Small-Town Holidays

A Stratford chef shares his classic family recipes for Christmas dinner (with his own special twists). Plus a can’t-miss list of what to see and do if you find yourself near that charming little city over the holidays.

Stratford’s all decked out for the holidays, and one local chef shares his family’s storybook-classic recipes for Christmas dinner (with a twist!). Plus we spill on a can’t-miss list of what to see and do if you can squeeze in a visit to that charming little city.

There is a stageful of reasons to take a holiday trip to Stratford. Festival postings are replaced by festive shopping trails, symphony and choir concerts, holiday cooking classes, themed Chefs School dinners, open markets to buy fresh turkeys and herbs plus special tastings at breweries, distilleries and tea shops. The vibrant restaurant scene is fuelled by local products showcased by creative chefs such as Ryan O’Donnell, the executive chef at Mercer Hall Kitchen + Beer Hall + Hotel (mercerhall.ca), who feels “the city is a chef’s dream.” We asked Chef Ryan to share the recipes for his family Christmas dinner. He calls it “storybook classic but with a few refreshing twists.” A spicy brine for the turkey includes coriander seeds, star anise and chili flakes, and a raw cranberry citrus relish is the go-with. Garlic brown butter gives a lift to the mashed potatoes, and the rutabaga is golden roasted.

TO CONVINCE HIS MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, WHO WERE ALWAYS IN CHARGE OF THEIR LARGE CHRISTMAS DINNER, THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE BRINING A TRY, RYAN BOUGHT TWO TURKEYS FROM A NEARBY FARM AND BRINED ONLY ONE OF THEM. THAT WON THEM OVER.