LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2024

ASK THE EXPERTS

Words of Wisdom For ways to make the holidays jollier, these influential experts, including an award-winning pastry chef and a globe-trotting foodie, had plenty of suggestions to share. Elevate your entertaining skills with their clever hacks.

BY MICHELE SPONAGLE ————— PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES TSE

STEPHANIE AND RACHEL LACHANCE Co-founders of Coaster to Coaster (Toronto) TikTok and Instagram @coaster.to.coaster

KAREN VON HAHN Journalist and author (Toronto) Instagram @karenvonhahn and @huronlakehouse Pour on Nostalgia “Trot out those old kitschy tree ornaments, the more worn and faded the better. Set up a record player and dust off your favourite albums. Their scratch and crackle can be just as warming as the sound of a fire.”

Warm Welcomes “Present guests with a signature cocktail upon arrival. One of our first holiday creations was a Spiced Cranberry Margarita made with homemade spiced cranberry syrup. It makes your house smell like Christmas.”

Gorgeous Finishes “If a drink looks good, people will think it tastes good, too. Add garnishes, like cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, dehydrated orange slices and cranberries to elevate your cocktails. Get super creative with ice and make it with fresh juices. Or configure slices of fruit to look like a beautiful flower, then add water and freeze, as in our Citrus Thyme Mocktail.”

FOOD STYLING BY LINDSAY GUSCOTT; PROP STYLING BY SHELLY SHNIER; KAREN VON HAHN: SUSAN GOUINLOCK

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HOLIDAY 2024 ————————