Choose the Right Furnishings

A well-thought-out holiday dining experience begins with selecting the perfect table and chairs. To help you determine the right dining table size and shape for the room, consider measuring your dining area and evaluating the space available as well as the number of guests that will be in attendance.

To select a dining set that fits your needs and the holidays, look for sturdy materials, such as solid wood or metal, that can withstand multiple gatherings and seasonal decor changes. Prioritize comfortable seating so guests can enjoy long, leisurely meals and conversations around the table.

Incorporate Festive Colors

Once you’ve ensured comfortable seating and enough serving space for all guests, the next step in preparing your dining room for the holidays involves selecting a color scheme. Festive colors can help set the tone for your holiday meal, and classic combinations like red and green or gold and crimson are always a hit.

Consider using one of the following winter color palettes as you prepare your dining room:

• Rich jewel tones: These include sapphire blue, ruby red, and emerald green.
• Snowy beauty: Incorporate icy green with various shades of blue and white.
• Winter greenery: This is composed of shades of green, red, and gray.

To incorporate your chosen colors, consider adding placemats, table runners, and coordinating linens as well as festive dishware and glassware. A creative table centerpiece can feature seasonal, colorful items representing the holiday spirit, like pinecones, faux berries, candles, ornaments, ribbons, and greenery.

Create a Warm Atmosphere

Creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere in your dining room puts everyone in a celebratory mood. Opt for soft, warm light sources like candles or dimmable chandelier lights to create an intimate dining experience.

Music also enhances the ambience, providing a festive atmosphere. For inspiration, explore various holiday-themed playlists and blend in a mix of timeless classics and contemporary favorites.

Lastly, scents have a captivating power. Before deciding to use candles or diffusers, consider guests’ potential allergies or sensitivities to certain fragrances. Once you have that information, consider seasonal aromas like cinnamon, pine, or apple pie to evoke the holiday spirit.

A stylish and comfortable dining room can elevate any festive gathering. By choosing the right furnishings, incorporating festive colors, and creating a warm atmosphere, you can transform your space into the perfect holiday setting.

The post How To Prepare Your Dining Room for the Holidays appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

I love to go the Ruth’s Chris in Del Mar, Donovans in La Jolla and other fine steak houses–and always wonder how they get their perfect steaks. Of course, the meat is prime quality, but I’ve also  heard it’s their 800-degree cooking surfaces that allow the steak to arrive so hot inside. The problem for me is tht I don’t have any surface in my home that even comes close to such a temperature.

So, when cooking steaks at home, I usually sear the meat first in a cast iron skillet and then finish in a hot oven. The result, after a brief rest,  is generally a nice medium rare finish with a crust on the surface of the steak with a pink-to-red gradient finish on the inside.

Now, there is a different suggestion for the perfect steak.

Slowly cook the steak in a 275 oven, let sit for 15 minutes, then sear in very hot cast iron skillet. The result will be a very hot steak with crust on ouside and a medium rare (or whatever level you prefer) finish throughout the inside.

I wish I could take credit for the idea, but picked it up this morning and will share article and video below, which offers more detailed instructions.

How to cook the best steak.

The post The Luxury of a Perfect Steak appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

To my surprise the longer this Grant Street Zinfandel sat in my glass (not the bottle), the better this gorgeous Zin opened up.

I am of course partial to Zinfandel, but would recommend Grant Street to all who are hesitant to try this variety, fearing it would be too heavy for their tastes. No so! Feel free to serve this wine with almost any meal. My husband and I drank ours while dining on shrimp scampi and pasta and it was wonderful!

Wine Tasting Tip:

Always begin with a clean clear glass and pour less than an inch into your glass. Always begin with the lightest wines first (white, sparkling, rose’ etc) and then work your way up to the heavy ones (Zins, Cabs, etc). The reason for this is that it helps keep taste buds sensitive so you can enjoy and appreciate each wine you taste. Nibble on a cracker, snack on some cheese–or simply have a sip of water between tastes in order to help preserve your palate.

And as we say in Poland: Na zdrowia!

The post Grant Street Zinfandel: So Lovely appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.