The great big 2023 festive food quiz

From the cookery trends that captured the nation this year to age-old culinary traditions from around the world, we’re about to put your knowledge of all things food to the test with the ultimate Christmas quiz.

Friends sat around at Christmas laughing

Welcome to the 2023 Christmas food quiz. Whether you happen to be a whizz in the kitchen, are known as a festive film nerd or have an encyclopaedic knowledge of chefs, this is the quiz for you. So get your friends or family together and prepare to put your knowledge to the test with six rounds of quizmas fun.

When you’re finished, get the Christmas quiz answers here!

2023 food trends

Q1: What type of tinned food became a surprising date night treat?

a) Beans

b) Lentils

c) Fish

Q2: Picky tea was given a new name this year on TikTok – what was it?

Q3: What’s the name of the Korean punch everyone was talking about over the summer?

Q4: Which fruit was slathered with peanut butter and chocolate to create a viral bark recipe that tastes like a classic chocolate bar?

Q5: Which type of cheese became popular for frying eggs in, thanks to social media?

Food in festive film

Q6: In the Christmas classic Elf, Buddy the elf covers his spaghetti in what?

a) Tomato sauce

b) Syrup

c) Chopped up candy canes

Q7: In Love Actually, what type of biscuit does Natalie give the new Prime Minister, while telling him that if the other candidate had won she would have “just always given him the boring biscuits with no chocolate.”

Q8: In 2015 film Carol, Cate Blanchet’s character (Carol) orders creamed spinach and poached eggs in a restaurant. What drink does she order at the same time?

a) A vodka martini with a lemon twist

b) A Manhattan with a cherry

c) A dry martini with an olive

Q9: In The Family Stone, what special brunch dish does Meredith prepare for her future in-laws?

a) Morton Family Hash

b) Morton Family French Toast

c) Morton Family Strata

Q10: In The Muppet Christmas Carol, what fruit sings a rendition of Deck the Halls with the Swedish Chef?

a) A plum

b) A bunch of grapes

c) A pair of satsumas

Pop culture

Q11: In the Dean Martin song Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, what has been brought for popping?

Q12: In the song Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, what kind of pie will be eaten later?

Q13: What sweet is referenced in the song It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Q14: In the Friends Christmas episode where Joey and Chandler resort to getting Christmas gifts from a petrol station, what do they give Ross?

a) Two cans of fizzy drink

b) Two bars of chocolate

c) Two packets of crisps

Q15: Whose turkey recipe does Mick decide to follow in the first Gavin and Stacey Christmas special?

a) Jamie Oliver’s

b) Nigella’s

c) Gordon Ramsay’s

Q16: In The Bear’s Christmas episode in season two, what is the theme of the Berzatto family meal? (Clue: It begins with ‘The feast of…’)

Q17: Which One Direction’er has a tattoo of an iced gem on his arm?

a) Louis Tomlinson

b) Liam Payne

c) Harry Styles

Q18: Which country singer has her own Christmas sugar cookie kit that people can buy?

a) Dolly Parton

b) Shania Twain

c) Carrie Underwood

Q19: Which singer has her own Irish cream liquor brand?

a) Celine Dion

b) Mariah Carey

c) Adele

Q20: Which group released the festive song which includes the line: ‘On the fourth day of Christmas my baby gave to me: a candle-lit dinner, just for me and my honey’?

Geography

Q21: Eating fried chicken at a fast food restaurant is a Christmas tradition in which country?

Q22: From which country does the rice crispie treat White Christmas originate?

Q23: In Sweden, glögg is popular during the festive season – but what is it?

Q24: In Brazil, a popular Christmas dish is a ‘chester’. What type of meat is this?

Q25: Which European country frequently serves up fondue chinoise (meat fondue) and filet im teig (pastry-wrapped pork fillet with sausage meat) at Christmas?

Q26: Pierogi are a type of traditional Christmas food in Poland. What are they?

Q27: Which country is responsible for Christmas (figgy) pudding?

Q28: In Portugal, bolo-rei is a popular festive bake – but what is it?

Q29: In Provence, France, how many desserts do they traditionally have at Christmas?

Q30: What spice makes the Swedish St Lucia bun yellow?

Technical challenge

Q31: What nut do you need to grind up to make marzipan?

Q32: What is sous vide cooking?

Q33: What is a bouquet de garni?

Q34: What ingredient can be ‘Dutch processed’?

Q35: How many ml is 1fl oz?

Q36: What are the three ingredients in Chantilly cream?

Q37: Which is not a variety of risotto rice?

a. Carnaroli

b. Vialone nano

c. Bomba

Q38: Other than chocolate, what’s the other ingredient required to make truffles?

Q39: What tool does Poppy O’Toole recommend using to make super-smooth mashed potatoes?

a. Blender

b. Sieve

c. Meat mallet

Q40: If you’re using the bain-marie technique, what are you doing?

Picture round: name the chefs

Pictures of 12 chefs

Originally published December 2023