Have yourself a tasty Canteen Christmas, as Leicester’s best street food event takes over New Market Square for a whole day of Christmas lights switch on fun and boy, do the menus sound delicious!

On Thursday 22 November, Leicester will be lighting up for Christmas and you’ll be able to make sure you’re sufficiently fed and watered before seeing the lights, as Canteen will be the event’s official food village. The Canteen crew and your favourite traders will be taking over New Market Square from midday – 10pm dishing up lunch, dinner, cocktails, mulled wine and all your street food favourites.

canteen logo

For those wishing to see the lights there’ll be entertainment on stage in Humberstone Gate from 5pm ahead of the switch on at 6.20pm. Or why not pop down to the Town Hall Square and be enchanted by this year’s Alice In Wonderland Christmas display. The traditional nativity scene will also be set up, along with Christmas carols and a brass band performance to put you in the festive mood.

But back onto the food! Alongside the food traders there’ll be a Drinks Zone with an Aperol bar offering 2 for 1 Aperol Spritz all day and all night,  the official launch of Campfire Trailer cocktails, a cider and mulled wine bar, the Chang Beer Tuk Tuk, a gin bar and even special gin tastings. Expect fun, music, entertainment and, of course, amazing food.

DISCOUNTS
If you work for the following you’ll also receive 10% off food and drink between 12pm – 5pm:
Leicester City Council
NHS
Emergency services
Armed forces
DMU
Leicester Uni
Hastings Direct
Next

THE MENUS

The Gravy Train

gravy train poutine
 

The Montreal
Classic poutine of skin-on fries, squeaky cheese curds and a beef or mushroom gravy

The Budapest (Vegan version available)
Skin-on fries, squeaky cheese curds and a beef or mushroom gravy, topped with crispy onions, roasted red peppers, soured cream and smoked paprika

The Frenchie
Skin-on fries, squeaky cheese curds and beef gravy topped with mapled bacon, sauteed garlic mushrooms and caramelised red onions

The Pioneer
Skin-on fries, squeaky cheese curds and beef gravy topped with beer-poached BBQ chicken, mapled bacon, soured cream and smoked paprika

 

Smoqued
smoqued
 

Buttermilk fried chicken burger
Vietnamese slaw, sriracha mayo, baby gem, pink pickles, toasted sesame brioche.

Mole braised pork shoulder tacos
Crema Mexicana, arbol salsa, onion, herbs, pink pickles, blue corn taco.

Charred sweet potato tacos
Romesco salsa, crema, feta, black bean, crispy corn, herbs, blue corn taco.

 
Biddulphs Pizzeria
biddulph's pizzeria

(Vegan cheese available on all pizzas)

Xmas Special – King Richard
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce glaze

Margherita 
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil

Funghi
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onion, Italian torpedo tomatoes with garlic drizzle

Manzo
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, spicy beef, jalepenos, roquito chilli peppers

Pepperoni
Passion fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, Italian pepperoni, roquito pepper pearls

Chicken Tikka Masala
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, tender chicken pieces marinated in tikka masala sauce, red onion

Meat Feast
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, chorizo and Italian sausage with wild chilli

Americano
Fresh pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, hot dog, pastrami, gherkin and French’s Mustard

Caprino
Fresh pizza sauce, goats cheese, sweet caramalised onion, rocket

Garlic Bread – with/without cheese
Fresh base smothered in garlic puree

 
Fat Snags
fat snags hot dogs
 

Xmas Dog
Smoked bacon sausage. Camembert cheese sauce. cranberry ketchup. toasted onion.

Classic
Toasted onion. Heinz ketchup. French’s American Mustard.

BBQ Pit Boy
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ, bacon mayo, toasted onion

Berliner
Homemade Currywurst sauce, mustard, pickles.

 

Full of Chaat

A selection of the below served with rice or bread:

Sticky Bombay chicken

Chilli chicken

Paneer, potato and chickpea

Aubergine curry (vegan)

Corn chaat (vegan)

Chana dahl (vegan)

Chicken or vegetarian wrap with all the trimmings

Fresh veg samosas and onion bhajis

 
Urban Cheesecake
urban cheesecake
Credit @whataleats

Homemade white chocolate cheesecake drenched in the following toppings and sauces

Ooops I dropped the mince pie (Xmas special)
Smashed mince pies, amaretto custard, salted caramel crunch 

Hands off TERRY!
Terry’s chocolate orange ganache sauce, Terry’s chocolate orange, orange matchmakers, smashed shortbread

The Lottery Winner
Shards of Lindt chocolate, sea salted caramel sauce, smashed buttered shortbread

The Dark Dark Wood
Double chocolate brownie, kirsch infused clack cherry, chocolate truffle sauce, crumbled slated chocolate 

The Italian Job
Espresso chocolate sauce, vanilla bean cream Anglais, lotus biscuits 

The Old Gals Trifle
Fresh strawberries, raspberry jelly coulis, vanilla bean cream Anglais, crumbled flake 

The Nutty Professor
Nutella chocolate sauce, sea salted caramel, Reeces peanut butter cups, Kinder Bueno

 
Bournville Waffle Co
bournville waffle
 

Banoffee Pie
Banana, whipped cream, salted caramel sauce and chocolate curls.

Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberry and vanilla cheesecake cream, strawberries and shortbread biscuit crumb with a berry coulis.

Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie
Peanut butter fudge, chocolate brownie, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Honeycomb
Honeycomb pieces, Belgian milk chocolate and whipped cream with chocolate and salted caramel sauce.

Nutella & Strawberry
Nutella, whipped cream and strawberries with chocolate sauce.

Blueberry
Warm blueberry compote with a maple syrup clotted cream.

Mississippi Mud Pie
Chocolate cheesecake cream, chocolate brownie, Belgian milk chocolate, Caramac chocolate sauce, chocolate curls and whipped cream

Pimped Out Hot Chocolate
Our homemade Hot Chocolate is made with Belgian chocolate and fresh whipped double cream. 
Classic
Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and a dusting of icing sugar 
Honeycomb
Caramel hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, honeycomb pieces and caramel sauce.
Gingerbread
Gingerbread hot chocolate, whipped cream, chocolate buttons, chocolate sauce and a mini ginger bread man.
Oreo
Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, chocolate buttons, chocolate sauce and crushed Oreos.
Millionnaires
Caramel hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, chocolate buttons, crushed shortbread biscuit, chocolate sauce and caramel sauce

DRINKS ZONE

 
In the Canteen Drinks Zone you will find 2 for 1 Aperol Spritz ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT, the Koppaberg bar, the Chang Beer Tuk Tuk plus a gin pop-up, with 45 Gin School offering free mini gin tastings and talks at set times between 3pm-7pm.
 
aperol leicester
 
PLUS it’s the official launch of Campfire Trailer cocktails. Make sure you head down to see these guys for some incredible cocktails:
 
Billy Bobs Breakfast
Hickory smoked bourbon / Espresso / Maple / Root Beer / Liquorice Garnish: Stroop waffle / Pine Needles
 
Totem
Atlantico Reserva Rum / Peanut butter orgeat / Pineapple / Fennel / Coconut water Garnish: Peanut Brittle
 
Childish Campino
Vodka / Toasted marshmallow syrup / Cassis / Peach / Amaretto / Soda Garnish: Toasted marshmallow / mint sprig
 
Flora & Fauna
Lone Wolf Gunpowder Gin / Yuzu sake / Lavender honey / Bergamot / Raspberry Leaf soda Garnish: Raspberry Poppin Candy / Grapefruit
 
Dandy Lions
Atlantico Reserva Rum / Fernet Branca / Homemade Dandelion Burdock syrup / Liquorice Bitters / Prosecco Garnish: Vanilla Float Foam
 
Tote Tante
Cocoa Amore Mexican 66% chocolate / nutmeg / Sweet Cinnamon / Cayenne / Spiced rumor Baristo Liquer Garnish: Toasted Marshmallow
 
Campfire Chocolate
Cocoa Amore Mexican 66% Chocolate / nutmeg / Sweet Cinnamon / Cayenne/ Garnish: Toasted Marshmallow
 
Beers
Tailgate Peanut Butter Stout, Brooklyn Lager, Tailgate Grapefruit IPA
 
 
They’ll also be serving a range of canned craft beers including this Marshmallow Porter. 
Image result for marshmallow porter
 
A Canteen Christmas takes place at New Market Square in the city centre on Thursday 22 November from midday – 10pm.