Locals who prefer to spend their Christmas day relaxing rather than sweating over a hot stove are fast turning to the Island?s top hotels to cook their feast for them.

The Fairmont Hamilton Princess began offering Thanksgiving and Christmas takeout last year. This year competitor Elbow Beach Hotel has also entered the holiday dinner takeout service.

The local Fairmont staff found their inspiration for festive takeout from sister hotels such as the Fairmont Washington who offer similar service.

Emmanuel Perot, acting food and beverage director for the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, said that despite the fact his hotel will serve more than 900 sit down diners on Christmas Day, the takeout service is an extra way to build a relationship with local clientele: ?We have the brunch and dinner on the 25th and we are full each time so we just wanted to offer something else for people,? he said. ?We have a huge clientele from locals whether it is on the banqueting side or restaurants so of course we do that to help these people during Christmas so they do not have to worry about that, but of course it helps to build relationships too.?

Although the price for the hotel?s takeout dinner has risen slightly over last year, Mr. Perot says it remains an attractive option over buying everything at the market and preparing it yourself.

?You just have to open the boxes, reheat and enjoy dinner,? he said adding that demand for the service is already up significantly over last year. ?It is always last minute [orders but I would say orders have increased 20 percent over last year. We expect much more, but we are going to have to stop at some point just because we can?t cook all the turkeys for the island, but it is going well.?

Bermudians are slightly more likely than locals to turn to the hotel for takeout.

Mr. Perot said: ?A lot of locals are ordering the turkey to go, some expatriates. I should say 60 percent are Bermudian and 40 percent are expatriates.?

On Christmas Day his team will cook at least 100 turkeys to feed customers dining in the hotel as well as takeout customers. Ms. Martin says that Elbow Beach has set its cut off point for takeout turkeys to 50 for Christmas Day.

?We get such a good response for our festive events over the holidays, for our Christmas gala dinner and New Year?s Eve that this was just an added service to provide and we like to be innovative and provide our local customers with extra services as well,? Ms. Martin said.

As for the future, it is anyone?s guess right now if locals will see more hotel takeout on other holidays throughout the year.

Mr. Perot said: ?The other very important holidays like Mother?s Day, Easter ? why not? But it is a lot of work and when you have banquets on the side it is not always possible to do it. Even for the 25th, I?m going to have to stop [taking takeout orders at a point because I don?t have the bodies and oven to cook more than what I can do.?

A whole roast turkey with stuffing and gravy, maple glazed sweet potatoes, roast potato, brussel sprouts with smoked bacon, cranberry sauce, sundried tomato chiabatta bread, a salad of artichoke and mushrooms and cassava pie. Four individual Christmas puddings and brandy sauce for dessert.

Pumpkin soup, roast turkey [whole turkey if orders are for four or more people with gravy and cranberry sauce, Bermuda glazed ham, garlic mashers, cassava pie, stuffing, glazed Bermuda carrots and green beans with pearl onions.

A choice of pumpkin pie or eggnog cheesecake for dessert.