An Elegant Holiday Dinner at Home: The December Edit

Christmas has always been my favorite season, and this year I really wanted to create a night that felt a little more elevated and elegant. Everyone is busy, everyone has a million things going on, but somehow we all made the time… and I’m so glad we did! Nights like this remind me why I love hosting in the first place!

Before I even started cooking, the table was the first thing I worked on. You know me… setting the table is my love language. I went with a monochromatic green Christmas tablescape with little gold accents. It felt classic and perfect!

I layered my woven chargers with my green Bordallo Pinherio Cabbage charger plates, then added the Spode Christmas Tree dinner plates and Legend Earthenware Christmas soup bowls (these were a HomeGoods find but you can find them on eBay - similar here!) on top. I used gold flatware and my gold-rimmed Spode Christmas Tree wine glasses and stemless glasses to bring in that subtle holiday shine. Down the center of the table, I mixed real greenery with glass and metal Christmas trees in different shades of gold and a few candlesticks. And the chandelier—I had to add greenery and ribbon to it. It completed the whole look and was the perfect over the top moment! Simple, but such a good detail that made the room feel instantly festive!

Right when you walked in, you were greeted with a martini tower—because why not!? We served pomegranate martinis and cosmos, stacked in the prettiest green martini glasses, and it immediately set the mood for the whole night. I added live greenery and bow to the stand to make it festive and fun!

For appetizers, I put together a spread on a beautiful Fitz & Floyd platter from my Nonna that was simple but so good:

• Prosciutto-wrapped melon

• Marinated olives

• Goat cheese–stuffed peppadews (so good!)

• Fresh mozzarella with roasted red peppers

Nothing over-the-top—just fresh, flavorful bites that let everyone snack and talk before taking our seats at the table.

We sat down to start with a warm bowl of cheese tortellini soup. This came out a little thick, which made it a little more like a pasta than a soup, but was absolutely delicious! It was exactly the kind of cozy moment I wanted for this dinner. I typically start with a salad, so a 'soup' was different for me, but a nice a welcomed change by everyone- especially with the cold weather!

Then came the main meal: Red wine–braised short ribs that Jeff cooked low and slow until they literally fell apart, Parmesan & mascarpone mashed potatoes that were almost too creamy to be real, and fresh green beans with brown-butter almonds. Jeff and I plated each meal in the kitchen, in the prettiest holiday pieces, and it truly felt like an elevated Christmas dinner!

For dessert, I made a thick dark chocolate torte and paired it with homemade whipped cream and fresh raspberries. Served on little holiday dessert plates, it looked so simple but was so dense (in the best way!) and tasted like heaven.

We opened red wine, said a prayer thanking God for allowing us all to come together, and just spent time enjoying each other's company. No rush, no agenda—just family and a really good meal. In a month where everything feels so busy, this night felt like a pause. A reset. A reminder of what Christmas looks like when you strip away all the pressure and just enjoy being together. And honestly, I loved making this with Jeff! He helped with everything—chopping, stirring, prepping, plating. He’s just as good of a host as I am… right up until it’s time to clean. Then he suddenly has somewhere to be. Every time!!

By the end of the night, with candles low and the table a little messy in the best way, I felt exactly what I hoped for when planning this dinner: that warm, full Christmas feeling that only happens when the people you love are all at the same table.

It was the perfect December edit—cozy, elevated, and full of everything I love about this season. ✨