As the year slows and tables expand, make it special by hosting moments that linger
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As the calendar edges toward pause, the city eases into a gentler pace and homes come alive with quiet celebrations. From intimate dinners to tables set for many, this is the time for food that comforts, lingers and turns every gathering into something worth raising a glass to.
Chef Sushil Multani’s (Culinary Director, Food Square) table rules
1. Marry the traditional with the trendy: Start with familiar Christmas favourites, then add one standout element, like truffle, burrata, or a bold cheese. Finish with a festive note like cranberry glaze, spiced nuts, or a citrus-washed cheese. That single seasonal touch instantly makes the table feel celebratory without overdoing it.
2. Visualise before you execute: Think of your grazing table almost like a Christmas tree. Add height (with risers, tiered trays, etc); add colour (think berries, sliced fruit, colourful dips), and texture (think crackers, cheese, meats, and more).
3. Let the decor complement your table: Grazing tables look best when they feel layered, not crowded. When you have lots of food, it’s best to use natural textures like wooden boards, linen runners, fresh herbs, citrus halves or pine sprigs. It keeps the table warm and festive, and lets the food stay centre stage instead of competing with the decor.
Make a ‘cheese tree’
Cheesewali Mansi Jasani’s The Cheese Collective brings together a thoughtfully curated selection of natural and artisanal cheeses from India and around the world. Beyond beautifully styled cheese boards, grazing tables, customisable gift baskets and its signature cheese platters — including the much-loved cheese tree — the collective places strong emphasis on cheese education, hosting workshops and tastings that explore cheese styles, pairings and the stories behind them.
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Where: The Cheese Collective
TO ORDER: 9820059926
Mansi Jasani’s perfect cheese pairings
Brie/Camembert
Pair with pears or grapes, roasted walnuts, and a drizzle of honey
>> Indian Christmas touch: A spoon of chhundo or mango–ginger preserve
>> Wine: Brut sparkling wine
>> Beer: Wheat beer
Blue Cheese
Pair with dried figs or dates, fig jam, and toasted sourdough
>> Indian Christmas touch:
A small slice of bebinca or dark Christmas cake
>> Wine: Sweet dessert wine
>> Beer: Stout
Aged Cheddar
Pair with apple slices or quince paste, roasted nuts, and seeded crackers
>> Indian Christmas touch:
Spiced apple chutney with clove and cinnamon
>> Wine: Medium-bodied red or off-dry Chenin
>> Beer: Amber ale
Keep grazing
Food Square’s Festive Grazing Menu, available with 72-hour notice, features Carbonara Mash Potatoes, Pumpkin & Sage Mash, Brussels Sprouts, Honey-Glazed Carrots, Bread Stuffing, Herb-Roasted Vegetables, Cranberry Sauce, and Turkey Gravy.
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Where: Food Square, Bandra
TO ORDER: 9833355200
Get roasting!
For the past eight years, Kaavo Meat, the artisanal butchery by Chef Kaviraj Thadani, has been crafting roasts that anchor festive tables. Made entirely from scratch, each roast is cured, smoked and roasted in-house using the finest meats — carefully imported or directly sourced from trusted farmers — bringing precision, depth of flavour and craftsmanship to every celebration.
Kaviraj Thadani’s TIPS to warm up the roast
1 Butter is your best friend! Baste the roast in butter before any reheating, and spread butter over slices or cuts to infuse some juiciness
2 The less heat, the better! Since the roast has already been cooked through, use a microwave at medium heat in 15-20 second intervals, rotating the meat or oven at 120°C every eight to 10 minutes. This will avoid drying out the roast.
Try this too....
Heirloom Syrian Christian dishes, Kerala classics and festive signatures—crafted with tradition, care and character, and designed for elegant spreads, inventive buffets and intimate celebrations at home.
Pre-order: 9324059522
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