1 800 FLOWERS COM : Harry & David® and Daphne Oz Come Together to Celebrate the Best of Holiday Entertaining

Sep 22, 2021

Harry & David®has teamed up with Emmy Award-winning television host, author, chef, and entrepreneurDaphne Ozto discover her favorite finds and tips ahead of the holiday entertaining season.

As planning for the most festive time of the year begins, Harry & David spent time catching up with Daphne to discuss her party must-haves, how to host an unforgettable gathering, the biggest mistakes she sees people make while entertaining (and how to fix them), the sweet holiday indulgence she can't get enough of, and so much more. Daphne also reveals her favorite Harry & David Gourmet® productsfor creating an effortless and delicious meal at home, when sharing warmth, cheer, and memories with family and friends this season.

Check out what Daphne had to say-along with her must-have holiday entertaining items-in this exclusive conversation:

Harry & David: What do the holidays at home look like for you? How do you and your family celebrate?

Daphne Oz: My mom is one of six kids and I'm one of four, so the holidays are all about loud, fun family time and getting everyone together for cards, board games, and movies. Of course, there's the much-discussed Oz Family Football Game, a series of hilariously competitive matchups of shockingly even teams (given how many little kids are playing). It's a pretty raucous event that helps everyone work up an appetite, which is a good thing because the holidays are all about festive family mealtime.

Food is top of the list when it comes to celebrating this time of year. Some usual dishes served at our holiday dinner table are a golden brown roast turkey (we started spatchcocking in recent years to speed up cook time and because it's so much easier to keep the bird juicy); fresh stuffing with celery, onion, and sage for the vegetarians and a sausage-cornbread stuffing for the meat eaters; maple-roasted root vegetables; creamed spinach; my grandmother's famous Caesar salad (maybe not the most traditional, but it wouldn't be a family gathering here without it!) and a kale salad with pomegranate seeds and pine nuts; mashed potatoes; and the most epic corn pudding. Dessert is pecan and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, plus Christmas cookiescome December!

H&D: What was your favorite holiday tradition growing up?

Daphne: We made what feels like hundreds of batches of Christmas cookies every year. It's a tradition that I love to share with my kids now. We roll out our family sugar cookie recipe, pressing lots of different shapes, sprinkling them with colorful sugar, and baking until the house smells like vanilla heaven. It's the easiest and most delicious Christmas cookie I've ever had.

Then it's time to curl up by the fire with a mug of tea and a few crispy, fresh-from-the-oven cookies for dunking. You can also punch a little hole out of half of the cookies before they bake and then use two halves to sandwich a layer of Harry & David Gourmet preservesfor an extra festive touch.

H&D: Have you and your husband John started any new traditions at home? Anything that your kids can't get enough of?

Daphne: My kids have gotten really into decorating. They start planning out what décor they want a month in advance, and they make tons of art and projects to hang on the walls. They love it! The crazier and more colorful and over-the-top, the better. Now that we live in Florida, we pick pumpkins twice, once in early October for pie making and once later in the month for carving (we learned the hard way that the humidity rots carved pumpkins in a matter of days!). Come December, we have carols and classics playing all month long. To try to stretch the season and create a little winter wonderland indoors, we pick out our tree on December 1 (that smell!) and head to a Christmas shop nearby so everyone can pick out a favorite new ornament. Then we have a big party to decorate the tree with pizza for dinner followed by a family movie night with Christmas cookies and hot cocoa with fun chocolatey marshmallows on top. I cannot wait to do it again this year!

H&D: How do you indulge during the holidays? What's your favorite treat?

Daphne: I hate to sound like a broken record but…Christmas cookies. I've just got to have one or two a day with coffee or tea. Little nibbles from Harry & David Gourmet, especially the honey wheat twistsdunked in mustard, and my mom's extra-spiced, fresh pumpkin pie, with plenty of cardamom! Plus, if there's one bite I'll never say no to, it's pecan pie. I'm not big on eggnog, but love mulled wine, cider, and fun, festive martinis.

H&D: What are your three must-have items for hosting a great gathering?

Daphne: A pre-mixed drink is number one. When people arrive, they want an easy way to break the ice and feel at home. Helping themselves to a drink is a great way to settle them in and also give them a little something to feel busy while they mix and mingle. Also, make sure to have enough ice ready to go.

Candles are number two. An intoxicating, inviting smell is one of the best ways to instantly make guests feel welcome. I usually have the same scent burning throughout my house, so the ambiance is consistent, and it rotates with the seasons.

Number three - a simple start and finish. If I'm cooking the meal, I focus my energy on the main event and make sure that appetizers and dessert are delicious and delightfully easy. I have a bounty of small bites available when people start to arrive: olives, nuts, meat and cheese. Sometimes I'll just pick two things but have plenty of them-the abundance always makes it feel fun. Dessert is equally effortless: a delicious bar of chocolate broken apart into big, luxurious hunks, with some dried fruit, or even a beautiful box of chocolates. Ice cream served with crumbles of candied nuts on top is a great option too. Everyone gets tea or an after-dinner drink. The most important thing to remember is to keep entertaining easy enough on yourself that you have time to actually sit and enjoy your company.

H&D: What is your go-to meal to serve family and friends?

Daphne: Our family is pretty obsessed with big, delicious salads to start the meal. I love to use red leaf or butter lettuce with a lemony shallot vinaigrette. For a main, I might do grilled fish with pesto roasted veggies or a rigatoni alla vodka (my oldest Philomena's favorite!). Freshly cut fruit, nuts, and something dark chocolate for dessert.

H&D: What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to entertaining?

Daphne: Biting off too much. The best rule of thumb for throwing a beautiful party and actually enjoying it is once guests are settled in, you get to be one of them. Don't attempt new dishes that are going to stress you out while hosting and don't try to do everything if you don't have the time. I've been guilty of this so many times and kicked myself for trying to do too much when a simpler meal would have meant more time with the people I want to spend time with, and food that was just as satisfying and fun to eat.

H&D: What are your tricks for entertaining and serving a large group? Any advice for accommodating different diets?

Daphne: We have a ton of vegetarians in my family and a few other dietary concerns, so we often have family meals that are layered, where there are additions to be made for those who want the bacon or sausage but a base that everyone can enjoy. We also are big fans of little bites, so we frequently make the side dishes vegetarian so that there is always plenty to choose from, while the main course can be a big beautiful chicken, turkey, or lamb.

H&D: How do you get your kids involved in the preparations?

Daphne: My kids love to hang out with me in the kitchen, so giving them tasks that are safe and helpful are great to keep little hands busy so I can keep working (and keep an eye on them)! It creates beautiful memories like the ones I have of always being in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother as they put together family meals. We turn the kitchen table into a big art project where they have fun creating decorations and cutting out snowflakes for the house. We do lots of baking together because the promise of something sweet at the end is always a good incentive to get them involved. The big kids love to help me with safe, kid-suitable chopping or spreading, and the little ones do mixing and pouring-but it's messy! I really just like to hear them around, chatting about the ways they want to decorate and their favorite memories of this special time of year.

H&D: What are some easy table decor ideas?

Daphne: All year long, I dress my table with edible décor. It's easy to find and customize to the season and desired theme-plus it's fresh, beautiful, and good enough to eat, which always creates a fun and vibrant communal vibe. I scatter a bounty of big citrus (I am a huge fan of the ultra-lush Harry & David® Cushman's Honeybells® and Red Grapefruits) and pomegranates in winter, and gourds, squash, and grapes in fall, or even just potted fresh herbs in stacked terracotta planters so guests can pluck off little edible garnish for their plates! The signature Harry & David® Royal Riviera® Pears, often wrapped in gold foil, are a perfect complement to any table setting. Then, when it's time for dessert, your guests can begin with what's right in front of them.

H&D: What is your favorite thing about entertaining?

Daphne: Creating a comfortable atmosphere where my loved ones can come together and truly connect. When the mood is festive, the food is delicious, the drinks are plentiful, and everyone feels looked after; the conversation flows, and everyone leaves full of so much more than a yummy meal. Creating the space where those lasting memories can happen means everything to me.

H&D: Why did you decide to team up with Harry & David?

Daphne: Harry & David is synonymous with the holidays for me, and I was thrilled to get to partner with a company that has brought me and my family so much joy over the years. I always get so excited to unwrap the gift baskets full of new delights and delicious, seasonal fresh fruit. There is nothing so fragrant and juicy as one of their gold-wrapped Royal Riviera® Pears-my grandmother orders a few extra boxes of them just before the holidays to keep for an easy dessert after any family meal.

From artisanal hors d'oeuvres to spectacular desserts, products within the Harry & David Gourmetassortment offers both ease and convenience for effortless entertaining and sharing. A delicious way to create happy memories all season long!

To get inspired for the entertaining season ahead, you can view the full list of Daphne's favorite Harry & David Gourmet productshere.

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