Christmas Continental Market Arrives

With Christmas fast approaching, Belfast City Hall is getting ready to welcome the now traditional festive Continental Market, writes Carla Liébana.

It opens this week, and will bring an extensive variety of gastronomic and handmade products to the city centre once again.

From Tuesday (17th November) until the last Saturday before Christmas, the City Hall grounds will be home to one of the most diverse European Christmas markets around.

Last year, more than 750,000 people visited it and this year is expected to be bigger and better than ever: traders from all over Europe - and even from other faraway places, such as the North Pole, Asia, Africa and the USA - will set up a stall, many of them for the first time.

Traditional stalls will be there along with new ones, including the finest Delft china and a wide range of unique crafts, such as Russian dolls, leather handbags and ladies' accessories from France or fantastic candles and eco-friendly bags from Provence.

The Sisters of St Elisabeth also returned from their convent in Minsk with their handmade artefacts, the Finnish Jari Makelle will sell some gifts from their region and there will be other exotic products such as Kenyan wooden furniture.

On of the highlights will be an amazing cheeseboard with the finest Continental and Irish cheeses.

The delicious Spanish Julian Jimenez' paella, the Swiss garlic soup, the best Polish bigos, the ever popular giant bratwurst from Germany or the new takeaway of Indian chef Jaz Bansil are some of the succulent meals will be within everybody's reach.

Dutch pancakes, Italian nougat and biscotti and two brand new chocolate experiences will represent the sweets' section.

Besides Markus Kochem's wine stand, there will be exquisite drinking such as the John's famous liqueur coffees, the Lavery's Bar International Marquee or NI's own Hilden Brewery.

Obviously, local tradition will be present with 'Rocket and Relish' burgers or handmade chocolates from Foster’s, Holden’s and CoCouture, washed down with Oscar Woolley's delicious Suki Tea and Love Olive's selection of olives, cheeses, meats and tapenades.

A City Hall spokesman enthused: "All the family can enjoy with The Big Wheel, a new children's carousel or the daily visits by Santa Claus, who will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage with Lord Mayor Naomi Long, to officially open the Christmas Continental Market at 10.15am next Tuesday.

(CL/BMcC)