The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will see 26 countries sing for votes which could make it a long evening, so make sure you have snacks at the ready!
Acts will be sung from all corners of the continent, including places not usually considered in Europe, such as Israel, or ever considered, in the case of Australia! Although many countries who have competed in the contest in years gone by have decided to give it a miss in 2023 or been banned.
BBC 1 will broadcast the show from Liverpool from 8pm to midnight on Saturday, so there is plenty of time to stock up on food. Committed fans can even tune in from 5.50pm when there will be a Pointless Eurovision special, before a themed edition of The Hit List before The One Show begins a Eurovision countdown from 7.30pm. You can watch in the comfort of your own home, or go to one of many parties around London.
As well as the main entries, there will also be a performance from guest Rita Ora while the show will be presented by Alesha Dixon and Hannah Waddingham.
Here is our guide to the whole event and how the voting system works.
Now for those snacks!
What are the best snacks to eat while watching the Eurovision Song Contest 2023?
The delivery company Getir has put together a list of the best snacks to enjoy from each of the ‘big five nations’ which - for the unfamiliar - are the biggest spenders on the event who are given a bye to the final. This is the UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy.
France
It’s no secret that some of the best cheeses in the world come from France, so let cheese paired with dry meats be the base layer for your French-inspired snack board. Add in fresh and dried fruits as well as jams to act as palate cleansers. Use a mixture of:
Cheese: Camembert, Gruyère, Brie
Meats: Salami, cured hams and paté
Fruits: Grapes, sliced apples, fig jam
Savoury: Crackers, any crusty bread
Sweet: macaroons
Complement your board with French-born wines such as Rosé Côtes de Provence or Domaine Coudoulis Côtes du Rhône Le Petit Rouge. If wine isn’t to your fancy, opt for world-renowned, French-born ciders like Kronenbourg and Galipette Brut Cidre.
Italy
A beautiful Italian Charcuterie board filled with Italian meats and cheeses is sure to satisfy guests. But, as these are similar flavours and foods to other European countries, include the likes of pizza and Italian breads to make it more unique. Use a mixture of:
Cheese: Parmigiano Reggiano, Fontina, Burrata, Mozzarella
Meats: Prosciutto, Calabrese, Speck
Fruits & vegetables: tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers
Savoury: A mixture of pizzas with different traditional toppings such as Margarita, mushrooms and prosciutto. Crackers, focaccia or ciabatta, with olive oil in a side dish for dipping is another Italian show stopper.
Pair with native Italian beers like Peroni or a sparkling wine like Via Vai Prosecco made in Veneto.
Italian band Måneskin won Eurovision in 2021.
Germany
German cuisine is very meat-centric so let these be the star of your board. Pair them with pretzels and savoury snacks like pickled eggs. Use a mixture of:
Meats: Frankfurter, knackwurst, Sommerwurst
Cheese: Cambozola, Rauchkäse and Butterkäse
Savoury: Pretzels, pickled eggs, radishes
Fruits: apples, tomatoes, grapes
Sweet: Chocolate-coated pretzels, butter biscuits
Spain
The main two food items for a Spanish charcuterie board are Spanish cured meats and cheeses. Take it up a notch and create a tapas feast with other traditional Spanish foods such as empanadas and finish it off with some sweet churros. Use a mixture of:
Meat: Jamon Iberico, salami, chorizo, Jamon serrano
Cheese: Manchego, Iberico, Tetilla, Zamorano
Savoury: empanadas, croquettes, crusty bread, olives, almonds
Fruits: grapes, dried apricots, cherry tomatoes, blueberries
Sweet: churros paired with dipping chocolate
Pair with Spanish-born beers and wine such as Estrella, and Bodegas Paco Garcia
Spain’s entry for the 2023 competition will be Blanca Paloma.
UK
Last but not least is the home nation, which will be represented by Mae Muller - who has recently met her new fans Charles and Camilla.
A simple, easy and fun way to create a snack board for the UK is to embrace the British ‘picky bits’ trend that’s become quite the craze over the past year. Requiring minimal cooking but maximal satisfaction, use a mixture of:
Savoury: Crisps, oven chips and curly fries, chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, garlic bread
Dips: Hummus, salsa, ketchup, BBQ sauce
Sweet: Jaffa cakes, Jammie Dodgers, Shortbread
Pair with British tipples such as Brewdog Punk IPA, Somerset Cider or Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic.
Be sure to have a range of condiments to hand so that guests can dip in whatever they please. Also, have plenty of crackers and bread as these pair with all of these boards. To level up the Eurovision celebrations, you could make little toothpick flags for each country-inspired board.
