All of us have a friend or co-worker that makes entertaining seem effortless. While you’d love to hate her, you may not get invited to her parties any longer if you do. Their can’t-miss soirees are productions in which no detail is overlooked. From the elegant champagne cocktails, to the terrines of Pâté de Campagne with house-cured cornichons and stone ground mustards, to the well-appointed tablescapes, to the perfect musical playlist, the gatherings are always spot-on.
Whether you have been nominated (read: badgered/conned into/forced) to host this year’s family Christmas dinner, book club holiday party, Girl Scout gingerbread house decorating social, or a New Year’s Eve cocktail party – you’ve already been given the best/worst gift of the season. This is your chance to prove your mettle at crafting seasonally-inspired cocktails (with gluten-free alternatives, naturally), arranging glitter-covered holiday balls elegantly in crystal vases intermingled with branches cunningly foraged from your neighbor’s yard that you’ve lovingly spray painted metallic hues, and show off your superior understanding of royal icing for the veritable cacophony of nativity scene-themed sugar cookies you’ve spent two weeks baking and decorating.
Luckily, living in the Walla Walla Valley, we have an embarrassment of talent at our fingertips to help make your holiday parties a smashing success at whatever level of involvement you deem appropriate. From butchers, to bakers, to (candy)stick makers – there are more options than one can possibly take advantage of that will help make playing hostess a breeze. Whether you need spaetzle, strudel, truffles or teacakes, the artisans highlighted below (amongst many others) will help you pull off one unforgettable evening after another. For those of you with a bit of Martha Stewart’s spirit in you, these sweet makers have shared their favorite holiday treat recipes with you. For the busier of us (okay…lazier), these delicious noshes, amongst many others, are available at their shops and will certainly help make your holiday season a delicious one to remember.
A Walla Walla classic, Bright’s Candies has been keeping the valley on a sugar high since 1934. Owners Paul and Tiffany Jenes are consummate artisans, churning out hand-forged chocolates, confections of every stripe, candied nuts, artisan popcorn and more in their quaint shop in Main Street in Walla Walla. Guests to the store can watch Paul as he and his team produce chocolates day-in and day-out in their galley-style workspace. As the holidays progress, you’ll often see boxes of truffles and chocolates stacked to the ceiling as the team rushes to meet demand. This year Bright’s is excited to feature Gingerbread Rolled Truffles as one of their seasonal features, and trust me, you won’t want to skip these decadent delights!
Should your sweet tooth have more of an adult proclivity, Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate from Petits Noirs may be the perfect ticket. Founded by Lan Wong and James Boulanger, Petits Noirs melds artisan bakery training with a passion for fine European chocolates.
After decades of living and working in New York City and enjoying the finest things life has to offer, Wong and Boulanger moved to the Walla Walla Valley after falling in love with its beauty and launched their boutique chocolate company.
Inspired by both the abundance of fresh produce in the region as well as the wines, their sophisticated chocolates, nougats, sauces, drinking chocolates, and toffees are sure to tickle the heart of any true foodie. One of my favorite cool season treats is a glass of their superb hot chocolate spiked with an adult libation of your choice.
It certainly will make those long winter nights much more bearable! If you don’t want to go to the hassle of chopping and mixing your own chocolate and herb base, Petits Noirs sells their signature hot chocolate in tins for on-demand use at home.
If you are hosting Christmas dinner for your friends and family and making that perfect pie crust just isn’t your cup of tea, Chef Michael Kline from the Walla Walla Bread Company just may be your favorite person this time of the year.
After spending decades cooking in top restaurants across the United States, Chef Kline and his wife opened arguably the top artisan bakery in the region. Kline’s commitment to gluten-filled decadence does not go unnoticed to visitors to the bakery.
The long hours and steadfast focus on quality can been seen and smelled in everything that is presented; from the wood fired pizzas, to the rustic French baguettes, to the mouth-watering macaroons and beyond. Kline and his team have an especially deep understanding of pastry crust, and as simple as it may sound, pie crust can be one of the more challenging things to perfect in the kitchen.
The classic apple pie he produces is truly a culinary delight, we suggest you enjoy it with a drizzle of salted caramel and some pomegranate seeds at your next holiday dinner.
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