The Chinese restaurant in Cains Brewery Village also has a special set menu for New Year's Eve
THE festive menus have been flying into our inbox faster than Rudolph the reindeer's P45 on Boxing Day, but one that’s really jingled our bells is the seasonal selection from Lu Ban, with not a turkey leg or mince pie to be seen.
Gordo is a fan of Lu Ban and only had lovely words to say about Dave's knockout kung po. Blimey.
Smashing straight through the boundaries of Christmas tradition, Lu Ban’s award-winning restaurant team has created a selection of regional Chinese dishes inspired by the authentic flavours of Tianjin.
Executive head chef Dave Critchley flew over to Tianjin to cook with Master Whoo, and in 2020 Dave was appointed the first ever international Master Chef apprentice in Chinese culinary arts.
This year, Dave brought his culinary A-game to our TV screens, competing for a place in the finals of the hit BBC show, Great British Menu. Gordo is a fan of Lu Ban too and only had lovely words to say about Dave's knockout kung po. Blimey.
Lu Ban’s Christmas menu includes a trio of starters, the option to add roast duck and pancakes, four main courses and four sweets. Highlights include the deep fried stretched prawn with Lu Ban salt and pepper seasoning, chilli and roasted peanuts; the traditional hot and sour vegetable Yin and Yang soup or Tianjin pear and cured ham.
Mains include a honey and soy goosnargh chicken breast served with baby pak choi and wild winter leaves; honey roasted char sui pork fillet and cheek with pork crunch and ginger salad; pan fried Scottish salmon with Chinese greens or the vegetarian option of kung po cauliflower.
Desserts are the usual spectacular Lu Ban affair. The white chocolate sphere comes with whisky caramel and Christmas pudding ice cream. “The Mandarin” is a dark chocolate delight with mandarin, sugar leaf and mandarin sorbet, or you can try the traditional Chinese steamed pudding of lychee and pineapple served with honey ice cream. There's also the intriguing tonka bean custard.
The menu is available from Thursday 25 November. There’s a choice of two Christmas dining options; early dinner on Thursdays and Fridays from 3pm to 4pm and priced at £45 per guest, or dinner from 5pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (final seating at 9.15pm) priced at £60 per guest.
Lu Ban’s festive bottomless brunch will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 27 November to 19 December, and 27/28 December. Guests can enjoy a selection of food and drink for 90 minutes, priced £39.50. Some dates include drag entertainment.
For those tasked with organising this year’s work Christmas do, Lu Ban can help take out the stress with a dedicated service that can look at all the options from a table in the restaurant to using one of its four private dining rooms - the Chef’s Table, Tianjin Dining Room, Food Lab or Wine Room - or even exclusive hire of the whole restaurant.
This year will also see the return of the Lu Ban New Year’s Eve set menu. For more information on the special Christmas and New Year menus, visit the Lu Ban website.
Lu Ban, Cains Brewery Village, Stanhope St, Liverpool L8 5XJ
Read next: 15 new bars and restaurants in Liverpool that you must try
Read again: ‘Like wokking on sunshine’ - Lu Ban, Cain’s Brewery, reviewed
Don't miss out
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email.
