We asked some local people what their favorites were for this holiday season

The Bramble Family
Kyra, Cliff, Stevie, Reid
Owner of Noble Fin

Peanut Butter Cookie Kisses

“One of the joys of making this dessert during the holidays is not the actual eating of these cookies, but the pure look of excitement in our kids’ faces. The excitement of gathering all of the ingredients, and the fun of pouring the ingredients into the bowl, making a mess and watching the kids be filled with so much excitement as the cookies get placed into the oven.”

Debbie Mason
Peachtree Corners
First Lady

While Debbie is involved with many of the city’s activities, including the Peachtree Corners Festival, she takes time to bake for her family. She shares this favorite holiday recipe.

Debbie’s Sour Cream Pound Cake

2 sticks butter, softened
½ teaspoon baking soda
3 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups flour

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. In a different bowl, sift together the flour and baking soda. Then add the flour mixture, alternating with adding the sour cream, beginning and ending with flour. The batter should have taken on a different sheen when it’s ready. Add the vanilla and blend well. Pour into a greased and floured tube pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 90 minutes. Enjoy!

Executive Chef Ken Hampton
Hilton Atlanta—Peachtree Corners

“I have been Executive Chef at the Hilton Atlanta—Peachtree Corners Hotel, known as the “Castle on the Hill,” for the past nine years, and I’ve seen tremendous growth in the area. Over the years, several local companies have held their holiday celebrations at our hotel. The holiday season is my favorite time of the year—I love to see the joy and happiness of our customers celebrating the season with co-workers and family.

“Our holiday collection this year includes Red Velvet Cheesecake with Bourbon Eggnog Crème, Warm Salted Caramel Vanilla Bean Cake with Peppermint Ice Cream, Cranberry Pumpkin Pie with Berry Coulis and Pearls Sugar Waffles with Mini Cider Donuts.”

Gina Solomon
Wesleyan Artist Market

Harvest Salad

“This is, hands down, a sure hit—even for those who typically do not enjoy a salad. The combination of sweet and savory is a crowd pleaser every time. Crisp green apples, toasted pecans and dried cranberries make it a seasonal specialty.”

● The salad ingredients include:
● mixed greens lettuce
● sliced red pepper
● cubed Granny Smith apples
● sliced red onion
● toasted pecan halves
● dried cranberries
● crumbled blue cheese
● salted bagel chips and
● homemade dressing of oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, dried mustard and poppy seeds.

Jeanne Aulbach
Peachtree Corners City Council

Jeanne likes to keep it basic. “Generally, if I’m hosting for the holidays, I just roast a turkey and fix some candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and succotash. No recipes needed!”

Chef Donte Youmans
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Peachtree Corners

Surf and Turf

If turkey isn’t your style, Chef Youmans has a suggestion: try a half-pound lobster tail and a 7-ounce applewood-smoked, bacon-wrapped filet seared over glowing embers of Firebirds’ 100% wood fired grill.

“Our Surf and Turf is a special entree combining a flavorful hand-cut filet with a juicy lobster tail grilled to perfection.”

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation has so many ways to celebrate the haunting season. Some are spine-chilling and others are educational but all are family friendly:

• Walk Among the Stars is on Oct. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Collins Hill Park, 2225 Collins Hill Road, Lawrenceville 30043. Celebrate National Lights on Afterschool at this free event for all ages with costumes, games, crafts, inflatables and more. Visit www.livehealthygwinnett.com or call 770-822-3197 for more information.
• Gourd Monsters & Mocktails is Oct. 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Prime Timers Pointe at George Pierce Park, 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee 30024. Create a spooktacular masterpiece while enjoying mocktails and tasty treats! All instructions and materials provided. Ages 50 and older, $5 per person. Preregister by Oct. 22 online with code GPP41901 or call 678-277-0910.
• Escape the Room: Teen Edition is on Oct. 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Recreation Center, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville 30046. Help solve the mystery, beat the clock and escape. Ages 11 to 14, $10 per person. Preregister by Oct. 21 online with code RJP41605 or call 678-277-0890.
• Super Hero Costume Party is on Oct. 26, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lilburn Activity Building, 788 Hillcrest Road, Lilburn 30047. Come to this free event dressed as your favorite hero for an afternoon of fun, games, music and more. All ages welcome. Preregister to reserve your spot online with LAB41620 or call 678-277-0875.
• Fall Into Halloween is on Oct. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lucky Shoals Park Community Recreation Center, 4651 Britt Road, Norcross 30093. A Halloween festival complete with crafts, games, costume contests and a haunted surprise for everyone. All ages, $3 per person. Preregister online with code LSP41610 or call 678-277-0860.
• Harvest Homecoming is on Oct. 26, from noon to 4 p.m. at McDaniel Farm Park, 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth 30096. A free event with a special trip to the farm for games, face painting and tours. See the furry farm friends, enjoy a hayride, visit vendors and sample some tasty s’mores. All ages, preregister online with code MFP41690 or call 770-822-5450.
• Trail of Terror is on Oct. 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Vines Park, 3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville 30052. Get your chills and thrills as you experience the shadowy and sinister Phantom Village. All ages, $5 per person. Preregister online with code EXT41700 or call 678-377-4010.
• Underwater Pumpkin Patch is on Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bethesda Park Aquatic Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville 30044. Come find your perfect pumpkin in the pool patch to decorate for our pumpkin contest. All ages, $8 per person. Preregister online by Oct. 18 with code BEP41101 or call 678-277-0880.
• Spooktacular Skate Party is on Oct. 26 from, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pinckneyville Park Hockey Rink, 4758 South Old Peachtree Road, Peachtree Corners 30071. Create ghoulish crafts, roast marshmallows, participate in a costume contests and more! Free to attend, bring your skates and have some fun. Additional fees may apply. All ages, preregister online with code PVP41690 or call 678-277-0920.
• Evening with Edgar Allan Poe is on Oct. 26, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lawrenceville Female Seminary, 455 South Perry Street, Lawrenceville 30046. Get into the spooky season with one of the most renowned writers to hear tales that will make your blood run cold! Ages 16 and up, $26 per person. Preregister by Oct. 20 online with code LFS41402 or call 770-822-5178.
• Boo Bingo and Potluck is on Oct. 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bethesda Park Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville 30044. Dress up in your best Halloween costume, bring a frightfully good potluck dish and enjoy a round of Boo Bingo! Ages 50 and up, $6 per person. Preregister Oct. 29 online with code BEP41908 or call 678-277-0179. 

One of Fourteen included in Our Great Spaces for Your Corporate & Holiday Events

Ten Bistro
5005 Peachtree Parkway #820
Peachtree Corners 30092
770-375-8330
tenlocalflavors.com

Ten Bistro is the vision of Owner and Chef Jesse Kauffman who initially spent a long time on the corporate side of the restaurant business. Much of his formation included eight weeks of training in the kitchen, at each new restaurant that he managed.

He comes from a family of foodies; his mother was always very focused on organic, healthy foods, and his grandfather was a life-long baker. He rolled into the restaurant business very naturally.

When this attractive space became available in his community, he jumped at the chance to open his own, and just like that, Kauffman became both a Peachtree Corners resident and restauranteur. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, he decided on a brilliant way to get the neighborhood to rally behind him.

He put out the word to the 10 major subdivisions in Peachtree Corners, soliciting favorite recipes from his neighbors. “There’s always that one person known for their white chicken chili at the tennis team party,” chuckled Kauffman. So in a genuine attempt to find out what his fellow citizens would enjoy eating, his initial menu emerged, complete with the names of the neighbors who had volunteered them and the subdivisions they hailed from.

“So that’s where the “10” came from. And Bistro, just because a bistro has everything from French onion soup, to a good fresh fish, to filet mignon, and good organic salads. So that’s Ten Bistro!”

The Ten Bistro Noël

Both corporate and family gatherings on the smaller side, which do not necessarily require a private event space, are welcome in the restaurant. If a private function is a requirement, buyout of the restaurant is always an option.

The best number for a party size here is 50 or less—50 would take-up the whole restaurant. They’ve had parties of up to 65, with some guests spilling over onto the patio, but you can’t always count on the weather.

How About a Holiday Party with Ten Bistro?

Great news! Kauffman and his team do provide off-site catering for 10-150 people. Call the restaurant to discuss your vision and Ten Bistro can come to you!

For a group reserving the whole restaurant, they’ll start off with either passed around appetizers, or set them up on the bar. Envision brie wrapped in puff pastry with pineapple chili marmalade, asparagus fries, pitta and hummus, vegetable crudités, and bruschetta toast points.

Once guests are seated two choices of salad are offered; either Caesar or the House Salad.

Entrees can be served one of two ways; family-style, with guests being served from platters brought out by servers or plated in advance and brought out. For family-style, “servers come out with large platters of truffle mashed potatoes, green beans, and asparagus, and serve everybody. Then we come out with 3 different proteins and everybody can have all of them, like salmon, steak, and chicken. So, you get a nice full plate that we keep serving until people are full,” explained Kauffman.

Alternatively, you may develop a menu from which guests will be able to choose one of three entrees if the party is large. If the party is 20 or smaller, guests can have a choice of up to five entrees. “That’s where we can include vegan, vegetarian, seafood, chicken, steak, for a nice broad coverage. Then we just plate it, and bring it out,” offered Kauffman.

Desserts are the grand finale of either aforementioned scenario. 

Dietary restrictions can be accommodated here. Whether you’re a vegetarian, or you’re avoiding gluten, or dairy. Meals can be easily made per your request. Because everything is made to order, any undesired ingredients can be easily left off.

Kauffman has always had his finger on the pulse of every food decision at the restaurant. For the past seven years he’s shifted his focus from shaking hands and kissing babies in the front of the house to the kitchen even more so. There’s a reason the “boutiquey” restaurant is often buzzing.

Artwork from local artists adorns the walls of this eclectic establishment. If you should find a piece that speaks to you, they’re for sale – all proceeds go to the artists who created them.

Book it!

Any day is a good day to host a party at Ten Bistro. Kauffman recommends scheduling your holiday season event one month in advance.

From Sunday through Thursday, the group would have to spend $4,000 to rent the whole restaurant. This includes an open bar and a four-course meal.

The buyout price for Friday and Saturday is $5k, including a four-course menu, an open bar, tax and gratuity.

Daytime parties that take place on Saturday or Sunday can be done for much less: $20 per person, with a 20-person minimum.

For smaller groups of 15 to 25 that don’t need to rent the whole space for a private venue, it’s from $15 to $20 per person for lunch groups. For three course dinners, it’s $27 per person, alcohol would not be included. It would be billed separately.

To book your holiday fête or soirée at Ten Bistro, call Owner and Chef Jesse Kauffman at 770-375-8330.

Disclaimer: Pricing is meant as a guide and is subject to change, please check with the individual facilities directly.