Dirōna.com: A One-stop Resource For The Holidays

The holidays bring out the best -- and worst -- in people. Soccer moms battle through toy-store aisles and agonize over dinner menus. The kids are home from school  and overdosing on sugar cookies. Spouses brace themselves for visiting in-laws. But don't start hitting the eggnog just yet. Get your holiday to-do list under control by logging on to www.dirona.com, the Web site of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA).


At dirona.com, you can relieve some stress by locating restaurants for your holiday feasts online. With the click of a mouse, you'll find more than 800 fine-dining restaurants throughout the US, Mexico and Canada -- all have passed a rigorous 75-point anonymous inspection to earn the DiRōNA Award of Excellence. Search by city, state, type of cuisine or name to find a DiRōNA restaurant in your area offering special holiday meals and events. Online reservations can be made at many of the restaurants, by clicking on the links to their individual Web sites. Some, like Galileo in Washington, D.C., even have festive "to-go" menus. The restaurant offers four-course Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve take-out dinners starting at $75 and $95 per person, respectively.


If it's a unique gift you need, DiRōNA's annual Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America can be purchased on the Web site for $24.95. Packed with thorough restaurant descriptions, including menus and wine lists, contact information and color photography, the 2005 edition makes a great business or personal gift. Last-minute shoppers can also purchase fine-dining gift certificates to DiRōNA restaurants by contacting the restaurants directly. And for the wine connoisseur in your life, many DiRōNA restaurants, including Rialto in Cambridge, MA, and the Ringside Steakhouse Glendoveer in Portland, OR, offer educational wine classes.


Those planning their own festive menus can impress guests with entrees from some of North America's top chefs. Simply click on "Signature Dishes" on dirona.com for tasty holiday meal ideas such as the appetizer below from the Sardine Factory in Monterey, CA.


When it comes to holiday hassles, dirona.com is here to help. You're on your own with the in-laws, though.



ESCARGOT EN TOSCANA
Sardine Factory, Monterey, CA
(Serves one to two)

Garlic Butter
1 lb. butter
2 = tablespoons Pernod liquer
2 =tablespoons shallots, chopped fine
2 = tablespoons chopped garlic
2 =tablespoons fresh lemon juice
< cup parsley, chopped fine

Preparation
1. Soften butter first. Put it into a mixer and whip well so that it is at the consistency of whipped butter.
2. Blend all ingredients together at one time.
3. Refrigerate or freeze.

Escargot
6 escargot for each serving plate (as it is served at The Sardine Factory).
Toscana Bread cut into six pieces on an angle.
6 teaspoons of the garlic butter
4 ounces of heavy cream
2 tablespoons of Garlic Butter

Preparation
1. Assemble escargot by stuffing the snails into the bread pocket and topping with garlic butter. These can be made ahead and refrigerated.
2. Heat heavy cream and add garlic butter to the sauce.
3. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees and bake the escargot until they are hot.
4. Arrange six baked escargot on each plate and top with garlic sauce.
5. Add chopped parsley (optional) and serve.