Celebrity Chef Alex Hitz On The Art Of Entertaining For The Holidays

When your stepfather was Robert Shaw, the renowned conductor and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra music director and your mother was the hostess extraordinaire, Caroline Shaw, you learn how to throw a great party. Alex Hitz, author of “The Art of the Host” stopped by “City Lights” to reminisce with host Lois Reitzes and share his tips for holiday entertaining.

When creating meals for the holidays, Hitz believes in created dishes that are totally “do-ahead-able.” One of those dishes is the Seafood Potpie, which can be created beforehand, put in the freezer, and defrosted later in the oven until it’s ready to serve. It can be paired with a cucumber salad, if you want a healthy side to go along with it. For dessert, Hitz suggests Snow White Meringues with homemade peppermint ice cream drizzled with “Connie’s Chocolate Sauce.” The name for this chocolate sauce comes from the Hollywood’s greatest hostess, Connie Wald.

When asked what Hitz does to reduce the stress of holiday entertaining, he said jokingly answered “some very good champagne.” In all sincerity, Hitz recommends creating a menu that is completely “do-ahead-able.”