Hosting a Warm and Meaningful Christmas at Home
Photo credit: Author
My family lives in Korea.
Yet somehow, Christmas has passed year after year without all of us being together. Life gets busy, schedules don’t align, and before you know it, time slips by.
Photo credit: Author
This year was different.
For the first time in over ten years, our family gathered together for Christmas.
And this time, I decided to host.
Photo credit: Author
Preparing for Christmas, One Table at a Time
I brought back a set of beautiful Christmas dishes from the United States some time ago.
They had been sitting quietly in the cabinet, saved for a “special occasion.”
This felt like the right moment.
I took them all out and used them generously, without holding back.
There’s something about setting a Christmas table that instantly changes the mood it makes the day feel intentional, warm, and meaningful.
Photo credit: Author
A Simple Lunch Before a Festive Evening
We met earlier in the day for a simple lunch.
Nothing fancy just kimchi stew and rice.
Somehow, that kind of meal feels perfect for a family gathering.
After lunch, we stopped by Starbucks for coffee, chatted for a while, and took a leisurely walk through the streets.
The city was already dressed for Christmas, and there was a quiet excitement in the air.
Photo credit: Author
Photo credit: Author
A Homemade Christmas Dinner
In the evening, it was time for the Christmas feast.
On the table:
- Beef tenderloin steak
- Lamb shoulder rack
- Whole wheat campagne bread
- Fresh salad
- Butter mashed potatoes with bacon
- And a rich chocolate cake
As each dish came together, I felt grateful.
It didn’t need to be perfect.
What mattered was that we were all sitting at the same table, sharing the same meal.
Photo credit: Author
Photo credit: Author
The Beauty of Gathering as a Family
Hosting isn’t always easy.
There’s shopping, cooking, timing everything just right, and of course, cleaning up afterward.
At moments, it can feel tiring and overwhelming.
But as the night went on, I found myself thinking,
“I’m really glad I did this.”
Memories from years ago came back when the children were still babies, when life felt very different.
Time has passed, but family somehow stays the same.
Photo credit: Author
Remembering the True Meaning of Christmas
This day wasn’t just about food or celebration.
It was also a moment to pause and reflect.
Christmas reminded me of Jesus, who came to this world for us.
In the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to forget the deeper meaning of this season.
That evening, gratitude came naturally.
It wasn’t a flashy or extravagant Christmas.
But it was filled with warmth, love, and thankfulness.
Photo credit: Author
Looking Back
Hosting a Christmas gathering takes effort.
But the memories created are worth every bit of it.
A family reunited after ten years,
a table filled with food and conversation,
and a heart full of gratitude.
This Christmas will stay with me for a long time.
Photo credit: Author
Beef Tenderloin Steak (Ordered from Coupang)
Because I was short on time, I ordered the beef tenderloin from Coupang.
The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, and I chose one on the higher end of the price range, expecting good quality.
Each piece arrived vacuum sealed, neatly shaped, and portioned at 150 grams per steak, which looked promising at first.
Unfortunately, the taste was very disappointing.
We eat tenderloin steak quite often at home and have tried many varieties Korean beef, U.S. beef, Australian beef, across different grades.
Among them, the U.S. Prime beef from Costco has been consistently the best (shown in the photo above).
As for value for money, I’m still not completely sure.
Since I haven’t been back in Korea for very long, it’s hard to tell what’s considered reasonably priced here.
Lamb Shoulder Rack (Ordered from Coupang)
The lamb shoulder rack was also ordered from Coupang.
I chose an A++ grade, based on strong reviews, and ordered about 900 grams.
This one was very satisfying.
While proper seasoning certainly helped, the quality of the meat itself was excellent tender, flavorful, and well worth the purchase.
Seasoning
Both the tenderloin and the lamb were seasoned the day before and left to rest in the refrigerator.
The order was:
olive oil → salt → butter garlic herb seasoning → black pepper
Simple, but effective.
Cooking Method
About three hours before cooking, I took the meat out of the refrigerator to bring it to room temperature.
Both the tenderloin and the lamb were cooked in a well heated cast iron pan, seared for 1 minute and 30 seconds on each side over high heat.
After searing, the meat was rested for 20 minutes.
This method locked in the juices beautifully, resulting in meat that was moist, tender, and perfectly cooked.
Campagne Bread
The campagne bread was also purchased from Coupang.
If you look carefully, Coupang actually carries quite a good selection of quality bread.