Holiday 2021 Issue

ON THE COVER: Chocolate at Vesta Chocolate, Upper Montclair. Photo by Paul Temmerman

As I write, November’s chill has arrived, and I find it astounding that 2021 is nearly at its end.

Over the past year, I’ve often had the sensation that I’m living in some sort of pandemic-era time warp. Time sways inexplicably for me between fast and slow speed. Last week’s dinner with friends seems long ago; our January 2020 team planning meeting (in office) feels like yesterday. And soon, it will be a full year since my family and I huddled together with our friends on their cold front porch to celebrate Christmas eve beneath scarves and blankets and masks. Safely distanced, of course.

Life has changed. Perhaps that’s 2021’s biggest takeaway. We’re all still sorting things out in this (almost) post-pandemic world. As always, though, food and drink creators and the people who passionately support them have not only adapted, they have innovated, they have stepped up, they are thriving. There are new ways of doing business now, more ways to connect, whether buying groceries, savoring a chef-crafted dinner, or attending a chocolate tasting.

It has been wrenching, these adjustments caused by a virus unimaginable not that long ago, but we are coming out on the other side—and there are many reasons to celebrate.

In this issue, we look at the sweet side of life. Confident that everyone will be able to, once again, gather together in person this winter, we serve up more than our usual batch of recipes for cookies and cakes and soups to be shared. We feast on chocolate, both for our health (page 16) and our happiness (28). We check in with restaurateurs (page 64) on the state of their industry and are grateful to learn they are seeing a silver lining in what the era of Covid-19 has wrought on their businesses and anticipating a better future. We hit the road for winter travels (page 57) and visit with Food52’s Emma Laperruque. In person. In her home kitchen.

This issue’s treats and good tidings also include our seventh annual Holiday Food & Gift Guide (page 41), bursting with entertaining and gift-giving ideas. Please support each and every one of these local businesses; they are the best food, drink, and gift brands in the Garden State.

I recently asked my son about his hopes for this holiday season. After all, last December he spent a large portion of his holiday visit quarantining alone in our attic after his flight home. So, this year will feel like a new start. “Effortful” is the word he used to describe his vision for Holiday 2021, meaning that it’s time to engage, lean in, entertain, and go the extra distance to reconnect and celebrate.

I’m ready.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful, healthy, and positively effortful holiday season and 2022.

Sincerely,
Nancy Painter, Editor & Publisher

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HOLIDAY 2021 FEATURES