Birmingham City Ladies cook up some festive spirit

After truly impressing the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers’ UK ambassador, David Colcombe last month, the Birmingham City Ladies squad earned themselves a festive feast – packed with the goodness of pure Canadian maple.

The biggest partnership in Blues Ladies’ history has, to date, seen the girls produce some brilliant breakfast and light lunches – but they really turned up the heat this Christmas.

University College Birmingham welcomed us into their kitchens to prepare the meal, before laying on full table service for the squad in their award-winning Brasserie.

On the menu was a roasted free-range chicken with garlic and lemon, served with a wild mushroom sauce.

A gorgeous side dish of red cabbage and cox’s apples with maple syrup accompanied the meat, along with some roasted carrots with citrus and maple too.

And it wouldn’t be Christmas without sprouts! So, we had the players tucking into Brussels dashed with maple-cured bacon.

For dessert, the Blues dished up a delightful mince pie and maple brownie as well as some lemon and vanilla pancakes with maple syrup and mixed berries. What a spread!

Chef Colcombe said: “For the squad to have produced a two-course meal with all the trimmings in just two hours was a challenge. So, for them to have exceeded my expectations again just six months into our partnership was some feat.

“The girls delivered fantastic food, made of natural, well-sourced ingredients, which was on time and full of great flavours. Dining with them was a really festive way to finish 2017.

“I’m looking forward to what we can achieve both on and off the pitch next year.”

All of the recipes that the Birmingham City Ladies are cooking up will be available to view on our website in the New Year. Be sure to check out the social media reaction and some images from our experience below.

You can see a video summary of the session here.

Birmingham City Ladies FC player cooking up a Christmas feast

Birmingham City Ladies player prepping the free range roast chicken

Birmingham Ladies FC preparing a Christmas feast

Birmingham City Ladies FC preparing a Christmas feast

University Birmingham College's award-winning Brasserie

Birmingham City Ladies FC enjoying the full table service

Birmingham City Ladies FC players digging into their Christmas feast they prepared

Birmingham City Ladies FC players awaiting their Christmas feast

Did you know?

Québec exports its maple products to more than 50 countries

Everywhere it goes, consumers of all ages appreciate maple’s unique flavour.

Scientists are studying maple’s potential health benefits

Studies now underway include those on the antioxidant properties of the polyphenols naturally present in maple syrup, with a recent study indicating that maple syrup is better for cardiometabolic health than refined sugar.

Maple syrup can be used as a sugar substitute in most recipes

In cake and most dessert recipes, for each 250ml (1 cup) of syrup used, simply reduce the stipulated amount of liquid (water, milk, juice, etc.) by 60ml (1/4 cup).

A natural source of energy

Maple syrup is a natural source of energy. Check out our recipes for food and drinks before, during, and after exercise.