With Hanukkah celebrations in full swing and Christmas just one week away, we wanted to take the opportunity to share some well wishes from the Olliffe team. It’s impossible to reach this stage of the year without some reflection, and we’re feeling both grateful for the past twelve months and excited about what’s ahead.

In this blog post, we’ve also included some important reminders to help your holidays (and your holiday meals) go as smoothly as possible. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or would like assistance, please contact us—we’d be glad to hear from you!

A few words of gratitude from our team

The holidays always seem to sneak up on us, but what a wonderful time this is! As we look back on the past year, we’re struck by how very fortunate we are. Not only do we have an incredible group of people working at Olliffe, we have absolutely incredible customers. Thank you to the individuals and families who chose to buy local and support regenerative food by shopping at our Yonge Street butcher shop. By supporting us, you’re helping put additional acres under holistic management, which can lead to more regenerative outcomes here in Ontario.

We think it’s pretty amazing that buying delicious, high quality food from Ontario farmers can contribute to healthier local ecosystems, economies and communities—and we’re glad you agree. From our families to yours, merry Christmas and happy holidays. We hope you enjoy these final weeks of 2025 and wish you all good things in the New Year.

Holiday hours, entertaining tips and more

As usual, we have a few housekeeping items to address. The last date to place an online order for fresh local turkeys, Ontario beef and pork roasts, hams, gourmet prepared dishes and more is Sunday, December 21st. Our holiday collection will be turned off at the end of the day, and no additional pre-orders will be accepted. That said, we will have a limited inventory of holiday products available in store while supplies last. Please visit or call Olliffe to inquire about what’s available. Our team would be glad to assist you and ensure that you have everything you need for a delicious holiday meal.

Olliffe will be open from 8:30am to 2pm on Christmas Eve. We will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On December 31st, we’ll be open from 8:30am to 3pm. We’ll be closed on New Year’s Day. On all other dates, Olliffe will have regular hours of operation.

Did you order some of our gourmet prepared items? Here are reheating instructions for your convenience. There are also cooking tips for all of your favourite products. And don’t forget to download our FREE holiday entertaining guide—there are plenty of excellent tips including how to brine a turkey, how to make the perfect Christmas gravy and which wines pair best with your favourite holiday entrées.

Thanks for shopping local this holiday season

This festive season and always, we appreciate your support of our proudly independent, Canadian butcher shop. Thank you for including us in your family’s holiday traditions—we hope your winter break is filled with peace, joy and delicious local food. From all of us at Olliffe, happy holidays and all the best in 2025!

As we gather with our loved ones this festive season, it’s tradition to share a delicious holiday meal. A beautifully-prepared turkey, ham or roast is often the star of the show, but side dishes are just as important to your family feast. They’re also an excellent opportunity to get creative and showcase your culinary skills.

Christmas is just three weeks away and this year, the first night of Hanukkah falls on December 14th. It’s safe to say the holiday season is in full swing: dinner parties, drop-in gatherings, potlucks, extended family celebrations and more. If you’re hosting one (or a few) of these festive gatherings, take a moment to review these easy, effective hosting tips from Olliffe.