Following a sold-out weekend at Feast by Lidl last month, which saw more than 500 diners indulge their naughty and nice sides with a sumptuous tasting menu by Michelin-starred chef Oliver Dunne, Lidl Ireland has revealed what makes the perfect Christmas dinner in county Cork.

Across the county, tradition abounds, with 74% saying they’ll stick to the traditional Christmas dinner and two thirds (61%) going as far as to say that not having the traditional turkey and ham feast would ruin their enjoyment of Christmas day.

At the other end of the table, a more adventurous 25% of Cork people like to switch up the festive feast and experiment with new dishes. More than a third of Cork diners (43%) would trade turkey for chicken, whilst 39% would consider beef, a quarter would opt for duck (24%) and almost a fifth (17%) would go for salmon as the centrepiece of the meal. 1 in 10 would choose venison (8%).

Thinking about the most loved parts of the plate, turkey is the star of the show for 65% of Cork, whilst almost half (48%) look forward to dessert for the much-loved traditional trifle, and festive mince pies take third place on the best-loved list with 47% of Cork people voting for the humble crumble.

The item most of Cork would like to see banished from the dinner plate is chestnuts (16%), with pigs in blankets (10%) and red cabbage (8%) coming in a close second and third.

On the drinks front, 40% of Cork people surveyed say that white wine is their must-have tipple on the big day, whilst 38% would banish eggnog from the drinks cabinet.

For three quarters (74%) of Cork, Irish sourcing of the Christmas feast matters. Reasonably priced food (88%) and high-quality ingredients (93%) were also rated as important.

Showcasing the very best of Lidl Ireland’s Deluxe Christmas range, which was awarded Own-Label Range of the Year at the 2025 Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, pop-up restaurant Feast by Lidl, in partnership with chef Oliver Dunne, aimed to challenge perceptions around festive food, pitting the traditionalists against experimentalists with two bespoke menus – Naughty or Nice – which featured the nation’s best-loved and most divisive festive dishes.

From traditional favourites like turkey and ham, smoked salmon and prawn cocktail, to more alternative main ingredients like pate, duck and Brussel sprouts, Feast by Lidl served up some surprising results from diners surveyed which sees the tables turned on the traditional Christmas dinner.

In a surprising twist, the majority of Feast by Lidl diners voted Lidl’s Deluxe Irish Duck Breast, supplied by Silverhill Duck based in County Cavan, as the showstopping best overall dish, knocking traditional turkey off the plate.

Coming in at a close second place in the list of best dishes, Lidl’s Irish Free-Range Deluxe Turkey and Unsmoked Brown Sugar Glazed Deluxe Irish Ham sourced from Monaghan-based supplier McCaghey Turkeys, was the dish of the day, whilst sweet-toothed diners rated Lidl’s Jewel Topped Deluxe Irish Christmas Pudding infused with Armagnac Brandy and served with Dundalgan Irish Whiskey Ice Cream as a standout dessert. Lidl’s Bissinger Premier Cuvée Brut Champagne was crowned top of the pops at the restaurant.

Despite the public saying they prefer to keep things traditional at Christmas, over half of diners (52%) said they would be likely to experiment with the Christmas meal this year after dining at the festive restaurant pop-up.

Following Feast by Lidl, a massive 92% of pop-up restaurant diners rated the quality of Lidl Ireland’s Deluxe range as five-star.

Speaking on the findings, Eimear O’Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, said:

“Feast by Lidl set out to celebrate what is the most special meal of the year for many and to challenge consumer’s perceptions on quality, taste and tradition. Our Deluxe range is designed to bring together exceptional festive food made with trusted Irish ingredients at unbeatable value. This Christmas, we’re proud to celebrate Irish producers, local flavour, and the simple pleasure of great food shared.”