Christmas is one of our favorite holidays. Every year the season brings up memories of growing up in Philadelphia. As kids we couldn’t wait to get to the Wannemaker Building to see the Christmas Light Show and tour the world of Ebenezer Scrooge in the animatronic Dickens Village. We’d walk beneath the dazzling ornaments hung in Rittenhouse Square before going home to sit with moms and grandmoms to be reminded of the parts of the holiday that aren’t about trees and toys. There was more family, food and fun than at any other part of the year. And - at least for a while - we didn’t have to go to school. It was a magical time, and each year we try to share the same warm feelings we remember with our New York family, transforming our home into a winter wonderland just in time for our big party. 

The smell of eucalyptus, roast chicken and citrus creates a fragrant mix in the kitchen as Chef Rashad Frazier puts together the perfect holiday meal. As the setting for this feast, the chef’s table is set with a mix of golden flatware, painted goblets and taper candles.  For some, creating a magical holiday meal starts days or even weeks in advance, but Chef Frazier has the process down to a science. As he describes it, “a dazzling roast, spectacular sides and amazing cocktails,” are all anyone needs to make a big impact during the holidays. It’s a simple menu, focused on classic dishes with a few moments of culinary style added in for good measure. But as the room fills with the scent of roast chicken and its supporting cast of side dishes, it’s getting hard to argue with the virtues of the chef’s minimalist approach.