Celebrate the holidays Houston-style with Eat Like a Local’s ultimate guide to cocktails, charcuterie boards, wine selections, and hosting advice.
Read full article: Houston holiday entertaining made easy with Eat Like a Local: Recipes , wines, and hosting tips Downtown Tomball businesses brace for eight-hour power outage during critical holiday rushThe Woodlands, Montgomery County expand Flock camera network to improve public safetyDiscover how to build the perfect charcuterie board, whip up crowd-pleasing batch cocktails, and choose wines that will impress your guests — all with expert advice from Houston’s top culinary insiders.
To help you build the perfect charcuterie board this holiday season, Shannon McCracken, general manager and cheese buyer at Montrose Cheese & Wine, shares her expert tips.Choose cheese first, then 2-3 meats to include on the board along with a seasonal selection of grapes/apples/pear and nuts .Consider your guests dietary restrictions. Boards can be made to suit vegetarian and Kosher needs - just ask your cheese monger!We sat down with Justin Ware, operations director at Winnie’s, Johnny’s Gold Brick, and Starduster Lounge who shared two festive batch cocktail recipes perfect for the holidays. Get ready to impress your guests with his Jingle Balls Nog and Rudolph’s Red Nose, plus expert tips on making cocktails in larger batches.Combine all ingredients in a pot larger the 1 quart and bring to a boil while stirring. Immediately after boiling turn off heat and allow to steep for up to 5 minutes. Strain the syrup through a coffee filter while hot. Carefully press the tea bags to extract as much tea as possible. Cool and use within 1 month if stored in a refrigerator.Combine all ingredients and blend slowly and working your way to high until sugar is dissolved. 45 seconds to 1 minute. Chill well. Stir or shake the container well before serving to mixCombine all ingredients and blend slowly --- working your way to high until sugar is dissolved. 45 seconds to 1 minute. Chill well. Stir or shake the container well before serving to mix To help your holiday season run smoothly, we asked our resident expert, Chris Shepherd, to share his top tips for stress-free celebrations.Write your menu and decide on drinks - consider cocktails, mocktails and wine.Make it easy - place an order . Cook what you want and lean on local shops and restaurants for the rest. It’s a great time to try something new! Enjoy the day! Go with the flow. Plans are great — but don’t freak out if you have to change them. Hosting is busy, but it should also be fun.Hosting can be a breeze with the right approach—here are expert tips from Elliot Wood, general manager of Credence, to make your next party unforgettable. Instead of creating a general experience that suits everyone, consider incorporating your guests’ specific interests. Ex.: surprise them with a special wine or dessert you know they love. Be present. Don’t get so caught up in hosting that you don’t have time to spend one-on-one with your guests. Plan ahead so the tasks of hosting don’t consume you. End with a surprise. It could be a fun drink or sentimental dessert, but end the party with something your guests will remember. If wrapping up the night is tricky, plan a ‘next stop’ for your guests. Make a reservation at a local bar or an event that your guests can attend when the party is over. This brings the night to a close with a sense of excitement.Add bananas. Sauté about 1 minute, or until bananas start to soften. Carefully tilt the pan toward you to get top half of pan hot but not too hot, then remove the pan from the heat.Pies for every occasion! Where to buy pies in Houston for the holidays or everyday cravingsHouse of Pies - Bayou Goo Pie; Dutch Apple PieDining out on Christmas 2025 If cooking isn’t on your Christmas to-do list this year, don’t worry —there are plenty of dining options available in Houston for Christmas 2025. Whether you want to enjoy a. From festive holiday menus to convenient takeout deals, this guide covers where to find delicious meals without the stress of cooking at home.These Greek family restaurants became Houston icons | Hear the stories behind Christie’s and Cleburne CafeteriaHolly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024, leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes, all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers.Field producer by day. Cruise director by night to a busy, foodie, outdoorsy family, which includes two sports loving boys and one craft beer loving husband.The Woodlands, Montgomery County expand Flock camera network to improve public safetyConroe judge arrested for DWI, arrested three times beforeHumble City Council having closed-door meeting with Police Chief tonightAirBnb homes expected to make money in Houston as city hosts 2026 FIFA World CupClassmates describe warning signs of teen accused of plotting mass shooting at Pasadena Memorial HSHarris County DA asks Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to block hearing in A.J. Armstrong caseTwo Pasadena Memorial HS students suspected of planning ‘mass shooting’ at school
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