Holiday
Holiday Spotlight
with Chef Tim Keller
By Timothy Keller
My first holiday experience
happened when I was five, when my
grandmother arrived for Christmas
Eve. She entered with packages of
filet mignon, Belgium chocolates,
Camembert and Kielbasa. She had
thickly sliced bacon from the
butcher and fresh bunches of
tarragon and parsley. I helped her
carry in many other bags of fresh
vegetables and spices, many of
which were piquing my interest
nearly as much as the large
wrapped presents.
I knew very little regarding these
types of food then, as I was
perfecting layered Slurpees and
cream-less Twinkies. I was learning
how to lick a candy cane as sharp as
a sushi knife and unroll my mother’s
cinnamon rolls into one continuous
piece. I may have lost quite a few
raisins into the couch.
My mother began arranging platters
of cookies, cinnamon rolls and other
homemade pastries on the tables.
She placed bowls of pistachios,
walnuts and peanuts in various
locations throughout the house.
The festivities were in full swing
when Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” was
interrupted by the door bell; it was
my Uncle Bill and Grandmother Jean.
They brought stuffed eggs, ham,
salads, baguettes, Perrier, wine and
champagne. My Grandmother held a
box containing See’s Candy, German
chocolate cake, apple tarts and
pumpkin pies. We placed them on
the tables near my mother’s
platters. More guests arrived and
more platters were presented.
As the Christmas party gathered
near the decorated tree, I noticed
nearly all were kissing, talking,
hugging, laughing and...eating! I was
engaged in conversations, too, from
time to time, but mostly I grazed
from one table to the next. Fully
immersed in the flavors of my
family’s traditional Christmas
snacks, I noticed my mother serving
and my father mixing cocktails. My
family was creating a magical holiday
home–or perhaps, my first restaurant
inspiration!
I had forgotten about Christmas and
Santa Claus on that afternoon, and
I was truly in a state of holiday bliss.
Never before had I had such a
wonderful assortment of delicious
holiday foods. To be able to compare
the chocolates, caramels and pie
crusts for the first time was a
pivotal moment in my life.
Of course, being a kid, I gravitated
towards chocolates and fizzy drinks,
but the filet mignon was the tastiest
gift of all. That was my first bacon
wrapped filet with béarnaise, and I
never looked back!
Every day should be special, but for
me, holidays are the oldest, most
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