It can be overwhelming, but preparing a Christmas feast might also be your chance to shine. Such is the message behind the 'Julie and Julia' phenomenon in which nine-to-five office dwellers aspire to culinary greatness. But those of us who didn't spend years perfecting beef bourguignon at the Cordon Bleu could do with some sage words from a professional or two before attempting high cuisine in our own kitchens. We asked a couple of chefs who run high-end bistros on opposite ends of the country how they go about entertaining and also what kind of advice they would offer to a novice making the leap from foodie voyeurism into full-on host.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire -- sounds simple enough. But there's more to it if you're preparing them at home. Before serving up this seasonal treat, you'll want to check out these tips from Elizabeth Baird, Jo Calvert, and Karen Kirk, authors of 'Canadian Living: The Complete Christmas Book'.

Chestnuts have to be peeled and cooked before using. They can be roasted in their shells, boiled, braised, puréed or even candied (marrons glacés). Their sweet nutty flavour combines well with game, poultry, starchy vegetables, mushrooms, chocolate, whipped cream or vanilla.

The holidays are filled with extra calories. They're in your cocktails, in the boxes of chocolates that arrive daily at the office, the cookies from your neighbor, canapés at parties, and of course in Christmas dinner. You are surrounded by excess calories, but this holiday season, be prepared to deal with the excess before it settles in (usually around your waist line on a cold January day).

Hosting a cookie exchange is an effortless way to collect a variety of cookies without baking them all yourself. Plus there's the added bonus of enjoying a fun visit with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

1. Keep the guest list manageable. Six to eight is a good starting point. More guests will ensure a wide variety of cookies, but too many spells an excess of baked goods.

2. Avoid duplication by asking guests to RSVP with the kind of cookie they plan to bring.

Baking holiday treats this winter? You'll need the right equipment. James Peterson, author of Baking, offers up a checklist of the essentials.

Cake racks Cake racks are essential tools for cooling cakes and cookies. Buy at least one large cake rack (the size of a sheet pan) for flipping out sheet cakes. Round cake racks are convenient for individual round cakes.