The countdown to the big day is well and truly on, and first and foremost on many people’s agenda is the Yuletide banquet. The run up to Christmas Day can often involve a flurry of peeling, chopping, basting and baking but if you prefer to spend your time on other matters, read on. Christmas dinner delivered need not mean scrimping on quality, in fact it can often be quite the opposite. Here are five places that can have your festive feast delivered … 

Beach House

Quite possibly one of the best things to come from recurrent lockdowns was The Beach House at Home from The Beach House in Tramore. Alarms were often set for a Tuesday morning as a stark reminder to place an order in time for the 11.58 cut off, happy in the knowledge that you would eat well that weekend. The Beach House has been rather clever when it comes to its Christmas box offering, which is crammed full of all the fiddly stuff that can often overwhelm even the most proficient of cooks on Christmas Day. Boxes are available for 2 people, 4 people, or 6-8 people and each one contains a starter of treacle cured gravadlax, marinated beets, horseradish cream and homemade brown bread, along with all of the trimmings you need for your Christmas feast including gravy, proper bread sauce, pork, sage and onion stuffing, and cranberry and blood orange relish. For dessert, there is almond tart with clementine cream and homemade mince pies with brandy custard. Pre-orders open now for collection or nationwide delivery. www.beachhousetramore.ie

FXB Victuallers and Grocer

FXB knows a thing or two about meat and while beef might be the first thing that springs to mind, that’s far from the end of the story. This Christmas, choose from the signature beef wellington, salmon en croute, Crowe’s Farm turkey, goose, and spiced beef for your Christmas feast. There are also mince pies, Christmas pudding from The Merrion and a choice of stuffing available to order. www.thebuckleycollection.ie

Prado and Asador

Prado in Clontarf have made the difficult (but understandable) decision to close their doors until the New Year, but sister restaurant, Asador remains open and the Prado/Asador Christmas Box should be on your wish list. The Christmas box for four contains chicken liver parfait with brioche, spiced pear and apple chutney to start followed by turkey breast with lemon and thyme butter, stuffed turkey leg with smoked bacon, cranberry and pecan stuffing, baked Irish ham with bourbon marmalade and ginger glaze, spiced braised red cabbage, duck fat roasties, honey glazed carrot and parsnips, apple cider gravy, and cranberry sauce. For afters there is Christmas pudding log with brandy butter and crème anglaise and the box even contains cookie dough to bake those oh so important cookies for Santa. I’m full just writing this. Delivery available nationwide. www.asador.ie

The Twelve Hotel, Galway

True to form, the Twelve Hotel has certainly pulled out all the stops this festive season. From Brown Bag cocktails, gifts for pets and the Christmas Roast in a Box, the options seem endless. The turkey and ham hock wellington dinner seems fantastic value at €50 for two people and just €94 for four. The meal comes fully cooked with all the trimmings including stuffing, roast potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce. Also included is a bottle of the house-made mulled wine to get the festivities started on the right note. Other pre-order options for the big day include an alder smoked ham cooked on The Green Egg, Thornhill confit duck leg with local leaves, chestnuts and cranberries and a range of jaw dropping desserts including Christmas pudding with homemade brandy butter, homemade trifles, classic tiramisu, signature ‘Stout 1’ puddings, chocolate yule logs, cheesecake, banoffee as well as bags of mulled wine marshmallows and West restaurant’s fudge. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Anyone else moving to Barna? www.thetwelvehotel.ie

The Butler’s Pantry

The Butler’s Pantry must be the undisputed leaders of gourmet made easy, and the festive collection is no different. The Butler’s Pantry Christmas and New Year entertaining menu has every eventuality covered which hardly comes as a surprise when you realise they have 30 years’ experience catering the needs of their clientele. Starter options include duck liver parfait with dark cherry jelly and smoked salmon and Goatsbridge smoked trout terrine (best served with their divine Guinness bread). There are turkey options from Healy’s Free Range to suit diners of every persuasion, ham with honey mustard glaze and a selection of sides that will challenge the indecisive among us. The Christmas dinner for two is perfect for an intimate Christmas and at €45, astonishing value. Dessert options include their now legendary gateaux Laurence, meringue roulades, a cranberry and pear yule log and a selection of puddings and mince pies. Much like the Argos catalogues of yore, I will be thumbing through their Christmas brochure until it is very ragged indeed. www.thebutlerspantry.ie