Entertaining Cook, Decorate and Celebrate this Holiday Season with Ideas and Inspiration from Atlanta’s Top Chefs and Bloggers The holidays hold a special place in my heart. From fond childhood memories of Christmases spent playing with my cousins to Thanksgivings spent gathering around my grandmother's beloved spinach artichoke recipe, food has always played a special role in our celebrations. I truly believe the dishes we share each holiday are a special way to share our hearts and lives with each other. Here, we take an intimate look into the lives of several Atlanta chefs to learn more about their favorite seasonal recipes and celebrations. I hope you find inspiration for your own holiday meals in the pages that follow. Cheers!—Liz Attaway, @adventuresinatlanta, www.adventuresinatlanta.com
Setting the Scene with Kevin Francis O’Gara of Kevin Francis Design A happy hosting pair, Kevin and his brown standard poodle Leopold love having friends and family over for seasonal gatherings indoors and out. @kfogara, @kevinfrancisdesign, www.kevinfrancisdesign.com
Decor Tips Some suggestions for spicing up your tablescape: • Use citrus for a pop of color in table settings during the winter. Bonus points if you can find some at the market with leaves still on them. • I love to stick to shades of green for flower arrangements since there’s such a lack of it outside. • Brass accents are a great way to warm up your tabletop and look so lovely with candlelight. Outdoor entertaining can still be cozy even as the temperatures drop. • To keep things toasty as the sun goes down, try throwing sheepskins on your dining chairs. • Add insulating curtains to your porch. • Use lots of large pillar candles to add a warm glow to your dining area. Photo courtesy of Kevin O'Gara.
Finally, entertaining can be stressful, especially during the holidays, so give yourself easy options when it comes to dinner plans. • I like to have Marcona almonds, rice crackers, dried apricots and goat cheese on hand to set out for last-minute hors d’oeuvres. • Having a lasagna or flatbread pizza in the freezer that you can dress up with fresh herbs, an arugula salad and a nice bottle of wine gives you an approachable option for when it’s just too busy to cook a full meal for guests. bestselfatlanta.com
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BEST SELF ATLANTA
BEST OF 2021 ISSUE
37
11/23/21 5:36 PM
