It's the Great Pumpkin!
Unable to find The Great Pumpkin? You won't care, so long as you find these great pumpkin entrees at Xevichez! Their hearty Pumpkin Cream Soup comes with choice of delicious chicken or shrimp. Vegetarian? Their Vegetable Soup is mixed with tangy chipotle and served in a beautiful carved out pumpkin. Their Fallen Leaves dessert is to die for, too, with flaky layers of sweet pumpkin and cranberry sweet cream, decorated with raspberries and blueberries. Hold onto your Jack o' Lantern, because they're serving Pumpkin Empanadas with a sweet dipping sauce and a savory Pumpkin cheesecake. Wash it all down with their refreshing new Sangria complete with fresh apples and berries. 288-1477

Some more Sabor Flavor to Savor
Whenever Sabor Cocina Mexicana adds a new selection to their already exquisite menu, it's like discovering an unknown Picasso painting. Yet it should come as no surprise, as Chef Lety comes from a long line of celebrated restaurateurs. Organic, daily-made sauces flow through her veins! 'Tis the season to try the Taquitos de Pavo (turkey picadillo, blue corn crispy tortilla, sweet potato puree, queso fresco, crema, tomatoes) or the savory Enchiladas de Pato Confit (duck confit simmered in mole negro de Oaxaca, homemade flour tortillas, garnished with lettuce, red onions and sesame seeds). Finish it off with a glass of the Moda Vieja de Manzana, Sabor's own version of an Old Fashioned with apple flavored whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters and muddled apples.
259-9002

Improve Upon Perfection the Marston's Way
Always a stickler for sustainable, seasonal ingredients, Marston's Restaurant in the Bridgeport Marketplace has added farm-fresh entrees to their already tantalizing menu. Try the new Linguine with Andouille Sausage with wild mushroom, tomato, garlic and ricotta salata or the Fusilli tossed with mushrooms, squash, onions and tomato. Other delicious new additions include the Asparagus Pesto topped with ricotta salata,Pistachio-crusted Salmon with roasted baby vegetables and spinach with mustard vinaigrette and the Hangar Steak with garlic butter reduction, mini roasted potatoes and spinach. 253-9910

Get the Health without Needing the Wealth
You don't have to be rich to afford a diet switch. Eat Real Cafe makes it easy! Try the turkey bowl - homemade turkey chili with organic quinoa, red onions, tomatoes and cheddar - and you'll be so overwhelmed by the deliciousness that you'll forget that you're eating healthy. Or try something completely different and enjoy the Acai Bowl - a delicious blend of acai, banana and almond milk topped with coconut flakes, granola, berries and bananas. And of course, you won't find a better salad, freshly-squeezed juice or homemade scone anywhere! Health never tasted this delicious! 254-2237

Wish For Delicious Fish
Offering five scrumptious Maui-inspired Poke bowls that a Hawaiian would love for over seven years, Fish Tail Grill is your casual-quick answer to delicious, fresh food that nourishes mind/body/soul. The spot has a wide selection of grilled, fried and raw fish, as well as barbecue beef and teriyaki chicken rice bowls. Need a fast fit fix? Try the Chilean Sea Bass Salad or Grilled Salmon selection. No matter what you choose, it will be fresh; Fish Tail gets fish deliveries six days a week. It's fish so fresh it ought to be slapped! Their Ahi and Salmon Poke are 100-percent fresh and top grade; it's never previously frozen. Visit on Mondays for $6 Fish Tacos and their Kids Eat Free event on Tuesdays. It will become quickly obvious why they won "Best Seafood of the Year" in the SCV the last three years in a row. 295-FISH

Thinking of Where to Go Drinking?
They say salt makes you thirsty. They were right. Salt Creek Grille has added some delicious libations to their Grandpa's Medicine Cabinet List that have us smacking our lips. Try the Blood n' Sand - made with Premium Scotch Whiskey, Antica Vermouth, Cherry Heering and Orange Bitters - based on the 1930s recipe and named after a movie starring the legendary silent film actor Rudolph Valentino. The movie may have been silent, but your delightful reaction won't be! Or try The Last Word - a perfect balance of sweet and pungent sour, consisting of premium gin, Luxardo Liquor, Green Chartreuse and fresh lime juice. Throw in an Artisanal Cheese & Charcurterie Board to start along with a Bone-in Ribeye for dinner and you'll be dining like Valentino himself. 222-9999

Make your Holiday Party Beery Festive
A party at Wolf Creek's Brewery is a treat for both you and your (potentially many) guests. Not only can it accommodate up to 200 friends, family and co-workers, but you also have access to the delicious Wolf Creek catering menu (Reason enough right there to book now!). This is the perfect environment for hosts that want a happening scene with many delicious beers on tap. Speaking of, we recommend the MidnightHowl, a delicious award-winning American Black Ale that's full in flavor with a bitter dark chocolate and roasted coffee aftertaste. E-mail for info on event bookings. laina@wolfcreekbrewery.com

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Celebrate with a Party of Eight
Looking to host a holiday party for your employees, friends or family but also desperately trying to avoid the fuss of putting it all together? Mark your calendar for December 8! Experience all the joys of the season behind the gates of the Valencia Country Club at their Holiday Extravaganza. Their festively-decorated, gorgeously-appointed clubhouse will be serving a prime rib buffet with delicious holiday favorites as well as an epic dessert bar. Enjoy the music of strolling carolers along with their resident DJ and bask in the perfect holiday atmosphere with your family, friends or employees. Seating is limited; each ticket is $45 and each table seats eight! E-mail for reservations or for more information.
tgrummer@valenciagolfclub.com

Sushi, Pizza, Burritos Oh My!
One glance at the menu at Temakitto and we were sold. Sushi burritos? That's our version of heaven, but the "yum" doesn't stop there. The Ahi Sushi Pizza is also a definite crowd-pleaser at Temakitto. Also highly recommended: their delicious Crunchy Tiger Burrito with spicy tuna, crab mayo, shrimp tempura, red cabbage, leaf lettuce, guacamole, pickled cucumber, pickled radish, carrot, Shiraha Crunch and sweet-spicy aioli. Their Mongolian Cabellero burrito is insanely good, too, stuffed with Mongolian beef, leaf lettuce, red cabbage, Shishito salsa, pickled radish and carrot, red onion, pickled jalapeno, onion chips, cilantro and teri sauce. 678-0820

Warm Your Day With Oodles of Noodles
As the weather begins to cool down, here's a delicious way to warm up! Try the Jajangmyeon Noodles with black bean sauce at Paik's Noodle House. Feeling like something truly out of the ordinary? Try the Jjamppong - Korean noodles with vegetables, pork and squid in a spicy broth, or the Tangsuyuk - fried pork with sweet and sour sauce with carrot, onion, cucumber, cabbage and mushrooms. But the most popular by far: Bokkeummyeon - stir-fried noodles with seafood, pork and vegetables. If you're like us, you don't anticipate pronouncing the delicious menu items right; you just know that as you savor every brothy bite, you can't go wrong with 'em. 678-0870

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Let the Chefs do the Cooking
The idea of cooking for family and friends for the holidays is a sentimental one - until you consider the alternative, that is. When you and your loved ones enjoy a delicious meal at Vines Restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Valencia, you get all the flavor and memories without all the dishes. Celebrate Thanksgiving (Buffet), Christmas Eve (Holiday & Full Menus), and Christmas (Buffet) like a VIP with an exquisite assortment of culinary delights. 678-4044

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Let it Snow, let it Snow, let it Snow!
Imagine the joy on your child's face when they wake up on Christmas Day to a blanket of snow on your yard! Let the Newhall Ice Company turn your dreams into a picturesque reality with the possibilities of sledding, snow ball fights, ice houses, snow angels and so many frosty memories just waiting to be yours. Newhall Ice Company's freshly-made snow is an incredibly-festive addition to business offices, storefronts and events; neighborhood gatherings; holiday parties; school fundraisers and more. 259-0893

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Nuts Over "Nutcracker"
Proud to present its annual production of the "Nutcracker," the Santa Clarita Ballet invites anyone who enjoys holiday magic, professional-caliber ballet sprinkled with whimsy and humor and the tradition of a well-loved tale to its 22nd staging of the holiday classic on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18 at College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center.

This holiday's production features everything your inner-child remembers best about holiday delights, and then some; toy dolls emerge from boxes, gum drops spin across the stage; a troupe of Russian dancers leaps through hoops and princesses pirouette to the intoxicating music of Tchaikovsky that is synonymous with Christmastime.

In addition to showcasing the artistic accomplishments of Santa Clarita youth throughout our community, Santa Clarita Ballet's Nutcracker also features the work of professional dancers Hannah Wilcox, Raydel Caceres, and Michael Hamilton, artists well-known in the dance community for their superior talent.
The Santa Clarita Ballet's charming production promises to inspire holiday spirit long after visions of sugar plums have vanished from the stage, so secure your seats early; these shows sell-out quickly. Call the Santa Clarita Ballet Company directly for purchases. Saturday performances of the Nutcracker are at 2pm and 7:30pm. Sunday performances are at 2pm and 7pm. 251-0366

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The Music of Silent Night
Embrace the spirit of Christmas! This year, The Master's University presents their 33rd Come Christmas Sing concert series, "Silent Night." It will be an evening of musical celebration featuring traditional holiday favorites for all ages, Christmas still-life scenes, and Poulenc's "Gloria" with all music performed and directed by students and faculty of the Department of Music. The concert will be held December 1 to December 3 at 7:30pm nightly and 2pm Saturday in the MacArthur Center and tickets ($12 to $36) can be purchased online at www.masters.edu/music or by calling. 362-2262

Gift Baskets Reimagined
Take gift-giving to a whole new level with Limoneira. When your friends, family or business colleagues open this bountiful basket, they will thank you heartily for thinking of them. They have gathered the best from Limoneira Orchards rich, fresh tastes for great holiday entertaining. Treat them to large Hass avocados with their creamy, slightly-nutty taste; they are a perfect complement for appetizers and guacamole. Blood oranges, with their deep-red color and distinct sweetness, provide great makings for dramatic juices and cocktails. Vibrant yellow lemons and their Sweet Meyer lemons provide holiday bakers with great incentive. Navel oranges and pistachios offer tempting snacking by the fire. Limoneira has been producing delicious citrus and avocados for over 124 years; Limoneira people know how to grow and pack to bring the best to you and your crew! www.limoneira.com

Nothing "Bundt" Holiday Deliciousness
Here's our personalized, favorite version of a holiday favorite: "T'was the Night Before Christmas, No Time For Mistakes! Instead of Tired Old Toys, Santa Delivered Nothing Bundt Cakes!" If you're looking for the sweetest stocking stuffers, we suggest the personal-sized bundtlets, which are as delicious as they are adorable. Need to feed more than a few? Choose one of their bundts and you'll have visions of cream cheese frosting dancing in your head for days! 291-2424

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Say "I Do" to the most Extraordinary Bridal Event
Bridalfaire Extraordinaire is returning to the Hyatt Regency Valencia on Sunday, January 15, 2017. Since 1980, Bridalfaire has been SCV's greatest, most talked about bridal event - and here are just a few of the reasons why. Visit with bands and DJs, sample cakes, chat with photographers and photo booth vendors, travel agents and wedding planners and accomplish everything you could ever wish when it comes to wedding planning. The finest wedding professionals in town will be there including Jill's Cakes, David's Bridal, Charmaine's Bouquet Canyon Florist, Barry Lamster Entertainment, R & R Photo, Hector Vicente Photography, Acton Creative Flowers, Genesis and many more. Tickets for free admission may be obtained by visiting the vendors' shops or tickets may be purchased online.
www.bridalfaireextraordinaire.com

Putting the "Thanks" in Thanksgiving with Affordable, Delicious Catering
If you're like us, you're grateful for every divine, perfectly-prepared bite of your Chronic Taco meal - but the truth is, Chronic Taco is just as thankful for you! Santa Clarita's Chronic restaurants have felt your love since opening last year; in fact, they want to prove it with amazing catering options and prices that will make your holiday party planning a breeze. From the World's Greatest Nacho Bar to DIY Taco Bars, Burritos and so much more, they have what you need to make your event memorable and affordable. 360-1800

Beautiful Remodeled Banquet Room just in Time for your Holiday Party
If your cooking causes hesitation, simply make a reservation! Let the catering professionals at Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. handle your event at a price point that won't leave you sleeping in a manger. Try the delicious Tri-Tip Skewers with Cranberry Dijon Dipping Sauce, one of their gourmet pizzas and their famous Oven Roasted Prime Rib. Banquet menus for lunch start at $13.95 and dinner starts at $18.95. All menus include a non-alcoholic beverage. Bonus: Their banquet room has been completely remodeled and is awaiting the presence of you and your loved ones this holiday season. 263-9653