The joys of Christmas dinner. Nothing like shoving bits of bread and vegetables into a squishy, just-thawed-out dead bird. Who knew mashing potatoes required so much elbow grease? You’re using cranberry sauce from the tin — it’s OK, we won’t tell anyone. Then, dinner is set on the table, and Uncle Frank has decided to go directly into a monologue about Trudeau. Then, something is spilled all over the table. Your overly honest sibling tells you the turkey is a bit dry.
Not every Christmas dinner is going to be like this; but, for some of us, it would just be so, so nice if we could either a) pay someone to make Christmas dinner for us, or b) go out for Christmas dinner.
Wait, you can do either of those things. Here’s some suggestions:
At Freson Bros., the Ukrainian themed boxed Christmas dinner is available. What’s promised? Roast turkey, cranberry sauce, carrots in creamy dill sauce, fresh-baked bread, plus pirogies with sour cream, bacon bits and green onions. Also, Ukrainian sausage can be added on. Of course you’re adding that on. The meals serve four and just need to be reheated at home. Relax. You can do this.
A Cappella Catering offers a holiday take and bake dinner that feeds four to six people. Turkey, stuffing, buns, whipped potatoes, salad with pomegranate, blood oranges and pumpkin seeds, plus shortbread for dessert. All you need to do is heat them up in the oven and serve. You get directions, so even if you’re a kitchen klutz, you can do this.
Mercer’s Catering offers meals for Christmas parties, whether it be at the office or for welcoming guests into your home. The holiday turkey buffet features mashed potatoes, vegetable side dish, salad with pomegranate and cranberries, buns and a dessert tray. Order early to avoid disappointment.
Why have your Christmas dinner on Christmas Day? Why not have it on a Sunday morning? The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is offering festive Sunday brunches through the holiday season, with free-range turkey served with apricot-sage stuffing. Also, mustard and honey marinated ham. All of that, along with your breakfast favourites. Make reservations, because the tables will fill up.
The Sawmill is offering a holiday turkey dinner for dine-in on Christmas Eve, or that you can take home on either Dec. 23 or 24. It promises free-range roasted turkey, red skin garlic mashed potatoes, apple-cranberry-sage stuffing, roasted seasonal vegetables, cranberry preserve and house-made giblet gravy.
The Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall is hosting a series of Christmas Eve brunches with Santa himself. Get advance tickets via Eventbrite. The dining options include AAA prime rib, roast turkey, sushi and other seafood dishes. The kids each get a box of house-made chocolate, and families get photos with Santa. Don’t do the photos after eating a lot of turkey, or else you may pass out on St. Nick’s lap.
The Westin is hosting a Christmas Day buffet brunch. There’s a roast turkey carving station with apple, sage and chestnut stuffing. Look for baked salmon, pastries and all the good breakfast stuff. Because nothing makes turkey better than a healthy side of bacon.
