Frederick Tippett

Christmas morning is always a special time in my house. The joy of the occasion is amplified by the presence of family or close friends, and initial chaos of presents notwithstanding, the day is usually accompanied by an innate sense of serene calm. For a season that can be filled with lots of activities and to-do lists, Christmas morning is often a much more relaxed time during a high-energy holiday.

There’s no overstating how much the right wine pairing can elevate a meal. A good pairing can help cleanse your palate, enhance the flavors of a dish, or balance out some of the more rich or overpowering flavors. A good wine pairing is important at any dinner, but especially at a celebration.

With more and more people choosing to be vegan or vegetarian, it’s fairly likely that at a big gathering during the holidays you’ll be serving one or two people that follow this lifestyle. But, if you’re not vegan yourself, it can be difficult to know what to prepare and how. “Don’t overcomplicate the situation,” says Seizan Dreux Ellis, executive chef of the vegan Cafe Gratitude in Southern California.