Christmas Hosting Tips with Melanie Johnson
Melanie Johnson is the founder and executive chef at Mel at Home, where she shares her passion for baking with bold and distinctive flavours. She is a food writer and columnist at Country Life and author of Bundt, 120 recipes for every occasion, from everyday bakes to fabulous celebration cakes, which was published by Ebury last year. We spoke to Mel to get some advice on planning ahead and staying calm this Christmas.
“The only way to make Christmas entertaining simple is to plan ahead.”
Melanie Johnson, Food Writer
What’s the best way to get organised for Christmas?
The only way to keep Christmas entertaining simple is to plan ahead. Have as much prepared as you can, make the gravy using chicken wings and freeze it, set the table the day before, ask for family members to help or give them jobs to keep them busy and ultimately try to keep calm within yourself.
What's your advice for creating a festive table setting?
Create your Christmas table around your space. If you have a pink kitchen or dining room then run with it and make pink festive rather than fighting it. I like to have different sized arrangements of flowers so they’re on varied levels and then in between them I add Christmas decorations from pine cones to reindeers to create interest. Candlelight makes everything magical so wait until it’s dark to serve lunch and then have your table bathed in candlelight. I like to create tablescapes that have an element of surprise so this year I’m making gingerbread reindeers that have ribbon looped through them so they also act as napkin rings. I think it’s little details like that that give old and young alike something extra to smile about. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What is the one larder ingredient you couldn't do without at Christmas?
I can’t do without cinnamon at Christmas. A hugely versatile spice, it adds ‘Christmas’ to savoury and sweet dishes.
What is your go-to kitchen gadget at Christmas?
Oven gloves! They seem to get a lot of use with any kind of roast!
What's your top tip for stress-free hosting at Christmas?
The best way to beat stress over Christmas is to remember that no one eats as much as you think they will and ultimately all you’re doing is making a roast which is something many of us do every Sunday
Favourite seasonal cocktail?
A ginger cosmopolitan.
Favourite canapé?
Only one? So many to list but always love pan-fried scallops with chilli butter, any kind of croquette and let’s not forget the ubiquitous honey and mustard cocktail sausage.
Favourite Christmas music?
We start the day with Michael Bublé before a teen takeover and whatever is on their playlists.
