert, of the 650ml bottle that's packaged in a branded wooden box. Brewed in celebration of the upcoming Year of the Monkey, the IPA will be available at the Slow Boat Brewery Taproom starting Friday.

115 yuan per bottle; 100 yuan each for two or more; 56 Dongsi Ba Tiao Alley, Dongcheng district; Monkey@slowboatbrewery.com; 010-6538-5537.

8 Yule log in Hainan

The classic four-layer cake at Seasonal Tastes restaurant is a visual treat. The glowing color of the bark and other features speaks volumes of the freshness of ingredients and makes your month water. Santa Claus and snowmen figurines, as well as wrapped gifts all made of powdered sugar and egg white, dot the surface of the whole festive cake. French-imported chocolate cream and New Zealand butter are mixed to create the bark, while 100-percent hazelnut puree and chocolate are baked together to create a crisp layer. Almond power is used to make the cake's core, and the last layer is finished with pure chocolate. Available in sizes from 1 to 3 pounds, at 248 yuan per pound.

Westin Blue Bay Resort & Spa, Xincun Town, Lingshui, Hainan; 898-8338-8666.

9 Sweet spots

Trust Swiss pastry chef Joachim Antonio Caula to make magic at Christmastime: He's packed the Kempi Deli with all kinds of goodies, including clever bites of gingerbread and marzipan Santas (38 yuan per piece).

Kempi Deli at Kempinski Beijing hotel, 50 Liangmaqiao Road; 010-6465-3388.