Winter Menu for 6

February is the time for hearty food and strong drink to sustain us through the final weeks of winter. It's unclear what Mother Nature's plan is for March -- I'm hoping for some warmth and sunshine -- but I wanted to share a recent dinner party menu in case you're in need of inspiration. It serves six easily, so four of us were very satisfied.

I started with a simple cheese board with aged Vermont White Cheddar, California Swiss, and a Vermont chèvre. I served toasted slices of my homemade focaccia bread. The mood called for cocktails, so I served whiskey sours. 

Whiskey Sour (Individual)

3 parts Bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey

1 part lemon juice

1 part simple syrup

Serve over ice

For the meal, I prepared braised short ribs of beef with mashed potatoes and roasted brussels sprouts.


Basic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Serves 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

• 2 lbs brussels sprouts, stem end trimmed, cut in half
• 4 shallots, sliced (optional, be careful not to slice too thinly as they may burn)
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. granulated garlic
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, toss all the ingredients together until the sprouts are well-coated with oil. Spread on an even layer on the sheet pan and roast for 20-30 minutes until just starting to turn golden. Serve immediately.

Searing the short ribs before braising.

The star of this show is the braised short ribs. I strained the sauce this time in a fat separator and reduced it to a fine gravy thickened with just a little flour and butter in a beurre manié (kneaded butter).  


 With the right menu and a little planning, a delicious and hearty winter meal is easy. With roasting and braising, you're dealing with low-maintenance food and bold flavors.


Our guests brought sparkling Malbec and we enjoyed every drop. The bubbles really cut through the rich meat and potatoes perfectly. Great food and even greater friends can make you forget how cold it is outside.