Holiday Gift Guide 2020

A Turkey’s Tale

In Chile it is common to roast a Turkey served with apple and plum sauce plus an assortment of sides before attending Christmas Eve Mass or “Misa de Gallo” at the local church. Some areas of Mexico like to cook a turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce while other regions will enjoy bacalao and champurrado. A traditional turkey with Yorkshire pudding is served up in England while Australians wake up to ham on toast for breakfast with homemade mustard, then enjoy a hot lunch of roast pork, ham, chicken and turkey. Here in North America we can’t get enough turkey throughout the holidays complete with all the trimmings.

When it comes to turkey, sourcing local and fresh is best. For four generations Winter’s Turkey Farm has been producing high quality, sustainable and humanely raised turkeys. The turkeys are free range, organically grown, and raised on a whole grain diet that results in a flavourful bird on your holiday table. Fresh birds are available in October and December, while frozen can be purchased throughout the year. Visit the website to find local retail locations and for ordering options and details.

Now that you have your turkey, you are going to need the proper vessel to cook it in. Zest Kitchenware carries a range of items to assist with all your turkey roasting needs. The All-Clad Stainless Roasters with Racks are large, in charge and available in two sizes. The lifter rack helps remove a large turkey from the heavy-duty stainless-steel roasting pan, while the upright handles offer a secure hold when transporting around the kitchen. Built to last, these roasting pans are the only pans you will ever need.

Fresh Local Turkey’s | Winters Turkey | $63.00 – $86.00

All-Clad Stainless Roaster with Rack | Zest Kitchenware | $159.99 – $199.99

Festive Afternoon Tea

In London, a Christmas afternoon tea includes a festive spread at many of London’s fancier hotels. Offerings might include finger sandwiches, scones or pastries, treats like cakes, biscuits or mince pies accompanied by an assortment of teas while enjoying carolers or a small choir. In Calgary you will find a few places offering afternoon tea, however we recommend creating your own family tea tradition by making finger sandwiches, holiday cookies and picking up a selection of teas. The Naked Leaf in Kensington carries a fine assortment of teas to help get you started, a lovely selection of English teapots including Japanese teapots, teacups and matcha bowls. We are smitten with the English Toaster Teapot, a charming and whimsical teapot made in England and think it’s the perfect gift for
the tea lover in your life.

English Toaster Teapot | The Naked Leaf | $128.00

Not your Shaw Christmas log

French family meals are known for three things: lasting for several hours, being the scene of political family feuds, and traditional holiday desserts. A holiday tradition once started to mark winter solstice was the burning of a very large log in the heath of your main room. Occasionally it was so large the rest of the trunk stuck out offering inspiration for a log shaped dessert. At least this ensured continuing warmth as it slowly burned through the day and night under a watchful eye. Each year Parisians delight in the traditional Bûche de Noël, a lightly rolled sponge cake covered in chocolate or coffee butter cream textured to resemble bark and the ancient tradition of burning the Yule log. These cakes are made more elaborate by molding frosting to resemble a cut branch, decorated with merengue mushrooms and sugar leaves. French bakery owner chef Philippe Poncet at Eclair de Lune prepares the most delectable and sought-after French pastries in his bakery in North Calgary. During the holidays you will find this dessert available to order as well as several other pastries you might want to consider treating yourself to during the holiday season.

Bûche de Noël | Éclair de Lune | $50.00