Chef Charlie Palmer shares some of his favorite steakhouse dishes that are easy to recreate at home, from roasted vegetables to a simple whole baked fish with lemons. He also encourages people to indulge in a few luxuries, like topping a baked potato with caviar or popping a bottle of champagne, in order to celebrate their milestones as we reach the end of the year.

Wake Up With Cheddar

Chef Charlie Palmer Modernizes the Steakhouse and the 'Business Lunch'

holiday season in full swing and that means it's time now to throw your best holiday party. So if you're looking for the best and simplest dishes to prepare for your celebrations, well look no further, that's because charlie palmer, the chef and ceo of charlie palmer collective stopped by to share his favorite dishes and also discuss the importance of the business lunch this holiday season. Take a listen we brought today were some of the side dishes we serve at the steakhouse and I think you know that's something that you know people don't think as much about is obviously a steakhouse like we have charlie palmer steak but the side dishes are so important, very important and we have, they can make or break a dinner, they can make it break it and you know the sprouted cauliflower and cauliflower mix that we have here are very colorful. Also very healthy because people people think of a steakhouse like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, that's all that stuff, that's all there. But we got to stay healthy too brussels sprouts which are you know this time of year are we are always celebrating with brussels sprouts and then we do a potato gratin here which is very rich and very lots of cream and cooked down and very luscious and then celebrating with a baked potato, very simple baked potato with creme fresh and lots of caviar a lot and that's the key part, lots of caviar to all of that. But then also you know I think when people think of a steakhouse like we're a modern american steakhouse, you know charlie, Palmer steak and what it is, it's not just red meat, you know, so we feature a lot of really fresh great fish dishes, very healthy things and you know, especially like at lunch and we're gonna talk about business lunch I think is you know people are not into, not everyone wants a big steak and you know that kind of thing because they're probably going out to dinner, they're gonna have a business dinner or social and you want to be so full while you're like at lunch that and having to go on with the rest of your day. We're gonna talk about the power lunch here in just a little bit, but with these things you brought here are some of these easy for people to be able to make at home. Obviously side dishes are huge component for dinner, very simple and easy to prep ahead of time, blanche of brussels sprouts, just insulted water, shock them and then just finish them, you know when, when the guests arrive or that kind of thing, cauliflower, same thing, steam just tossed with a little bit of olive oil, some nice seasoning, fresh herbs, you know, and then something I think people underestimate too is like simple roasted whole fish. So this is just clean from your fishmonger, this is a sea bass and once it's cleaned on a bed of herbs, lemon olive oil salt and pepper and just bake it in the oven, right, Get the aroma from the lemon and all that stuff inside of them. And it's very simple to do. I mean people are like oh I can't roast the fish but yes you can you know it's very simple. We also saw going into the New Year champagne sales record high. People obviously celebrating all their successes and all the things that they've had throughout the year. What are you noticing? Especially your restaurant, people are wanting to celebrate? Well I think you know it's people you know after the last couple of years there's a real exuberance you know people want to celebrate, they want to be you know indulging a lot of ways. So that's why I think the champagne sales you're just seeing explode. Um and you know and I hope it continues like that because we need to celebrate. Yes I agree, I agree. And let's go back to the business lunch. You were talking about that a moment ago. How does the business lunch tie into your restaurant charlie palmer steak which is here in new york city? Well I think you know we're seeing a return to the office, you know which is which is what really drives, I think the business lunch place like midtown where we are um in all major cities you know and you know I think business lunch when people think about when people go out to lunch. I think there's more business and we see this in our in our steakhouse in D. C. Also there's more business that takes place at the dinner table or the lunch table than maybe in the office or in that case on Capitol Hill. I mean there's more deals made right? There's more laws passed right there over food, over food. That is the thing that always continues to bring us together. I know all of this would look incredible on anybody's table for the holidays.