Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you had a lovely holiday and are enjoying some downtime before real life starts again. Tania and I had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with both our families, and now we’ve got some fun holidates planned for the rest of the year: going to the RBG’s Winter Wonders tonight, the St. Regis Spa tomorrow, and ringing in the new year with a cozy movie night. Here are a few favourite moments from the last few days…
Who else loves a good holidate? No, I’m not talking about the 2020 Emma Roberts movie (though anything with Emma Roberts is a cinematic masterpiece, in my opinion.) I’m talking about a holiday-themed date; something cute and cozy that gives you all the fuzzy feels – whether it’s visiting a tree farm, browsing a Christmas market or just enjoying cups of hot cocoa at a local café. And don’t think “date” is only reserved for a significant other – you can do holidates with family, friends, coworkers, neighbours, whomever!
Aside from things like flowers and wine, Tania and I rarely exchange material gifts for birthdays and holidays anymore. Instead, we prefer to enjoy an experience together: whether that’s a staycation, spa day, or dinner out at a nice restaurant. One of my favourite holidate restaurants is The Lord Nelson in Burlington. This classic steakhouse has been around since 1974 and is a great choice for a nice dinner any time of year, but during the holidays, it’s extra special. That’s because every year from November through January, The Lord Nelson covers their entire ceiling in a canopy of no less than 10,000 Christmas ornaments.
This year’s ornament ceiling was officially unveiled on November 16, and it’s staying up until January 25. I’m that girl who always gets a little sad seeing the Christmas decorations come down, so I love any excuse to extend the festive season. Who couldn’t use a burst of colour and sparkle in the middle of bleak, snowy January?
Tania and I celebrated New Year’s at The Lord Nelson last year, and we were absolutely blown away by the ambiance, food and service. Now, the restaurant may not look like much upon first glance: it’s located in a strip mall and is relatively unassuming from the outside. But as soon as you walk in, it feels like you’ve entered a dazzling holiday wonderland. The ornaments look beautiful in photos, but no picture or blog writeup can capture the magic of seeing them in person.
We kicked off our meal with a bottle of bubbly (an essential for New Year’s – or anytime, really!) and an order of calamari to share.
The complimentary bread basket includes freshly baked garlic bread and a relish tray with pickles, olives and homemade pâté.
The menu gives old-school steakhouse vibes: there’s (naturally) several cuts of steak, along with seafood (lobster, shrimp, oysters, king crab), chicken and pasta dishes. Then there’s all the classic sides and appetizers you’d expect, from lobster bisque to French onion soup to tableside Caesar salad.
For our mains, Tania ordered the chicken supreme and I got the grilled boneless ribeye, which was delicious and cooked to perfection. The ribeye is a 16-ounce serving, so you’ll want to come hungry – or make sure you get a to-go box!
Of course, we had to end our holidate on a sweet note. If a dessert is described as impressive or show-stopping or over-the-top, you’d better believe I’m ordering it! And The Lord Nelson’s “HMS Victory” chocolate cake will impress just about anyone. The menu describes it as a “cake for two”, but I’d wager it could feed three or even four – with leftovers! This decadent dessert consists of no less than eight layers of chocolate cake with chocolate and vanilla frosting, finished tableside with a rum butter caramel sauce.
For another show-stopping dessert, order the cherries jubilee, which is flambéed tableside.
Dinner at The Lord Nelson was a fabulous experience, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and festive holidate! Reservations are required and can be booked via phone (905-639-7950) or through their online contact form. Whatever you do, be sure to visit before January 25 so you can experience the ornament ceiling in its full glory!
Until next time, wishing you all a wonderful rest of your holidays and an amazing start to 2026. I’ll see you next year!
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