TheSnackHound

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

(At left: We need a little Christmas, right this very minute. Um….a little more than that. Well…Steven Seagal volunteers for the police force in New Orleans. Maybe Santa moonlights, too.)

Are you generally sick of everything and everybody? Or, are you generally a happy person, but just overwhelmed by the choices and the baking of the season? If either of that its you, it may sound mighty attractive to load up the kids and the dog or cat and go somewhere else for Christmas, somewhere where nobody knows you. “But how will Santa find us?”

Well, Santa and the Mrs. are hanging out at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel through December 23rd this year. They needed to refuel and recharge a little bit before the big day. Mrs. Claus will be reading stories for all of the kids, and of course, the big guy himself will stop in for a visit.   It goes without saying that you need to book right now.  Then hop in the car.  You don’t want to miss a guaranteed sighting of the man and woman in red to present all of the corroborating evidence that you have been very very good this year.  I haven’t figured out if the most effective way to handle it is to present a large volume of evidence, or is it sheerly based on content.  Someone could write one sentence of something really, really good that they did and clinch it right there.

Over at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, you can experience the “It’s a Wonderful Life” package, where you may receive a spa treatment with your stay. It will surely melt your troubles away. However, I can’t guarantee it will melt the fat from all of the extra cookies away.

There is so much to do and see.  You can stay at the hotels the entire time, nice and cozy warm, or you can venture into the adorable downtown Branson area to peep at some Christmas lights and do a little shopping.  You can even “let yourself go” and not do your hair because everyone you know and anyone that would run into you and point a finger at you are miles away.  Why is this such an obsession?  I would want to end the year up “nice” instead of being tempted to get into an argument about my hair with someone who was just gunning for one.

So, hop in the car and go have a talk with the Big Guy before you run into your neighbor, Myrtle McBusypants.   Well, if you do, then just book the massage before you present your evidence.

For years, there were folks I knew around the Northeast that would take a day or a one night trip to New York City.  They would look at all of the fantastic Christmas window displays, buy some Christmas presents, and then maybe take in a Broadway show or see the Rockettes.   Of course, all sorts of culinary delights awaited you if you had the time.

The Hilton is promoting the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing as the real ultimate place to go this holiday season.  Yes, Branson.   I always remember on The Simpsons that there was a brochure that said: “So You’ve Settled for Branson.”    Actually, in the past decade, it is being promoted as a “family friendly Vegas.”    There are a few different packages to choose from at both this property and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.  All of the packages are in tune with the season and have names like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”   Packages includes features such as visits with Santa, Spa Treatments and more. For example, at the Hilton Promenade, the Santa in Branson Packages includes breakfast for four, picture with Santa, cookies and milk, and gifts for registered children.

The package that I think would be the most memorable would be the Polar Express package.  For $289, a family of four receives deluxe accommodations, first class tickets on the Polar Express, hot chocolate, a souvenir ceramic mug and more.   If you have additional children, or have other folks who would like to ride with you, additional advance tickets are available at $49.00 per adult and $39.00 per child.  Children are considered between the ages of 2 and 12.  Of course there is a Christmas Song that is “to kids from 1 to 92,” but the idea of “kid” is a little less loose here.

So, if you need a little break this holiday season, either before the festivities begin, or want to celebrate by taking a break from the relatives, Branson, with the views of the Ozarks might be a new place for you to try.

“Why yes, Gladys. I told him the drapes do match the carpet…and the wallpaper…and my apron!  It was also all on sale. 

“Oh.  What was that?   You meant to tell me that there are only 16 days left until the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel’s Cooking School Weekend?  Well, my yes, I would love to go…but if I could only convince Ward and the boys.”

Gladys was absolutely right.  The Cooking Weekend in Branson begins October 16th, so you will have to book right away to get yourself a spot.

From the wine tasting to the seven course meal, you’ll learn to prepare everything that is served to you throughout the experience.   I think its a great idea to structure the instruction this way.   It is difficult sometimes to know if what you are making turned out if you never tasted the dish prepared by someone in the know first.  Also, you can get excited about making something you like.

On Saturday, you will learn to smoke meat, as you will have been served smoked rainbow trout and smoked pork loin the night before.  Brimstone Cheese Fondue also will be created, and fondue is one of my weaknesses.  Additional skills will be learning to plan seasonal meals and honing your arrangement skills with various cheese and appetizer trays.    Saturday, you will be treated to a scrumptious meal of Bison Short Ribs, Apple Normandy, and Berkshire Pork Porterhouse.  In my true style, I would probably be filling up on too much Harvest Salad and bread and would have no room for the main course. If you are following the trend, you’ll know that on Sunday, you’ll find out what Apple Normandy is and how to make it as well.

If you are registered for the event, or are now considering going, let me know!  It certainly seems like the place where you could take your kids and spouse if they aren’t participating in the class, as there is plenty to do in Branson.  If Gladys had her druthers about her, she would tell her friend that whenever she looked at event calendars, there seem to be so many art festivals, tours, museums, concerts, sales, and shows happening all the time.   There is even a car museum.  In other words, Ward and the boys will have plenty to do while the aspiring culinary genius is working her magic.   Your family will be far from being stuck in the hotel.   They may just be in such a jolly mood that they won’t mind Mom’s idea of them all opening a restaurant with her new found confidence in her Smoked Potato and Ham Soup.

The Silver Dollar City’s Southern Gospel Picnic wrapped up in Branson, Missouri on Monday. This year, instead of just focusing on quartets, there were acts of all sorts from a variety of musical genres. Of course, since it wasn’t the Southern Gospel CONVENTION, but the Southern Gospel PICNIC, there was food and plenty of it. One of the menu items that lifted my eyebrow was slow-roasted apple glazed chicken. Although I am more of a veggie, seafood, and chocolate gal, I am very intrigued.  I have had applewood bacon before, but am very interested in knowing what apple glaze is. I may have to book a room at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing right now, for next year, unless one of you (my faithful readers) enlightens me before next year.

You may too late for this year, but you surely can get your food and entertainment. You can eat at the Barbara Fairchild Diner. It is not like a Kenny Rogers Roasters, where it is simply named for a singer. Country Music chart topper Barbara and her husband Roy Morris serve up the sandwiches and the ice cream. They are open from 11:00-3:00, and it all sounds like a lot of fun. I don’t know of anyone who has been there yet, but if you have, comment and let me know how you liked it.  According to a Branson Directory website,  Blair Zell of Geneva, Illinois, was at the Diner on September 5th, and said of the experience: Barbara took our order, delivered our food, and sang to us. What fun!

Yeah, that does sound like fun.  Sounds a lot better at some quaint little sandwiches I have been at in the various places I have lived in where a side of grumpy seems to be on the menu.  It comes even if you don’t order it.

The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is the other Branson property that often has great getaway packages.  In fact, there is a special package for the Cooking School Weekend, which will be held Oct. 16, 2009 - Oct. 18, 2009.  Rooms will only be $199.00 per night with the package.  It’s going to be great.  You’ll learn to make a four course meal and select wines with Chef Nathan.

Many national groups have their shindigs there for several reasons. There is so much to do with over 40 theaters, numerous golf courses, and blocks of shopping. The attendees will never get bored. Secondly, the location is smack dab in the middle of the country, that makes it much easier for people on the east coast and west coasts to meet without making anyone fly the entire way across the country.

Have you been to Branson lately?  Tell me what you ate, and what you thought!

In any town, it might be a good sign when you see that the local police like to eat there.  Of course it means that you will probably be able to eat crime free, but it also means that the restaurant probably takes good care of the uniformed ones.  Also, since they can stand to eat there many times in a month, the food is probably half decent.  Of course, you could have a few officers who bond over their mutual lack of taste, but that is another story.   Danna’s in Branson is one of those places with good BBQ and efficient service.

Though you may not go all the way to a city just to try one restaurant, though I don’t know how eager you are for a good meal, there is also special Winter Escape Packages at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.  It makes for a great getaway.  While staying, you are centrally located to shopping and a riverwalk to stroll. You can see Taneycomo Lake and downtown Branson from the Promenade. If you prefer to have a place to settle in and do a little work while you are there or plan to “stay in” with your honey, Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel has king or queen “Serenity” beds with chairs and ottomans, MP3 hookups and LCD tvs in the rooms.

On the 17th, there will be a Titanic Ice Carving competition, held at the bow of the Titanic museum/exhibit, which is a large ship and holds the largest display of Titanic relics. While attending the competition, you can also take advantage of a special exhibit featuring , Millvina Dean’s Suitcase. She is the last living survivor of the Titanic.

I have a cousin who is moving to Las Vegas in the next few months. She has been out there for weeks at a time in the past few years and keeps talking about all the restaurants. I keep asking her about the “up all night” gourmet Las Vegas Restaurants they show on the Travel Channel and the Food Network that I am wanting to try. There are some local places that looked really work checking out.

She tells me she has never heard of them, and is just talking about the casino buffets. Can you imagine going to the complete other side of the country and not as much looking at a Las Vegas Phone Book once you get there to be a little adventurous? I could see going there once and being overwhelmed by all the goings on, but if you are a “regular” I can imagine the usual places would get old. I have to push her out of the culinary nest, I guess!