Christmas conundrums

Q Any ideas for accommodating dietary restrictions at a holiday dinner?

A Try to find out about dietary restrictions well in advance. If you send out invitations, ask guests to indicate their food concerns (allergies, lactose intolerance, vegetarianism) when they RSVP. They'll be pleased you cared enough to ask. How do you accommodate these guests without vastly increasing your workload? Plan your menu carefully and serve dishes that can easily be adjusted as needed. Sebastien Centner, director of Eatertainment Special Events & Catering, says, "Why not plan something like a smoked duck salad with enoki mushrooms, butter lettuce and champagne vinaigrette; you can make one without the duck and it becomes a vegetarian salad." Sebastien recommends making the "special" dishes look like all the rest. Serving a stacked beef and potato dish? Make a stacked roast veggie entrée to match (it can be done the day before and reheated). And use similar garnishes. "It makes your guests feel like someone has gone to the trouble of making them not stand out."

Q How do I approach setting up a kiddie table at my holiday dinner?

A "Forget the traditional kitchen kiddie table. Kid-friendly dining does not have to mean a messy, cluttered tabletop," says Cynthia.

"Set up a card table near your adult dining area and drape it in the same linens as your main table. To tie the look together, place a miniature version of your holiday table centrepiece on the kids' table."

In fact, STYLE AT HOME senior design editor Margot Austin suggests letting the kids eat on the good china, too. "I don't hesitate to use fine china on the kids' table, because it's actually stronger than everyday stoneware, and it resists chips and breaking even more. Plus, Christmas is a magical time for children, so I don't want them to feel like second-class citizens. They get fine china, linen napkins, tablecloths, place cards, Christmas crackers -- the whole nine yards. The one exception is I don't put the Waterford crystal out for them -- not because I'm afraid they'll break it, but because the tall, heavy stemware can be awkward for little hands to manoeuvre."

To keep the kids quietly entertained during dinner, Cynthia suggests placing a loot bag of age-appropriate games on each child's chair. And remember, it's OK to impose a few rules. The promise of a special treat if the kids behave throughout dinner might just be incentive enough. Cue up a DVD and have it ready to go in the living or family room, so the kids can retire there to rest (and digest) while enjoying a holiday flick, and the adults can linger at the dining table.

Read more in Food & Entertaining and Party Planner