The best part of the holidays takes place when we gather together at the table with family and friends because these are the moments we remember—not what we got year after year, but the jokes, laughter, and warm, cozy feeling of togetherness. In the darkest, coldest time of the year, there’s magic when we sit down to a delicious meal with our loved ones.
To create the ultimate holiday experience for your guests, we’ve got a round-up of styling tips, easy centrepiece ideas, side dishes and exceptional BC VQA wines to pair with your turkey feast. Whether it’s for Christmas, an intimate evening with friends, or a more relaxed gathering, we have everything you need to elevate your table this December.
STYLING TIPS
There’s something magical about a beautifully displayed table welcoming family and friends to your holiday celebrations, and thankfully all it requires is just a few simple touches. Tori Wesszer, lifestyle blogger and founder of Fraîche Living, suggests adding a personalized gingerbread cookie to each plate as a place setting. The result? A delicious surprise for your guest.
EASY CENTREPIECES
We’re a big fan of picture-perfect centrepieces bringing the focus to where you’ll be enjoying your time together. It’s a great way to match those memory-making smiles with kodak-captured moments.
BC Living’s recent editorial suggested layering the home with greenery like freshly cut eucalyptus, evergreens, and berries. They can even add festive, seasonal scents like fresh balsam to the room.
Add battery operated twinkle lights to the table—the Dollar Store carries them—for a touch of sparkle without the worry of lit candles dripping wax onto your table cloth. But if you’re hosting an adults-only soiree, candlesticks are a timeless statement for a reason.
SIDE DISHES
While we firmly believe turkey is perfect for any day of the year, we know that sometimes you need to elevate your menu with a handful of delicious side dishes that only add to turkey’s versatility. The obvious ones are stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, but depending on the type of event you’re hosting you can easily bring in different flavours and a touch of non-Western cuisine!
We’re a big fan of bringing in Asian spices to dishes like our Miso Roasted Brussel Sprouts or Gochujang Glazed Carrots—think savoury goodness that is more crowd-pleasing than just plain roasted vegetables. Thankfully, BC is home to so many amazing residents with diverse backgrounds and cooking styles, so encourage your guests to bring their own surprise side dish! You might just find a new favourite recipe for next year’s celebrations.
Recipe: Scallion Mashed Potatoes with Chili Crisp
Recipe: Miso Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Recipe: Gochujang Glazed Carrots
WINE PAIRINGS
According to Decanter, there are a couple of classic wines that tend to go perfectly with turkey dinners. For example, full-bodied Chardonnay done in a more Burgundy or California style, can compliment poultry exceptionally well. For reds, they say to go for Pinot Noir—one of BC’s specialties, by the way—or a nice mature Bordeaux-style wine.
Living in British Columbia means access to exceptional local wineries thanks to the Okanagan Valley and other winemaking regions across our province. You can easily grab a bottle from the BC liquor store or find local labels in select grocery stores.
For that full-bodied Chard, we suggest Sandhill’s 2022 Chardonay.
When it comes to cool climate wines, we can’t look further than CedarCreek’s 2022 Estate Pinot Noir.
But when you need a five-grape Bordeaux-style red, we can’t say no to Painted Rock’s newly released 2021 Red Icon.
However you celebrate, we can’t wait for everyone to feel connected and special this holiday season. The holidays can be magical, but also lonely. So instead of material goods, gift your time and love to those who matter most by curating an evening together at the table.
Don’t forget to share your table moments with us when you use the hashtag #TogetherAtTheTable or tag us with @britishcolumbiaturkey. We love seeing all of BC gathering over delicious, healthy turkey feasts every day of the year.