Christmas 2023 sees the return of the shrimpmas tree

The festive prawn centerpiece of old is back! The latest retro revival is the Shrimpmas tree. They are exactly what you think they are. A tower of prawns atop a turret made of kale.

It’s not surprising that ’70s desserts are all the rage. There’s the Knickerbocker Glory at the newly opened Caterpillar Lounge and Champagne Jelly at Loulou Bistro.

What’s up with this oceanic delight, then? We see this as the natural evolution of the kitschy, flamboyant style we are seeing everywhere – dopamine-infused dressing, maximalist interiors and cocktails, and our obsession with vintage plates on plates.

It is not worth taking life too seriously.

The shrimpmas tree will help you ease into the 70s food if you aren’t ready to dive right in with the aspic. You’ll only need a few essentials and an adventurous attitude to get started.

Grab a styrofoam con; any size is fine. You can use toothpicks to attach a bunch of washed kale or cos lettuce. Then, nestle the peeled prawns in any gaps.

Put a few dishes of Cocktail Sauce on the table, and you have a centerpiece that will make even the Grinch smile.

You can find the full instructions for making the retro shrimp Christmas Tree on the number 2 pencil blog by clicking here.

It’s easy to attach 10 or 12 crabs to a kale branch, but this is the season for going big.