The Spirit Of Christmas

Covid-19 has changed the way we socialise and celebrate, but it doesn’t mean this festive season has to be any less special. JORDAN KRETCHMER speaks to four people who have always done Christmas a little differently.

- Jordan Kretchmer

GUY GROSSI

Chef and owner, Grossi Florentino, Ombra Salumi Bar and Arlechin

For many chefs, Christmas is a time to shut-up shop – but not for Guy Grossi, who’s been hosting his triple-threat December 25 extravaganza since he started running his restaurant Florentino 21 years ago. Most years, the build-up to Christmas runs strong from the spring racing carnival right up until Christmas Day. “It’s always busy, but also such a rewarding time of year,” he says.

This year will be a little different, but Grossi still believes that whatever the festive season looks like for each of us, the most important thing will be coming together – particularly for those in Melbourne. “One of the greatest things we can do is come together and socialise. Most people have been starved of this in 2020,” he says. “This Christmas, there will be restrictions and it will look different. But I hope that we can take time out with our family, just to take the focus away from the problems of 2020.”

Grossi is a man of tradition, and he is still holding out hope that he’ll be able to carry out the Christmas customs he, his staff and his family have practiced for years.