A Look Inside My First Christmas Cocktail Party of the Season
The menu, the plan, the drinks... the method behind the utter lack of madness
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Thank you reading. Quaintrelle is written by me, journalist- turned-sommelier and party host, Erin Henderson. If you have food and drink lovers in your life, please share this post with them.
I’ve just finished lunch. A bowl of pasta in a creamy fennel sauce.
The fennel was the left-over bruschetta topping from a party I threw last weekend, where 10 or so friends came over to help me trim my tree. No, that is not a euphemism.
This annual Christmas cocktail party is my yearly launch to the holiday season, and just like any successful launch, I’m pretty sure a Champagne bottle was smashed in the process. An excellent harbinger for good things still to come this month.
I’ve been hosting this holiday bash for more than a decade, and I think this one was the best yet: easy to manage, stress-free to plan, and seamless to organize. And while all those years have granted me the luxury of many at-bats to figure out a well-worn and airtight plan, 10 years on, and the vibe is hardly stale.
In order to keep my party fresh, and me having fun, I have a few tricks up my party dress. In today’s premium post I share my menu, drinks, and wine selection, of course, but perhaps most importantly my plan for making it happen without breaking a sweat.
Head’s up: My company, The Wine Sisters, has a one-week sale happening on bulk packages of Wine School classes.
Right now, we’re offering $79 off the first five wine tastings of 2025. This deal is only available until December 6, and only available on the five weekly classes running downtown Toronto from January 15 – February 12
Oh, What Fun!
The Drinks, The Food, and How I Planned My Christmas Party During My Busiest Time of Year
The words fun and intention are not very likely bedfellows, but that’s exactly what they are.