Canary by Gorji. Three courses, $30 per person, plus tax and tip. The regular menu is also available. Call for reservations; they’re seating 5-10 p.m.

Craft Dallas. Seating 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Reservations required. $95/adults, $45/kid (6-12), kids under 5 free. Price doesn’t include beverages, tax, or tip. First course – (For the Table) Enjoy the following starters to whet your appetite:

• Frisee & Hazelnut
• Mussels & Tarragon
• Foie Gras & Ruby Red Grapefruit

Main course – (Choose One)

• Chestnut Tortelloni & Black Truffle;
• Burgundy Snails & Farm Egg;
• Chatham Cod & Ham Hock;
• Steelhead Trout & Smoked Roe;
• Quail & Pecan
• Porchetta & Pineapple;
• Veal Cheeks & Prune; OR
• Sirloin & Bone Marrow

Side dishes – (For the Table)

• Root Vegetables & Maple
• Potato Puree & Créme Fraiche
• Lacinato Kale and Medjool Dates
• Maitake Mushrooms & Fines Herbes

Dessert – (For the Table)

• Stout Ginger Bread
• Apple Custard Tart
• Rum Raisin Ice Cream

Landmark Restaurant (inside Warwick Melrose Dallas Hotel). The brunch buffet offers over 50 items, including a dessert station and options for kids. Seating begins at 11 a.m. and lasts until 2:30 p.m. and prices are $55 for adults, $24 for children ages 5-12, and children under five dine complimentary. Meddlesome Moth. Open 5 p.m.-midnight (regular Sunday close). Seasonal special is pecan-crusted veal cheeks with cranberry demi glaze and root vegetable croquettes and sweet potato mousse. For dessert: polenta apple cobbler. The featured rare beer tapping is Deschutes Jubel 2010, “a Once a Decade Ale.” Mignon. Three courses, $59.95 per person plus tax and a 20% gratuity. Seating 11 a.m.-9 p.m. First Please select one of the following

• Petit Boston Bibb salad with Granny Smith apples, candied walnuts, blue cheese and grain mustard vinaigrette
• Lump crab cake with braised fennel, tomato confit & lobster sauce
• Hearts of Romaine Caesar salad with brioche croutons & shaved Parmesan
• Shrimp cocktail with cucumber, grape tomato, chives, and cocktail sauce

Lobster bisque Second Please select one of the following

• Pan roasted Atlantic salmon, creamed white corn, spinach, bacon & balsamic butter
• Seared Maine diver scallops roasted jumbo asparagus, oven cured tomatoes & peppered goat cheese
• Mint-crusted rack of lamb 14oz, white cheddar and dino kale with Port wine balsamic figs
• Prime filet “au poivre” 8oz with forest mushroom, spinach & red wine risotto with peppercorn brandy sauce
• Roasted Chilean sea bass with potato-chive raviolis, roasted baby artichokes & black truffle jus
• Prime grilled ribeye, bleu cheese and walnut gratin, vanilla Port and balsamic reductions, truffle potato wedges

Third Please select one of the following

• Cinnamon & white chocolate crème brulée
• Molten chocolate cake
• Strawberry ice cream
• White chocolate & Grand Marnier bread pudding
• Butter pecan ice cream

Nana. Four-course brunch for adults, three courses from kids.  11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Christmas Day brunch (11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) and dinner (6-9 p.m.). Three courses, $105 per person. Call for reservations. Brunch menu: Starters Soft Scrambled Egg, house-made gravlax, crème fraîche, American caviar Lobster-Butternut Squash Bisque, brioche croutons, cinnamon cream Roasted Baby Beets and Blue Cheese, pickled Asian pear, arugula pesto, hazelnuts Egg Benedict, candied bacon, piquillo pepper Hollandaise, grilled asparagus venison Carpaccio, ancho chili oil, pistachios, mache salad Mansion Granola, house-made vanilla yogurt, fresh berries, cassis syrup Entrées Brunch Omelet, Paula Lambert’s goat cheese, smokehouse bacon, spinach Soufflé French Toast of Hazelnut Brioche, caramelized apple, vanilla Chantilly cream Seared Scallops, brandade, Yukon potato, braised celery, clam chowder sauce Grilled Wild Salmon, celeriac puree, blood orange, baby greens salad Roasted Chicken Diablo, winter root ragout, tarragon Beef Tenderloin, smoked potato puree, braised Swiss chard, house steak sauce House-Made Tagliatelle, shrimp Bolognese, purple basil Desserts Holiday Chocolate Yule Log chocolate cream, crispy chocolate pearl, vanilla ice cream; hazelnut-pear parfait hazelnut mousse, poached Bartlett pear, caramel ice cream; Crumbly lemon-raspberry meringue pie, raspberry sorbet Executive Chef Bruno Davaillon Dinner menu: Starters Roasted Baby Beets and Blue Cheese, pickled Asian pear, arugula pesto, hazelnut Celeriac Soup, Parmesan puffs, gala apple, curry oil Seared Foie Gras, pineapple-raisin chutney, black peppercorns, baby cilantro Maine Lobster Risotto, pumpkin, lemon emulsion, chives Scallop Carpaccio, apple jelly, crispy quinoa, sea bean, cilantro, jalapeno Entrées Wild Stripped Bass, roasted sunchokes, bacon marmalade, mache, warm truffle vinaigrette Roasted Dayboat Scallops, Yukon potato, braised celery, clam chowder sauce Prime Beef Tenderloin au Poivre, wild mushrooms, duck fat fries, béarnaise Braised Texas Wagyu Short Ribs, parsnip puree, pearl onions, pickled vegetable salad Roasted Duck Breast, caramelized turnips, quince condiment, red currant reduction Desserts Holiday Chocolate Yule Log chocolate cream, crispy chocolate pearl, vanilla ice cream, Hazelnut-Pear Parfait hazelnut mousse, poached Bartlett pear, caramel ice cream, Crumbly Lemon Pie lemon-raspberry meringue pie, raspberry sorbet Executive Chef Bruno Davaillon The Second Floor. Seating 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Specials:

• Cranberry pecan salad, goat cheese, sherry vinegar ($9)
• Acorn squash soup, bacon, sage dumplings ($5-$9)
• Grilled Virginia ham, pumpkin risotto, crispy haricot vert ($17)
• Truffle crusted lamb rack, asparagus, twice baked Yukon potatoes ($32)
• Eggnog crème brulee, spiced shortbread, candied orange ($9)

Steel. “Steel will celebrate the season with dinner from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 and 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Christmas, Sunday, December 25. Steel will feature a special three-course prix fixe menu for $45 per person, plus tax and gratuity, as well as offering their regular sushi and a la carte menus.  Reservations recommended by calling 214.219.9908 or www.steelrestaurant.com.” Menu: Starters

• Red Curry Lobster Bisque
• House Made Gravlox Cured with Sake & fennel, served with a shallot-scallion mouse
• Fresh Steamed Shui Mai Chinese dumplings with pork filling and served with a soy-based dipping sauce
• Noel Maki Roll Rolled with ahi tuna, asparagus & yamagobo, topped with red and green tobiko caviar

Entrees

• Grilled Beef Strip Loin Steak, Red wine reduction sauce, Asian mushroom compote and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes
• Pan Seared Alaskan Black Cod With tomatillo-lime beurre blanc and vegetable fried rice
• Roast Plump Chicken Breast Filled with Texas goat cheese and Asian pear, with a brown butter-Gewürztraminer sauce and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes
• Pad Kew Mao Thai style flat noodles stir fried with vegetables and large shrimp, scallops and calamari

Desserts

• Brandy Fruit Foster Served with Vanilla Bean ice cream
• Christmas Bread Pudding Served with Cinnamon ice cream

Toulouse. Can choose à la carte, or three courses for $55. Starters choice of: Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras Orange French Toast and Truffle Honey $18 Frisee, Bacon, Fingerling Potatoes and Shaved White Truffle Salad $15 White Truffle Leek-Potato Soup $10 Entrees choice of: Creamy Mushroom Risotto and Shaved White Truffles $32 Seared Diver Scallops with Celery Root and White Truffle Mousseline Roasted Brussels Sprout Leaves $30 Filet Mignon a la Perigourdine, sautéed spinach, roasted fingerlings White Truffles, Foie Gras and Port Reduction $34 Dessert choice of: $9 Traditional Chocolate buche de noel Nougat Glacee & Raspberry Coulis

I love Boxing Day, the first business day after Christmas. All of Ontario closes and we sit on the chesterfield and chow down on donuts, beer, macaroni and cheese, and watch hockey. The NHL pretty much owns Canada on Boxing Day now. They have TEN GAMES scheduled. My friend’s mum puts out (uhoot) a hellofa buffet (boo-fay). And k.d. lang always sends me a fruit cake. Go Leafs! (Q: Why don’t the Leafs drink tea? A: Because the Canadiens have all the cups.) And hello Peterborough!

Little Aprons' cherry pie

SideDish contributor Daniel Walker also helped. He wrote about apple pie: “The Place at Perry’s brown-bag apple pie is quite possibly the greatest pie to have ever graced my lips.” More recently, Daniel told us about Scrumbscious Pie in Mesquite where he found fresh baked pies and “pie shakes.”

Yesterday, I got the command. The pie is my job. I’m wavering on which route to go. Am I missing something? Please help me–and potentially yourself–by tossing in your thoughts.

Jump for for the joy of the season.

Cultured Cup

Your Favorite Coffee or Tea Wrapped in Reusable Wine Bag

Give them the gift of your favorite coffee or tea wrapped in a complimentary & reusable wine bag with a personalized greeting card!
Cost: from $13.25
To order: Call us at 972-960-1521 or send us your order at Kyle or Phil@TheCulturedCup.com.
For your Gift Bags, consider the following favorites :
Coffees: Holiday Blend, Mountain Odyssey, Private Label, Buttered Toffee, Plaza Blend, Dallas Bold, Café Orange, The Cultured Cup Blend, White Christmas, Coconut Cream.
Teas: Noël, Christmas Spice, Thé de Fêtes, Sencha Goji-Berry, White Grape, French Breakfast, Earl Grey Imperial, Roi de Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Blood Orange.
More good stuff here!

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Lucky Layla Farms

This award-wining dairy in Plano is turning out a killer cajeta made from condensed Lucky Layla milk sugar. Drizzle it on anything. Anything. $5.00. More information.

Here is the address:

3721 NORTH JUPITER ROAD

PLANO, TEXAS 75074

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Zen Sushi

Michelle Carpenter and her knives. (Photo by Jesse Hornbuckle)Zen Sushi

Knife Skills Class

After years of requests by customers, our Executive Chef, Michelle Carpenter, has agreed to teach a Knife Skills Class which will start in January 2012.  It would be a great gift for foodies, Japanophiles, and adventurous home chefs who want to “sharpen” their skills.  In fact, professional chefs around town have asked for Michelle’s help in sharpening their knives.

Armed with over 20 years of experience preparing sushi, Michelle will teach students how to use a knife, how to sharpen it, how to prep vegetables and filet a whole fish.  We haven’t verified it, but we’re sure that this is the first time a professional Japanese sushi chef is offering to teach the public knife skills in Dallas.  Students will get to work behind the sushi bar instead of a typical classroom setting.

Here’s the link to the various packages.

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OAK CLIFF CELLARS

Holiday Wine Gift Samplers from OCC !

“Art in the Bottle; Friendship in the Glass!”

HOLIDAY SHIPPING:

We encourage you to order your holiday gift wines by Friday, December 9th to be able to ship the week of December 12th.  At the latest, we will need all gift orders to be placed by December 13th – which will still allow us to ship in time to arrive prior to December 25th!  For New Years, please have all gift orders placed by December 19th should still reach their destination by the 31st.

Don’t Wait Too Late to Ship:  We have a variety of wine gift boxes for that special holiday gift for that friends and family.  We have options to fit every budget.

Click here to view Holiday Wine selections for this year! ORDER NOW!

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Eggnog spice crepe cake

FLIPPIN’ OUT CREPES & COFFEE

Crepe Cakes

For the Holiday season, Flippin’ Out Crepes & Coffee is selling specialty crepe cakes!  Delicate, sweet crepes layered with holiday flavors (crepe cakes) are great for Hanukkah, Christmas and office gatherings!

Flavors:

Eggnog Spice – Eggnog Mousse with a cinnamon, nutmeg frosting & ginger snap crumbles

Brandied Cherry Cordial – a chocolate cherry pudding infused with brandied cherries &fudge glaze

Peppermint Bark Crepe – vanilla mint custard & mint pieces topped off with a chocolate ganache

All 3 standard flavors are $60.  Prices will vary on special requests. Come In, Call or Email feedback@flippinoutcrepes.com to Order! As these cakes are made to order, please provide us with at least a 3 day notice.

Flippin’ Out Crepes & Coffee

4021 Beltline Rd (West of Midway & Runyon Rd)

Addison, TX 75001

972-385-6183

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KOMALI

By popular demand Komali’s chef de cuisine Luisa Sanchez is making her special handmade tamales in 5 flavors to be ordered in advance and picked up at the restaurant no later than Dec. 22nd. With a choice of Chicken in tomatillo, pork in pasilla, cheese and poblano peppers, black beans and cheese, pineapple and pecan at a cost of $2 per tamale sure to please the palate for authentic Mexican Cuisine, place your order at 214/252-0200.  Komali restaurant is located at 4152 Cole Ave. @ Fitzhugh.

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BOUCHE NOEL at La Duni.

LaDUNI

The traditional holiday favorite sweet treat, Bouche Noel, is available at La Duni in either of their Award-winning cakes…Cuatro Leches or Triple Truffle Chocolate. Both are $85.00 and include cake, yule log, fondant embellishment of holly & mushrooms, “cake dirt” and cake board.  Order the Bouche Noel thru Dec. 22  by calling 214-520-6888 and pick up by 5:00 pm on Dec. 23,  at La Duni Latin Kitchen 4264 Oak Lawn Ave.  www.laduni.com

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JIMMY’S FOOD STORE

Mike has come up with some exciting finds that we have added at Jimmy’s. These would be perfect Stocking Stuffers! Local food goodies include:

Duck Butter Hot Sauces – Alba Texas

Royal Cheese Cake, NY Cheesecake & Tiramisu

The Tamale Company – Dallas

Harold’s Habanero Peppers – Dallas

Henry’s Ice Cream, Cappuccino Pies and Spumoni – Plano

Festive Kitchen Cookies and Red Velvet Cookies – Richardson

Texas Olive Ranch Vinaigrettes and Olive Oils – Carruso Springs

Dr. Douglas Seasonings – Dallas

NA Pickle – Ft. Worth

Bun Barrel City Pickles – Gun Barrel

Quickie Pickles (Medium Hot) – Dangerfield

Hogwash Condiments – Dallas

Jimmy’s Fruit Jellies, Butters, Pickled Veggie, Habanero Pickles and Garlic – Rusk

Bugtussie Salsa – Bonham

Picolo’s Bread & Butter Pickles and Relish -

Vinaigrettes and Olive Oils with Truffle Mustard, Wild Porcini Mushroom and Truffle Oil – Spicewood

Texas Honey – Josephine and Waxahachie

Jimmy’s Food Store – Fine Italian Food & Wine © 2008-2012

4901 Bryan Street at Fitzhugh – Dallas TX, 75206 – 214.823.6180 – Fax 214.823.2104

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IN A PICKLE FOODS

What’s an enlightened moment? We call it an intuitive grasp of reality achieved by something simple and fresh that causes great pleasure. Nn a Pickle Foods provides enlightened moments with each jar of our handcrafted goodness; from our incredibly crunchy bread and butter chunks to our freshest seasonal fruit preserves and jams. We take pride in bringing you nature’s best flavors; small batches, handmade in Fort Worth, Texas, and whenever possible with produce that is locally and sustainably grown.

Check out the Sweet and Spicy Pickle chips, Tipsy Orange Cranberry Jam, and, of course, pickles.

You can call us or go online! james@inapicklefoods.com

James Felps

817.584.5835

4455 Camp Bowie Blvd. Ste. 114

PMB 16

Fort Worth, TX 76107

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MEXATOPIA

Place Your Order For Our Homemade Holiday Tamales

One Dozen Pork or Cheese & Jalapeno Tamales For Only $19.95!

Come In or Call To Pre-Order 214.824.9400

Tamales Will Be Ready For Pick Up

December 18th – 24th.

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BREAD WINNER’S

Bread Winners has a wide variety of holiday breads, cookies, and desserts. They also do gift baskets. However, they now offer a new line of homemade condiments and sauces.

Worcestershire Sauce. Used in Breadwinners’ recipes and served along the steak on the evening menu. It has 17 ingredients including tamarind paste and cardamon pods. $9.99

Henry’s Housemade Hot Sauce. It’s a bit like Chalula and Tabasco. Henry is a Labrador retriever who belongs to the owner and serves as the restaurant’s mascot. $5.99

Raspberry Chipotle Sauce. This is served on the Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Sandwich at Breadwinners. Spicy and sweet. $8.99

Peach and Blackberry Jam. Cranberry Pomegranate Marmalade. $8.99 each

Caramel Sauce and Chocolate Ganache. Pour them over anything. Dip anything into them. Drink them. $8.99 each

Available at all locations.

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CAVALLI PIZZERIA

Cavalli’s Pizzeria offers their popular dressings, sauces, spreads and jams.

Product Price List:

Dressings

250ml Bottles:

-Cavalli Dressing $5

-Irving Dressing  $5

-Champagne Dressing  $5

Sauces

32 oz Jars:

-Marinara  $6

-Vodka Sauce  $7

Spreads

4oz Jars:

-Artichoke & Asparagus  Pesto  $5

- Sun Dried Tomato & Kalamata Olive Tapenade  $5

- Roasted Pepper, Sun Dried Tomato and Pecorino Cheese Pesto  $5

Jam

-Fig & Jalapeno Jam 8oz  $6

-Fig & Jalapeno Jam 16oz  $12

Pick up at either location:

Irving

3601 Regent Boulevard

Irving, Texas 75063

Tel: 972-915-0001

McKinney

6851 Virginia Parkway, Suite 105

McKinney, Texas 75071

Tel: 972-540-1449

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DUDE, SWEET CHOCOLATE

A collection of hand-made creations contrived in the heart of Oak Cliff by chef Katherine Clapner. Gifts from $6 include sugar plum dates, patty cake toffee, chocolate tea, and a variety of mixed goody gift bags.

Check them out and order here.

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Christmas cheese.

MOZZARELLA COMPANY

Paula Lambert’s tiny factory in Deep Ellum produces a wide variety of cheese. She also offers cheese making classes (great gift!), beer and cheese pairings, cheese-of-the-month club, and a great assortment of gift baskets you can order online and have delivered. Each holiday season, they produce a spreadable Christmas Cheese made with pureed red chiles and jalapenos.

Order on the web.

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URBAN TACO

TAMALES

A Different Tamale Will Be Served Each Day from December 12-23 And

Tamales Available To Go By the Dozen

Urban Taco is celebrating the holiday season with a special 12 Days of Tamales menu for diners to enjoy. Visit their Uptown or Mockingbird Station locations where seasonal, hand-made tamales will be available from December 12-23, with a different type of tamale offered each day. You can also place a catering order for any variety of tamale on the menu.  A minimum purchase of one dozen tamales is required with 24-hour notice. One dozen tamales are $25. Orders can placed by in person, by calling your desired location or by emailing us at catering@urban-taco.com .

Participating Locations

Uptown, 3411 McKinney Ave, Dallas, Texas 75204, 214-922-7080

Mockingbird Station, 5331 E. Mockingbird Ln., Ste. 125, 214-823-4723

Tamale menu:

December 12- Pollo con Mole

December 13- Chicken Tinga

December 14- Rajas con Queso

December 15- Potato Zucchini con Queso

December 16- Frijoles y Queso

December 17- Salsa Verde con Pollo

December 18- Salsa Roja con Pollo

December 19- Barbacoa con Chorizo

December 20- Carnitas con Mole

December 21- Chicharron Adobado con Salsa Verde

December 22- De Elote

December 23- Cochinita Pibil

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THE BLUE GOOSE CANTINA

We Will Feature 12 Tamales For $20 Through December 24.

The Blue Goose Cantina will feature a dozen tamales for $20 through December 24. The individually wrapped meat filled corn husks have been traditional Mexican Christmas Eve fare for centuries because they’re inexpensive, portable and easy to store, which makes the dish perfect for large gatherings. Through the years, the preparation of the labor-intensive food has become a social event, called a tamalada, which means tamale gathering. The tamale special is available 7 days at week at all five Blue Goose Cantina locations through December 24.www.bluegoosecantina.com.

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THE TAMALE COMPANY

Pre-order & Pick Up at Market

If you are want to place order for your holiday tamales, you can pick them up at several of our farmers market in the next coming weeks. You can place your order online, during the check out process there is a place for you to put a note, in that section please let us know what location and date you will be picking them up. You have two payment options 1) Pay using your credit card online. 2) Select “Pick Up at Market” you can pay at the market with cash, credit or check.

Dates & Locations:

December 3rd: Rockwall & Grand Prairie

December 10th: White Rock, Grand Prairie & Coppell

December 17th: McKinney & Grand Prairie

December 18th: Eatzi’s at Oak Lawn and Lovers ( no pre-orders)

Plus! New Retail Market

We have a new location in Oak Cliff that will be carrying our tamales in the next week.

La Orginal Michocana

415 W Davis St

Dallas, TX 75208

469-867-3092

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HOTEL ST. GERMAIN

Impress everyone on your gift list with made to order unusual and scrumptious holiday pastries from Hotel St, Germain. These custom-made delights are perfect for a family celebration, the office party, or that special friend. Each confection is handmade by Chef Chad Martin in the Hotel St Germain kitchen and each is gift-wrapped, ready for presentation.

DOBERGE CAKE.

DOBERGE CAKE

An old world favorite, the Doberge cake is a nine layer, light chocolate cake with caramel and chocolate butter cream. This elegant gift cake is frosted with a smooth, glistening chocolate ganache and adorned with raspberries, chocolate and 24-carat gold leaves.

$70 serves eight to ten.

FRENCH MACARONS.

FRENCH MACARONS

These classic French cookies are made of chewy, crunchy mixture of meringue and ground almonds with pastry cream filling. Beautiful pastel hues come in four delicious flavors and colors – lemon, chocolate, raspberry, and pistachio. $25 for a box of 15.

PRALINES ROYALE.

PRALINES ROYALE

An adaptation of the famous New Orleans candy, our Pralines Royale are a unique creation perfected in our kitchens. These are the best you’ll ever taste!  $15 per dozen.

CHOCOLATE COVERED ALMOND TOFFEE BARK.

CHOCOLATE COVERED ALMOND TOFFEE BARK $20 per pound

CROQUEMBOUCHE

Considered the King of European desserts, the Croquembouche is a spectacular pyramid tower of small crème puffs, each filled with rich chocolate cream. Your croquembouche is artfully decorated like a Christmas tree with tasty, edible holiday decorations. It is surrounded by gift box-decorated chocolate petit-fours. This is a truly unique and decadent gift and makes a stunning presentation.

Croquembouche $120, serves 20.

For more choices, visit www.hotelstgermain.com.  To place an order, call 214-871-2516.

Haute Couture Confections orders must be made at least 72 hours in advance.

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ARTIZONE.COM

Artizone.com, Dallas’ own online grocery shopping website and home delivery service has added service to far North Dallas including Frisco, Allen and McKinney.  Designed to support local farms, artisanal shops and small business, Artizone showcases the highest quality meat, produce, cheese, organic milk, eggs, bakery goods and more.  Customers select goods from multiple stores, pay once and receive a single delivery of the freshest food at a pre-determined date and time.

The evolving portfolio includes the likes of Scardello, Empire Baking Company, Hirsch’s Specialty Meats, Kessler Cookie Company, County Line Farms (Organic Milk), Rex’s Seafood, Holy Ravioli, La Duni, Dude, Sweet Chocolate, Flavors From Afar, JJ&B – Jams, Jellies and Butters, Big Al’s Texas Rubs, Busy B’s Market (100% Organic-fed, free-range eggs), 1888 Martini Mix, Mawker Coffee, Poison Ivy (fresh flowers) and Dallas Fine Wine and Spirits.

Artizone ensures delivery of the finest and freshest products from local farms and small businesses to the consumer saving valuable time while providing the highest quality goods found in and around Dallas. For more information go to www.artizone.com or call the 24-hour customer service line at 1-888-895-7562.

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HAM I AM

This meat-centric company offers Hickory Smoked and Peppered Hams, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Hickory Smoked Peppered Bacon, Texas BBQ, including Hickory Smoked Chicken, Beer Basted Hickory Smoked Ribs, Red Wine Marinated Smoked Beef Brisket, Semi Boneless Quail, and Hickory Smoked Turkeys in Cajun, Lemon Peppered, Butter Garlic and Chardonnay Herb Rubbed flavors, and Handmade Tamales. If you can believe it, there is more.

Check out their website. The peppered bacon is outrageous.

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PERINI RANCH STEAKHOUSE

Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap has an online shop that offers gift cards, rubs, and their mesquite-smoked pepper beef tenderloin.

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SEVY’S GRILL

Chef Jim Severson  and Dallas’ Canyon Specialty Foods have co-created Sevy’s “One Pot” Braising Sauce for their Star Chefs Collection of products. A unique and helpful ingredient for the non-chef. You simply sear a 2-3 pound roast, cover with the mix of demi-glace, tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, garlic, and seasonings, cover, and bake. Moist and fork tender 1 1/2 hours later. You’ll never see a beautiful pot roast go shriveled or dry again. Other popular Sevy items include his Sweet Ancho Chile Relish, Authentic Caesar Salad Dressing and Agrodolce Relish. Give a little “Dallas” to those you love this holiday. Order online through Canyon Specialty Foods, or to personalize your order contact Amy Severson at AHillcrestMom@aol.com.

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TJ’s Fresh Seafood Market & Catering

Shrimp Cocktail

We’d like to submit TJ’s Famous Cocktail Shrimp. What we do with our Cocktail Shrimp has become a Christmas tradition that you can’t get at any grocery store or chain. TJ’s Cocktail Shrimp at Christmas goes all the way back to Haden family who founded TJ’s 22 years ago. From the very beginning, the Haden family would cook, hand peel and hand clean shrimp all night on the 23rd for people to pick up on the 24th.The chief of the shrimp operation is Jose, who has worked for TJ’s for 16 years. We call him the “Shrimp Pimp.” He is to shrimp what Justo is to Le Bernadin (fish cutter profiled in Bourdain’s new book).  He can hand peel and hand clean 15 pounds in an hour and go for 12 straight hours. That’s 180lbs in a day, which is absurd. Beyond absurd!

TJ’s Fresh Seafood Market & Catering

11661 Preston Road #149

Dallas, Texas 75230

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CANARY BY GORJI

Culinary Gift Bags for the Foodies on Your List

A Gorji Gourmet Foods® Gift Bag includes Pomodoro Pizza & Pasta Sauce, Puttanesca Pizza & Pasta Sauce, Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Dipping Oil & Marinade Primer, Spicy Remoulade and some recipes to get started.These are the same bold flavors, sauces, dressing, dipping oil and dip that Chef Gorji cooks with in his kitchen at Canary By Gorji, Mediterranean Steak & Seafood.

Gift Bags of all five Gorji Gourmet Foods® starts at $45.

To customize your gift bag or add a bottle of wine please call and we will be happy to help you put together a special gift for your favorite gourmands.Pick up at Canary By Gorji or we will deliver in Dallas for an additional $20.

Call 972-503-7080

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Hi! I need some advice on what makes a pecan pie a real Texas pie. I’m from Newark and I married a Dallas boy. This is my first Christmas cooking for his family. They are fifth generation Texans. Feeling the pressure. Also do you say pecaaan with a long a or pecown?

Good lord, woman. You sure ask a lot of questions for a gal from New Jersey. Hit her, I mean it, y’all.

My Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree contribution to D Magazine's holiday party.Circa 2008.

Three years ago, I introduced you to Charles Phoenix, the “Ambassador of Americana.” More importantly, I introduced you to his “recipe” for the Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree. (I made several for the D Magazine holiday party in 2008.  Co-workers still stalk me for my secret herbal ingredient.)

Well, thanks to SideDish, Phoenix’s  career and has catapulted over hosting grade school field trips and roller skating parties to doing national TV spots with Martha Stewart and commenting on NPR. (Rawlins in drag?) I think it’s time to bring back the Astro-Weenie recipe. Remember, as they say in England, you can always make one suitable for vegetarians. Mind your head.

Photo from Lightcatcher Winery's Toys for Tots Celtic Christmas.

This link will take you to the DFW International Community Alliance website. There you will find a list of international holiday celebrations taking place in the area. Choose a unique event or two and expand your horizons this season. Experience Venezuelan Christmas Carols or sample food at the Indonesian Christmas Celebration. Not Jewish? Take your family to see A Chanukah Musical Story. You can drive around and look at Christmas lights any time.