Event
Visions of Gingerbread
In case you missed Greenville’s inaugural gingerbread event last year, now’s your chance to kick-start the holiday season with sugar and spice. This year, they’ve even added a Children’s Gingerbread Coloring Contest, so kids can get in on the fun. You be the judge—for the People’s Choice Award (to be announced on December 26)—of the amazing gingerbread creations displayed in the winter wonderland-themed lobby of the Springhill Suites/Residence Inn, all made by local chefs and amateur bakers. To give you a taste, last year’s winner was an intricate and whimsical gingerbread rendition of M. Judson Booksellers by Chef Teryi Musolf and her staff. This year more than 30 entrants will be competing for a grand prize of $350. Their masterpieces promise to make your mouth water—and while you can’t eat them, no one’s stopping you from drooling over them.
Springhill Suites/Residence Inn Downtown, 200 E. Washington St., Greenville. Dec. 4–26, daily, 9am–9pm. Free. oakandhoneygvl.com/greenville-gingerbread
Cooking Class
CHI Favorites
Want to be the host with the most? Just in time for holiday party planning, boost your catering confidence, and find out everything you need to know to make showstopping appetizers that will take center stage at any gathering. In this hands-on class at the Truist Center, you’ll discover chefs’ tips, tricks, and techniques for making your next party a truly memorable occasion. The chef will demonstrate each recipe before you try your hand at whipping up bite-size treats, both savory and sweet. There will be time to taste the fruits of your labor in class, and if there are any leftovers, you can take them home to share. No doubt you’ll be the envy of all your guests at your next holiday fete.
Truist Culinary & Hospitality Innovation Center, 556 Perry Ave., Ste. B114, Greenville. Dec. 2, Sat., 9am–12:30pm, $99, 864.250.8835, chigreenville.com/recreational-classes.html
Open Bar
Ho Ho Ho Holidays
In case you didn’t know, in addition to being a master chocolatier, Elizabeth McDaniel shakes up a mean cocktail behind the bar at LaRue Fine Chocolate in the Village of West Greenville. She’s been kind enough to share one of her special seasonal libations to put you in the holiday mood.
“The Cranberry Smash is one of my favorites to make for holiday cocktail parties in my momma’s old punch bowl, complete with a 1960s-style ice ring,” says McDaniel. The recipe below is for one cocktail, but it’s equally easy to make the Cranberry Smash for a crowd: “Bust out that crystal punch bowl you never use,” McDaniel advises. “Multiply all the ingredients by the number of guests you think will be partaking. You can just muddle some rosemary and cranberries in simple syrup and strain that into the punch bowl; then add cranberry juice and gin. If you are feeling fancy, take a bundt cake pan, add cranberry juice and water, throw in some rosemary sprigs and cranberries, and freeze it until solid. Pop that out and put it in the punch bowl [just before serving].”
And to pair with it? Chocolate, of course. McDaniel recommends accompanying this cocktail with LaRue’s 4Stars, a blood orange and olive oil bonbon enrobed in dark chocolate. Cheers!
LaRue Fine Chocolate, 556 Perry Ave., Ste. B115, Greenville. 864.263.7083, laruefinechocolate.com.
Recipe
Cranberry Smash
Makes one cocktail
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- .5 oz simple syrup (a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water, heated up in the microwave or on the stove top until sugar dissolves)
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 fresh cranberries, plus more for garnish
Method
In a cocktail shaker or glass, muddle rosemary and cranberries in simple syrup. Add gin and cranberry juice, and shake with ice. Strain into a coupe, and make it prettier with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a cranberry.
Pro tip: You can make a delicious non-alcoholic version of this cocktail by replacing the gin with non-alcoholic gin or sparkling water.
