During Christmastime, the biggest gift of all is getting to spend quality time with loved ones. Being from the South, I’d consider the food a gift too. My family loves casseroles and towering cakes and cranberry molds as much as the next Southern brood, but we’ve now traded in the big, fancy, heavy Christmas dinner for something decidedly more, well, tiny.
Since appetizers are hands-down the best part of any party anyway, my grandmother decided over two decades ago to switch up our usual spread to instead throw a family party with the biggest cheer and littlest portions, which we now dub “The Tiny Feast.”
Credit:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
What A Southern Tiny Feast Entails
Nothing Bigger Than a Bite
The only rule is that nothing can be bigger than the size of a bite. Luckily for me, that includes most of my favorite holiday dishes, such as cheese straws, deviled eggs, and the Maple-Bacon Smokies that my dad always hilariously requests weeks in advance.
Glassware, Silverware, And Plates Too
Even the plates and silverware are required to be miniature, so we use Christmas-themed dessert plates as our vessels for all the snacks. For the glassware, we go with heirloom teacups and tiny silver goblets my grandma has picked up over the years. Christmas music plays loud, people stand around munching, and we end the night with a fierce game of joke-themed White Elephant that would often end in tears when we were all children.
Credit:
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Matthew Gleason
Think Outside the Box
Each person must bring a dish and is commended for being as inventive as possible. My crowd-favorite Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread can be plucked off bite by cheesy bite and popped into your mouth. (Still counts.) Desserts can be pre-cut into morsel-sized snippets, even pie if you’re savvy enough. (These classic Pecan Tassies would be perfect.) Even casseroles can be made in the “tiny spirit” by being baked in miniature ramekins.
The rules aren’t to limit, but inspire. The crazier concoction, the better. The more piled-high your petite plate, the more impressive.
Credit:
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Memories That Last
My grandmother’s intention was to put a little touch of extra whimsy and magic into the holiday season, which stayed well into when many of us grandkids became adults. It’s one of the traditions that we all get most excited about, and the dishes keep getting tinier and more creative each year.
For anyone looking to change up their family holiday meal this year, “The Tiny Feast” will be your biggest little Christmas celebration ever.
Dining and Cooking