Well now that it’s December there is no ignoring that Christmas is right around the corner. So even though our natural tendency is to procrastinate we’ll celebrate that we’ve begun our Christmas shopping (thanks PhillyHistory.org) and focus on some Christmas beers.

Meal Ticket has an interview with Don Russell, aka Joe Sixpack about his Christmas beers. Did you know Russell has a book out on the subject? Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest, Tastiest, and Most Unusual Holiday Brews.

This Saturday is the Cliveden Winter Beer Festival where there will be 50+ beers for the sampling.

Looking for a gift for a craft beer drinker on your shopping list, then consider tickets to Philadelphia’s other Christmas Beer Fest set for December 27th at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology & Anthropology.

Or just head to your local bar and see what they’re serving. We’ve seen the always anticipated Troegs Mad Elf pouring at Grace Tavern and Good Dog. It’s also on deck at the Memphis Taproom and next Friday they’re having a Mad Elf party at the Grey Lodge.

Speaking of the Grey Lodge, tonight they’re debuting Philadelphia Brewing Company’s winter brew, (Pedro) Feliz Navidad Holiday Lager, “a fresh, wet hopped black lager made from hops right from PBC’s garden.

An authentic German Christmas Village is coming to Dilworth Plaza at City Hall this Christmas season. The winter wonderland will consist of 63 wooden booths, 2 timberhouses and a central stage for live performances. The crafts and of course the treats look like a must-see.

The food booths will include grilled brats and steaks, pretzels, potato pancakes, crepes and candy.

Christmas Village In Philadelphia [Official Site]
Philachristmas [Twitter]

Whether we’re ready for it or not the holidays are looming and the fine folk at Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing have a gift guide of 25 gifts under $25. Among the gifts are several food related choices for your favorite foodie.

Also you can enter online for a chance to win all 25 gifts from the gift guide.

Food related gifts after the jump.

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Our first reaction to seeing that XIX was serving Nutcracker Tea was yeeeowww! But after regaining our composure we recognized they were referring to holiday tea from 2 to 5 PM daily. The $38 high tea ($19 for children) consists of modern twists on tea sandwiches like curried chicken salad with dried currants and walnuts on a mini baguette; egg salad with parsley and nutmeg on brioche; Scottish smoked salmon with dill cream cheese and watercress on pumpernickel; strawberry jam and cream cheese on country white; and honey ham and cheddar on toasted brioche. A three-tiered tray, dubbed “Land of the Sweets,” features Nutcracker-themed treats like Sugarplum Fairy Pudding and Marzipan Financier.

Looking for something a bit heartier but just as blue-blooded then take note that the Prime Rib is open for lunch for the two weeks preceding Christmas (December 11-14 and 17-21). The menu will include Prime Rib classics such as lobster bisque, jumbo shrimp cocktail, roast prime rib, chopped sirloin steak and fresh Norwegian salmon. In addition, there will be salads and sandwiches like the Prime Rib sandwich, crab cake sandwich, classic burger, poached salmon salad, Yellowfin tuna salad and warm steak salad.

XIX [Official Site]
Prime Rib [Official Site]

Sometimes it’s the breaks that can make holiday shopping bearable. Like this one at the Ritz-Carlton.

On Thursdays and Sundays from 1 to 3 PM through December 23rd stop in for Yuletide Tea and take a load off.

Through December 23
Yuletide Tea
1-3pm, Thursdays and Sundays
Rotunda
Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
10 Avenue of the Arts
215.523.8221
www.ritzcarlton.com

Grace Tavern, the “lovingly restored neighborhood bar” now can quench your dessert hankerings with fresh cake. Hot on the heels of being named one of the top gastro-pubs in America by Bon Appetit they have added cake to the menu. Additionally there is now soup available, seafood soup each day we’ve checked.

And Grace Tavern will be opening at noon on Christmas Eve with their second annual Rock and Roll Christmas Eve Bash. Expect cool treats, egg nog, and music from “xmas garage rock” to punk and everywhere in between.

Grace Tavern [MySpace]

Meals at the recently opened Fogo de Chão are offered under the service concept of espeto corrido, which translates from Portuguese as “continuous service.” A two sided disk, one side red, one side green, indicates to chefs when you’re ready for more skewers of sizzling fire-roasted meats.

The concept is the same for lunch or dinner, but the price is not. The dinner price is $44 per person, while at lunch the same deal is just $24. So if you find yourself working up quite a hunger, hunting for those last second gifts, why not try Fogo de Chão for lunch.

Fogo de Chão [Official Site]

The traditional Italian Christmas Eve meal of the seven fishes is alive and well in the Philadelphia region, even if no one can agree on what those seven fishes should be. Philadelphia Magazine compiles of list of restaurants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that serve the traditional feast.

Feast of the Seven Fishes [Philadelphia Magazine]

We here at Foobooz have to be honest, we’re not the biggest fans of New Years. Events are often over-priced, under-served and most frustratingly, overrun by amateurs. Now New Years Day on the other hand…. When you’re out drinking with people on New Years Day, then you know you’re among professionals.

But that’s not to say won’t be going out. It’s just that we aren’t that big on the galas and such, but find a nice dinner out with friends, perhaps at a BYOB, that’s how we prefer to bring in the New Year. But we’ll be up and at it early New Years Day for some real debauchery.

Updated 12/24/06

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Friday
It’s the Grand Opening of the Upstairs Lounge at Loie Brasserie. Loie’s new upstairs lounge is open every Friday and Saturday night at 10pm.

Saturday
Running of the Santas – There are over 3,000 santas expected to run down 3rd Street from Finnigan’s Wake to McFadden’s.

Unwrapped � A Night of Tinsel and Tassels. The Hellcat and Bawdy Girls perform a classic burlesque show at the North Star Bar starting at 9 PM.

Also tomorrow night, Barristers Bar & Grille is throwing their Holiday Party with The Man in Black, a Johnny Cash Tribute band.

Sunday
Bridget Foy’s Carolers’ Dinner is Sunday night. Enjoy a four-course holiday tasting menu while being entertained by local performers.