Holiday Entertaining Tips & Traditions from O&B
Our team shares their top tips and heartwarming traditions for a festive holiday season
The winter holidays are right around the corner! From hosting friends and family for a delicious feast to starting new traditions (or keeping old ones going), we’re here to help you make the most of the festive season. Below, our team is sharing their top entertaining tips plus traditions they’ll be doing with their loved ones. Get inspired, motivated, and holiday-ready with O&B!
Stock Up
Create a seasonal stockpile of key items in case last-minute guests make an appearance. “I like to have extra crackers, Marcona almonds, mixed olives and a bag of ice on hand as well as pre-made dips, tonic and soda water. Frozen appetizers are also handy in a pinch. If guests drop by unannounced, surely they aren’t expecting a full spread! Don’t overthink it and remember that what matters most is spending time with your guests.”
– April Mainprize, Manager, Event Sales
Be a Flexitarian
You may encounter some dietary restrictions or perhaps a picky eater or two. “As far as handling varying dietary needs, it’s important to be flexible with your recipes. If someone has an allergy or aversion, I’ll do my best to adapt! Try adding the offending ingredients last. That way, you can set aside a portion for your guests with special requirements and finish the recipe as planned.”
– Andrew Nowry, Chef de Cuisine, The Rabbit Hole
Shop Online
Kitchen shortcuts can make a world of difference. You don’t have to do it all yourself or make everything from scratch. “Store-bought is more than fine! Shop the market for pre-made items or take advantage of the Holiday Feast Menu on Gather, our online marketplace. There’s nothing better than a heat and serve meal crafted by chefs, delivered straight to your doorstep!”
– April Mainprize, Manager, Event Sales
For a savoury dish that’s guaranteed to impress your guests, look no further than O&B’s frozen tourtière! You can conveniently place your order online and pick it up from Queen’s Cross Food Hall between Dec 7-24. Full bellies are in your future!
Go DIY with the Decor
Greet guests at the door with festive cheer and DIY decor. “My family and I love to go foraging every year. My parents used to do it with me when I was little, so it’s a tradition that has been passed on for generations. This year, we collected all kinds of branches and pinecones from a friend’s wood lot and used them to make Christmas urn decorations for our front porch! It’s a great way to spend quality time with family—and the finished product looks and smells just like the holidays!” – Theresa Suraci, Marketing Director
DIY Drinks
One thing that you definitely shouldn’t overthink? The beverages. “Offer a welcome drink on arrival and then invite guests to help themselves. Keep a small bar with glasses, ice and cut citrus. At dinner, pour the first glass of wine and then leave the bottle or decanter to pass around.”
– April Mainprize, Manager, Event Sales
Baking Spirits Bright
Roll up your sleeves and try making sweets from scratch. Bonus points if the whole family gets involved! “Now that I’m a mama, am hoping to start new traditions with my little one. I have such great memories of Christmas baking with my mum and brother – holiday tunes blasting in the background, white clouds of icing sugar, meticulous placement of sprinkles, arguing over how much raw cookie batter our tummies could handle – it was organized chaos, but I loved it. I can’t wait to see my daughter’s little fingers squish into dough for the first time. It’s going to a pretty special Christmas from here on.” – Charlene Briggs, Marketing Manager
A Family (Style) Affair
When it comes to serving dinner, there are a few routes you can take. Plated, buffet, family style … as the host, you call the shots! “Personally, my choice is family style as I get to set a beautiful table and my guests can help themselves to whatever item they choose while controlling their portion.”
– April Mainprize, Manager, Event Sales
There you have it! A perfect package of tips to help make entertaining a breeze plus inspiration for traditions to start with loved ones this year. And, to add a little kick to your holidays, The Rabbit Hole‘s Chef Andrew Nowry has shared his family’s recipe for fruit chili sauce. Ideally served with tourtière (psst… don’t forget to pre-order yours from Dec 7-24 at Queen’s Cross Food Hall), or any roasted meat, we invite you to make a batch, keep a couple of jars, and gift the rest!
Happy holiday entertaining from all of us at O&B!
Fruit Chili Sauce
Makes 5-6 medium-sized jars (500ml)
Ingredients
10 large ripe tomatoes, diced
4 peaches, peeled and diced
4 pears, diced
3 large onions, diced
2 cups white vinegar
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pickling spice in a cheesecloth bag
Instructions
Combine ingredients in a large pot. Boil for 2 hours, stirring constantly. Spoon into sanitized jars with lids. Simmer jars in boiling water for 10 minutes using the water bath canning process. Once the jars are properly sealed, let them cool.
