Gathering for the Holidays in New Ways
This year has put a serious damper on the many ways we traditionally gather, but while we may be socially distanced, it’s important we remain emotionally connected. Fortunately, our resilience and resourcefulness have led us to new ways of coming together, whether by podding with friends, chatting virtually or partaking in outdoor activities. This holiday season is a perfect opportunity to adapt old traditions and forge new ones all while enjoying great food. Keep parties small within your bubble while abiding by CDC sanctioned safety and social distancing guidelines – basically, gather at your own risk. And with that, here are seven ways to safely gather this holiday season.
PORCH COCKTAILS, CAROLING AND DESSERT BUFFETS
Northeast Florida benefits from mild winters ideal for outdoor activities with small clusters of friends and family. Porches, front stoops and backyard patios are excellent locales for adapting festivities to our current needs. Instead of a holiday open house, why not create a new tradition by hosting a plein-air happy hour or afternoon dessert buffet? Many sweets can be prepared as single serving treats easy to distribute amongst the pod; flex your baking muscles (or those of your favorite bakery) with a selection to share with friends. Keep the drinks flowing with pre-made pitchers of Manhattans or jars of Camp Cocktails’ aromatic elixirs – simply infuse with your spirit of choice and serve in gold-rimmed cocktail glasses.
Suggested menu: Spicy gingerbread oatmeal cream pies, sweet potato bundt cakes and mini carrot pies, or try portioned plates of chips and salsa, caprese salad skewers and saucers of hummus with crudités. Make it a vintage mid-century modern party with stuffed mushroom caps or bite sized pimento cheese balls rolled in pecans. Stock your cocktail cart with favorite spirits from local distillers such as Manifest, St. Augustine Distillery, Burlock & Barrel or Marlin and Barrel.
Pro tip: Delight your neighbors with stoop-side melodic guitar strums, a round of carols and mugs of hot homemade wassail.
COOKING CLASSES: VIRTUAL OR IRL
Looking for a new kitchen challenge now that you’ve mastered sourdough, or the perfect culinary gift for your friend who has everything? A number of local businesses offer small group, virtual and private cooking classes to suit all tastes, ages and dietary restrictions. Jax Cooking Studio offers small group courses catered to kids, teens, adults and families in their 1800 square foot kitchen space. For those who can’t be together, consider virtual cooking courses. Chef’s Garden Events, Diana Testa at Italian Cooking Lessons and local pastry chef Rebecca Reed all offer virtual cooking courses complete with recipe cards, interactive live meetings and Q&A. Some will even deliver the ingredients to your door.
Suggested menu: Master truffles, hazelnut crusted cod, Spanish tapas, dim sum, homemade ramen and the components of a full Thanksgiving brunch.
Pro tip: Virtual cooking classes are a great substitute for the holiday office party or as an option for breaking bread together with family and friends we can’t see in person.
HOLIDAY POTLUCK PARTY
Potlucks are genius in any year because they take pressure off the host to create the perfect meal for a crowd while ensuring each guest gets something they like. This year, challenge your guests to create individually portioned dishes for the ultimate 2020-appropriate potluck. Designate one table for food along with little cards and pens to identify dish contents (ideal for folks with allergies or dietary restrictions) and another for clean plates and utensils. Keep bottlenecking to a minimum by spacing food out and moving everyone in a single, circular direction, conga-style.
Suggested menu: Tasty single serving options include deviled eggs, mini meat loaves, mushroom and spinach baked rice bowls and kabobs of various construction.
Pro tip: If cooking doesn’t play to your strengths, consider ordering a batch of truffles, mini galettes or sweet buns from favorite restaurants or bakeries like Orsay, 1748 Bakehouse or Community Loaves, or picking up a batch of cocktails to-go from local craft bars like Wildcrafters or the Ice Plant.
BEACHY OYSTER ROASTS
Oysters are the original (and environmentally friendly!) single serving dish, making them perfect for a socially distanced gathering. Florida oysters are available year-round but taste best in the fall and winter months when water temperatures drop. Among the best places to enjoy them are our region’s myriad local, state and national parks along our waterways, many of which are equipped with pavilions, charcoal grills and picnic tables. Pick up a bushel of fresh oysters from your local fishmonger, call up a group of 4 to 6 friends and get to roasting.
Suggested menu: Purists enjoy raw oysters naked in their briny liquor or roasted with a minimum of toppings. For everyone else, serve them with lemon wedges, hot sauce, horseradish, drawn butter and saltine crackers. Beer and oysters are a dreamy combo. Hit up your local craft brewery for a hoppy IPA, pils or gose to balance the creamy brackishness of freshly roasted oysters.
Pro tip: Slaw with a kick of seasonal citrus and roasted red potatoes round out a picture perfect beach meal. Post photos of your wintery beach celebration to social media and rack up jealous “likes” from your family in the Frozen North.
CHEF CATERED DINNER OR PRIVATE ROOM RESERVATION AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS
Perhaps the year has left you feeling burnt out and lacking the bandwidth to concoct grandiose holiday meals. Meanwhile, restaurants need community support more than ever and are looking for new ways to engage and serve customers. The perfect solution? Have your favorite restaurant handle the feast while you kick back with a glass of merlot or Aardwolf BPA. Many eateries offer private rooms for parties well suited for a night out with your quaranteam. Alternately, have dinner catered by your favorite restaurant at the cozy spot of your choosing.
Suggested menu: With the great diversity of restaurants available in Northeast Florida, the options are nearly limitless. Order platters of fresh pasta, chicken parm and salads from Prati Italia, more traditional holiday offerings from the Raintree Restaurant or go totally rogue and cater an international feast from your favorite local food truck.
Pro tip: Not comfortable eating in a restaurant just yet? A number of local chefs will come to you to create a unique and intimate dining experience for your guests in the comfort of your home.
BACKYARD MOVIE NIGHT AND BONFIRE BONANZA
Miss trips to the theater or hosting friends for movie night? With a few modifications, you can transform your backyard into the perfect setting for dinner and a movie under the stars. Decent projectors and screens are increasingly affordable and streaming services make it easier than ever to find films the whole family will love. While waiting for the sun to set, roast marinated veggie kebabs and sausages around the campfire, then cozy up under blankets for your private screening of Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. Classic.
Suggested menu: Lamb sausages from your local butcher, skewers for marshmallows (and s’mores), hot cocoa and a popcorn bar with a variety of toppings. A few creative options: cinnamon chips + raisins + sea salt; dill + smoked paprika + furikake; or curry powder + za’atar + nutritional yeast.
Pro tip: Lean into the outdoorsy experience with camp plates and utensils and ask folks to bring their favorite reusable cups to minimize waste.
COOK UP A CULINARY FEAST FROM ANOTHER CULTURE
Though we may be missing our large family gatherings, this year presents an opportunity to scale down our traditional menus while still making the holidays feel special. Ever wanted to try your hand at spicy Peruvian turkey but nixed it in favor of your family’s classic recipe because TRADITION? Here’s your chance to break the rules while still keeping the meal seasonally appropriate by exploring holiday dishes from around the globe.
Suggested menu: Traditional Slovak Christmas Eve dinners include handmade pierogies stuffed with cheese and potato, bobalki (sweet dough balls drizzled in honey and poppy seeds), haluski (a velvety cabbage and egg noodle dish) and mushroom soup made with popinki mushrooms and sauerkraut juice. Or try your hand at a traditional Mexican Christmas Eve feast of bacalao (a cod-based dish), tamales and pozole (meat and hominy stew). Go for gold with slow roasted pork or turkey treated with a traditional Peruvian-style spice and herb rub of cumin, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, paprika, ground black pepper, smoked paprika and oregano, accompanied by a rice dish with bacon, almonds, dried fruit and balsamic vinegar.
Pro tip: Skip the meat main altogether and go plant-based with jackfruit pot roast or a spicy whole roasted cauliflower. Showcase new-to-you concoctions while Facetiming your extended family, but be prepared to recreate them for next year’s gathering.
