This holiday season we are catching up with some of our favourite local personalities to find out how they are celebrating the holidays and what might be on their holiday wish lists. First up, cookbook author and food writer, Jennifer Schell. Schell’s cookbook, The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine and Cheese Maker celebrates all great food artisans and products from the Okanagan. It’s sold out, but stay tuned for the next version, with recipes and stories from “By the Sea”; Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. That’ll be a must for holiday gifts come 2014.

1)     What is on your wish list for the holidays in terms of food and wine (your area of expertise)? A Weber Bullet!

2)   What about something not even related to that area that you are craving? Endless spa gift certificates

3)  What is the best gift you EVER got? A commissioned painting.

4)  What is the best gift you EVER gave? Big screen TV to my sports loving husband.

5)  What is a great hostess gift that we might receive if we invited you into our home? A bottle of Okanagan wine and Okanagan cheese and probably a cookbook!

6)   What charity do you wish for more funding for in 2013? Soup sisters/broth brothers & Project Chef!

7)  Best gift as a kid? Hands down – my red Easy bake oven.

8) How will you celebrate the holidays this year? Christmas Eve is our big night in keeping with our European traditions! Turkey dinner with my family on the farm is followed by present opening in the evening. I love the romance of opening gifts at nighttime when the tree is twinkling.