Christmas Dinner - Gordon Ramsay Style

This year we decided to do dinner out for Christmas - a bit of a different style than usual. We didn't feel like cooking up the whole feast for the two of us made a ton of sense. So since we decided to go out, we decided to do something cool and went to the Boxwood Cafe, which is one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants. We'll get down to the food in a minute - but first, who is Gordon Ramsey? This is a link to his Wiki page. But if you don't go there, just know that he is an uber-successful chef who currently holds the world record for Michelin stars held by a chef (12). He also has several TV shows in the UK which are thoroughly entertaining.

As an overall, the service was amazing. It seemed like there were more people working than there were diners and they were all very attentive without being overbearing. We had a drink before dinner and while there the magician - oh yes that's right, the magician - came over and performed several tricks for us. They involved coins and rabbits appearing and disappearing, and also balloons. Good stuff, thoroughly entertaining. Then we settled in for dinner.
We decided to share - it was a fixed menu so we each got to choose an appetizer, dinner, and dessert. For appetizer Katherine had fried oysters and I had the foie gras. So good. Mine was so rich I could only eat half. And yes, I am now totally a fan of a goose liver (just writing that makes me cringe a bit...but so good!). Good stuff.
Main Course - We each had the same thing - suckling pig loin in a mustard sauce. It was cooked rare and had a crispy delicious skin. But before we get dinner they brought out an in-between course, not quite an amuse bouche, of smoked salmon with some spicyness and lime juice. Hit the spot.Dessert - Cheese plate for me and Cheesecake for Katherine. As you can see by the picture we couldn't even wait to dive in. It was a selection of English cheeses, chedder, goat, and something unidentified. The cheesecake came with a raspberry sorbet.
Chamapagne to cleanse the palate and we called it an evening. Not the way I'd like to spend every Christmas but spending it with Mr. Ramsey this year was a good, and tasty, experience.