Crews said: “Philly set me a fantastic challenge to develop a four-course Christmas menu using their unrivalled cream cheese and show how that one ingredient can go a seriously long way.

"I wanted to create delicious dishes worthy of the celebration, that could form the basis of a festive set menu, but most importantly ones which other chefs could very easily recreate.

“This festive season is hopefully going to be a great occasion for operators - a chance, finally, to make some money. I urge chefs working in pubs, restaurants and hotels to visit www.philadelphiaprofessional.co.uk today, to download the recipes and get inspired.”

After almost two years of Covid disruption, the festive season is set to return ‘with a bang’, coinciding with the winter World Cup and leaving operators with not one but two ‘huge profit-making opportunities’.

Operating in the current climate is not without its challenges, however, with energy, staffing, rental and ingredient costs, just some of the headaches facing the industry.

The festive menu includes:

• Canapé: Avocado whipped Philadelphia, smashed peas and ham bruschetta
• Starter: Cranberry and Philadelphia “bon-bon”, rocket and hazelnut pesto
• Main: Roasted turkey leg rolled in smoked bacon filled with Philadelphia, apricot, and cranberry
• Dessert: Salted caramel and Philadelphia “tiramisu”, roasted banana and sherry caramel

For operators, using Philly as the key base ingredient throughout menus can save time, reduce costly wastage and drive profitability when it matters the most.