Every year on December 25th, we do brunch. It's become our family tradition: less formal than Christmas Eve dinner, but just as special in its own way.

The summer post about French country entertaining in Montrozier was about ease and seasonal cooking outdoors. This is different, it's winter in the city. Still relaxed, still homemade, but more polished. The casualness comes from elegance, not from being rustic. But the idea stays the same: prepare ahead so you're present with guests. Use beautiful things you actually own. Make it feel special without making it stressful.

In France, we don't have Thanksgiving. So when we celebrate it here, we're creating our own version without the weight of tradition telling us what it should be. 

Cheese boards, butter boards and bagel boards have all had their moment in the zeitgeist.  But we like to think we were out ahead of the trend. 

Having a well stocked pantry does not always mean having cupboards overflowing with options.  Usually just having the right things can create just as much magic as having many many things.  

| image courtesy of aran goyoaga |

We sat down with Aran for a chat about food, entertaining, and her secrets to enjoying her own dinner parties. 

The French have a way of incorporating beauty into everyday tasks.  

When we’re visiting France and one of our friends invites us into her kitchen, and we see all the beautiful vintage copper pots, pans and vessels, we get a bit jealous.

On the runway to what is the ultimate entertaining holiday, we have a choice:  we can stress out or we can relax.  We choose relax.