This weekend, a young woman stopped me and asked if I could help her find some ingredients for a recipe she was making. Of course I said yes and asked what she was preparing. When she said Christmas cake, I had to ask if I heard her right! Christmas cake? Already? Yup, it’s that time again.

Hurricane Sandy has blown us, kicking and screaming, into November. We clung to our Halloween decorations in hopes that it might warm up just one more time, but it’s snowing in Vermont, and it’s time to think turkey, whether we like it or not.

Never fear! Team Nino’s is here! Much like the Avengers, each of our talented staff members has his or her own strengths, but together we are even stronger. On November 10 from 7 pm to 10 pm, we will be united at our Clinton Township location to battle all of your holiday anxieties.

Our fun and energetic culinary master, Chef Pete, will be there to answer any questions you may have about brining a turkey or how to Au graten your potatoes.

Our floral designers will have their masterful works on display to inspire and set the mood for the big day. Green apples and pomegranates in a floral display? Why not? Our florists are some of the most imaginative in the business.

Planning a corporate party? Chat with our concierges, Annette and Kelly, about how much food you will need to feed 20 or 200! They can take your orders right on the spot.

And what about gifts? We will have an array of our redesigned gift baskets on display. Brand new this year are Wine Gift Baskets, Tea Gift Sets, and Movie Night Gift Baskets, just to name a few.

This brings me to, well, me. If I were an Avenger, I’d probably be The Hulk. Why? Am I always angry? Nope, it’s because I love a big Smash hit. I’ve been saving the best for last. Not only is this event going to be a “showcase” of all the holiday help you can get from Nino’s, but it’s a wine and cheese party too.

Simone, our Clinton Township Wine Manager, and I have been given the duty of pairing some of our most fabulous wines with our most exotic cheeses, all for you. Since this is the Holiday Season, we went big. Sure, we picked a couple of outstanding values for under $20, just in case you have a big crowd to please with a small budget, but we’re also going to feature some highly sought after and extremely delicious German Riesling, French Chateauneuf du Pape, Champagne, Argentine Malbec, Italian Barolo, and Brunello Di Montalcino. Is your mouth watering yet?

Hmm, seems like I’m missing something… What about Napa Valley Cab? Yep, we asked our good friend Tom Celani if he could bring some of his wines along. You know Tom–a favorite of Wine Spectator and Robert Parker, consistently producing wines that make the knees weak, and teeth purple; yeah, he’ll be there too.

Each wine station will have cheeses that pair perfectly, removing the guesswork, so you can concentrate on having fun at your next family get together. Or think about giving your boss or snobby brother-in-law one of the great wines you tried and adding a note about which cheese pairs best. Perfect gift, right?

We’ll also be featuring a decadent dessert table, filled with our chocolate tarts, flans, and cakes. Paired with these tasty treats, we’ll have dessert wines, like Ice Wine, Ruby Port, and Pineau de Charentes.

What? You’ve never had a Pineau de Charentes? Well, this is your chance to try something new!

Food, wine, expertise: everything you need to make your holiday party a success. The price of a ticket is only $35–a small price to pay for peace of mind. To make it even better, this event is being held to benefit the Nino Salvaggio Charitable Foundation for Children in Need. So the next time you’re in one of our stores, stop by the service desk and pick up a ticket to this amazing event. Even if you don’t have a big holiday party to plan, our first annual Holiday Showcase is a terrific event at which to eat, drink, and be merry!

See you there!

– Jennifer Laurie