Ted Allen's budget-friendly holiday entertaining tips
Ted Allen is best-known for his role as the foodie on Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," as well as his stint as a judge on "Top Chef," where he was a big fan of Atlanta's Richard Blais. Allen's an entertaining guru and a prolific author. He visited Atlanta a few weeks ago as a brand ambassador for Robert Mondavi Private Selection wines. We used the opportunity to ask him for advice on cheapo holiday entertaining. Here are some of his tips for making it feel lavish even when your bank account ain't:
FOR A HOLIDAY PARTY: "Make your party a potluck; assign dishes to friends, and especially parcel out beverages, which can really run up your bill."
ON HOLIDAY BOOZE: "If you're accustomed to pouring Champagne, try an affordable, delicious domestic, such as Chandon or Scharffenberger; or, to really reduce your bubbly bill, go with an inexpensive Italian prosecco or Spanish cava. There also are a number of good quality wineries using the much disparaged box for cheaper, more environmentally friendly packaging. You can hide the box in the kitchen and serve wine from carafes. For cocktail hour, it is cheaper to offer one featured drink – a punch, say – than it is to stock a full bar."
FOR HOLIDAY DINNER: "Some of the most flavorful and delicious cuts of meat are the least expensive. Pork shoulder is a delicious cut and is very easy to cook, just allow yourself plenty of roasting time – I'm talking four to six hours – and carve it in the kitchen because it's not the most pretty piece of meat. Or, of course, stick with the tried-and-true turkey, which is a great value. Just be sure to order it ahead of time so you don't have to pay a premium at the last minute."
GIFT AND WRAPPING IDEAS: "Food gifts are a great way to tighten the budget. A jar of homemade jam or chutney is a lot more personal than a gift certificate, and, if made in bulk, can cost very little. Ditto homemade pickles, fudge, cookies, etc.; the trick is to wrap them attractively, using something clever like Chinese food containers, butcher paper, raffia, cotton string with vintage-looking price tags from the Container Store, that sort of thing."
Hard Times Holiday Guide 2008
Times are tough and they're fixin' to get tougher. That's why we decided to institute the Creative Loafing holiday bailout plan. We may not have $700 billion, but we've got heaps of ideas on how to make the most of seasonal celebrations while asking little of your wallet. Our features include DIY alternatives to some of Atlanta's most beloved holiday...
DIY alternatives to Atlanta's holiday traditions
A year of financial turmoil can put a crimp in your holiday planning. The past year has been marked by downsizings, home foreclosures, skyrocketing fuel prices, (Chapter 11 filings) and meltdowns in world financial markets. It's enough to make you appreciate George Bailey's cash-strapped panic attack on Christmas Eve in the perennial broadcasts of It's a Wonderful Life. But don't...
Handmade gift how-to from Christy Petterson, Indie Craft Experience co-founder
Plus a Q&A with the artist
Handmade gift how-to from Shannon Mulkey, Indie Craft Experience co-founder
Plus a Q&A with the artist
Where to shop locally without dropping a lot of cash
Money's tight. How are you going to get everyone on your shopping list interesting gifts that don't break the bank? The answer is: Shop where you're going to get the most bang for your buck-and-a-half. The goal is to find tchochtkes and presents that are so unique, they'll distract the recipient from how little money you actually spent. It doesn't...
Volunteer Janet Katz celebrates 20 years of good deeds with Scottish Rite
Janet Katz always makes it a point to greet people with a smile. It's one of the simplest ways to comfort frantic patients and their families as a volunteer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. "Even if you have someone that comes in and can't speak English, you smile and you take them where they need to go....
Holiday bike tours of lights
Gas ain't cheap and you spend enough time in your car as it is, so why not break out the ol' two-wheeler for a spin through Atlanta to check out holiday light displays? The Southern Bicycle League holds its annual Christmas Light Ride Thurs., Dec. 18, at 6:30 p.m. The route changes each year depending where the most eye-dazzling displays...
Top five ways to see concerts on the cheap
1) LOITER AT CRIMINAL RECORDS With weekly in-store performances from touring and local bands, the only thing missing is a cooler full of PBR. Visit www.criminal.com for scheduled performances. Other in-store performance venues include Moods Music in Little Five Points and the Apple Store at Lenox Mall. 2) GRAB AN OPEN MIC Make your own dang music. Eddie's Attic in...
