Christmas Event @ Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa

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Pink champagne, fairy bread and canapés were the order of the day when I was lucky enough to be invited to a special family Christmas event at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa .



The five-star resort transformed into a Christmas wonderland complete with an angel on stilts, when almost $15,000 worth of lights and decorations came to life in a special event that is sure to become a Christmas tradition.

More than 200 guests, including local families with a combined brood of 70 children gathered in the resort's lobby as Marriott chefs filed down the grand staircase carrying giant bowls of raisins, cherries, and eggs before pouring them into a stainless steel cauldron to make a giant mix of Christmas Pudding.



Headed by Marriott's Executive Chef Andrew Fraser, a total of 13 chefs paraded down the staircase each with a different ingredient in keeping with Christmas Pudding traditions. Sources say that traditionally, Christmas Pudding is made from 13 ingredients to represent Christ and his 12 disciples and the Marriott's Christmas Pudding certainly kept to the script that dates back to the 16th century.



Children and their families were called upon to stir the pudding and make a wish, and it seemed as though everyone wanted a go! Luckily there was plenty of mixture that needed stirring and plenty of people willing to stand and take photos as family Christmas keepsakes.



But it wasn't just about Christmas Pudding - come dusk, thousands of Christmas lights adorning the banisters, Christmas trees and furniture were switched on after a countdown from 10, and to the angelic voices of the AB Paterson Choir. And right on cue, just as the resort began to sparkle, 200 people responded accordingly with a synchronised "aaahhh" followed by rapturous applause.

Apart from a constant flow of delicious canapés pouring from the kitchen, a selection of treats from the resorts own patisserie, Java was also served, and coincidently made my Christmas shopping a breeze this year.



From festive macaroons in flavours such as chocolate gingerbread and spiced raisins in red wine; to chocolate and cranberry rocky-road; to everything you could ever create with gingerbread, I went over my Christmas list in my head and found something for everyone.

Chutney for Grandma...check
Brandy butter for Grandad....check
Stolen for my boss...check
Fruit Mince Pies for Aunty Rhonda...check
Christmas Hamper for work Secret Santa...check

The dedicated area set aside for kids proved extremely popular where kids (and parents) pigged out on fairy bread, drank smoothies, created their own decorations and played on the grassed area by the lagoon, and although childless myself, I had a fantastic night learning about the traditions of Christmas Pudding and that Fairy Bread and pink champagne make a fantastic combination.

The bonus was, I knocked over almost every bit of Christmas shopping needed this year!

All in all it was not only educational and delicious, but also a very productive night and if I wasn't spending Christmas Day at the family farm, I'd certainly be lapping it up with a seafood extravaganza at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa because if this event was anything to go by, they sure know how to put on an exceptional spread!

#christmas
#hotels
#surfers_paradise
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