Christmas is a time for getting together with friends and family, which comes with the joy of indulging in a hearty meal or having a few drinks. For some, these celebrations can trigger heartburn or indigestion, but thanks to Gaviscon, you can enjoy this delicious time without hesitation. In celebration, we’ve partnered with Gaviscon to bring to you the 12 recipes of Christmas by some of our favourite Aussie chefs. See all 12 recipes here.
When chef Alejandro Saravia arrived in Australia after years of working in Europe, there was at least one way in which it was like coming home.
“I’m Peruvian, so I’m used to a warm southern hemisphere Christmas – in Lima we say you need to be tan by Christmas! So coming to Australia was like taking me back to growing up in Peru, with summer ingredients and barbecues in the backyard.”
Saravia’s family Christmases were always a major celebration presided over by his grandmother. “She was in charge of the menu, but we all had to bring something to the table – we all had a role.”
Saravia opened Farmer’s Daughters in January 2021, a combined deli, restaurant and bar designed as a showcase of Gippsland, one of the food bowls of Victoria. His extra delicious BBQ Pork Spare Ribs recipe is partly inspired by the stunning quality of the organic meat from Farmer’s Daughters suppliers Eaglehawk Creek Farm.
Key to his recipe is the homemade barbecue sauce, made healthily from scratch. “It’s not overly sweet because we use the natural sugars of the tomatoes and the capsicum, and apple cider vinegar to give it a bit of tanginess,” he says. Cooking the ribs in cider, meanwhile, helps to tenderise the ribs.
Saravia recommends serving them with a range of salads: “A fresh coleslaw, and I love potato salad, it’s one of my favourite dishes to do at home – boiled potatoes with avocado and fresh onions.
“The spare ribs are very easy to replicate at home but brings the standards of a restaurant dish to your kitchen, perfect to impress friends and family.”
Heartburn (also known as reflux) can be triggered by certain foods and drinks we love to enjoy at holiday times, including fatty and salty foods, garlic and tomatoes. Add Gaviscon to your shopping list if you're worried this might affect you, and eat and drink with confidence this holiday season – find out more here.
Photograph: Graham Denholm
2kg Eaglehawk Creek Farm spare ribs
2 long red chillies (deseeded)
100g (about 1.5) eschallots
530g Roma tomatoes
1 yellow capsicum (deseeded)
1 large garlic clove
30g (about 8) Swiss brown mushrooms
300ml apple cider vinegar
100g raw sugar
100g honey
Gaviscon – if you suffer from heartburn and indigestion and want to eat and drink with confidence during the holidays!
Christmas is a time for feasting, and acid reflux is like that weird uncle you always end up next to at the barbie – an unwelcome guest to say the least. Luckily, Gaviscon has your back (or rather your oesophagus). This medicine may not be right for you. Read the label before purchase. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
We've invited chefs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to contribute delicious recipes that will give any seasonal get-together a big lift. From the perfect Christmas turkey to a stunning seafood paella to summery cocktails, these are recipes that draw fans in top bars and restaurants that you can make at home to the amazement of your nearest and dearest.
