Inspired by his love for cherished holiday movies, songs, and traditions, Chef Cory Oppold of COURSE has revealed a special eight-course tasting menu for December. Dishes will be a feast for the senses, weaving together whimsical holiday references with Chef’s award-winning culinary artistry.
Priced at $175 per person, the 12 Days of Christmas Menu brings a delightful blend of nostalgia and fine dining, turning favorite holiday moments into unforgettable dishes that evoke the warmth and magic of Christmas. Here’s a taste of the festive lineup:
Home Alone: Enjoy an elevated twist on “cheese pizza,” complete with caviar.
The Christmas Story: Relive the iconic “Chinese food” moment with delicate dumplings filled with shiitake, cabbage, beans, tofu, and a touch of black vinegar.
The Grinch: Inspired by Whoville, this dish features Sonoma County duck and soft scrambled duck egg paired with sweet potato and scallion.
Christmas with the Kranks: Delicately prepared sea trout with kohlrabi, cucumber, dill, and lemon.
The Santa Clause: A playful nod to the turkey featuring a perfectly roasted turkey breast, thigh, onion, potato, Brussels sprouts, and gravy.
The Grinch: Indulge in a luxurious K4 Prime ribeye with shallots, carrots, baby beets, and jus. Optional truffle supplements are available.
Frosty the Snowman: A dessert inspired by everyone’s favorite snowman, featuring a refreshing mix of coconut, pineapple, and Kaffir lime.
Elf: A coffee panna cotta with hazelnut and Nutella, celebrating the humor and sweetness of the holiday spirit.
Mignardise: A candy-sweet meringue.
“It was not tough to come up with festive menu items,” Oppold said. “It was a fun, creative process. In the kitchen, we try to first focus on what type of food items we want to use in this menu and then the holiday name fell in place from there. With my love of all things Christmas, we had quite a bit of inspiration to work with! And if you’re wondering, my favorite holiday film is Elf!”
Oppold is a 2019 Food Network ‘Chopped’ Champion who takes guests on a food exploration at COURSE, which was recently recognized as one of Yelp’s Best New Restaurants of 2024, ranking No. 7 nationwide and standing as the only Arizona restaurant to make the list.
Raised on a dairy farm in Illinois, Oppold’s upbringing embedded a respect for the ingredients and a hard-working ethos he uses today. He graduated with honors from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in 2002. He has become synonymous with inventive dining experiences, a testament to his time at Different Pointe of View at Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs and L’Auberge de Sedona.
At COURSE, he shares his gastronomic vision and fosters a sense of community and connection, making each dining experience an unparalleled – and festive – culinary journey.
“We recently launched ‘of•COURSE, a Sunday Menu Series.’ These exclusive, multi-course menus highlight carefully crafted culinary themes served on Sundays,” he said. “Designed to transport guests through unique culinary themes, each multi-course experience blends tradition with artistry for an unforgettable dining adventure.”
The 12 Days of Christmas menu will be available until December 29. From January 5-February 9, the of•COURSE series will offer a Steakhouse theme, and for Valentine’s Day, the restaurant will offer an 8-course aphrodisiac dinner menu from February 13-15. For more information, visit courserestaurantaz.com.
