What Should You Bring to Those Special Holiday Parties

With the holiday season upon us and everything it brings, we must prepare for the soirees, from the opulent to the humble alike, that prevail. It is proper etiquette to bring a small token of gratitude for your host or hostess. The best gifts to bring to gathering during this season are esculent. Wine, cheeses, baked goods, chocolates, preserves and flowers are all wonderful choices and all available in Town and Country and Manchester.

, , , and all have wonderful selections. An especially considerate gift is one for your host to use at a later time. This can be pancake or muffin mix with some dried berries for the morning after their party given with a muffin tin or whisk, available at Whole Foods and Dierbergs, to enjoy after all of their hard work. For your gift giving needs Straub's makes custom made gift baskets in addition to the assortment they have already designed for you as well as their specialty peppermint bark. Straub's also provides aged beef in custom made gift USDA Prime Steak Boxes which can include lobster or wine if you choose. They provide a mix made to your specifications, prices ranging from $79.95 to over $200 depending on what you order.

But the penultimate gift is wine, a classic jewel. Giving the wrapping special attention, including it in a basket with fruit and cheese or pairing it with wine accessories can elevate your gift to a new high. I have used handcrafted wine boxes to create a natural and unique containers as gift baskets. That being said, the world of wine and the choices are limitless, however some of the seasons best buys I found are at Whole Foods Market in Town and Country.

On the white side of the scale there are a few delectable wines available for purchase. If you like a light to medium bodied and not overly oaked chardonnay, a great and inexpensive ($9.99) choice is the 2007 Morro Bay. It has crisp citrus and mineral notes with enough acidity to give it some backbone. The malolactic fermentation causing a buttery nose with some apple scents. A great wine at this price point. This wine pairs well with lighter foods like fish with some of the fruit notes mirrored on the plate.

But if you like those creamy, buttery and oaked California chardonnays then the 2008 La Crema Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast ($19.99) would be route to take. This limited vintage (less than half a million) opens with bright fruit, starting with green apple and lemon blossoms moving on the palate with caramel and vanilla. This barrel-fermented wine has complexity and character. I have even heard people refer to it as a less expensive Rombauer Chardonnay. This chardonnay can stand up to some stronger flavors like chicken with some robust sauces or even pork cooked in a mild manner.

For those who prefer the red wines, the choices abound. A lesser known grape type is Malbec, which is typically grown in Argentina. In terms of body it lies somewhere between a cabernet sauvignon and a merlot. The flavor is fruit forward like merlot with deep chocolate notes. It has become a staple in my wine collection. Malbecs can start in price from around $11 and go up from there. My personal favorite is the Decero Malbec ($19.99) grown in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. This wine is smooth and silky, the finish is like chocolate sauce. Malbecs pair well with beef, pasta with red sauce and even chicken with more pronounced flavors.

On my visit to Whole Foods I was lucky enough to find Sonia from Garco Wines doing a wine tasting. She was offering a 2007 Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.99). Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate rated it at 90 points. Parker said, "This sleeper of the vintage exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color as well as loads of cassis, blackberry, graphite, and cedar notes. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated with silky tannins and a lush, generous constitution, this beauty is capable of lasting 10-15 years."

Schnucks also offers great wine sales all year long and many of these wines can be found there too.

Remember, a hostess gift is just that, a gift. It does not necessarily need to be served at the party. Just let your host or hostess know that they can treasure your gift for a time in the future if they choose. That way your original intention of giving stays intact.

Check back next week for tips on pairing your wines with different types of dishes. Happy Holidays!

If you have a culinary question for Natalia, email her at natmot@hotmail.com.