With the Christmas season in full flow now is the best time to try some great alternative Christmas dishes.

The Christmas banquet menu available at Qins on Blenheim Parade, Hillingdon, will have your mouth watering as soon as you step into the restaurant.

For only £17.80 per person you can select as many dishes as you can manage from the menu which includes over 60 dishes.

All of the banquet dishes are cooked fresh to order unlike many other Chinese restaurants where you will have to serve yourself.

The successful business is run by brother and sister team Katie and Bill who invited me to the restaurant to try some of the delicacies prepared for this special menu.

To start with I was given something I never thought I would try in a Chinese restaurant, brussel sprouts.

However once I got over my amazment my taste buds were treated to something quite a bit different from the traditional boiled sprout smothered in gravy.

Salt and pepper sprouts, created by head chef Bill, are a real treat. The sprouts are cut in half and given a salt and pepper coating before being fried then served with garlic and green chilli.

This all worked perfectly together and I adored the spicy green chilli flavour which just seemed to match the sprouts perfectly.

I also tried what has been affectionately termed Qin's chicken medallions by people who have tried them.

However these are unlike any other chicken I have ever tasted.

Chicken is mixed with a special combination of herbs and then covered in Japanese breadcrumbs.

Once fried you can enjoy one of the crispiest and flavoursome nuggets you will ever have and they are perfectly accompanied with a dipping sauce of your choice.

After I had finished sampling these dishes I got to enjoy chicken fillet with sweet and spicy sauce and sizzling prawns in satay sauce.

The chicken fillet was cooked beautifully and just melted in my mouth and the sweet and spicy sauce was actually had some spice to it rather than the usual overly sweet sauces you usually get in Chinese restaurants.

The prawns were also delicious and as someone who usually avoids prawns I was happy to find these perfectly cooked and not tough from over cooking.

Qin's are definiteley taking Chinese cuisine to new heights providing fun and original tastes in a cuisine where it is hard to find a good restaurant.

The service in the restaurant is also outstanding with food brought to you quickly and efficiently.

The Christmas banquet menu has been available from December 6 so head down to Qin's and try it for yourself.

The restaurant is open six days a week, and is fully licensed. Telephone for reservations on 020 8573 0202.

Qin's
5 - 7 Bleinham Parade, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon 020 8573 0202