Italian Warm Marinated Olives and a Holiday Luncheon. The holiday season is all about gathering with friends, sharing good food, and creating memories around a beautifully set table. Our rustic yet elegant Italian Warm Marinated Olives are a cozy starter that sets the tone for the entire meal.
A Holiday Luncheon
The holidays are a time for gathering, celebrating, and savoring the joy of good company. Last year, with our friends Margaret and Raymond Kitchen Frau we presented a lavish Festive Christmas Brunch, while this year, we got together for a Holiday Luncheon. As usual, that was as much about laughter and connection as it was about food. With a sparkling table set and a menu full of seasonal delights, our luncheon captured the spirit of the season: comfort, cheer, with a touch of Italian flair.
Setting the Scene
We dressed the table in joyful tones, layering in white and gold with accents of green and red on a gorgeous tablecloth depicting the perfect winter scene. We combined our vintage festive China for a stunning mismatched look, took out sparkling glassware, gold cutlery, and added festive touches like a tiny white poinsettia, wooden trees, a reindeer, golden bells, and white candles. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and filled with laughter. With Christmas music playing on low, this was the perfect backdrop for a leisurely afternoon feast.
Holiday Luncheon Menu
Our luncheon menu was thoughtfully curated to balance savory, zesty, fresh, and sweet flavors. Each dish complemented the others, creating a harmonious flow from start to finish.
Holiday Luncheon Menu
COCKTAILS AND APPETIZER
Winter Spritz Cocktail
Italian Warm Marinated Olives (recipe at the bottom of the post)
Flax and Almond Crackers
MAIN COURSE
Festive Christmas Quiche
Roasted Root Vegetable Salad with Feta and Walnuts
Pickled Mushrooms
SALAD COURSE
Holiday Citrus Salad
DESSERT
Yogurt Pannacotta with Pomegranate Jelly
Crunchy Almond Dacquoise Biscuits
Dried Figs, Nuts, and Chocolates
BEVERAGES
Coffee, Sparkling Water
Cocktail and Appetizers
We started off our Holiday Luncheon raising our glasses with a Winter Spritz: sparkling, cinnamon spiced, and full of festive flavor. It was accompanied by Italian Warm Marinated Olives, briny, citrusy, and herby, served warm to bring a cozy touch to the table. To nibble alongside, there were crisp Flax and Almond Crackers with a nutty flavor that made them perfect for snacking.
Main Course and Salad
The star of the spread was a golden Christmas Quiche, rich and festive, while a Roasted Root Vegetable Salad with Feta and Walnuts added earthy flavors and colors, and some crunch. Tangy Pickled Mushrooms brought that umami flavor contrast to the main, and a bright Citrus Fruit Salad kept things refreshing and was the perfect palate cleanser for the next course.
Dessert
For dessert, we enjoyed a creamy Yogurt Pannacotta topped with jewel-toned Pomegranate Jelly, with a side of Almond Dacquoise Biscuits, crunchy little bites that carried just the right amount of sweetness.
More Sweet Touches
And because no celebration is complete without a few extra indulgences, we also set out a bowl of mixed nuts, sweet dried figs, mint chocolates, and peppermint candies that added a playful touch of holiday cheer. Of course, no gathering would be complete without Coffee to finish the meal on a cozy note.
Recipe: Italian Warm Marinated Olives
There's nothing quite like a bowl of warm, herby and citrusy olives to kick off a holiday meal. This simple recipe infuses extra virgin olive oil with garlic, fennel seeds, oregano and rosemary, a touch of chili, and orange zest, creating a fragrant marinade that transforms ordinary olives into something truly special.
Step 1
Drain the green and black olives from the brine -or oil- that they're packed in and place them in a medium bowl. Add the garlic, fennel seeds, pinch of chili flakes, and herbs.
Step 2
Add a scrunch of salt and pepper and pour the olive oil over the mixture.
Step 3
Add the orange zest.
Step 4
Toss everything to combine.
Lastly, transfer the mixture to a medium sauté pan. Heat on low for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the olives and garlic are heated through and fragrant.
Serve warm right from the pan or transfer to a festive serving dish.
Kitchen Tip
Instead of warming up the olives in a pan on the stovetop, transfer the mixture to a small baking dish and heat up at 300F (150C) for 5 minutes or until olives are warm. Then, transfer to a serving platter.
Serving Tips
- Serve them warm for the best flavor, alongside crackers (or a crusty bread to soak up the aromatic oil).
- They are also delicious at room temperature and can be gently reheated if needed.
- Perfect as part of an antipasto platter or as a cozy starter with drinks.
A Celebration of Togetherness
Between the laughter, the sparkle, and the last cookie crumb, our luncheon was pure holiday magic. It was the kind of afternoon that reminds us the season isn't just about the food-it's about the joy of sharing it together.
Wishing you all Happy Holidays! Buone Feste!
PrintItalian Warm Marinated Olives and a Holiday Luncheon
The holiday season is all about gathering with friends, sharing good food, and creating memories around a beautifully set table. Our rustic yet elegant Italian Warm Marinated Olives are a cozy starter that sets the tone for the entire meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups olives (a mix of Castelvetrano and Kalamata)
- 1 garlic clove, lightly smashed
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 small rosemary sprig
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- pinch of chili flakes, optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ an organic orange, the zest
Instructions
- Drain the green and black olives from the brine or oil that they're packed in and place them in a medium bowl. Add the garlic, fennel seeds, pinch of chili flakes, salt and pepper, and herbs.
- Add a scrunch of salt and pepper and pour the olive oil over the mixture.
- Add the orange zest.
- Toss everything to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a medium sauté pan. Heat on low for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the olives and garlic are heated through and fragrant.
- Serve warm right from the pan or transfer to a festive serving dish.
Notes
A mix of green and black olives works the best. Choose among Castelvetrano, Nocellara, Gaeta, Taggiasche, Kalamata.
Instead of warming up the olives in a pan on the stovetop, transfer the mixture to a small baking dish and heat up at 300F for 5 minutes or until olives are warm. Then, transfer to a serving platter.
I love baking and kneading dough because it takes me to a happy place in my soul.
Margaret@Kitchen Frau says
Hosting this wonderful luncheon together was so much fun - it really felt like the start of the Christmas season for me! And your marinated olives were so addictive - just the perfect appetizer along with that delicious cocktail! I can't wait to make the olives again!
Everything we do together is so much fun! From the planning to the execution, we enjoy it all! Thanks for another great day!