Delish holiday spread

GRAZING TABLE Taste by Grace Home’s bestsellers —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Merry Christmas!!!

How lucky am I that this column falls on Christmas Day! Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us how to sacrifice our lives to glorify the Father.

Incidentally, today is also the birthday of two amazing women: Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco. Happy birthday!!

Certainly your Christmas shopping is done but if you are still cramming for your buffet or for more gifts, or perhaps preparing for New Year’s celebration, here are some classics that you might be able to still get your hands on amid the holidaze.

Taste by Grace Home

Grazing tables are always a winner at parties. To up your game, make sure to have these spreads to go with your cheeses. You can’t go wrong with bottles of Figs and Almonds with Truffle Honey, Two Tomatoes and Habaneros with Sage, and Black Grapes and Pistachios with French butter. Order via @thespoiledmummy on Instagram. Grace Barbers Baja, aka the Spoiled Mummy, promises that she uses only the freshest and most premium quality ingredients.

Julyan’s Farm

These are products from the Zambawood property of Rachel Harrison. Julyan, her autistic and artistic son, grows mangos, among other produce, which are made into jams. They also have bottled goods like sardines and very addictive vegan chicharon.

Okan Wagyu

If you don’t want to cook anymore, you can order Slow Roast Brisket with Okan Wagyu Beef from Artisan Cellar Door. It also makes for an indulgent gift. Okan Wagyu is Australian beef that won the 2020 and 2021 Australian Wagyu Competition, commended for its demonstrated provenance, unique taste profile, buttery taste and high marbling. This is produced by Pardoo Beef, whose name indicates that it is “fit for an emperor.” You can order via @artisancellardoor on Instagram.

Pilsner Urquell

There are so many wines now and a reliable source is Don Revy Wines. But if your gathering is during the day, you might also want to serve really good beer. And while I am partial to the classic San Miguel Pale Pilsen, you can up your beer game by going for the original pilsen, Pilsner Urquell, the first pale lager. Today, it is still brewed solely at the Pilsen brewery, the biggest in the Czech Republic. This beer goes way back to 1842, clearly a beer that has passed with flying colors the test of time! Order at donrevy.com or call +632 8556 3312.

Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka

This uniquely Filipino vodka pays homage to our unique “tagayan” drinking culture. “Imagine the zing of smooth vodka combined with the sweet tang of salted caramel.” It won Double Gold for the Flavored/Infused Vodka category at the US 2019 SIP Awards—the largest consumer choice awards in the spirits industry. It is available on boozy.com.

St. Paul’s

This last item is food for the soul. One of my favorite gifts this year was a bible guide by Bishop Barron published by Word on Fire Institute. While you can only get Word on Fire publications through their site, we do have our own treasure trove of spiritual literature at St. Paul’s. Jesus the Wisest knows the value of the intangible present. In this time of global inflation, all you need to give is your heart. That is the key to having the merriest Christmas of all time!May joy abound in your homes and in your heart today and always!