As the festive season kicks into high gear, Waitrose has unveiled its luxurious Christmas food-to-order menu for 2025, developed in collaboration with a roster of celebrated Michelin-starred chefs. However, time is of the essence for those planning a stress-free celebration: all orders must be completed by 15 December to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas Day, with delivery slots expected to be snapped up quickly.
A Festive Menu Designed by Culinary Stars
The supermarket has enlisted the expertise of renowned chefs including Michel Roux, Angela Hartnett, Andi Oliver, and Rick Stein to create a range of show-stopping dishes. This collaboration promises to bring restaurant-quality flair to home dining, covering every course from extravagant starters to decadent desserts. The menu is designed to minimise kitchen fuss during the busy holiday period, offering an array of impressive, oven-ready options.
From a whole cooked lobster to a fully plant-based turkey with all the trimmings, the selection is vast. New for 2025 is the 'turkey bauble' (£50), a centrepiece featuring free-range turkey breast stuffed and wrapped in dry-cured bacon, finished with a cranberry and orange glaze. For those seeking an alternative to traditional roast, the No.1 turkey, chicken and duck pie with champagne sauce (now £30, was £40) offers a rich, indulgent option.
Standout Dishes from Starters to Desserts
The starter selection sets a high bar. Highlights include Rick Stein's extravagant lobster and king prawn velouté pie (now £70, was £80) and elegant scallops and prawns with garlic butter (£15). Angela Hartnett contributes osso buco arancini (£24), while Stein's classic fish soup with harissa croutons (£25) is also available.
For the main event, alongside the turkey options, fish lovers can opt for a stuffed Scottish salmon (£50) or a salmon roulade wellington (£40. Carnivores might be tempted by a luxurious No.1 wagyu beef pie (now £35, was £40) or Hartnett's new stuffed duck with marsala gravy (£70). Vegetarians and vegans are catered for with options like a mushroom, malbec and port wellington (£14).
No festive party is complete without canapés, and Waitrose's party food range includes a prawn canapé pack (£24), a pork and turkey sausage roll 'snowflake' (£10), and a stunning side of salmon with caramelised orange (£35). Desserts promise a sweet finale, featuring a chocolate 'Nutcracker' mousse (£20), a Sicilian lemon and mascarpone delice (£18), and Michel Roux's toffee apple pudding (£20).
How and When to Place Your Order
Waitrose's Christmas food-to-order service opened on 24 September. Customers can now book delivery or collection slots for between 20 and 24 December. Delivery times run from 6am to 10pm on 20, 21, and 22 December, and from 6am to 6pm on 23 and 24 December.
The critical deadline to remember is 15 December for Christmas orders and 21 December for New Year's Eve. With a menu this enticing and the involvement of culinary royalty, securing your preferred slot well ahead of the cut-off is highly recommended to avoid festive disappointment.
