Celebrate Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve with feast, gala downtown

This paid event listing is sponsored by Harvester Kitchen by Bryan.

Downtown’s newest dining establishment is starting some new traditions this holiday season – a traditional Italian feast Dec. 24 and a sparkling gala dinner party Dec. 31.

Harvester Kitchen by Bryan, located at 196 E. Sixth St., is ready to help you celebrate the season, and you’ll want to reserve your spot soon.

Christmas Eve: The Feast of the Seven Fishes

Chef Bryan Moscatello grew up with this traditional Italian-American feast and now is bringing it to Sioux Falls.

“This is a six-course tasting menu featuring seven different seafood dishes,” he explained. “Typically, the family gathers around a feast of seven seafood types or two or three types of fish prepared seven different ways.”

The ancient tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve dates back to the religious custom of abstaining from meat on certain holidays.

“And in the early 1900s, Italian-Americans brought the Old Country’s tradition here by preparing seven-course meals celebrating the sea.”

For this meal, guests will savor everything from caramelized sea scallops to lobster tortelloni and crispy skin branzino.

You can add wine pairings or order from the beverage menu. And, of course, the meal is completed with Italian Christmas cookies.

Reservations are available starting at 5:15 through 9 p.m. Plan on two to two-and-a-half hours for the experience.

“Guests can choose to dine at their preferred time, but reservations are required and filling quickly,” Moscatello said.

To see the full menu and connect for reservations, click here. 

New Year’s Eve: Gala Dinner Party

Harvester Kitchen starts a new tradition Dec. 31 with its exceptional dinner party.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., enjoy a sparkling wine and hors d’oeuvre reception where guests can mingle in the restaurant’s living room and den.

“I designed Harvester Kitchen to feel like home, and this is going to seem like you’re a guest at a dinner party in my home,” Moscatello said.

At 8 p.m., guests will be seated for a six-course dining experience. Restaurant manager Becca Connelly and Chef Bryan have paired each course with a choice of two gorgeous wines. Guests can top for the sommelier’s choice or premier cru/reserve wines to truly end the year on an exceptional note.

The Harvester Kitchen wine list and beverage menu including beer, kitchen cocktails and wines by the glass also are available.

“We’re very proud of the menu and can’t wait to share it with our guests,” Moscatello added. “We’re featuring Alaskan king crab, pomegranate-glazed pheasant and a venison loin in addition to many other dishes we’ve created especially for the evening.”

After dinner, enjoy dancing and the musical talent of Elisabeth Hunstad. And as the clock approaches 2022, you’ll end one year and start the next off deliciously with a buffet dessert table featuring bite-size mignardise, petit cookies and candies.

The evening will conclude with a sparkling wine toast at midnight. To see the complete menu and reserve your place, click here.