The Gentleman’s Christmas of On est Dans le Jus

For the holidays, we wanted to hear from some of Gentologie’s friends and collaborators. We asked them how they celebrated their Christmas. We called this “The Gentleman’s Christmas of…” because Christmas is all about being a gentleman (if you’re wondering how, we have some tips here).We continue this series with The Gentleman Christmas from On est Dans le Jus, the popular behind-the-scenes restaurant podcast by chef Éméric Hommey and restaurant entrepreneur Pascal Hourriez. In fact, they’re one of the official media for the next edition of Montreal En Lumière. Congratulations, gentlemen.

The Gentleman’s Christmas of On est Dans le Jus

What does Christmas mean to you?

Éméric: Christmas is all about the joy of being together with loved ones, sharing family traditions and creating new ones.

Pascal: For a long time, Christmas was a time for family friends to get together, then it became a period, a time of solitude. Then it became once again a time for reuniting friends who can’t be with their families for various reasons.

How is Christmas spent in your family?

Éméric: In our house, we open the presents on the evening of the 24th. Our eldest son keeps the youngest occupied while we put the presents under the tree. Then the phone rings: it’s Santa Claus! The cavalcade that follows always amazes me.

Pascal: For some years now, we’ve been celebrating Christmas with my in-laws later than usual because we have nurses in the family and they’re often on call. That evening, we read a note to one of the people present (allocated by a draw, which takes place two months beforehand) and we gave them a little present.

What does your family eat at Christmas?

Éméric: Like every time I ask the children what they’d like to eat, it’s the same answer: mashed potatoes Joël Robuchon style.

Pascal: Normally we eat oysters, fish and a good dessert.

What does your family drink at Christmas?

Éméric: Sparkling wines: more specifically, Montlouis La Taille aux Loups Triple Zéro.

Pascal: In our glasses, we find a few good light red wines and a selection of light white wines. What’s more, we sleep on the premises.

What would you like to receive for Christmas?

Éméric: I especially like to see the excitement in the eyes of the person who gives me something.

Pascal: I love a good word and a good bottle of wine.

What do you like to give at Christmas?

Éméric: The promise of emotion

Pascal: I would like to be of service, to bring people together who would be alone if we didn’t have a place for them at our table.

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What are your Christmas wishes for Gentologie readers?

Éméric: To all of you, I wish you the pleasure of a good conversation, the happiness of rediscovering a lost friendship, the enjoyment of a good family meal, a sleepless night devouring a book and the discovery of a new passion. Merry Christmas!

Pascal: I’d like readers to take a step back from their year, take a deep breath, look at what they’ve achieved and what they could have achieved, and ask themselves what they could do to improve. And often, all it takes is a small gesture: waving goodbye to someone who has given you priority, smiling at someone, helping someone open a door, sending a postcard to a friend instead of a text message or email.

We hope you’ve enjoyed On est Dans le Jus’s Gentleman’s Christmas. To find out more about On est Dans le Jus, click here.