Somebody at the office always gets stuck planning the holiday party. If that is you this year, here is one Baton Rouge option with a famous chef behind the kitchen.

Chef John Folse's estate

White Oak Estate & Gardens is the catering and events home of Chef John Folse, the St. James Parish native who opened Lafitte's Landing Restaurant in Donaldsonville in 1978 and later carried Louisiana cooking to Japan, Moscow and the Vatican. Many locals know him from his long-running "Stirrin' It Up" cooking segments and his series of Cajun and Creole cookbooks.

The property sits near the end of George O'Neal Lane, about 20 minutes from downtown and a short drive from I-12. It covers 22 acres of gardens and lakes around a 1970s home built in the style of the old River Road houses, with an oak-lined drive, Doric columns and a grand staircase.

What the holidays look like

Each season, White Oak decorates the whole property for Christmas, and the fireplaces get going. Holiday parties include tables, linens, holiday centerpieces, buffet decor and some seasonal background music. Guests can settle in beside a courtyard fireplace with a cup of the estate's "naughty or nice" creamy cocoa.

Inside, the parlor has a fireplace, a 26-foot ceiling and a three-tiered crystal chandelier. A French-style ballroom adds black and white marble floors and three more chandeliers. Outside are a New Orleans-style courtyard and a large pavilion with three open-hearth fireplaces.

On the menu

White Oak's catering list runs from hors d'oeuvres and hot and cold appetizers to soups, entrees and carving stations, with breakfast, lunch and dinner packages for corporate groups. The estate says it can fit menus to a range of budgets.

Book early

December weekends go fast everywhere. Call White Oak at 225-751-1882 to ask about dates and menus, and your coworkers might just thank you for once.

Photo courtesy of White Oak Estate & Gardens.