Elegant Holiday Meals: It’s Easy

When you see the word “elegant” referring to holiday meals, you may imagine a slam to the budget and a lot of extra work. I expect to stretch my budget a lot (it’s only once a year, I tell myself), but not so much as to work. I’m never looking for a lot of extra work, so for me, an elegant holiday meal simply means, in the words of Emeril Lagasse, “kicking it up a notch.” For my favorite holiday meals, I use a proper tablecloth instead of placemats and cloth napkins instead of paper.

To my usual meal of salad, starch and entrée, I offer guests a couple of favorite appetizers, like shrimp cocktail and pigs in blankets.

I don’t usually have a pre-dinner cocktail, but this is a holiday meal. Empress 1908 Gin, which is handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. It can create such delicious cocktail options, such as the Empress Royal, a twist on the elegant Kir Royale and the Pink Peppermint Sour, which is adorned with crushed candy canes.

Moving on to my holiday entrée , I “kick it up a notch” and choose a gorgeous prime rib roast from ChopBox, which offers the best quality meat and seafood. Make sure your 0Their products include all-natural beef, chicken, turkey and pork–and just about any food you’d need for your appetizers or main course.

As I’ll be offering a red wine with my roast, another splurge comes from the Napa Valley-based winery, Ehlers Estate. Ehlers Estate has a variety of high quality options, a versatile red to pair with holiday dishes or a special Cabernet Sauvignon 

Ehlers Estate 2017 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP: $140) is an impressive 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from different blocks on the property. It’s deep red-purple in color with aromas of cassis, wild blackberries, licorice, herbs de Provence, cedar and tobacco leaf. 

Ehlers Estate 2017 Jean Leducq Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP: $90) is another possibility, harvested from the most elevated block on the property. This single-block Cabernet has dark layers of red and purple color. The aromas are intense with ripe red fruit character, spice rack, forest floor, wild red and dark berries, smashed rocks, bay leaves and black olives.

As for dessert, that’s easy. I make a special pound cake that all my friends and family members love. It’s not so much extra work and is guaranteed to please.

Are you ready to tackle you own holiday meal? Bon Appetit!