Holiday Happenings 2024
Celebrate the holidays with Redbird!
See below for tips and tricks for holiday entertaining from the Redbird pros: Pastry Chef Ligia Rossi demonstrates the best way to peel a pomegranate, Bar Man Tobin Shea shares the recipe for batching his Maple Leaf cocktail, Chef Neal Fraser reveals his trick for making the creamiest mashed potatoes and Wine Director Chris Dugan shares 4 wines that not only pair well with seasonal fare but also please the pickiest of palates.
Join us for our Christmas Eve prix fixe menu with an optional wine pairing in the Main Dining Room and Lounge.
Ring in 2025(!) at Redbird. The culinary team offers a prix fixe menu with an optional wine pairing in the Main Dining and Lounge on New Year’s Eve.
It’s not too late to book a holiday fete in one of our 6 Private Dining Spaces. Reach out to Eric Sadovnick on our events team for details.
Check out the bar team’s Holiday Cocktail List available beginning just after Thanksgiving.
And Gift Cards! We have them! Always a great gift for the loved ones on your list.
Pastry Chef Ligia Rossi’s Tip on How to Peel a Pomegranate
Tobin Shea’s Maple Leaf Batch Cocktail for a Large Group
Yields 12 cocktails
2 cups ( 16 oz ) of Your favorite Bourbon
1 cup ( 8 oz ) Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 cup ( 4 oz ) Maple Syrup
1/2 cup ( 4 oz ) St George Spiced Pear Liqueur
1.5 cup ( 12 oz ) Cinnamon Tea*
Mix all ingredients together in a large pitcher and chill in the refrigerator. When serving, pour into an ice filled rocks glass.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Cinnamon Tea
Add 2 cups of water and 3 cinnamon sticks to a 3 qt saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and reduce by 25%.
Strain out the cinnamon sticks and chill the tea.
Chef Neal’s Trick on How to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Christopher Dugan’s Holiday Wine Pleasers
Champagne Pierre Paillard, Les Parcelles, Extra Brut, Bouzy NV
The Paillard family has a long history in the Champagne region, dating back to the 18th century. This is a beautiful blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, from the village of Bouzy (fun to say isn’t it?). The Pinot Noir gives the wine good body and lovely red fruit, while the Chardonnay adds freshness and minerality. It’s a generous, mouth-filling Champagne that will please anybody who loves good bubbles! Expect notes of orchard fruit, red cherry, brioche and lacey minerality. Tip: Look for a Champagne made with red grapes, called a “Blanc de Noirs,” if solely from red grapes, as they make wines that offer more body and are ideal pairing partners with holiday fare.
Château Yvonne, Chenin Blanc, Saumur, Loire Valley, France 2021
If you can’t decide on a white wine to go with dinner, choose Chenin Blanc. It has the weight and fruit we all love about a good French Chardonnay, and with the freshness and vibrancy of a good Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is 100% Chenin Blanc from limestone soils in the Loire Valley of France. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, some of which are new (toasted) which adds a bit of spice and texture to the palate. The vibrant acidity will refresh the palate between bites when you’re enjoying multiple dishes from your holiday spread. Tip: Don’t be afraid to decant your white wine as well, this will open up the wine’s flavors and give a more complex tasting experience.
Âmevive, Gamay Noir, Santa Barbara County, California 2023
I think Gamay Noir is the ultimate red wine for the holidays. Whether from the Beaujolais region of France, or locally here in California, you can expect a medium-weight, red-fruited wine with silky texture and tons of freshness. The notes of cranberry, raspberry and strawberry here will complement the bird of choice for your meal, and the delicate herbal notes will pair great with stuffing. Âmevive is a newer producer that is committed to organic farming and working with some of the oldest vineyards in Santa Barbara County. All of the wines show a freshness and transparency more often associated with the classic regions of Europe. Plus, the lower alcohol will allow you to enjoy that extra glass! Tip: If looking towards Beaujolais for a good Gamay Noir, look for one with a village named on the label (e.g. Fleurie, Morgon, etc.) as they will show a bit more sense of place and are likely to be more compelling.
Viña Sastre, Tempranillo, Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2018
No region beats Spain for Quality-to-Price ratio. Not only are most regions steeped in history and tradition, but there are so many regions that are just being recognized for their quality. Needless to say, there is so much value here. Tempranillo is the most noble of Spanish grapes, found most notably in Rioja and here, in Ribera del Duero. These wines have the class of Bordeaux, the deep, generous fruit of the best from California, and the food friendly nature of great Italian wines. From this region, expect a deeper and more structured red, with all the charming oak and earthy descriptors to make it a perfect holiday wine. Tip: Look to Ribera del Duero, over Rioja, if you like a wine with a bit more weight and structure.
Join us for dinner and grab some to take home for your holiday gatherings.