Let Cena’s workshop save the day
Hunting for holiday meal help this season?
Meal-preparation store Cena is offering a seasonal special that will make you suspect they’ve hired Santa himself. On Dec. 22 and 23, the store is inviting customers to come prepare a complete holiday dinner in advance.
During one of six sessions, customers will assemble all the food for a seven-course Christmas dinner.
It includes hors d’oeuvres, Brie topped with cranberry compote and wrapped in puff pastry and spinach-artichoke dip. There’s a mixed greens salad with dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheeses and candied pecans, served with Dijon vinaigrette.
The main course is prime rib, served with garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli with sliced red peppers and herbed parmesan baguette. Dessert is Cena’s holiday cheesecake, dressed up for the season.
A meal that serves 8 to 10 people is $230. For a smaller meal, which serves 4 to 6 people, the cost is $140.
Cena and other meal-assembly stores also offer holiday entrees on their December menus for those who don’t want dinner to be quite that elaborate. Some stores will assemble the meals for you for an extra cost. Others offer ready-made entrees that need only be picked up.
They also sell gift certificates if you need a gift idea for your favorite cook.
Spokane
•Cena, 12501 N. Highway 395, (509) 328-3709, cenatogo.com
•Class Act Cuisine, 3022 E. 57th Ave., Suite 15, (509) 443-8788, and 9021 N. Indian Trail Road, (509) 467-4272, classactcuisine.com
•Dinners Ready, 2622 E. 29th Ave., (509) 533-6325, dinnersready.com
•Dream Dinners, 328 N. Sullivan Road, Suite 3, (509) 924-4044, dreamdinners.com
•The Meal Maker, 13220 E. Sprague Ave., (509) 892-1403, themealmaker.com
Coeur d’Alene
•Home on the Range, 245 W. Sunset Ave., (208) 664-9140, youdoitdinners.com
Hot chocolate break
Take a break from the ice and snow this season with a warm, comforting cup of chocolate.
And before you think the sweet treat is just for the kids, consider these grown-up versions created by Mizuna restaurant and the Dairy Farmers of Washington.
Mizuna owner Sylvia Wilson and staff are offering the Caliente, Irish Woodsman and Classic Peppermint Patty to weary shoppers this season. They use chocolate syrup and milk for the best flavor, Wilson says.
The Caliente includes tequila, cinnamon schnapps, Godiva chocolate liquor and chocolate milk. The Woodsman is spiked with Irish cream, Jameson whiskey and Frangelico. And, of course, the classic hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps is available.
Want more ideas, including some kid-friendly recipes? Look inside today’s Food section.