Holiday Ornament Exchange with Angel’s Envy at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
A holiday ornament exchange with Angel’s Envy and the Eating With Erica Supper Club at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
The holiday season has a way of bringing people to the table. There is something about this time of year, the warmth, the gatherings, and the shared moments, that feels especially meaningful. For the Eating With Erica Supper Club, it is also a chance to support incredible restaurants and create a space that feels both beautiful and welcoming.
This year, we hosted our holiday ornament exchange in collaboration with Angel’s Envy at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours. It was an evening built around bourbon pairings, seasonal dishes, and conversation that unfolded naturally. In particular, the Supper Club holds a special place for women who are new to Atlanta and seeking community. Whether they have recently relocated or are simply craving more intentional connection, our gatherings are designed to help the city feel like home, one thoughtfully curated table at a time.
An Evening With Chef Deborah VanTrece
We gathered at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, hosted by Deborah VanTrece, a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and author. Many also know her from her cooking series, Global Soul Kitchen, where she explores the intersection of global flavors and Southern roots. Beyond television and accolades, however, what stands out most in her dining room is her hospitality. It feels grounded, steady, and sincere. It was a welcome return after our earlier Supper Club dinner at Twisted Soul.
Her daughter, Kursten Berry, designed each cocktail to complement the courses without overpowering them. Seasonal notes of citrus, spice, and warmth paired naturally with the bourbon’s character. As a result, the room did not feel like an event. It felt like a gathering: intimate, layered, and intentional. Conversations deepened between courses, glasses were refilled without rush, and women who may have arrived as acquaintances left feeling more connected.
Angel’s Envy: Bourbon Crafted With Intention
Founded in Louisville, Kentucky, Angel’s Envy is known for its secondary barrel finishing process. After aging in traditional charred oak barrels, the bourbon is finished in port wine or Caribbean rum casks, creating softness and depth while maintaining structure. The result is layered and balanced, refined without losing character.
Bourbon is often marketed in ways that suggest it belongs in certain rooms. On the other hand, women drink bourbon thoughtfully, confidently, and with curiosity. Around this table, it felt completely natural. It was not a statement or a novelty. It was simply part of the experience.
The Menu: Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
The evening unfolded in courses, each highlighting a different expression of Angel’s Envy. A welcome cocktail opened the night with brightness and warmth, easing everyone into the rhythm of the evening. The first course paired Angel’s Envy Triple Oak with a buttermilk chicken croquette, whipped potato, hot-honey cured egg yolk, and caviar. The croquette carried richness balanced by texture, while the bourbon echoed subtle toasted notes.
The second course highlighted Angel’s Envy Rye Caribbean Cask alongside a winter salad of citrus and bitter greens, hearts of palm, beets, toasted benne seed, and sorghum vinaigrette. The rye’s spice cut beautifully through the freshness of the salad. Next, the third course featured Angel’s Envy Port Finished with smoked catfish mortadella, black beluga lentils, tomato sugo, watercress, and root vegetable purée. This pairing felt especially layered, with savory depth meeting subtle sweetness.
Dessert closed the evening with dark chocolate budino bread pudding and espresso budino sauce. Warm and comforting, it encouraged guests to linger rather than rush toward the door. Equally important, each course had space. The pacing allowed the food, and the conversations, to settle.
A Holiday Tablescape
Tablescapes are always a signature element of the Eating With Erica Supper Club experience. For the holidays, the table leaned into holly, timeless and understated, paired with plaid as a subtle nod to Southern heritage. Embroidered details added refinement without feeling excessive. The goal was never spectacle. It was atmosphere.
The Place Settings
Bow napkin rings from Mark & Graham completed each setting, offering a festive accent that felt polished but not overstated. Beneath them, embroidered placemats in a bold red made every place feel festive and elegant. If you are planning a holiday table of your own, start with how to host a stunning holiday dinner.
The Ornament Exchange
The ornament exchange added a layer of nostalgia to the evening. Each guest brought something personal, a small reflection of tradition, humor, or memory. As ornaments were exchanged, stories followed: childhood traditions, first holidays in Atlanta, and favorite family recipes. There is something grounding about sharing those pieces of ourselves around a table.
It was a reminder that connection often happens in the quietest moments. By the end of the night, no one seemed in a rush to leave. Conversations stretched beyond introductions, coats were gathered slowly, and hugs lingered.
All things considered, the evening showed that community does not require excess to feel meaningful. With thoughtful food, well-crafted bourbon, and women willing to gather with intention, connection happens naturally. If you would like to see more of our gatherings, revisit our Galentine’s dinner at Hal’s The Steakhouse, our evening at Little Sparrow and our family-style evening at Kyma. Interested in conversation, community and connection? Learn more about the Eating With Erica Supper Club.
KEEP HOSTING
Planning a holiday gathering of your own? Start with these hosting guides.
How to Host a Holiday Ornament Exchange
Everything you need to plan an ornament exchange with friends.
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How to Host a Holiday Dinner Party with Friends
A guide to gathering your friends around the table this holiday season.
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Easy Holiday Tablescape + Menu Ideas
Ideas for setting a holiday table and planning the menu to match.
Read Now →Make Your Reservation at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
If you have not visited Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours recently, it is well worth a reservation. Chef Deborah VanTrece’s dining room brings together global flavors and Southern roots, and the cocktails are designed with the same care as the food.
Gather a few friends, order for the table, and stay awhile. Thank you to Chef Deborah VanTrece, Kursten Berry, and the entire Twisted Soul team for hosting the Eating With Erica Supper Club so warmly, and to Angel’s Envy for pouring alongside us.
Eating With Erica is a digital media platform focused on culinary hospitality, celebrating the restaurants, tables and gatherings that bring people together. Founded in Atlanta in 2013, it is home to the invitation-only Eating With Erica Supper Club and How to Host.
Erica A. Thomas, Founder & Editor-in-Chief
