holiday meals
December 30, 2007
This year, my family decided to all come to Los Angeles for Christmas. it was a great place for everyone to come and get out of the colder climates that some of them live in. Aside from a couple days of rain, for the most part the forecast was clear and sunny, just as predicted. As the years progress, we all have obligations to alternate who are holidays are spent with. Is it family, friends, or significant other’s families, or a vacation getaway? how does one spread the love?
For the mere fact that I do not run a 7 bedroom B&B, despite popular belief, my boyfriend and I hosted Christmas this year and had some out of the ordinary things to figure out. Since some were staying at hotels nearby, we wanted to have a few meals other than just the big Christmas Eve dinner. I planned a buffet style, casual dinner for us on one of the first nights everyone was in town. Aside from the Christmas Eve dinner, we also hosted a Christmas Day brunch. There were some toddlers involved (my neice and nephew) so we needed to have some kind of Christmas morning gathering so that Santa’s visit could be appreciated. Below are some menus I put together for the 2 dinner events. It was ambitious on my part and took some planning and prep, but was definitely worth it. Overall, everything went smoothly. The gourmande in me always goes a little overboard I admit, but the holidays are as good a time as any to celebrate, especially among loved ones.Pre Xmas dinner, buffet style:
persimmon and prosciutto bruschetta
dates and manchego chorizo and sheeps milk cheese
pork rib roast- 6 rib trimmed and frenched 5-6 lbs
mac and cheese
roastedbrussel sprouts
chinese holiday stuffing
chocolate tart with almond crust and fresh whipped cream
christmas eve family dinner for 10:
hors d’ouevres and pomegranate cocktails
seated dinner with meals plated
canapes and bruschetta:
chicken liver sage crostini with guanciale
lamb prune meatballs
quince paste (membrillo) with basque sheep’s milk cheese and toasted walnuts
gravlax with chives and sour cream
Dinner Menu:
cauliflower saffron soup
brazilian cheese puffs/ mini cornbreads
Main:
filet mignon roast- 5 lbs
wine reduction sauce
wild mushroom bread pudding
black chard and baby carrots with greens attached poached in chicken broth and butter
Dessert:
cheesecake
3 Responses to “holiday meals”
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This year, my family decided to all come to Los Angeles for Christmas. it was a great place for everyone to come and get out of the colder climates that some of them live in. Aside from a couple days of rain, for the most part the forecast was clear and sunny, just as predicted. As the years progress, we all have obligations to alternate who are holidays are spent with. Is it family, friends, or significant other’s families, or a vacation getaway? how does one spread the love?
For the mere fact that I do not run a 7 bedroom B&B, despite popular belief, my boyfriend and I hosted Christmas this year and had some out of the ordinary things to figure out. Since some were staying at hotels nearby, we wanted to have a few meals other than just the big Christmas Eve dinner. I planned a buffet style, casual dinner for us on one of the first nights everyone was in town. Aside from the Christmas Eve dinner, we also hosted a Christmas Day brunch. There were some toddlers involved (my neice and nephew) so we needed to have some kind of Christmas morning gathering so that Santa’s visit could be appreciated. Below are some menus I put together for the 2 dinner events. It was ambitious on my part and took some planning and prep, but was definitely worth it. Overall, everything went smoothly. The gourmande in me always goes a little overboard I admit, but the holidays are as good a time as any to celebrate, especially among loved ones.Pre Xmas dinner, buffet style:
persimmon and prosciutto bruschetta
dates and manchego chorizo and sheeps milk cheese
pork rib roast- 6 rib trimmed and frenched 5-6 lbs
mac and cheese
roastedbrussel sprouts
chinese holiday stuffing
chocolate tart with almond crust and fresh whipped cream
christmas eve family dinner for 10:
hors d’ouevres and pomegranate cocktails
seated dinner with meals plated
canapes and bruschetta:
chicken liver sage crostini with guanciale
lamb prune meatballs
quince paste (membrillo) with basque sheep’s milk cheese and toasted walnuts
gravlax with chives and sour cream
Dinner Menu:
cauliflower saffron soup
brazilian cheese puffs/ mini cornbreads
Main:
filet mignon roast- 5 lbs
wine reduction sauce
wild mushroom bread pudding
black chard and baby carrots with greens attached poached in chicken broth and butter
Dessert:
cheesecake
February 6th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
BEAUTIFUL….this is the best website ever. Camile Chu you are simply amazing. I can’t wait to make these recipes..you make me want to have a dinner party tomorrow night!!!!! Amazing..amazing!!!!!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I thought for sure you ran a 10 bedroom B&B. I recall staying there once! =)
April 26th, 2008 at 3:57 am
Thanks for your suggestions for creating noshes for my TGIF celebration. The goat cheese (chevre) on toasted baguette slices rubbed with garlic and drizzled with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) were a hit. Everyone loved the prosciutto baguette slices, too. Luckily, I found a deli that has the leanest, yummiest prosciutto.