The co-founders of The Lucky Taco tell Sharon Stephenson about avoiding excess gift-giving and alcohol and embracing sun, surf, and (for Sarah) sobriety.
Sarah: I’m from Liverpool but have lived in Aotearoa for almost 17 years. It took me a while to get used to a summer Christmas but now I love it. As soon as the Pōhutukawa in our garden blooms, to me that’s Christmas. It’s definitely a change from the cold, wet Christmases of my childhood, when it would get dark by 4.00pm.
Otis: I grew up with a New Zealand traditional Christmas where we’d alternate with family in Rotorua and then set up a hippy camp at Pākiri where we’d spend the whole day on the beach. For me this time of the year is all about the ocean. You’ve worked hard all year and then you get to spend time with family and friends and swim in the ocean every day.
Sarah: Previously, we’d go to Otis’ parents' or brother’s house for Christmas Day because they’ve got bigger houses than us, but for the last three years we’ve all hired a place on Waiheke near the beach. December is crazy at work for us with lots of corporate functions so we sprint right to the 23rd and then collapse for a few weeks. I’m always trying to subvert tradition with the Frizzell family because they go for a turkey dinner and I’m like, it’s hot, why don’t we just have big salads and seafood? Christmas is so stressful, why not make it easier? But I never seem to win.
Otis: We start the day with buttery croissants and coffee while we open presents. Then we all kind of wander off and do our own thing until the evening when we rejoin for a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Sometimes that’s cooked on the BBQ which isn’t always successful. We’ll also pop a bottle of champagne at some stage.
Sarah: I’m coming up to my 20-month soberversary so it’s non alcoholic options for me. We created a Lucky Margarita in a can with AF Drinks this year so I’ll be drinking those. I also love LaCroix flavoured soda – no exaggeration, we usually have about 60 cans of their passionfruit, lime and orange drinks in my fridge. I also like the beach plum version, which has a marzipan kind of taste which most people hate but it’s kind of Christmassy. I find the ritual of putting it in a fancy glass and adding lime makes it more special and makes being on a sober journey easier.
Otis: Breakfast and lunches over Christmas are DIY affairs with lots of ham sandwiches. But we all have turns at dinner. Sarah and I are rostered on for Boxing Day when we'll make tacos. This year we’ll be doing the turkey Christmas tacos from our cookbook, which is a great use of leftover turkey. We don’t tend to go in for a Christmas decorations at our place because we’ve got two cats but also the amount of waste that goes into landfill each year stresses me out. It’s also why we don’t go over the top with presents because it’s expensive and stressful.
Sarah: We do make our own crackers, though. We print out crap jokes from the internet and add a scratchy and funny gifts. Last year I got a tiny whisk which I’ve been using to whip up meals for our new kitten.
Otis: That would be my top Christmas hack, don’t go over the top with presents or food. Hit up the local produce market or grow your own salad ingredients if you can. And if someone invites you over, take something with you. It doesn’t have to be fancy because the act of sharing food is generosity in itself. Sarah and I spend our lives feeding people so we know that it isn’t always what the food is, but the act of breaking bread together.
Sarah: My tip would be to breathe and just take some time out for yourself. And don’t give into societal pressure or norms.
Otis: At some stage over the festive season I’ll listen to James Brown’s Funky Christmas album – it’s cheesy but great. And Fairytale of New York, which is fantastic at any time of the year.
Sarah: My Christmas song is Tim Minchin’s White Wine in the Sun. It’s such a beautifully nostalgic song, it always makes me cry.
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