Holiday hosting in Durham Region: a last-minute list

When you are hosting for the holidays, the last-minute list is usually drinks, ice, mix, a few groceries and the small things that run out: napkins, candles, coffee and milk. If you cannot leave the kitchen, send us the list. We pick up from the LCBO, The Beer Store, grocery and convenience stores and more, and bring it all to your door.

Here is a list to check against before the doorbell starts ringing.

What do I need for last-minute holiday hosting?

Go through it by category.

Drinks

• Wine: a red, a white and something sparkling covers most tables.
• Beer for the ones who prefer it.
• Spirits, plus the mix to go with them.
• Non-alcoholic options: sparkling water, pop, juice and something festive for kids.
• Ice, and plenty of it.

Kitchen

• Butter, milk and cream. Holiday cooking goes through all three.
• Eggs for baking or breakfast the next day.
• Bread or rolls.
• Coffee and tea for after dinner.
• Snacks for when people arrive early.

Around the house

• Napkins, paper towels and garbage bags.
• Batteries for toys and remotes.
• Light bulbs for the porch and the dining room.
• Candles, if you use them.

What can Bottle Buddeez pick up?

Almost everything on that list:

• Beer, wine and spirits from the LCBO and The Beer Store
• Groceries
• Convenience store runs: ice, pop or mix, milk, eggs and munchies
• Hardware and home items like bulbs
• Takeout pickup, if you would rather not cook one of the meals
• Custom errands: tell us the store and what you need

See everything on our services page.

You can put several stores on one order. Each additional stop on the same order starts at $4.

How do I order in the middle of hosting?

Use the order form on your phone, or call 289-275-0767.

• List each store and what you need from it.
• Choose a substitution preference: Call me, Closest match, or Skip it. Shelves can be picked over at busy times of year, so a clear choice helps.
• Choose As soon as possible, or Schedule a time so the drinks arrive before guests do.

Dispatch, a real person, calls every online order to confirm the details and give you an approximate delivery time. No app and no account needed.

If your order includes alcohol, have photo ID ready at the door. You must be 19 or older to purchase alcohol in Ontario.

How can I plan ahead so the last minute is calmer?

• Write the list a few days out, then add to it as you go.
• Schedule a delivery for the morning of, so drinks and ice are handled.
• Keep a running list on the fridge, so whoever notices the milk is low can add it.
• Count heads, then add a few. Holiday guest lists tend to grow.
• Think about the drive home. Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks and water out, and if anyone has been drinking, the answer is simple: stay home, we’ll drive.

Where do you deliver?

We deliver in Ajax and Whitby, where the published delivery fee is $8.99. Brooklin, Oshawa, Courtice and Bowmanville are call for pricing. Not sure your address is covered? Call before you order, or check our delivery areas.

We accept Visa, Mastercard and Interac debit.

Send your holiday list through the order form or call us at 289-275-0767. We will wait in the lines so you can stay with your guests.