THE QUINTESSENTIALS: ISSUE 8

A NEW TWIST ON YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITION

Thanksgiving at your house…again? Hosting does bring the joy of being surrounded by loved ones. But there’s an obvious downside – the colossal effort of shopping, prepping, cooking and cleaning up after a lavish meal. But it’s ok. We’re here to help! Let’s carve into the reasons you should invite the fam to Lansdowne Resort for this year’s festivities.

Not a Finger to Lift

Throw away that endless grocery list. Skip dusting the guest bedroom. Hang up that apron. And leave the oversized turkey platter in storage. The Lansdowne Resort culinary and serving teams will have everything fully prepared in a festively decorated dining area for you and your family to simply pull up a seat and enjoy an unforgettable meal.

No FOMO

You don’t have to worry about slaving away in the kitchen while your little niece Suzie adorably recites her A-B-Cs for the first time. You’ll be right there with the rest of the family when every precious memory is made.

A Culinary Journey
In years past, have you avoided certain recipes because they just seemed too complicated or time-consuming? The Lansdowne Resort culinary team are creative maestros in the kitchen. You’ll be treated to traditional comfort foods, innovative takes on classics and irresistible desserts in a bountiful Thanksgiving Buffet spread.

VIP Treatment

Just as impressive as our culinary team, our wait staff is top-notch. Personal and attentive service lavished on every guest is a hallmark of the Lansdowne Resort experience.

So, are you finally ready to put a new twist on your holiday? Great! Just be sure to make your dining reservations soon – our Thanksgiving Buffet sells out year after year. Want to make the celebration even more grand? Stay the night to enjoy a relaxing escape and kick off to the most wonderful time of the year, all wrapped up in one!

THE GREATEST GOLF GIFTS

It’s never too early to hit our Pro Shop to score the holiday presents that will outshine all others for the players in your life. Our golf team has spoken – and these are the personalizable must-haves leading into 2025:

Custom Vokey Wedge

There are so many ways to make the Vokey Wedge all their own. When taking the order, we can help you select from a range of finishes for the head, add a personalized engraved stamp in your choice of paint colors as well as customized toe messages or designs, opt for specific flight lines, pick from a range of ferrule colors and choose a unique look for the shaft and shaft etchings. This is one wedge that will turn heads!

Ame & Lulu Accessories

Help the golf-loving woman in your life showcase her signature style with fresh and fashionable accessories from the coveted Ame & Lulu line. Want to make her feel extra special? Personalize the gift item with her name in the perfect thread color to make a statement – both on and off the course.

For the player that has it all, give the gift of an experience with a golf package or Golf Academy instruction. No wrapping paper or bow required!

THE PRESENT OF PRESENCE

Turn oooh-ahhh into oooh-spahhh for your favorite self-care connoisseurs this holiday season. The professionals at Spa Minérale have compiled a wish list that includes the “facial of the future” as well as perfectly pampering products available right from their shelves.

The Gift of Glow

No one wants to begin the new year with dull skin. Enter the Geneo GLO₂Facial. This innovative “facial of the future” is a three-in-one treatment offering four different options tailored to the client’s skin type. Designed to unveil bright and naturally beautiful skin, this facial combines exfoliation, oxygenation and nourishment. Even better, it can be done over a lunch break without leaving the skin red and puffy.

An Oh-So Sumptuous Serum

Don’t let loved ones inject! Help them infuse. The DermInfusions^TM Fill + Repair Serum from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare is a fast-acting product that works three-dimensionally in skin to fill fine lines, firm and plump. The MicroCelle Delivery system reduces the size of water molecules, carrying an infusion of hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide and ectoin deeper into skin for optimal absorption and performance. This needle-free alternative to injectables works overtime to hydrate skin and restore the moisture barrier while adding volume, controlling redness and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles – both instantly and over time.

Ultra-Luxe Lounging

Made famous by Oprah (it was one of her favorite things in 2021!), the Softies Dream Jersey Crew Neck Lounge Set is one of the brand’s most loved styles. The dreamy, buttery fabric of the irresistibly soft crew neck top and matching joggers feels like cashmere on your skin. Luxe and lightweight, the set is perfect for all-day relaxation or working from home. Stylish cuffs help keep sleeves perfectly in place and a drawstring and cute patch pockets add extra flair to the joggers for head-to-toe comfort and style.

Unsure which of these recommendations would be just right? Let your recipients decide for themselves. You can purchase a Lansdowne gift card that can be used throughout the resort – including Spa Minérale.

COOK LIKE CHRIS: BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO

To celebrate the rich flavors of fall produce, Chef Chris Ferrier is sharing this recipe exclusively with readers of The Quintessentials. Whip up his Butternut Squash Risotto in your kitchen and impress your dinner guests with your culinary mastery.

Preparation: 15 minutes

Cook: 30 minutes

Yield: 6 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash

4 cloves garlic, peeled & minced

2 TBSP olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

12 fresh sage leaves

½ pound butter at room temperature

2 shallots, small diced, just about a cup

14 oz Arborio Rice

1 bottle of Italian White Wine, some for the risotto, some for your own enjoyment

1 quart hot chicken or vegetable stock

1 cup of Italian Parmesan, grated, plus extra for garnish/serving

½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds, for garnish

Fried Sage Leaves

Kosher salt and ground black pepper for seasoning throughout

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.
2. Cut the butternut squash into six to eight wedges, remove the seeds and place in a large bowl. Add two cloves of minced garlic, a generous splash of olive oil, half of the sage leaves, sea salt and pepper. Toss together and rub into the squash wedges.
3. Place on a baking tray and roast in the oven for 40-50 minutes until the squash is softened and becoming golden in color.
4. Once the squash has cooked, cool slightly, then scrape the soft flesh away from the skin into a bowl. Lightly mash with a fork or potato masher until it is fairly chunky in texture. Scrape any sticky juices left in the roasting tray into the bowl and keep warm while making the risotto.
5. Heat the olive oil and some of the butter in a deep, heavy-based frying pan or sauté pan. Gently fry the shallot and the rest of the garlic until softened.
6. Add the rice and stir for about a minute until the grains are coated with the oil and butter. Pour in the wine and stir continuously until it has cooked into the rice. Add a good ladle of hot stock and the remaining sage and season the mixture well with salt and pepper. Turn the heat down to keep the stock simmering gently. Keep adding ladles of stock as it cooks into the rice, stirring and moving the rice around in the pan. After about 15-20 minutes, the rice should be soft but still have a bit of bite left in it. The texture of the risotto should be thick and creamy but not too loose. Add extra stock if necessary. It may seem tedious standing and stirring but the end result will be worth it. (That’s why you have a glass of wine while stirring.)
7. Remove the pan from the heat and gently stir the roasted butternut squash into the risotto with the parmesan, the remaining butter and seasoning to taste. Add any extra stock if the risotto seems particularly thick. Cover with a lid for a couple of minutes, as this will give the risotto an even creamier texture.
8. Add the garnish of pumpkin seeds and some more parmesan. 
9. Enjoy!!

UNWRAP A MOMENTOUS HOLIDAY

No one does Christmas like Lansdowne. As the premier lifestyle resort in the DMV, we decadently deck the halls and host the most festive seasonal festivities around. Be sure to regularly visit our Holiday page for details on how we’ll be making spirits bright from Thanksgiving right through New Year’s Day.