The restaurant is located across from the Grand Central Holiday Fair, which features various shopping vendors.

Grand Central can be a little difficult to navigate if you've never been — or, if like me, you're running to catch a train whenever you're there — so I appreciated that the restaurant was in such an easy-to-find location inside the terminal.

The restaurant's curved entrance was adorned with a festive display of human-sized nutcrackers, wreaths, and holiday lights.

This made it easy for multiple passersby to check out the menu at the same time.

The brunch menu, pictured above, features mostly traditional French fare, from soups and pastries to sandwiches and steak frites. The restaurant also has a full bar and offers cocktails like a mimosa, Bellini, or espresso martini.

The menu changes for dinnertime, with a more extensive cocktail menu and entrée selection.

The restaurant occupies a massive 16,000-square-feet and can seat up to 400 diners, Eater reported.

I made a reservation the day before and was able to snag a table for one inside the restaurant's main dining room, but there were also tables available in the bistro dining area outside the restaurant and in the Green Room, a more dimly lit, cozy dining area located past the main dining room.

I've been to Paris three times, including once at Christmas, and have eaten in quite a few traditional French restaurants.

Even without the holiday decorations, many of the touches, from the mercury-glass sign and swooping red font of the restaurant's logo to the design of the tables, are reminiscent of the city of lights.

Guests can choose to be seated at the bar, at a high-top table, in a booth, or at a small bistro table dining table.

The dining room's design felt elevated and festive, and the booths looked comfortable for a larger group.

I was given the full brunch menu, a drinks menu with cocktails and wine, and the restaurant's pre-fixe menu.

When I sat down, I was also asked whether I would like something to drink while I settled in, so I asked for a bottle of tap water. It was promptly brought over to my table.

I'm a pretty adventurous eater but I have still struggled to find things to order while traveling in France and dining at more upscale eateries. However, I thought this menu was really approachable.

Brasseries tend to offer more comfort foods than upscale fine-dining options. Sure, there were more adventurous menu items (at least, perhaps to some people) like escargot and caviar, but there was also a classic cheeseburger, croque monsieur, and boeuf bourguignon for people who might only be familiar with a few traditional French dishes.

I felt there was something for everyone's tastes here, even kids who might not go anywhere near the steak tartare or duck confit.

The restaurant itself, at least in the main dining room where I sat, isn't particularly warm or cozy. But where it lacks in intimacy it makes up for in stunning views of Grand Central's architecture.

The terminal opened on February 2, 1913, replacing an older train station that was opened in 1871 and another that opened in 1900.

Many preservationists, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, fought to save Grand Central from demolition in the 1970s and helped restore the building's historic grandeur, including its constellation-covered ceiling that was previously coated in cigarette smoke from the days that smoking was allowed inside the terminal.

The chandeliers were originally fitted with electric lightbulbs, making them a marvel for a society only recently introduced to electric lighting.

In the 1990s, the chandeliers were cleaned and fitted with energy-efficient bulbs, thus modernizing them yet retaining their historic charm.

I loved that I could observe a slice of American history right from my dining table.

The restaurant feels very open-air, like an extension of the rest of the terminal rather than an enclosed restaurant.

Even though the restaurant, which opened in September, is a permanent addition to the station, the open-air setup gave it a pop-up feel. I didn't necessarily mind, though, as it allowed me to admire some of Grand Central's architecture.

It cost $6.50, excluding tax and tip, which I actually thought was pretty fairly priced. Living in New York City, I'm used to sometimes paying upward of $6 or $7 for a latte, so this didn't jump out to me as more expensive than usual.

I thought it was less creamy than other lattes I'm used to having, but it was flavorful, hot without being scalding, and topped with a delicious amount of steamed milk.

The soup arrived covered in gooey melted cheese that dripped down the bowl.

It cost $18, which I thought was a bit expensive for an appetizer, especially one that's difficult to share between multiple people. However, it was still one of the cheapest appetizers on the restaurant's hors d'oeuvres menu.

Other menu items, like the steak tartare and shrimp cocktail, cost more than $20, and the crab persillade cost $31.

The gooey cheese practically melted in my mouth, while the soup itself was rich and loaded with deliciously caramelized onions. The bread inside the soup was super soft and easy to eat with the soup spoon. Overall, it was the perfect consistency — not too watery, not too thick or sludgy.

It was very flavorful and could have sufficed as my main meal.

I've had onion soup in Paris, and this rivaled even those.

The bread was crusty on the outside but soft inside. I was impressed.

While many might associate this dish with eggs Benedict, eggs Norwegian comes with smoked salmon and hollandaise rather than ham.

I was also given the choice of a side salad or potatoes with the eggs. I opted for salad because I was so full from the onion soup.

The eggs Norwegian cost $31, compared to $28 for the eggs Benedict. Again, this felt pricey, especially because the portion size wasn't huge. However, that's also a pretty standard price for a brunch entrée in New York City — let alone in a famous location like Grand Central.

I could clearly taste the lemon, and I really loved the consistency of the hollandaise. It wasn't too thick, making this dish feel light and easy to eat.

When I broke into the first poached egg, a beautiful cascade of jammy and gooey egg yolk emerged. This dish was simple but still extremely delicious. I'd definitely come back just for these eggs.

My only complaint with the eggs Norwegian was with the English muffin it was served on. It was on the thinner side, which didn't necessarily ruin the dish, but it didn't add to it, either. For more than $30, I expected more.

The salad was a simple spring mix, but it was well-dressed and complemented the richness of the smoked salmon and the eggs.

I ended up paying $71.53 for my brunch, including tax and tip. Don't get me wrong — I rarely, if ever, pay this much for a solo breakfast. And for many, this would be completely unaffordable.

Still, for others, the prices may not be that far-fetched for an appetizer, entrée, and specialty coffee at an iconic location in New York City. Pricing is completely subjective, though I did think the eggs, although delicious, were slightly overpriced.

As a special treat, I enjoyed getting to experience dining in one of New York's most famous locales, and if you're visiting New York City around the holidays, sometimes spending more than you normally would is part and parcel of that.

I enjoyed the food, the festive decorations, and seeing some classic New York architecture combined with the Parisian elegance I've come to love through traveling. For me, that was priceless.

Business Insider reached out to Grand Brasserie for comment but did not receive a response.

Pantos are humorous, slapstick entertainment for the whole family, often featuring men dressed in drag. They are sometimes based on a famous fairy tale or story, like "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," or "The Wizard of Oz." 

Pantomimes rely on specific tropes. For example, there's often a villain who will sneak up on the protagonist intermittently throughout the play. It's then the role of the audience to scream, "He's behind you!" to the main character while he or she struggles to figure out what's going on.

A traditional British roast dinner wouldn't be complete without Yorkshire puddings filled with Bisto or homemade gravy. Yorkshire puddings — not to be confused with sweet puddings — are made of eggs, flour, and milk or water.

After they're cooked in hot oil in the oven, they end up with a distinct hole in the middle. They closely resemble what Americans know as popovers.

While Yorkshire puddings are commonplace at Sunday dinners throughout the year, they're also eaten at Christmastime, though some argue they have no place on a Christmas plate.

While some do refer to old Saint Nick as Santa Claus in the UK, it is widely accepted that Father Christmas is his more traditionally British name.

"Santa Claus" is seen as an Americanism, and The Telegraph reported that even the British National Trust said that "Santa Claus should be known as 'Father Christmas' in stately homes and historic buildings because the name is more British."

In America, Christmas stockings are hung by the fireplace with care. However, some British children hang their stockings at the ends of their beds for Father Christmas to fill up while they're sleeping. 

Thanksgiving weekend is seen as an opportunity in the United States for students to reunite with friends from high school or middle school. In the UK, it's a tradition for school friends to come together on Christmas Eve, often at the local bar or pub.

A Christmas pudding is a dense fruit cake often made weeks or even months in advance. This time allows the dried fruit to soak up alcohol that's regularly poured onto the cake in the weeks before it's consumed.

On Christmas, the cake is set alight and then topped with a sauce of brandy butter or rum butter, cream, lemon cream, ice cream, custard, or sweetened béchamel. It is also sometimes sprinkled with caster or powdered sugar.

For many years, Queen Elizabeth II even gifted each member of her staff a Christmas pudding from Tesco.

While fruit cake is certainly a polarizing dessert wherever you are, Brits seem to make it a little better with thick, sweet white icing. Oftentimes, Christmas cake also comes topped with festive holly decorations. 

The BBC reported that the first-known mince-pie recipe dates back to an 1830s-era English cookbook. By the mid-17th century, people reportedly began associating the small pies with Christmas.

At the time, they were traditionally filled with pork or other kinds of meat, sage, and other spices. Nowadays, the pies are filled with dried fruits and sugar powder.

The perfect accompaniment to Christmas pudding and mince pies, brandy butter consists of butter and sugar beaten together before brandy is added. Rum butter is an alternative.

The result is still butter-like in consistency, and it's served cold alongside desserts. Americans might know it as "hard sauce."

You might remember a scene from the first "Harry Potter" movie in which Ron says, "Happy Christmas, Harry!" While this may sound strange to an American, saying "Happy Christmas" is commonplace in the UK, as opposed to "Merry Christmas." 

Christmas crackers are often pulled at the start of the meal, and the paper hats found inside are worn throughout the meal. Also inside each cracker is a "banger," which makes a loud pop when the cracker is pulled, a joke, and a small prize.

The jokes are usually cheesy and festive. For example: "Why did Santa's helper go to the doctor? Because he had low elf esteem!" 

However, be sure not to pack them if you're traveling to or from the UK on an airplane — they're not permitted to go through TSA in carry-on luggage.

On Christmas, the BBC usually runs a holiday special of the since-retired show "Top of the Pops," which features performances from the year's most popular musicians.

The program ran weekly from 1964 until 2006, when it was canceled. People were so upset that the BBC decided to keep the Christmas special, which airs late in the morning on December 25.

Every year, families gather to watch the royal Christmas address, informally known as the Queen's or King's speech.

The Telegraph reported that the first Christmas address was 251 words long, but Queen Elizabeth II later came to average 656 words in each speech. It is often one of the most-watched television programs on Christmas Day in the UK.

While Super Bowl commercials are highly scrutinized in the US, Brits pay just as close attention to Christmas commercials.

Not only is the John Lewis ad, or "advert," a Christmas tradition, but almost every supermarket and clothing brand tries to get in on the buzz with a talked-about Christmas commercial.

The British "Christmas No. 1" has been a tradition for over half a century. Starting in 1952, the top song on the British singles chart has been a coveted spot every Christmas. Christmas No. 1 alums include The Beatles, Queen, Ed Sheeran, and more.

While some Christmas No. 1s have indeed been Christmas songs — "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II in 1989, for example — they don't have to be.

While religious elementary schools in the United States may put on nativity plays, they are arguably much more popular and part of the culture in Britain.

In the popular British Christmas movie "Love Actually," the characters even attend a Christmas nativity play.

Boxing Day is typically called British Black Friday, but there are some differences between the holidays. Boxing Day, which is a public holiday in the UK, falls the day after Christmas and has a rich cultural history in Great Britain.

Originating in the mid-1600s, the day was traditionally a day off for servants. On this day, servants would receive a "Christmas Box," or gift, from their master. The servants would then return home on Boxing Day to give "Christmas Boxes" to their families.

Another difference between US and UK Christmas customs comes after all of the festivities have ended. 

In the UK, it's tradition to take down your tree and decorations 12 days after Christmas — known as Twelfth Night — to avoid bad luck in the new year.

In the Anglican tradition, Twelfth Night, or Epiphany Eve, is the day before Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Magi to baby Jesus and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas. 

Just take a look at the success of Raising Cane's. The chain, known for its focus on chicken tenders and a limited menu featuring sides like coleslaw and Texas toast, has become one of the fastest-growing fast-food brands in the US. Bloomberg reported that the chain brought in over $2.3 billion in revenue during the first half of 2024, reflecting a 30% increase from the previous year.

When we first got to try Taco Bell's new chicken nuggets at the chain's headquarters in Irvine, California, we learned that the beloved fast-food brand had set out to create an "elevated" chicken nugget to compete in the crowded market. 

"This is truly a very premium nugget," Mira Leon, a member of the product development team, told us during a tasting at the secret test kitchen. "It's not a chicken nugget patty you might get at some fast-food restaurants. This is very much more elevated." 

"This is real chicken," added chef Brett Pluskalowski, who works on Taco Bell's food innovation team. "When you go to McDonald's, that's not what you see." 

The jalapeño honey mustard combines honey and hot mustard for a sweet and tangy dipping sauce, while Bell Sauce features red chilies mixed with tomatoes, garlic, and onions.

The newest sauce, the Fire Ranch sauce, is a collaboration with Hidden Valley — the first-ever ranch partnership for Taco Bell. It mixes the chain's signature Fire hot sauce with Hidden Valley Ranch.

The new chicken nuggets feature all-white chicken breast meat marinated in spiced jalapeño buttermilk and coated with a special crispy breading made from breadcrumbs and tortilla chips.

The nuggets are $3.99 for a five-piece order and one dipping sauce or $6.99 for a 10-piece order with two dipping sauces, though prices may vary depending on location. 

Anneta: Chicken nuggets were my favorite thing to eat as a kid (groundbreaking, I know), and I've tried dozens of iterations from different chains and restaurants — many of them soggy, bland, or just forgettable. 

Taco Bell's chicken nuggets are none of the above. The meat tasted juicy and fresh and was clearly premium. The breading was true to the "crispy" name, providing a super satisfying crunch that gave way to the tender meat underneath. There was actually texture, which is more than I can say for some other very popular chains' nuggets. 

I tried these nuggets during a tasting that featured six different menu items, and I still couldn't resist finishing the entire box. They were really that good. 

Erin: These chicken nuggets, which come coated in a blend of breadcrumbs and crunchy tortilla chips, really impressed me with their texture and well-balanced flavor. When I first held one in my hand, I worried it would be hard to bite into — it had some weight to it. However, when I bit in, I found juicy, flavorful meat inside.

They were salty, with a subtle corn taste from the tortilla-chip breading, and reminded me more of a boneless wing than a chicken nugget. I also liked how the outer breading wasn't completely uniform. You could clearly see the tiny pieces of tortilla chips that made up the breading.

Anneta: I was a fan of both the Bell Sauce and the jalapeño honey mustard, which had very different flavor profiles. The Bell Sauce carried a smokiness that reminded me of barbecue sauce, while the jalapeño honey mustard was deliciously creamy with a zingy kick. 

Erin: I was a fan of all three sauces, but the jalapeño honey mustard and Fire Ranch stole the show for me. The jalapeño honey mustard was the perfect balance between a classic, tangy honey mustard and a slight kick of heat from the jalapeño flavor. I also quickly noted that this sauce actually tasted like I was biting into a real jalapeño pepper, unlike some sauces that say they're flavored with jalapeño but just taste generically spicy.

The Fire Ranch was a good balance between creamy and a slight kick from the Fire sauce, but it didn't have as much heat as the other two sauces. The Bell Sauce was also good and reminded me of a chipotle aioli. It was more smoky than spicy. 

It's been years since the fast-food chains were embroiled in the chicken sandwich wars. But what they should really be worried about now is Taco Bell coming for their nugget crown. 

The crispy chicken nuggets and their new sauces taste elevated, and it's clear that Taco Bell's big swings and risks are paying off.

The menu continues to feel fresh and exciting at a time when so many other chains are sticking to the norm. During the 2023 tasting, one of Taco Bell's representatives explained that the nuggets were also designed for people who don't like tacos but are along for the drive-thru ride — which is an extremely smart strategy move.

People might think Taco Bell has no place in the nugget space, but it's been delivering delicious chicken for a long time, and chicken chains should be a little scared.

Cost: $3.89 — excluding tax and tip — for an eight-piece pack at a Burger King in New York City.

Note: All prices listed here may vary in different markets.

Erin: I thought the nuggets' coating was well-seasoned, but the breading was slightly on the thicker side. While they were a good vehicle for one of the chain's dipping sauces — such as the Zesty sauce, which is a personal favorite — these nuggets work better as an accompaniment to one of the chain's burgers rather than an entrée themselves. Burger King is known for its burgers, after all.

If you're craving chicken the next time you visit a Burger King, I suggest opting for the chain's chicken sandwich or one of its chicken-tender wraps.

Priyanka: When I held the chicken nugget in my hand, I could feel its crisp texture and was excited to try it. However, upon taking my first bite, I found the bread coating, although crunchy, was too thick and overpowered the chicken, leaving a slightly salty aftertaste.

I agree with Erin that the chain's nuggets are a side order, best enjoyed when dipped in some sweet-and-sour sauce.

Business Insider reached out to Burger King for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

Cost: $3.36 — excluding tax and tip — for a four-piece pack at a Wendy's in New York City.

Erin: Like Burger King and McDonald's, Wendy's is primarily a burger chain. So, it should come as no surprise that its chicken nuggets are pretty unremarkable, in my opinion.

They were well-seasoned, and the breading had a lot of flavor, but they were also pretty small. Wendy's nuggets definitely act more as a side dish than a reason to go to the chain.

Priyanka: I'd heard great reviews about Wendy's chicken nuggets, especially its spicier offering, so when the time came to try them, I was looking forward to becoming a loyal fan, too.

Instead, I found myself yearning for old favorites, like Chick-fil-A.

While Wendy's does a great job with the nuggets' coating, which is both well-seasoned and crispy, it fails to show off the star ingredient: the chicken.

It took some effort on my part to pull apart the chicken, which felt slightly chewy instead of how I usually prefer it: juicy and easy to bite into.

Cost: $4.90 — excluding tax and tip — for a five-piece pack at a KFC in New York City.

Erin: They were a little bland in the flavor department, but I thought the chicken itself tasted higher quality than the nuggets from Wendy's, Burger King, and McDonald's. It was more shreddable and paired well with the chain's new Comeback sauce — launched in October with its new chicken tenders — but I would have liked more breading to give it that crunch.

Speaking of KFC's chicken tenders, I'd probably recommend those over the chain's nuggets.

Priyanka: For a chain that specializes in fried chicken — and one that I usually enjoy eating at — I also felt a bit let down by KFC's chicken nuggets, which were only introduced last year.

In terms of size and texture, KFC's chicken nuggets look pretty similar to Chick-fil-A's, and yet, when it comes to taste, the two are quite different.

While KFC delivers with its succulent chicken, it falls short when it comes to seasoning. I agree with Erin: skip the nuggets for its much nicer tenders instead.

In a comment to Business Insider, KFC said, "Feedback on our nuggets has been overwhelmingly positive, and we sold more than 100 million nuggets in the first eight weeks that they were available. Our fans can enjoy KFC Chicken Nuggets nationwide seven days a week, and we take pride in their quality."

Cost: $5.39 — excluding tax and tip — for a four-piece pack at a McDonald's in New York City.

Erin: McDonald's chicken nuggets are the stuff of legend. They've been around since the early '80s, and there's something about the tempura-style-fried chicken nuggets that keep me coming back for more.

They're always crispy, always salty, and always the same — I always know what I'm going to get with a McDonald's nugget.

Priyanka: I'm a big fan of the brand's spicy chicken nuggets, which were introduced for a limited time earlier this year but not so much of its regular recipe.

While they're consistently crunchy, I find them slightly underseasoned, and the salty after-taste a tad bit too overpowering for my liking.

Cost: $5.79 — excluding tax and tip — for a five-piece pack at a local Chick-fil-A in New York City.

Erin: While some of the other nuggets leaned on the drier side, these nuggets were moist and would likely pair well with practically any dipping sauce. Each nugget was on the smaller side but packed a lot of flavor into a small bite.

Priyanka: Until I tried Taco Bell's chicken nuggets, Chick-fil-A's bite-sized chunks were my go-to. I've had them on multiple occasions, and they've always tasted consistently good. When eaten fresh out of the box, they're satisfyingly crunchy, and the chicken is perfectly juicy.

While they're bite-sized and often thought of as a side dish, I recommend sizing up — I usually opt for the 12-piece pack with a side of waffle fries and Chick-fil-A sauce — and giving them a chance as a main meal.

Cost: $3.99 — excluding tax and tip — for a five-piece order and one dipping sauce.

However, we were invited to taste the new chicken nuggets at an early preview hosted by Taco Bell in New York City, so we received complimentary tastings of the nuggets.

Erin: These chicken nuggets, coated in a blend of breadcrumbs and crunchy tortilla chips, stood out from the competition with their well-balanced flavor. They were salty, with a subtle corn taste from the tortilla-chip breading. They reminded me more of a boneless wing than a chicken nugget.

Paired with the chain's new Hidden Valley fire ranch sauce, a standard creamy ranch sauce with a slight hint of heat, and the jalapeño honey mustard, an unusual combination of tangy mustard and strong yet balanced jalapeño flavor, these nuggets truly blew me away.

Priyanka: When it comes to nuggets, the three things that matter the most to me are a crisp exterior, well-seasoned coating, and juicy chicken. Taco Bell's latest offering checked off all three.

At first glance, the nuggets — all in different shapes and sizes — seemed as though they had a tough exterior, but as soon as I took my first bite, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the chicken tore apart. I also enjoyed the "Taco Bell twist," as one representative called it at the preview, wherein breadcrumbs were combined with crispy tortillas in the coating.

Usually, I pair my chicken bites with regular ketchup or mayonnaise, but since I've tried Taco Bell's jalapeño honey mustard sauce, I've found myself swapping the regulars for this combination instead. The jalapeño adds a subtle yet nice kick, pairing beautifully with the new nuggets.

At the time of the film's production in 1964, Julie Andrews was just 29 years old. Initially, Andrews was hesitant to accept the role. The star's breakthrough Disney film "Mary Poppins" was still in production, and she was worried about playing another "wholesome nanny" role, Biography reported.

Other actresses, including Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, and even Grace Kelly, were considered for the role, but in the end, Andrews was screenplay writer Ernest Lehman's first choice.

It ended up being the right one — Andrews received an Oscar nomination for best actress at the 38th Academy Awards.

Andrews, 89, has had a prolific acting career. Among her roles, she played Queen Clarisse in the "Princess Diaries" movies, although she revealed she likely won't be returning for the third film.

Over the past 10 years, she's mostly voice-acted, appearing as characters in the "Shrek" and "Despicable Me" movies, among others. Andrews also voices the narrator and elusive gossip columnist Lady Whistledown in "Bridgerton." 

"She was at the top of our list for Lady Whistledown," "Bridgerton" showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Oprah Magazine in 2020. "We offered her the part, sent her the scripts, not thinking anything would really come of it. But surprisingly she read the scripts and fell in love with them."

"Bridgerton" series author Julia Quinn said she was shocked. "When they told me I legitimately stopped breathing," she said. "I mean, I should be dead."

Speaking to Vanity Fair in 2022, Andrews said her pivot to voice acting over the last decade has been "wonderful."

"I don't have to get hair and makeup anymore. I just go into the studio and do my voiceovers," she said. 

Plummer also recalled being hesitant about the script, "because it was so awful and sentimental and gooey," he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2011. "You had to work terribly hard to try and infuse some minuscule bit of humor into it."

However, Plummer's background as a dramatic actor made him perfect for the role in the producers' eyes. Despite his acting chops, his singing ended up being dubbed in the final version with singer Bill Lee's voice, NPR reported.

He was nominated for three Academy Awards, ultimately winning the best supporting actor award for "Beginners" in 2012. At 82, he became the oldest actor to ever receive an Oscar.

In 2019, Plummer starred in Rian Johnson's "Knives Out" opposite Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.

However, his part as Captain Georg von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" is arguably his most fondly remembered role, though he frequently shunned the movie in later years.

"I was a bit bored with the character," Plummer told The Boston Globe in 2010. "Although we worked hard enough to make him interesting, it was a bit like flogging a dead horse. And the subject matter is not mine. I mean, it can't appeal to every person in the world. It's not my cup of tea."

Despite not liking his role in the movie, Plummer remained "the best of friends" with his costar Julie Andrews for decades, she told ABC.

On February 5, 2021, Christopher Plummer died at his home in Connecticut with his wife, Elaine Taylor, by his side. He was 91. 

Rather than being 16 going on 17, the actor was actually 21 years old when she played the eldest von Trapp child in her breakout role.

The Telegraph reported that Carr's mother recommended her to a casting agent for "The Sound of Music," saying, "She's 21, but she could pass for 16."

The actor was working as a physician's assistant at the time and had no theatrical or musical training. However, she captivated the casting agents with her beautiful voice and appearance.

Carr starred in the musical "Evening Primrose" in 1966, the year after "The Sound of Music" was released.

"It was hard to have your first role as the high spot of your career," she told the London Daily Telegraph, The Washington Post reported. "I felt smothered by Liesl. She began to feel like my evil twin, the perfect one that everyone loved."

While taking a short break from touring the world promoting "The Sound of Music," Carr met and married her husband, Jay Brent. Carr continued acting for a while, but after becoming a mother to two children, she decided to leave Hollywood and focus on building an interior design company. She and her husband divorced in 1991, after which she wrote her autobiography, "Forever Liesl."

On September 17, 2016, Carr died due to complications from a rare form of dementia at the age of 73.

When "The Sound of Music" was released, Nicholas Hammond was 15 years old. His mother, Eileen Bennett, was also an actor, but the one who indirectly influenced him to go into acting was Julie Andrews herself. 

"I saw her onstage in 'My Fair Lady' when I was nine and I made a decision that night that I wanted to do what that lady does," Hammond told Parade in 2013.

Hammond was the first actor to play Spider-Man in a live-action production of the comic. Born in 1950, he is also the only actor born before the character first appeared in a comic book in 1962.

Hammond, 74, was born in the US but moved to Australia in the mid-1980s. The actor now lives in Sydney where he works as an actor, screenwriter, and director. He's also remained close with his "The Sound of Music" costars, especially the other von Trapp children.

"We bonded because, for all of us, and particularly the seven kids, it was an extraordinary experience as a young person to go through — where one day you're an unknown child actor and literally the day after the film opens, we were the seven most famous children in the world," he told Parade.

The film was released when Menzies-Urich was just 15 years old.

Though Louisa didn't have much of a storyline, Menzies-Urich was able to display her ballet background during the performance of "So Long, Farewell."

The series, which was a spinoff of the movie of the same name, only ran for one season between 1977 and 1978. Menzies-Urich continued to act until 1990, mostly appearing in television shows and TV movies.

She died in 2017 at the age of 68. Her son, Ryan Urich, shared the news.

"She was an actress, a ballerina, and loved living her life to the fullest," Urich said, USA Today reported.

Chase had a short-lived career as a child actor. Following his breakout role as Kurt von Trapp at 15 years old, Duane Chase acted in the family films "Follow Me, Boys!"  and "The Big Valley." 

After "The Sound of Music," Chase briefly fought fires with the forestry service. Later, in 2020, he volunteered to drive supply trucks down to Southern Oregon to fight the wildfires sweeping across the state and California. 

Now 74, he lives in Seattle and works as a computer software analyst and designer for oil and mining companies.

Prior to landing the role of Brigitta, Cartwright acted in the 1950s TV series "The Danny Thomas Show."

"Thousands were interviewed to play the parts of the von Trapp children, and when I got word I had been cast, I was so excited," she wrote on her website. "Danny Thomas released me from the last show of the 'Danny Thomas Show' season so I could begin working on this movie. For that, I am so grateful because he didn't have to do that."

Angela Cartwright, now 72, had a relatively successful acting career following "The Sound of Music." Her acting credits include roles in "Lost in Space," "My Three Sons," and "The Love Boat."

She's continued acting and voiced the role of Edna Platt in a 2022 episode of "Adventures in Odyssey."

Debbie Turner grew up in a showbiz family and moved to California in the 1950s. She was involved in TV, commercial, and print modeling work before landing the role of Marta in "The Sound of Music."

Turner, 68, lives in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and has operated her floral design company for over 30 years, according to her website.

During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Turner paid homage to her "The Sound of Music" roots with a new business venture: making face masks based on the iconic curtains used to make the children's play clothes in the movie.

She also makes and sells scarves made out of a similar fabric to the one used in the movie. 

Karath had a successful career as a child actor in the early 1960s before landing her role in "The Sound of Music" when she was 5.

At the time of the movie's filming, Karath couldn't swim, which made the boat-flipping scene challenging. 

"The little one can't swim, please fall to the front of the boat so you can get to her quickly," Andrews told ABC News the directors asked her. "Of course, I went to the back of the boat."

Another von Trapp child ended up having to lift Karath to safety.

After "The Sound of Music," Karath had roles in television shows like "Dr. Kildare," "Lassie," "Lost in Space," and "The Brady Bunch."

After graduating from the University of Southern California, the actor, now 66, moved to Paris to study art history and model. She married her husband, Philippe L'Equilbec, and returned to the US. However, she took a lengthy break from acting to raise their son.

In 2005, the cast of "The Sound of Music" reunited to share what they were up to now. At the time, Karath said she was resuming her acting career in Los Angeles, but she hasn't had any roles since 1981.

I ordered an eight-count of bone-in traditional Buffalo wings at the restaurant I visited in Massachusetts. They cost $12.19, excluding taxes and fees, and came with celery sticks and sides of ranch and blue cheese.

I live in New York City, but I had to travel further afield to try the chain's wings because many of my local TGI Fridays restaurants have closed.

In early November, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Reuters reported that it was facing $37 million in debt, which led to some underperforming restaurants closing.

The TGI Fridays location I visited in Massachusetts is locally franchised and owned, so it's not included in the larger brand's bankruptcy filing.

Unlike some of the other chains I tried, TGI Fridays also doesn't appear to make its own Buffalo sauce.

On the menu, it's advertised as simply Frank's Red Hot Buffalo. While I do like that brand of sauce, I could easily make the same wings at home, which made it feel less unique.

I also thought they were slightly smaller than some of the other wings I tried.

Business Insider reached out to TGI Fridays for comment but did not receive a response.

Though I liked the crispy skin and texture of these chicken wings, as well as the tender meat inside, I thought they were lacking in sauce and flavor.

Overall, I probably wouldn't order these again.

At my local Applebee's in Brooklyn, an order of nine classic bone-in wings costs $18.99, excluding tax and fees. They came with celery sticks and sides of ranch and blue cheese.

Applebee's partnered with the NFL this year as the league's official grill and bar partner after finding a major crossover between their customer base and NFL viewers.

"We know our guests are football fans," Applebee's chief marketing officer Joel Yashinsky told Business Insider.

Since Buffalo wings are a favorite among football fanatics, I was excited to see how the chain fared.

The wings were a rich red-brown color and fried to a crisp.

The Buffalo sauce had a nice balance between the heat and the more savory, buttery flavor, making for a balanced bite. I thought the meat inside was pretty juicy, and I loved the sheer size of these wings.

My only real complaint was the price — $18.99 for a plate of wings felt pretty pricey, even though the wings were on the larger side. However, the price will vary depending on which location you visit.

At the Massachusetts location I visited, an eight-count of bone-in Buffalo wings cost $14.99, excluding tax and fees. They came with two dipping sauces: ranch and blue cheese.

However, the wings cost slightly more, $17.99, at the Chili's location I typically visit in Queens, New York.

I've tried these wings before and commented that they could have been slightly saucier and crispier. However, when I tried them this second time, I didn't encounter those issues.

They were perfectly crispy and almost dripping in sauce.

The Buffalo sauce had a strong buttery flavor with just the right amount of heat. The chain is also known for its ranch dipping sauce, which paired very nicely with the wings.

Though the wings were smaller, I thought they packed more flavor than the ones from Applebee's and TGI Fridays.

The chain's Buffalo bone-in wings are arguably Buffalo Wild Wings' most famous menu item, so I was eager to see how they would stack up against other chain restaurants' wings. I certainly wasn't disappointed.

I ordered a six-count of traditional Buffalo wings through the Buffalo Wild Wings app for $12.49, excluding tax and fees, and a side of ranch.

The wings were crispy and had a light coating of Buffalo sauce that covered every part of the wings.

There was a selection of both drumsticks and flats, but I noticed that the drums were particularly meaty.

The chicken meat inside the wing was moist and tender, and the crispy skin and slightly sweet, just-spicy-enough sauce added a lot of flavor. Overall, these were really solid Buffalo wings.

I also thought these wings were a great value for the money and would definitely order them again.

I ordered 10 classic bone-in wings for $17.29, excluding tax and fees.

Wingstop doesn't offer Buffalo sauce on its menu, but it does have its Original Hot sauce, which is the chain's version of Buffalo. I ordered them with a side of ranch.

The sticky sauce clung to my fingers as I ate these wings, which were the perfect size: not too big, not too small, and just the right amount of tender chicken meat.

The sauce had a lot of levels, balancing between a strong vinegar flavor, to buttery, and topped off with a layer of spice that was slightly smoky yet not overpowering.

The Wingstop wings stood out as the spiciest among all the chains I tried. However, the heat didn't overpower the flavor — instead, it enhanced it.

Each element, from the crispy seasoned skin to the tangy undertones of the sauce, came through distinctly. These wings balanced bold, spicy flavor with a depth of taste, making them the best chain-restaurant Buffalo wings I tried.

After receiving the heartbreaking news, Iris is depressed and distraught. However, after getting a request from Los Angeles movie trailer executive Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, to switch homes for the holidays, everything starts to look up for Iris. 

While in Los Angeles, she befriends an elderly neighbor who wrote for many old Hollywood movies and gains self-confidence. She also meets a film score writer, played by Jack Black. Their adorable friendship turns romantic at the end of the movie.

After "The Holiday," Winslet starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in "Revolutionary Road," for which she won a Golden Globe award for best actress in a leading role. She also won an Academy Award for best actress in a leading role for "The Reader" in 2009.

More recently, Winslet starred alongside "Little Women" star Saoirse Ronan in "Ammonite," a period drama released in 2020, and multiple television series, including "Lee." Winslet also received an Emmy Award in 2021 for her role on HBO's "Mare of Easttown."

Winslet also starred in "Avatar: The Way of Water," the highly anticipated sequel to James Cameron's "Avatar," which was released in 2022.

After breaking up with her unfaithful boyfriend and switching homes with Iris for the holidays, Amanda enters a whirlwind romance with Iris' brother, Graham. They fall head over heels for each other but recognize their relationship will be complicated if they're living on opposite sides of the world. 

Amanda leaves to go back to Los Angeles but finds herself crying over the idea of leaving Graham. In the end, they decide they'll try to make it work.

In addition to her decades-long acting career, Cameron Diaz has also worked as a producer and an author. The star announced her retirement from acting in 2014. 

"I got a peace in my soul, because I finally was taking care of myself," Diaz told Gwyneth Paltrow on her Goop podcast in August 2020. "It's a strange thing to say; I know a lot of people won't understand it; I know you understand it, but it's so intense to work at that level and be that public and put yourself out there."

Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden, announced the birth of their first child, Raddix, in 2019.

After an eight-year hiatus from Hollywood, Diaz returned to acting to star alongside Jamie Foxx in the upcoming Netflix movie "Back in Action."

Graham is a widower and explains that he never introduces anyone to his two children, or even tells the women he sees that they exist. He prefers to be seen as a young, single guy with no attachments or complications.

However, this changes when he meets Amanda and they fall in love.

Law also co-starred with Robert Downey Jr. in the Sherlock Holmes films and Keira Knightley in "Anna Karenina."

In 2016, Law starred in the title role in HBO's "The Young Pope." The actor has also played prominent roles in "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" and "Captain Marvel."

His most recent acting credits include appearing again as Albus Dumbledore in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" and as Captain Hook in "Peter Pan & Wendy."

Miles is originally introduced as one of Amanda's ex-boyfriend's friends and his friendship with Iris grows throughout the movie. They connect by watching old Hollywood movies, many of which were written by Arthur.

Their friendship turns romantic after they decide to help prepare Arthur for an event in his honor. Miles breaks up with his actress girlfriend Maggie, who has said she's been filming on location but has instead been cheating on him. In the end, Miles asks Iris if she will be his date on New Year's Eve and she says yes.

After "The Holiday," Black starred in films like "Tropic Thunder," "Gulliver's Travels," and "Goosebumps." He also held starring roles in the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise and in the two most recent "Jumanji" movies. 

In 2018, Black was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Most recently, he starred as Satan in the 2024 holiday comedy "Dear Santa" and reprised his role as Po in "Kung Fu Panda 4." He also voiced the role of Bowser in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

In addition to his acting career, Black is the lead singer of the band "Tenacious D." The band, which formed 30 years ago, continues to tour, although their 2024 tour was cut short in light of a comment Black's bandmate, Kyle Gass, made about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in July. Gass apologized for the remark, and Black told Variety in August, "We'll be back."

He also runs the YouTube channel Jablinski Games.

After befriending his new next-door neighbor Iris and Miles, he attends an event celebrating his achievements in the film industry. 

Wallach's prolific acting career spanned more than six decades, with his most notable film appearances including roles in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "The Godfather: Part III," "How to Steal a Million," and "The Misfits," which is most commonly known as Marilyn Monroe's last completed film.

"The Holiday" was one of Wallach's final film appearances.

After leading Iris on for years, Jasper gets engaged and announces it in front of his and Iris' entire office at a Christmas party. Iris tells Jasper she is going on holiday to get over him.

However, instead of leaving her alone, Jasper asks Iris for notes on his manuscript while she's on vacation. He also shows up in Los Angeles unannounced to tell Iris he's afraid of losing her but is still engaged. Finally, Iris breaks it off.

Sewell has appeared in "The Man in the High Castle" and "Victoria," and he guest-starred in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" as a stubborn but genius artist.

His most recent acting credits include roles in "Kaleidoscope" and "The Trouble with Jessica," and he stars alongside Keri Russell in Netflix's "The Diplomat," which is in its second season.

After a rip-roaring fight in one of the first scenes of the movie, Ethan tells Amanda he has cheated on her with his secretary but blames it on the fact that he doesn't feel connected to Amanda. He also points out that she doesn't "even shed a tear" during their breakup. 

In recent years, Burns has directed and produced several of the projects he's acted in, including "27 Dresses," "Public Morals," "Summertime," "Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies," and "Bridge and Tunnel." 

He is married to model Christy Turlington — they wed in 2003. They have two children, Grace and Finn.

Not much about Maggie is known other than the fact she's beautiful, likes to talk on the phone while Miles is listening to classical music in the car, and she cheats on him while pretending to be acting on location.

In the end, Maggie tries to win Miles back, but they break up.

Her most recent television credits included roles in "Mistresses," "Wayward Pines," and "Sleepy Hollow." She's also acted in several indie movies.

As of 2020, Sossamon was working on a project called "The Maude Room," a short-form variety show that she described as "a little picture show theater."

"What I wanted to do is to create a space that's like film school in a way. I'm doing mostly everything myself, holding the camera and doing all the post [production], and I'm loving it," she told Refinery 29 in September 2020.

However, the project has yet to be released.

Sophie appeared in adorable scenes alongside her younger sister, Olivia.

Englefield, 6, was living with her dad when filming started and had only recently become permanently housed after being homeless, the actor told Vulture in 2020.

According to her Instagram page, Englefield, now 25, lives in West Sussex, England. In April 2020, she welcomed her first child. 

"She has the largest and most loving family with the most ridiculous mix of beautiful people around her," she wrote in an Instagram post at the time. The former actor's account has since been set private. "We cannot wait for you all to meet her once the world begins to return to a more normal state."

Englefield, who now has dark hair and tattoos, said in a 2019 Instagram story that she struggled to find acting gigs because of her new look, People reported.

"As an adult, I've found that casting directors aren't overly seeking people who 'look like me' to play roles, even though body modifications aren't rare these days and are the most common they have ever been," she said.

Englefield has also shared a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to work on "The Holiday" on her TikTok page.

In a 2022 TikTok video, she answered frequently asked questions about starring in the film and said she hasn't stayed in touch with any of her costars, but that "they were all so lovely."

One of Pritchard's character's most notable scenes is the one where she and Sophie beg their father to "do Mr. Napkin Head." Graham hilariously places a napkin and his glasses over his face, much to the delight of his daughters and Amanda.

Pritchard has kept a low profile and does not have any public social media accounts.

The bag cost $5.79 at my local Key Food Marketplace.

This is comparable to other brands of packaged cookies I usually buy.

Sometimes I find ginger snaps can be a little tough, but these ones crumbled easily.

I thought the cookies tasted strongly of spices like cinnamon and molasses but were slightly off-balance in sweetness.

These cookies were borderline spicy, which I'm personally not a huge fan of. However, I did enjoy the texture.

These cookies, the most expensive of the ones I tried, cost $5.99 at my local Key Food Marketplace.

However, unlike the ginger snaps, these cookies supposedly contained pieces of crystallized ginger. I was excited to see how the flavors would measure up.

I could also see the pieces of ginger on the surface of the crispy cookies.

I loved the texture of the crispy cookies and the crystallized ginger and thought these were just as good as any non-gluten-free cookies I've ever tried.

At my local Stop & Shop grocery store, a box of eight cookies cost $3.59. They were the least expensive, but the box also contained the fewest cookies.

I thought these cookies would be a really cute touch for a festive school lunch or snack on the go.

The icing and smattering of red and green sprinkles upped the sweetness, but I also preferred the softer texture of these gingerbread cookies compared to the other two kinds.

Aesthetically, I also thought these were the most festive for the holiday season.

While I enjoyed all of these cookies, I would choose the classic gingerbread cookies for a sweet, festive treat.

Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, Wingstop has grown a cult following over the years for its chicken offerings, from its wings to its recently released chicken sandwich, which has caught the attention of Gen-Z consumers.

Wingstop does have dine-in options, but I felt it was more authentic to the Wingstop experience to order in.

I ordered four crispy tenders plain with a side of honey mustard sauce from my local Wingstop in Brooklyn, New York, for $10.39, excluding tax and fees.

I ordered these tenders plain, but they also come in all of the chain's signature sauces, from lemon pepper to Buffalo. I liked the ability to customize my tenders according to my preferences.

The tenders paired well with the honey mustard, which was creamy and had an ideal level of tanginess. I also thought the classic breading had a nice amount of flavor and peppery seasoning.

Each Wingstop tender had a different amount of juicy chicken meat, with some pieces being thicker and more satisfying than others. While the flavor was spot-on, I found myself wishing there was a bit more meat in each bite to really hit the mark.

These tenders would make a decent addition to a spread of wings from Wingstop, especially for folks turned off by spicy food.

Next time I order from Wingstop, I'll probably stick to their specialty: their wings.

Business Insider reached out to Wingstop for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

I visited my local Applebee's in Brooklyn, New York, to try these chicken tenders.

Applebee's partnered with the NFL this year as the league's official grill and bar partner after finding a major crossover between their customer base and NFL viewers.

"We know our guests are football fans," Applebee's chief marketing officer Joel Yashinsky told Business Insider, adding, "This season, we've been all in on the NFL."

Data collected by Applebee's in April showed that 64% of its guests were interested in or very interested in the NFL, and about 34% had watched the NFL in the last 12 months, which informed the chain's football season strategy, Yashinsky said.

While the chain is consistently lauded for its boneless wings, I haven't heard much about its chicken tenders.

At my location, the chicken tender plate typically costs $12.99, excluding tax and fees. However, I ordered them as part of the chain's "2 for $2X" deal, which also allowed me to get an order of boneless wings and a classic cheeseburger.

They were really crispy, but slightly on the smaller side. The serving size of the honey mustard was also smaller than the Wingstop version.

However, unlike Wingstop, these chicken tenders came with a generous serving of fries, which I thought made this meal an excellent value.

I appreciated the seasoning on the breading, which was a highlight since this chain serves its tenders plain without coating them in signature sauces like those available at Wingstop, Chili's, or Buffalo Wild Wings.

My only complaint, other than the smaller size of the chicken tenders, was just how fried they were. I thought the breading was a little overcooked, to the point that it left a dry, almost burned taste in my mouth.

However, this could have just been the batch I received and not standard for all Applebee's chicken tenders. I reached out to Applebee's about my experience, but they did not respond before publication.

TGI Fridays has run into financial trouble in recent months. In early November, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Reuters reported that it was facing $37 million in debt, which led to some underperforming restaurants closing.

The TGI Fridays location I visited in Massachusetts is locally franchised and owned, so it's not included in the larger brand's bankruptcy filing.

I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $15.69, excluding tax and fees. It came with a side — I opted for mac and cheese — and honey mustard.

They still had the signature finger shape I typically look for in a chicken tender.

This honey-mustard dipping sauce was less creamy compared to the other chains I tried. However, I was mostly judging the chicken tenders on their own, not the sauces they came with.

I was impressed by these chicken tenders and would definitely order them again the next time I visit TGI Fridays for game day or just a standard dinner out.

However, I thought the breading was just slightly too thick and underseasoned to rank them higher than the top two chains.

Business Insider reached out to TGI Fridays for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

Chili's has been killing the game lately — with traffic and sales on the upswing leading up to football season, the chain is arguably in a league of its own.

The chain told BI in April that a return to commercial advertising has been a major part of the brand's efforts to increase brand awareness over the past couple of years. This includes during sports seasons. Sports Business Journal reported that in 2023, Chili's spent 38% of its TV advertising budget on live NFL action during games.

Value has also been a focus for the chain in the past year. It has expanded its "3 For Me" menu and offers happy-hour beers starting at $3.

"We're focused on creating a lively, social atmosphere that makes Chili's a great spot to watch the game," Chili's chief marketing officer George Felix told BI.

"Of course, we understand that some people prefer to watch the game from the comfort of home, which is why we also offer everyday favorites and party platters for takeout and delivery," he added.

I ordered a four-count of Chicken Crispers for $14.99, excluding tax and fees. The meal also included fries, mac and cheese, and two sauces.

The tenders are available in a variety of flavors, such as Nashville Hot, Honey Chipotle, Buffalo Ranch, barbecue, and Buffalo.

I paired my chicken tenders with ranch and honey mustard and was impressed by the creaminess and flavor of both sauces. However, the chicken tenders really hit it out of the park.

It was peppery, slightly salty, and just crispy enough to not overpower the chicken meat inside. Plus, for the price, you also get a lot of food.

While I'd probably opt for smothering these chicken tenders in a signature sauce next time, they also hold up on their own with their crispy breading and succulent chicken meat.

Buffalo Wild Wings was founded in 1982 in Columbus, Ohio, by Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery, who started the restaurant with the goal of bringing authentic Buffalo-style chicken wings to the area.

The chain has since expanded to over 1,200 locations and offers 21 different sauce options, including the chain's signature Buffalo sauce, for its classic bone-in wings, boneless wings, and tenders.

A five-count of the chain's hand-breaded tenders with no sauce or dry rub and fries typically costs $17.99, excluding tax and fees.

However, Buffalo Wild Wings was running a promotion that allowed me to order 15 boneless wings, five tenders, ranch or blue cheese dipping sauces, and fries for $19.99, so I chose that deal instead.

These chicken tenders had tiny pieces of fried breading that enhanced the texture of each bite and paired well with the tangy and fresh ranch dipping sauce provided.

The chicken tenders themselves were well-seasoned and sizable — they were probably the largest chicken tenders I tried, length-wise, and also the thickest.

The breading had the most distinctive flavor out of all the tenders I tried.

The chicken meat inside was moist and high-quality, in my opinion. These tenders from Buffalo Wild Wings also tasted the most homemade to me, which I attributed to the flaky, hand-breaded coating.

The crispy breading added a satisfying crunch without being too thick, complementing the tender, juicy chicken inside. Every bite struck the perfect balance, making these feel less like a mass-produced product from a chain restaurant and more like something prepared fresh in a home kitchen.

All of the chicken tenders I tried had something tasty to offer for game-day and tailgating season. But in the end, Buffalo Wild Wings was the real MVP.

North Pole, Alaska, is decked out in Christmas decorations year-round, although it's an especially festive place to be during the holiday season.

It's only fitting that there's a town called North Pole in Alaska. The small town, which has a population of just 2,285 people, keeps the holiday spirit alive all year long. However, the North Pole is especially festive around the holidays.

The North Pole's post office is a famous local attraction that reportedly receives over 400,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus every year, Travel Alaska reported.

Solvang, California, is an adorable Danish-inspired village located in the Santa Ynez Valley, up the coast from Santa Barbara.

The town feels festive all year round, although Solvang stands out during the holiday season. Every year, the European-inspired town hosts Julefest, a holiday celebration complete with Christmas tree lighting, plenty of holiday shopping, and Danish treats.

Visitors to Mystic, Connecticut, can stroll around the town's harbor to admire the elaborately decorated boats, watch Santa Claus arrive by tugboat, or grab a slice at the town's most famous restaurant, Mystic Pizza.

The downtown of Helen, Georgia, is a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village that only gets more adorable once it's decorated for the holidays.

While the town is famous for its Oktoberfest celebration, Helen also comes alive around the holidays.

The town has a Christmas market and parade featuring costumed characters, floats, and Santa Claus himself. There are also festive lights, a breakfast with Santa, and the opportunity to buy your gifts at Helen's own Christmas Shoppe.

Frankenmuth, also known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, is one of the coziest places to spend the holidays. The town's architecture will make you feel as if you've been transported to Europe, and it's even better when it's covered in snow.

The town is also home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which, at 320,000 square feet, calls itself the world's largest Christmas store.

Silverton is a tiny town in Oregon, although it's arguably the most festive place in the state during the holiday season.

The Silverton Christmas Market at the Oregon Garden Resort is a popular holiday event in Silverton. During this event, the gardens are lit up with festive light displays, snowless tubing, a Biergarten, and a vendor market.

Many people only associate the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with summer vacations, although the town is filled with holiday charm in the offseason.

You may not want to swim in the frigid Atlantic Ocean but the beach is just as charming in the winter thanks to its beautifully decorated lighthouses.

Nantucket also holds an annual Christmas Stroll festival, during which visitors can shop at discounted prices at many of the island's shops and watch Santa arrive by boat into Nantucket Harbor.

It's nearly impossible to avoid holiday cheer in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The charming ski town goes all out — its celebrations include Christmas light displays, tree lightings, and visits from Santa Claus.

What better place to spend the holidays than a town called Santa Claus?

The Indiana town is well-known for its post office, appropriately located on Kringle Place, where thousands of children mail their letters to Santa every year.

There's also a large Santa statue that stands outside the post office year-round, serving up a dose of Christmas cheer even in the summer.

Branson is a go-to spot for Missourians looking to get into the holiday spirit.

From live shows to holiday lights and shopping, Branson has everything you could ask for in a festive night out. It also offers natural beauty like snowy vistas at Table Rock Lake.

Located outside Charlotte, McAdenville also goes by "Christmas Town, USA" during the holiday season.

The name is fitting since it's one of the best places to view holiday lights and decorations in the country. Beginning December 1 — and sometimes, even earlier — homes and buildings all over town are aglow in lights and decorations until the day after Christmas.

Woodstock, Vermont, is widely regarded as one of the most quintessentially New England towns in the country. Gorgeous in both the fall and the dead of winter, Woodstock has a number of festive attractions and activities.

If you're planning to stay in town over the holidays or the winter season, try to book a room at the cozy and festive Woodstock Inn. Each guest suite has its own fireplace perfect for cuddling up next to with a cup of hot cocoa and a copy of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas."

People love to visit Stowe, Vermont, in the wintertime for skiing and other outdoor activities, but the town especially comes alive during the holiday season.

Stowe offers a beautiful winter landscape and hosts an annual tree-lighting ceremony, a holiday bazaar, and ice skating.

Leavenworth, Washington, is a small Bavarian-inspired town with amazing Christmas lights.

Every year, Leavenworth's downtown is decorated in lights and the town's annual Christmas market keeps the holiday festivities going all season long.

The ski town is famous for its arches made of elk antlers, which are covered in Christmas lights during the holiday season and provide the perfect opportunity for family photo ops.

Outdoor enthusiasts can also hit the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the multiple surrounding national parks.

I tried cinnamon rolls from Pillsbury, Immaculate Baking Company, Annie's, and Amazon's Happy Belly, which has since rebranded as Amazon Fresh.

To make the cinnamon rolls, I greased a baking sheet and baked them according to the instructions on each can. They all took around 20 minutes to bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each can of cinnamon rolls also came with icing, which I allowed to come to room temperature while the rolls were baking.

The can cost $2.49 and included eight rolls plus a bag of icing. This was the least expensive brand I tried, and it came with the most rolls.

However, each cinnamon roll was smaller. The icing, which came in a small plastic bag, melted nicely onto the rolls when they were fresh out of the oven.

I didn't love the texture of this cinnamon roll. It was a little stodgy and thick rather than flaky.

It also lacked the spiced flavor I expect from a cinnamon roll. It was a touch bland, and all I could taste was the sweet, sticky icing. It wasn't bad, per se, but it wasn't my favorite out of all of the rolls I tried.

The can came with five cinnamon rolls and icing. It cost $8.49, making it the most expensive brand I tried.

This made them easy to hold and bite into. I could see a rich layer of cinnamon swirled inside the bun.

The cinnamon roll was sweet, spicy, and buttery, and the icing wasn't too sweet — it was just right. However, for such a high price tag, I expected to be more impressed with these rolls than I was.

A can of five rolls, including Cinnabon icing, cost $3.49.

The icing, which came in a small plastic tub, did require a knife to spread over the top of the roll, which added an extra step. However, I thought it was worth it.

The roll was slightly crispy on the outside but fluffy in the center. The Cinnabon icing was also very decadent, without being sickly sweet or toothache-inducing.

The can came with five cinnamon rolls and cost $7.99.

The icing settled into a creamy coating over the top of the rolls.

I thought these cinnamon rolls had the perfect balance between buttery and flaky texture, without being too sweet.

A can of five rolls, including Cinnabon icing, cost $7.69.

Its texture was super flaky, just as the packaging promised, and the texture of the roll was very similar to a croissant.

The roll had just the right amount of cinnamon and butter flavor, but its texture blew me away. It practically melted in my mouth.

Not only did the Pillsbury Flaky Grands cinnamon rolls have the best flavor and texture, but I also thought they were well-priced for such a decadent dessert. They tasted like they could have come from an actual bakery.

The next time I'm looking to make a cozy, holiday breakfast, I know which brand I'll be reaching for at the grocery store.

The burger was under $5, but I'm not sure it was worth the price.

It comes with one slice of cheese.

Right away, I tasted the thick beef patties. The burger had traveled a little more than 15 minutes from my local Burger King to my apartment, but the meat was still juicy and the cheese nicely melted.

The pickle slices were thick and crunchy, and I enjoyed the sesame-seed bun, which added a nice textural element. But I thought there was just a little too much ketchup, which will likely vary depending on who's making your burger that day.

It was also a little heavy for my liking. It filled me up a little more than I had anticipated before jumping into the rest of the burger comparison. Still, for a burger that costs just under $4, that might be more of an asset than a hindrance if you want a filling, inexpensive lunch.

It was about the same price as the burgers from McDonald's and Burger King, though it landed squarely in the middle in terms of value.

The toppings looked a little stingy, and they were clustered in the middle of the sandwich. I would have liked to see them more spread out.

But I had to get a few bites in to reach the toppings in the center.

The toppings themselves were amazing. I thought the pickles were the most flavorful out of the burgers I tried, and I liked the use of an onion ring rather than diced onion, although I would've liked more.

It was slightly more expensive than Wendy's version but had more toppings. It came with an extra slice of American cheese plus chopped onions, and I thought it was still relatively affordable.

I was interested to see if the added toppings would amp up the flavor.

The bun held everything together and was a good size, but it was a little too soft and didn't have a lot of flavor on its own. But I enjoyed the amount of condiments and didn't find them overpowering.

The chopped onions added a lot of flavor, and the burger patties were juicy despite being thinner than the Burger King ones. I liked the added cheese but didn't think it was necessary.

It costs $9 at a Whataburger in Austin, excluding tax and fees.

The burger was a decent size and I could see the gooey cheese peeking out from underneath the soft potato bun. 

The ingredients definitely set this burger apart from the others.

The bun was light and fluffy, but I did think the burger patties could have been a little thicker and juicier.

The burger cost only $5, making it one of the cheaper burgers I tried.

I ordered it with pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and American cheese.

One of the benefits of ordering from P. Terry's is that you can easily customize your burger and add a number of toppings including grilled onions, the chain's special sauce, tomato, lettuce, and more.

The bun was slightly underwhelming, but I thought it was an excellent, large burger with tons of flavor, especially for the low price. I also thought the mustard really came through and added a lot to the burger.

I paid $12.49 for a double cheeseburger. I could customize my toppings, but I went with pickles, onions, and Shack sauce.

The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese. The pickles also looked large and homemade. It was even heavy to pick up.

The cheese was thick and perfectly melted.

The burger was huge, which was both an asset and a hindrance. I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

However, despite being the second most expensive burger, I thought it was worth the price. The burger patties were much thicker than the other burgers I tried, and the toppings took it over the edge in terms of flavor.

Overall, I was impressed ... but stuffed.

The burger has since been replaced with the Big Buford, which has all the same ingredients but a bakery-style bun instead of a sesame-seed bun. The burger costs $7.69 at my local Checkers in Brooklyn.

It was smaller than my hand, though it did include a variety of toppings like tomato, lettuce, and red onion. The burger also comes with American cheese, dill pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise on a toasted bun.

I also thought the American cheese was very tangy and flavorful. Overall, I enjoyed the combination of flavors. However, the price prevented this burger from ranking higher. 

White Castle sliders tend to be eaten in pairs, so I ordered two. Each burger cost me $3.55, so I ended up paying $7.10.

The burgers smelled strongly of onions and condiments the second I removed them from the bag.

The pickles were crunchy and flavorful. Though the burgers each had a bun sandwiched in the middle of the burger, it wasn't too bready — instead, it allowed the flavors to really come together while still being filling.

As the cheapest and smallest burgers, I was expecting them to be a little lackluster. However, I found that good things definitely come in small packages. The onions, condiments, and pickles were flavorful, but it was the beef that really impressed me.

The small-but-mighty burger was one of the most flavorful out of the ones I tried, easy to eat, and perfectly priced. 

Five Guys doesn't technically have a "double cheeseburger" — its regular cheeseburgers already come with two slices of cheese and two beef patties.

My burger cost $13.55, excluding taxes and fees, making it the most expensive burger I tried.

Right away, I noticed that the toppings were generous. The pickle slices were large, and none of the toppings cost extra to add.

I thought it was a perfect size. It required two hands to pick up and eat, but it wasn't as heavy as the burger from Shake Shack. Slices of melted American cheese coated each burger, and there wasn't so much sauce that it dripped out from underneath the sesame-seed buns.

I thought the pickle slices were thick, crunchy, and tart. I also really enjoyed the choice of a sesame-seed bun — it added a bit of texture to each and every bite.

The grilled onions also really impressed me. They were soft and almost caramelized, adding a lot of flavor that I didn't get from any other burger.

The SuperSonic double cheeseburger was the only burger I tried that came with lettuce and tomato. Since this was the default option, I decided to try it with these toppings rather than specifically remove them. 

The burger cost me $9.75, excluding taxes and fees.

Unlike Sonic's quarter-pound double cheeseburger, which comes with two junior patties, the full-size burger has a combined half-pound of meat. 

The ingredients tasted fresh and vibrant. The tomato wasn't too watery, the lettuce was crisp, and the burgers tasted well-seasoned and juicy. Plus, the burger was a very generous size. 

However, despite all these accolades, I thought the price was a little steep compared to what I got from Cook Out and In-N-Out.

You can order a "big double" from Cook Out any way you wish, but I ordered mine with cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles. It cost me $4.99, not including tax.

It also had thick slices of fresh onion and large pickle spears layered on top of the burger.

The cheese slices were thick and tangy, and the burger was perfectly moist and medium-rare. It was also very large, and, after already eating dinner, I struggled to get through more than a few bites, though I kept wanting to go back for more.

At an amazingly low price, this burger definitely earned the second-to-top spot on my ranking.

7th Street Burger is a small chain of quick-service burger restaurants with 19 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.

Since it opened in 2021, the chain has quickly grown a reputation for its no-frills approach to smash burgers, which feature crispy patties, gooey cheese, and the chain's signature sauce.

I ordered a double cheeseburger, which comes with two beef patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun. It cost $9.50, excluding tax and fees.

However, this burger was perfect exactly as the chain designed it. The burger patties were delightfully crispy on the outside yet managed to stay juicy.

Melted slices of cheese oozed between the two thin, expertly griddled, and charred beef patties, all smothered in the chain's signature sauce, a creamy, tangy take on classic burger sauce.

There were no lettuce or tomato slices to cut through the rich, savory indulgence, but that only added to the burger's savory flavor. I didn't miss the opportunity to customize my burger with additional toppings. It was probably the best smash burger I've ever had.

With pickles and onions to round out the flavor, the double cheeseburger offered a satisfying, nostalgic flavor that elevated the classic smash burger experience.

It cost me $4.90, which I thought was an excellent deal for the large burger sitting in front of me. One of the first things I noticed was how thick the burger patties were — they were much thicker than other burgers I tried at a similar price point.

To keep my burger similar to the other burgers I tried, I ordered it with onions, pickles, and spread, which I thought tasted similar to Thousand Island dressing.

The cheese slices were perfectly melted and coated each part of the burger, something I couldn't say about any other burger I tried.

The bun was perfectly soft and held everything together perfectly, while the special spread had my mouth watering for another bite.

When it came to a double cheeseburger, the West-Coast chain really nailed it. The burger was beyond flavorful, the perfect size, and, in my opinion, very good value for money.

The next time I'm in a state with an In-N-Out, I know where I'll be filling my burger craving.

A mutual friend set them up on a blind date at Soho House's Dean Street Townhouse.

In their first sit-down interview as a couple, Meghan told the BBC in 2017 that she knew little about the prince or the royal family before the date.

"Because I'm from the States, you don't grow up with the same understanding of the royal family," she said. "I didn't know much about him, so the only thing that I had asked [our mutual friend] when she said that she wanted to set us up, was, 'Well, is he nice?' Cause if he wasn't kind, it just didn't seem like it would make sense."

In an interview with James Corden on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in February 2021, Prince Harry recalled how serious the pair got within their first two months of dating. 

"The second date I was starting to think: This is pretty special," Prince Harry told the host.

"Dating with me, or with any member of the royal family I guess, is kind of flipped upside down," he said. "All the dates become dinners or watching the TV or chatting at home. And then eventually, once you become a couple you venture out to dinners, to the cinema, and everything else. So, everything was done back to front with us."

"There were no distractions, and that was great, that was an amazing thing. We went from 0 to 60 like in the first two months," the royal added.

The Sunday Express reported that the country's single prince was dating American actor, philanthropist, and blogger Meghan Markle. A source told the publication that he was "happier than he's been for many years." 

While they still had not publicly announced they were dating, Meghan made headlines when she told The Vancouver Sun in a Q&A that "my cup runneth over, and I'm the luckiest girl in the world!"

While The Star reported that the pair attended a Halloween party in the city, Us Weekly reported that Meghan and Harry stayed put in her apartment all weekend.

People reported that Meghan met Harry's dad, Prince Charles — now King Charles — and that an "engagement was a possibility."

Harry released a statement confirming that he was dating Meghan but slammed the press coverage surrounding her and their relationship. He said that much of the coverage had been sexist and racist, as Meghan is a biracial woman.

The statement said, in part, "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is 'the price she has to pay' and that 'this is all part of the game'. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his."

After reports that Prince William was not happy with Harry's decision to go public about his relationship with Meghan, William disputed the claims and said he was supportive of Harry's decision to speak out about Meghan and the abuse she was receiving in the press. 

"The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him," the statement read. 

The Sun shared photos of Meghan and Harry ringing in some holiday cheer by picking out a Christmas tree and seeing the Christmas lights in London. Later, they attended the play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime."

Prince Harry introduced his girlfriend to his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, and her daughter at the beginning of 2017. Meghan apparently "adored" Charlotte.

Prince George was away at nursery school, so she missed meeting him, The Sun reported. 

Norwegian media reports at the time said they stayed at the luxurious Tromvik Lodge, which gives panoramic views of the Norwegian Sea and the northern lights.

A friend reportedly told The Sun, "Harry wanted to make this first holiday something Meg will never forget."

Meghan announced that she was shutting down her lifestyle blog, "The Tig." Her post was sweet yet vague, so many assumed this meant she and Harry would be getting engaged. But People reported that she was just too busy to keep it up. 

Us Weekly reported the pair were spotted kissing in the parking lot after the annual Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, England. Harry was participating while Meghan cheered from the sidelines. 

Harry took a three-hour, 100-mile round trip to pick up Meghan and bring her to Pippa Middleton's wedding reception.

Meghan did not attend the ceremony because Pippa had a "no ring, no bring" policy, but the break between the ceremony and the reception allowed Harry to pick her up and bring her later for the "less formal" reception. 

"We're a couple," Meghan said in the October issue of Vanity Fair. "We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy."

She added that they had been "very quietly dating" for six months before reports of the relationship emerged.

After more than a year of dating, Meghan and Harry attended a tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto. They were seen holding hands, whispering to each other, and smiling. 

The couple said the proposal happened quite spontaneously. 

"It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month, here at our cottage; just a standard typical night for us," Prince Harry later told the BBC.

Meghan added, "[We were] trying to roast a chicken and it just — just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee."

Harry continued, "She didn't even let me finish; she said, 'Can I say yes, can I say yes?' and then were hugs. I had the ring on my finger, and I was like, 'Can I — can I give you the ring?' She goes — 'Oh, yes the ring.'"

The world was delighted when the couple announced their engagement on November 27. 

The news came via a statement from Kensington Palace and Clarence House, and the couple posed for celebratory photos.

The statement also announced they would be getting married on May 19, 2018.

For their first official public engagement, the pair greeted onlookers in Nottingham, England.

Royal fiancés are not typically included in official royal Christmas activities, but Queen Elizabeth invited Meghan to join the family at her Sandringham estate.

"It was fantastic. She really enjoyed it," Harry told BBC Radio 4 in an interview a few days later. "The family loved having her there."

It was also the first time that Meghan was photographed with Prince William and Kate, now the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They traveled all over the United Kingdom and even made a surprise appearance in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March.

Celebrities, including Oprah, Serena Williams, and Elton John, were invited to the celebrations, while thousands of well-wishers lined the streets to wave at the couple, who arrived at the reception via a horse-drawn carriage.

Meghan's wedding dress was designed by Givenchy, one of her favorite designers. Her veil featured a motif of different embroidered flowers, including the California state flower. Her bouquet contained forget-me-nots, which were Princess Diana's favorite flower.

In a March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said she and Harry had actually said their vows to each other three days before the wedding at Windsor Castle.

"No one knows that, but we called the archbishop and we just said, 'This thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us.' So the vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury," she said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury later confirmed the couple wasn't legally married until their ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Rather than live in Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace, the couple decided to move slightly further afield from the royal family and settled at Frogmore House.

The couple spent millions of dollars in taxpayer funds renovating the home for their growing family, which they eventually paid back in full by making a contribution to the Sovereign Grant.

During the jam-packed tour, Meghan performed a traditional greeting, the Hongi, with the governor-general of New Zealand, pictured.

The couple also cuddled with koalas in Sydney, met with youth mental health organizations, took part in traditional ceremonies, met foreign leaders, and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington, New Zealand. 

The couple's appearance at Christmas services temporarily halted rumors that they were on the outs with the royal family, namely Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Though they looked the picture of happiness from the outside looking in, Meghan would later reveal in her tell-all interview with Oprah in March 2021 that just before attending this event at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019, she had expressed concern to Prince Harry over her mental health and not "[wanting] to be alive anymore."

"We had to go to an official event. We had to go to this event at the Royal Albert Hall, and a friend said, 'I know you don't look at pictures, but, oh, my God, you guys look so great...'" she said. "I zoomed in, and what I saw was the truth of what that moment was, because right before we had to leave for that, I had just had that conversation with Harry that morning, and it was the next day that I talked to the institution."

"It was like, 'These are the thoughts that I'm having in the middle of the night that are very clear ... And I'm scared, because this is very real. This isn't some abstract idea. This is methodical, and this is not who I am.' But we had to go to this event, and I remember him saying, 'I don't think you can go.' And I said, 'I can't be left alone,'" she said. 

"And that picture, if you zoom in, what I see is how tightly his knuckles are gripped around mine. You can see the whites of our knuckles, because we are smiling and doing our job, but we're both just trying to hold on. And every time that those lights went down in that royal box, I was just weeping, and he was gripping my hand."

Meghan and Prince Harry broke from royal tradition by skipping the post-birth photo call on the hospital steps. But outside Windsor Castle, Harry gushed to the media about his newborn son and how proud he was of his wife.

"It's been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined," he told the media. "How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension. But we're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful [for] all the love and support from everybody out there. It's been amazing."

They appeared for their photo call with Archie three days later. Archie also did not receive a royal title, and details about his christening or godparents were not released publicly.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted their son to be as normal as possible to begin with, hence no use of the title Earl of Dumbarton," royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said at the time.

However, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that the decision not to give Archie a royal title was not their own and that he was also refused security upon his birth.

"Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences — a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son," the prince wrote in a statement.

It added, "Though we have continued to put on a brave face—as so many of you can relate to — I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been."

While touring South Africa, the royal couple met with Nelson Mandela's widow, Graca Machel.

Archie accompanied the royal couple on the trip, which took them to Auwal Mosque, the oldest mosque in South Africa, and other famous sites. At the time, Archie was only 6 months old, which made him one of the youngest royals to ever go on a royal tour.

"It was three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come join me in Botswana, and we camped out with each other under the stars," Prince Harry said in the couple's engagement interview. "She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic."

Meghan's engagement ring features two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection and a center jewel from a conflict-free diamond supplier in Botswana.

When the reports were published, a royal source told CNN that the couple was planning to split their time between the UK and Canada.

Though the royals themselves didn't confirm this report, Markle did speak about how the pressure of constantly being in the public eye was affecting her. 

"Not many people have asked if I'm OK, but it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes," she told ITV reporter Tom Bradby, CNN reported.

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen," the statement read. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." 

In the couple's tell-all interview with Oprah, Prince Harry revealed that the primary reasons for their leaving their royal roles were a "lack of support and lack of understanding" from both the media and the royal family.

"It brings me great sadness that it has come to this," the duke said during a private dinner for his charity Sentebale. "I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option."

In an iconic photo taken by photographer Samir Hussein, the pair wore coordinating blue outfits while looking happier than ever. The romantic snap, taken at the 2020 Endeavour Fund Awards in London on March 5, was quickly shared by fans across the internet.

"I've taken many photos I'm really proud of, but in terms of the huge interest in the subjects and the response I've had, this is probably the most iconic photo I've taken," Hussein said in a statement.

It was the first and final official engagement the "Fab Four" — the nickname given to the two royal couples — participated in after Meghan and Harry announced they would be stepping back from their royal duties.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, told Business Insider that the interactions between the couples, or lack thereof, were visibly "frosty." The couples acted noticeably cold to one another, barely making eye contact or speaking to one another, despite being seated just one row apart.

On April 20, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would no longer engage with or respond to inquiries from journalists from the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Express, explaining they no longer wished to "offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion."

That same month, they also announced their plans to launch a non-profit, Archewell, named after their son.

Vogue reported that the pair settled in the private and exclusive neighborhood of Montecito. The publication also reported that, according to property records, the royal couple bought their 14,500-square-foot home for $14.65 million.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their family home in July of this year," a spokesperson for the couple confirmed to Business Insider in August 2020.

"They have settled into the quiet privacy of their community since their arrival and hope that this will be respected for their neighbors, as well as for them as a family."

Harry and Meghan planted forget-me-nots, which is widely known as Princess Diana's favorite flower, alongside children at the Preschool Learning Center in Los Angeles, which provides support to local low-income families.

Princess Diana died more than 23 years ago, on August 31, 1997, from injuries sustained after a car crash in Paris. Prince Harry has been vocal about the impact his mother's death had on him and receiving therapy to help process his grief.

The New York Times reported that the couple plans to produce documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted television shows, and children's programming under their new business. 

"Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope," Harry and Meghan told the outlet. "As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us."

In a New York Times essay titled "The Losses We Share," Meghan opened up about the "unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few" she had after having a miscarriage over the summer. 

"I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second," she wrote. "Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband's hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we'd heal."

In the same month the couple sent out their family Christmas card — which was not shared publicly — they also won one of their first legal battles over paparazzi pics of their son, Archie.

"As explained in today's hearing, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have successfully settled a legal claim brought at the beginning of this year against the paparazzi agency Splash UK," a spokesperson for Schillings, the legal representation for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said in a statement to Town & Country.

"After two long years of pursuing litigation, I am grateful to the courts for holding Associated Newspapers and the Mail on Sunday to account for their illegal and dehumanizing practiced," she wrote in a statement.

"These tactics (and those of their sister publications MailOnline and the Daily Mail) are not new; in fact, they've been going on for far too long without consequence. For these outlets, it's a game. For me and so many others, it's real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep," she continued.

In the statement, she thanked Harry and others for their support.

At the time, a newspaper spokesperson told Business Insider, "We are very surprised by today's summary judgment and disappointed at being denied the chance to have all the evidence heard and tested in open court at a full trial."

"We are carefully considering the judgment's contents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal," the spokesperson added.

The news that Meghan and Harry were expecting their second child was first reported by People and later confirmed in a statement to Business Insider. 

"We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child," a spokesperson for the couple said.

In Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah, the couple revealed they were expecting a girl, due in the summer.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much-loved members of the family."

In addition to losing their involvement with numerous UK charities and patronages, Prince Harry will lose his honorary military appointments with The Royal Marines, the RAF Honington, and the Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving.

People reported that the couple will retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles and will still be referred to as His/Her Royal Highness, though they do not actively use either of their titles.

In a statement released by Prince Harry and Meghan, the couple said they "remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role."

"We can all live a life of service. Service is universal," they concluded.

On March 7, Prince Harry and Meghan's first sit-down interview since leaving the royal family, titled "Oprah with Meghan And Harry: A Primetime Special," aired on CBS in the US. The next day, the special interview aired in the UK.

The couple talked about everything from parenthood to life after leaving the royal family and the pressure they faced prior to doing so. 

In one part of the interview, Prince Harry compared himself to his mother, Princess Diana, and discussed the struggles they both faced as members of the royal family.

"For me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for [Diana] going through this process by herself all those years ago," he said in the interview. "Because it has been unbelievably tough for the two of us, but at least we have each other."

Markle also opened up about how she was "naive" before entering the royal family, her struggle with mental health while serving as a senior royal, and "concerns" from the royal family about "how dark [Archie's] skin might be."

In response to the interview, Buckingham Palace in a statement on behalf of the Queen that "the whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan."

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately," it continued.

Meghan had intended to travel to the UK with her husband to attend Prince Philip's funeral but was not given clearance to fly because of her pregnancy.

Prince Philip died, age 99, on April 9.

"My grandfather was a man of service, honor and great humor," Prince Harry said in a statement sent to Business Insider. "He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next."

"He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa," Prince Harry continued.

He also called the late royal a "master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end."

"Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts," he added.

Prince William and Kate Middleton wed on April 29, 2011.

People reported that Meghan and Harry privately congratulated the couple on the milestone. Queen Elizabeth also publicly congratulated the couple on social media.

Three years after their Windsor Castle royal wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan celebrated the milestone at their new home in Santa Barbara, California.

The couple released an official statement announcing that Lilibet "Lili" Diana was born on Friday, June 4, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. 

"She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home," the statement read. 

The name "Lilibet" is the royal family's longtime nickname for Queen Elizabeth, but the couple will call their daughter Lili for short. 

"Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet," the couple said. "Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

It's traditional for most royal births to have an announcement posted outside Buckingham Palace (pictured). However, the birth of Lilibet Diana was much more subdued, with the couple releasing a statement on their Archewell website.

"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world," the statement read.

"She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe," the couple said. "Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family."

Unlike when Markle gave birth to Archie, there was no official photo call with the press.

The children's book spoke about the relationship between a father and son from the perspective of a mother. The book featured illustrations by Christian Robinson and became a New York Times bestseller within a week of its release.

Prince Harry could be seen placing his hand on Markle's leg during a volleyball game. Meghan also wore jeans, a far cry from the more dressed-up style she had as a working royal.

"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honored to attend The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children," the spokesperson said in a statement shared with Business Insider.

However, while the couple and their two children planned to attend the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Queen's reign, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would not join the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour parade alongside other members of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan were married four years ago on May 19, 2018. Here are some photos of what other royal couples looked like when they first started dating versus now.

The royal couple was spotted at the Trooping the Colour parade, which celebrated Queen Elizabeth's historic 70-year reign. However, they did not appear alongside other members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. 

Following a thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral, which they attended along with Prince William and Kate Middleton, the couple could be seen being booed by fans as they exited. They did not attend a royal luncheon following the service, The Mirror reported.

Prince Harry and Meghan celebrated their daughter Lilibet's first birthday during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.

A spokesperson for the royal couple told Page Six that Lilibet's birthday party was a "casual, intimate backyard picnic" for "close friends and family" at Frogmore Cottage, the couple's previous residence.

Prince William and Kate Middleton were reportedly invited to the family affair but didn't attend due to a planned trip to Wales. Lilibet was introduced to her namesake, Queen Elizabeth, following the Trooping the Colour parade.

"It's simply a coincidence they fell on the same day," a source told Entertainment Tonight. "There was no intended slight."

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, and Middleton did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Meghan said she was teaching her son, Archie, that the polite way to pass salt and pepper shakers across a table is by holding them together. She then told the outlet that this reminded her of the way she and Prince Harry are navigating their new life together in Montecito, California. 

"'You never move one without the other,'" she told The Cut. "That's me and Harry. We're like salt and pepper. We always move together."

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022. Her eldest son, King Charles, immediately ascended to the throne following her death.

Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other members of the royal family attended her funeral on September 19. Some 2,000 people also gathered at Westminster Abbey to pay their respects to the Queen.

The couple's new documentary series, "Harry & Meghan," consisted of six episodes and was released on Netflix on December 8. The trailer for the series featured interviews with the couple and behind-the-scenes photos from their royal life. It promised to give an in-depth, personal look at their decision to "step back" from royal life.

"When the stakes are this high, doesn't it make more sense to hear our story from us?" Markle asks in the trailer.

"I had to do everything I could to protect my family," Harry says during an interview. 

The title of the book reflects Harry's position as the "spare" in relation to his older brother, William, the heir to the throne, and his unlikely path to kingship. In the book, Harry discussed his complex relationship with William, describing him as both a "beloved brother" and an "arch nemesis."

The tell-all memoir also detailed his relationship with Markle, including concerns that his sister-in-law Kate Middleton was "going to be compared to, and forced to compete with, Meg." 

Reports emerged in June 2023 that Markle and Harry had ended their partnership with Spotify and would no longer produce content on the platform.

Reports also said that Meghan and Harry would not receive the full $20 million payout from their Spotify deal. 

"The podcast will no longer be produced at Spotify as we are mutually parting ways," a spokesperson for Archewell Audio, the couple's production company, told Business Insider.

In February 2024, Meghan announced that she had signed a new partnership with Lemonada Media, Deadline reported.

The tabloid Radar Online originally reported that the couple was facing "tremendous financial pressure" and a "trial separation" after the end of their Spotify deal, citing an unnamed source who said "that stress coupled with their emotional issues has likely made life a living hell. Taking time apart on different continents will hopefully help them find whatever they need to move on."

However, Page Six disputed the rumors, citing a source close to the couple who said, "It's not true. It's literally made up."

The pair attended a basketball game during the Invictus Games and a Beyoncé concert at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, dispelling speculation that the couple had separated.

The couple, wearing matching silver outfits, was spotted dancing together and kissing in a private box at the concert. 

The New York Post reported that, according to a trademark application filed by Meghan's lawyers and reviewed by the outlet, Meghan's new brand will sell tableware, drinkware, kitchen linens, jams, marmalade, cookbooks, and other products. 

Tatler also reported in June 2024 that the first product available for purchase by the public will be rosé wine. Meghan joins a long list of celebrities who have their own alcohol brands. 

"These trips are about us being able to go out and go and focus on the things that mean so much to us," Meghan, who recently found out she is part-Nigerian, told People. "And being able to be on the ground, to us, is what it's all about."

People reported that Nigeria's chief of defense staff, General Christopher Musa, invited the couple to visit the country. The trip was not meant to compensate for other royal family members stepping back from public duties — both King Charles and Kate Middleton were battling cancer. Kate is now cancer-free and plans to resume public work next year.

People reported that the couple had not received invitations from Harry's family to attend the annual event, which celebrated King Charles' second birthday as monarch. 

"I was thinking about, in the past few years of having Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think you always make sure there's room at the table for your friends who don't have family, which is really key," Meghan told Marie Claire in a recent interview.

"We're always making sure we have something fun to do," she said. "Like any other family, you spend time having a great meal, and then what do you do? Play games, all the same stuff, someone brings a guitar — fun."

In a conversation with New York Times columnist and DealBook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin during a panel at the 2024 DealBook Summit hosted by The New York Times, Harry joked about the constant reports and attention he and his wife receive from the press — positive and negative. 

"Apparently we've bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We've apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well," he said, laughing, People reported. "So it's just like, 'what?'"

"It's hard to keep up with, but that's why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls," he continued. "Their hopes are just built and built, and it's like, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,' and then it doesn't happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do."

Harry also said that he enjoys his life in the US and doesn't regret leaving the UK, adding it's what he believes his mother, Princess Diana, would have wanted for him. 

 "I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here. It's a part of my life that I never thought that I was gonna live," he told Sorkin. 

"I feel as though it's the life that my mom wanted for me," he continued. "To be able to do the things I'm able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn't be able to do in the UK — it's huge. I'm hugely grateful for that."

Solvang, California, will make you feel as if you've been transported to a quaint European town. It's an adorable Danish-inspired village located in the Santa Ynez Valley, up the coast from Santa Barbara. 

Founded by Danish-American settlers from the Midwest in the early 1900s, the town is filled with Danish-inspired architecture. There are even replicas of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid statue and Round Tower, plus bakeries and restaurants that sell Danish cuisine.

The town feels festive all year round, although Solvang comes alive around the holidays. Every year, the European-inspired town hosts Julefest, a holiday celebration complete with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping, and Danish treats.

Surrounded by mountains and forests, Helen, Georgia, features architecture that will seemingly transport you to a quaint German alpine village, complete with restaurants serving German cuisine such as bratwurst, schnitzel, and Sauerbraten.

While the town is famous for its Oktoberfest celebration, Helen also offers a number of festive events during the holidays. The town has a Christmas market and parade featuring costumed characters, floats, and Santa Claus himself, plus festive lights and a breakfast with Santa during the Christmas season.

Frankenmuth, also known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, is one of the coziest places to spend the holidays. The town's architecture will make you feel as if you've been transported to Europe, and it's even better when it's covered in snow.

The town is also home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which, at 320,000 square feet, calls itself the world's largest Christmas store.

Remodeled in the 1960s to resemble a European ski town, Leavenworth features Bavarian-inspired architecture that will make you feel like you're in a quaint European town, not central Washington.

For the holidays, Leavenworth's downtown is decorated in lights and the town's annual Christmas market keeps the holiday festivities going all season long.

Vail, partially modeled after the Swiss ski resort Zermatt, is nestled in the Colorado Rockies and attracts visitors from all over the world each winter.

The town might be best known for its ski slopes, but the European-inspired charm doesn't stop there. Shops and restaurants also take inspiration from Switzerland.

New Glarus, named after the canton of Glarus in eastern Switzerland, was founded in 1845 by Swiss immigrants, and much of the town still reflects that history.

Chalet-like buildings and events like the Heidi Folk Festival make this town feel like a quaint Swiss village. Visitors can also buy chocolate and other goods imported directly from Europe. New Glarus is also home to the only Swiss Heritage organization in the United States and the Swiss Historical Village Museum.

Settled in 1869 by Swedish immigrants and known as Little Sweden, Lindsborg resembles a small Swedish town.

Around town, you'll spot colorfully painted dala horses that line the town's streets, as well as bakeries selling traditional Swedish treats like lingonberry bars and pancakes.

Every other year in October, the town holds its Svensk Hyllningsfest, a festival where locals dress in traditional Swedish clothing and participate in folk dancing and other traditions to celebrate the Swedish pioneers who created the community.

Electric lights replaced the long-held tradition of attaching lit candles to branches.

Tinsel added sparkle to the tree, while candy canes could be used as both holiday snacks and festive decorations.

Tinsel, which was often made with metallic materials, had to be rationed for the war effort.

People still use similar stockings today, hung by the fireside with care.

There were tinsel garlands or long strands of metallic tinsel called icicles, like on the tree shown above.

Menorahs could also be simple or ornate to match the tablescape.

Trees became centerpieces of the home for holiday entertaining, and fashionable sets of ornaments were sold to replace more homemade or collected ornament collections.

Taper candles are still commonly used in holiday table settings.

"Silver and Gold," a famous Christmas song performed by Burl Ives in the 1964 film "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," embodied the Christmas tree-decorating trends of the time.

White House Christmas decorations are now even more extravagant.

People DIY-ed the look by dipping their tree branches in laundry starch.

Inflatable versions of these vintage-looking lawn ornaments are still commonly seen today.

Some holiday decorating trends never go out of style.

The lights were often multicolored and in the shape of miniature birds.

People would often add cotton wool or sparkly white felt to create a snowy environment for their miniature Christmas villages. This decorating trend is still popular today, either new or secondhand.

However, elaborate light displays are one trend that probably would have seemed out of place 100 years ago.

When I arrived in Austin, In-N-Out Burger was one of the first places on my must-visit list. Luckily, the nearest location was just a short drive from my hotel in South Austin.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I spotted the iconic yellow-and-red logo on the crisp white building. As someone from the East Coast, this would be my first time experiencing In-N-Out and I couldn't wait to try it.

In-N-Out's most iconic menu item is arguably its Double Double burger, so I knew I had to try it.

Although I've heard mixed reviews on the chain's plain fries, since I ordered the burger animal style, I decided to order them on their own rather than "animal style" or with cheese.

The Double-Double includes two patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread, but ordering it animal-style adds mustard-cooked patties, pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions.

When I visited in 2021, the entire meal came to $11.80, including tax, which I thought was a fair price considering how much food I received. The price of a Double Double has since risen from $4.50 to an average price of $5.29 at some locations, ABC News reported in June.

After biting into the massive burger, tangy mustard, pickles, and onions hit my tongue.

The pickles were tart and crunchy, the beef patties were over-the-top juicy and flavorful, and the cheese-to-meat ratio was spot-on.

The onions added a lot of flavor and the spread stood out with its rich, savory taste. It reminded me more of Thousand-Island dressing rather than a typical burger special sauce.

The burger patties themselves were on the thinner side, and I thought they were just OK. To me, the real standouts of this burger were the layers of melted cheese, the tangy sauce, and the lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

If I were grasping to find other criticisms, I also wasn't blown away by the bun. It was soft yet didn't have much flavor on its own, and it was slightly dry and crumbly.

However, this was a truly exceptional burger, and once earned the top spot on my ranking of every fast-food double cheeseburger.

I was eager to see how the New York-based chain would stack up against this West Coast icon.

When I arrived at the Lower East Side location in Manhattan on a rainy weekday, there were hardly any people inside the small standing-room-only restaurant.

However, on the weekend at its flagship East 7th Street location, you can typically expect to wait in line to try one of its famous smash burgers.

When I unwrapped my burger, the first thing I noticed was how greasy it was. The paper was practically dripping.

However, the burger patties appeared perfectly crispy, and I could see layers of gooey cheese emerging from the burger.

The cheeseburger also smelled heavenly — I imagined it would be the perfect antidote to the many nearly identical salads I typically eat during the workweek.

The double cheeseburger comes with two fresh beef burger patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun.

My burger cost $9.50, a side of fries set me back $4.50, and I paid an additional $1 for a side of the house sauce. This was almost double the price of the In-N-Out burger, so the West Coast chain immediately won in terms of value.

No matter how good a fast-food burger is, I struggle to find a reason to pay nearly $10 for one.

Potential reasons for In-N-Out's low prices include its limited menus, a focus on in-house production, and a strategic real-estate plan that places restaurants close to one another and to highways for more efficient deliveries.

In-N-Out also has many more locations than 7th Street Burger, with around 400 total locations compared to just 19, and is a bigger, more profitable company, which could make it easier to keep prices lower for the consumer.

Business Insider reached out to 7th Street Burger for comment on its prices but did not immediately hear back.

Slices of gooey cheese were nestled between the two thin, perfectly griddled, and charred beef patties and a generous serving of the chain's house sauce, which resembled a tangy, creamy burger sauce.

Held together by a squishy, soft potato roll, this burger was definitely no-frills. There wasn't any lettuce or tomato to cut through the intensely savory fat bomb I was eating, but I didn't mind.

Topped with pickles and onions, this burger delivered a balanced, classic flavor profile that elevated what a standard smash burger can be.

The pros for the 7th Street Burger double cheeseburger were the sauce, crispy patties, and the bun.

However, In-N-Out impressed me with its fresh toppings, equally gooey cheese, the sheer size of the burger, and the comparatively low price.

The burgers were also so different in their design. 7th Street Burger does smash burgers, and does them well. Both burgers were incredible in their own right but, if I had to choose just one, I think I'd betray my East-Coast roots and opt for the burger from out west.

In my opinion, In-N-Out's Double Double animal-style simply can't be topped in terms of flavor, size, and value.

However, before I get out to the West Coast again, 7th Street Burger is a perfectly adequate alternative for an out-of-this-world fast-food burger.

For many holiday party hosts, a cheese or charcuterie board is a must-have, and Furman says it's easy to build a show-stopping one using products from Trader Joe's.

"The charcuterie board we build from Trader Joe's, especially their dry goods section, is amazing," Furman told Business Insider. "The cheese situation is epic."

Furman said she tries every new cheese Trader Joe's offers and that the Unexpected Cheddar cheese is one of her all-time favorites. She said she was shocked when she first tried it.

"I've never tasted anything like that in the sense that it was super mild but also so full of flavor," she said. "They also have an amazing Saint-André, which is a triple cream cheese, so it's basically Brie en crème and another soft cheese that has chile peppers in it."

Another item Furman picks up for holiday entertaining is the chain's prosciutto-wrapped fresh mozzarella cheese.

"They have these ready antipasti apps, and it's so easy," she said. "You put them on a charcuterie board and you're done. That's it. There's nothing else you have to do."

Furman touted the "much more affordable" selection of crackers, nuts, and other dried goods at Trader Joe's compared to other grocery stores, and said it's her go-to place to buy accouterments for her holiday charcuterie boards.

"The nuts, the dried cranberries, the figs," she said, adding, "I see other places run out of figs way before their stores do."

From pairing it with crudité like carrots, cucumbers, and radishes to using it to top mini turkey meatballs, tzatziki is a fresh addition to a holiday appetizer table.

"That one is awesome," Furman said. "Very, very clean, and it tastes delicious. That's one of my favorite go-to quick dips."

"They have a hummus that is super neutral in terms of flavor," Furman said. "It's just a classic hummus, and you can add a ton of seasonings or put roasted red peppers into it, which is another amazing condiment that they have in their little dressing area."

She also uses it to make pumpkin hummus, one of her go-to holiday recipes.

"Take that hummus and combine it with pumpkin from a can, which Trader Joe's also has, at an incredibly affordable rate," she said. "Add in some red pepper flakes, some cinnamon, some nutmeg, some cardamom, a little bit of chili oil, and just kind of make it your own and really give it that pumpkin spice flavor."

Furman said she also likes to add a few drops of maple syrup, "because you've got this sweet heat going on" or even hot honey.

"It's whatever our clients like," she said. "And you have an amazing semi-homemade hummus that everybody is going to rave about."

While the chain sells a traditional cranberry sauce with a few ingredients, Furman said she prefers the chain's orange cranberry relish, which has simple ingredients like cranberries, orange, and lemon.

"You don't need to make your own ever, ever," she said.

"All you have to do is put it in a bowl," she added.

Furman said that her favorite type of frozen pizza from Trader Joe's is the Tarte D'Alsace, which is made with caramelized onions, ham, and Gruyere cheese.

"You pop that in the oven, and you throw some red pepper flakes on it, and then maybe you just add in a little bit more of an interesting Manchego cheese or some other kind of cheese, and you're good to go," Furman said, adding that she also loves buying the chain's pizza dough for completely customizable pizzas and flatbreads.

"It only comes out during the holidays, and then it's gone, so stack up because it is the best puff pastry, and you can do thousands of things, both savory and sweet," Furman said.

One of her favorite ways to use the frozen puff pastry is to add in a few dollops of one of Trader Joe's Brie cheeses and tart cherry preserves.

"Wrap it up, bake it in the oven, and you have an amazing little beggar's purse full of deliciousness," she said.

Furman said that rather than the ravioli that come in the frozen aisle, she prefers the refrigerated kind in Trader Joe's fresh pasta section, especially the lobster and burrata varieties.

She said the chain's pumpkin pasta sauce pairs well with its many pasta options for a seasonal dinner party menu.

"They introduced what are essentially Luxardo cherries, which are basically what a real old-fashioned is designed for. They're in jars by the jams and stuff, and you don't need much else except bourbon," Furman said, adding that she even likes the Trader Joe's bourbon sold in select stores.

"Add some bourbon, a squeeze of orange, a squeeze of lemon, put in a cinnamon stick in there, put a few of those cherries in there, throw in a big, big, big gorgeous ice cube, a sprig of thyme, and then use the cinnamon stick as your straw. And you have an amazing old-fashioned," she said.

Turkey curry and chili are two great options for day-after-Thanksgiving recipes because of how easy they are to prepare.

"Curries, chilis ... those are your basics," Ray told Business Insider.

Ray's recipe for turkey corn chili takes only 25 minutes to prepare and uses simple ingredients like cooked turkey meat, chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, chicken stock or broth, and frozen corn. 

Who doesn't love the smell of a pot of ragù simmering on the stove during the colder months?

Ray's recipe for turkey porcini ragù uses dried, sliced porcini mushrooms, a pound of leftover Thanksgiving turkey, turkey or chicken stock, red wine, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and more. 

For this recipe, Ray recommends rolling leftover stuffing into a ball and dropping it into broth like a matzo ball.

Add "leftover vegetables, any sort of meat, turkey, chicken, or ham, and you have the equivalent of a matzo-ball soup," Ray said.

One of the simplest ways to reuse leftover Thanksgiving turkey is to make a sandwich, wrap, or even a burrito, which Ray said is one of her favorite methods. 

You can add other Thanksgiving fixings like turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy to your tortilla, or you can go a more standard route with fillings like shredded cheese, turkey, lettuce, and tomato. 

One of the most unique ways to use leftover stuffing is to make her recipe for savory stuffing waffles.

"You can put your leftover stuffing in your waffle iron, and then just put the turkey or the pheasant on top of the crispy stuffing once you take it out of the waffle iron," Ray said.

"[Top it] with a little bit of fruity maple syrup, like cranberry sauce and maple syrup, or some sort of warm honey drizzled over the top."

The foot-long sandwich came to $11.89. When combined with the other items, my total meal came to $17.17, not including taxes and fees. 

I decided to compare the sandwiches alone since I couldn't order the same drink or chips from both chains.

I thought the sandwich was a good size for the price.

The 6-inch sub would have been more than enough to satisfy me for lunch, but I was happy the sandwich was large enough to split with a friend or for me to save the other half for later.

It definitely looked like a lot of care went into crafting the sandwich to ensure that each bite contained all of the ingredients.

As I predicted, I could taste every part of the sandwich in each bite. The ingredients, especially the lettuce, tasted fresh, though I thought the tomato slices could have been a little thicker.

There was a lot of sauce slathered on the sandwich, which I liked, and the mustard added a lot of flavor. 

However, I thought the bread felt on the lighter side and didn't have a lot of flavor to it.

The sandwich came to $13.69, making it a little more expensive than the sandwich from Subway.

I also added chips and a drink, so the entire meal cost $21.57, putting it at $4 more than Subway's.

The two sandwiches couldn't have looked more different. Whereas the Subway sandwich (pictured left) came on flat-looking multigrain bread, the bread Potbelly used was crusty and appeared to be of a higher quality.

I was excited to see how the actual taste of the sandwiches would compare.

The ingredients were laid out less methodically, and I worried that each bite wouldn't include all the ingredients at once, which is what I prefer.

There was also a generous serving of lettuce, onions, and tomato that really helped make the sandwich stand out. However, I thought it was a little light on the sauce — I couldn't really taste the mayonnaise or mustard.

The sandwich delivered on price, size, and flavor — and I loved how they weren't afraid to hold back on the sauces. 

These three-ingredient sugar cookies by BellyFull take 15 minutes to whip up and use things that you probably already have in your kitchen: unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and all-purpose flour.

However, if you want to make your sugar cookies even more special, you can also use a few extra ingredients like vanilla, a quick and easy icing like this one from Betty Crocker, and festive red, green, or blue sprinkles.

This recipe by SweetPhi uses baking soda, sugar, light corn syrup, dry roasted peanuts, and flaky sea salt to create a rich holiday treat. You won't even need a candy thermometer to make this dessert — just a saucepan, measuring spoons, and parchment paper.

To make sweet-and-spicy chocolate bark, you'll need hazelnuts, two bars of dark chocolate, dried cranberries, sea salt, and cayenne pepper.

One of the best parts about making chocolate bark is that not only can you customize the toppings, but you also don't even need to bake it. Melt the chocolate, add your toppings, and stick it in the fridge until it is hardened and ready to break apart.

If you enjoy peppermint mochas, you'll love this four-ingredient dessert. To make white-chocolate peppermint bark, you'll need candy canes or hard peppermint candies, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peppermint extract.

It's perfect for making with kids and keeps up to three weeks in the refrigerator, meaning you can enjoy it all holiday season long. 

The Stay at Home Chef's recipe for five-ingredient peanut-butter cookies is gluten-free and includes creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, one egg, and vanilla extract. 

Whether you're a peanut-butter fanatic or simply an inexperienced baker, this easy recipe by Kitchen Fun calls for four ingredients that you might already have in your pantry: creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Make the peanut-butter dough, dip the balls into the melted chocolate, and refrigerate them until the chocolate has hardened. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also top the balls with festive-colored sprinkles or nuts for added flavor and texture.

Gimme Some Oven's recipe for five-ingredient whiskey dark chocolate truffles uses dark chocolate, heavy cream, butter, sea salt, and your choice of whiskey.

Be warned: These sweet treats aren't intended for kids. Since the truffles aren't baked, none of the alcohol gets a chance to "burn off."

To make Gimme Some Oven's lemon bars, you'll need all-purpose flour, butter, powdered sugar, eggs, and lemons. Or, if you're looking to make life even easier, you can buy store-bought lemon curd.

Dip your strawberries into melted semisweet chocolate, set the strawberries down onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, and wait until the chocolate has set.

To make your chocolate-covered strawberries even more show-stopping, you can also melt some white chocolate and drizzle it over the top of the strawberries before setting them aside to harden.

Taste of Home's recipe for five-ingredient chocolate fudge relies on pantry staples: butter, semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract.

It only takes 10 minutes to prepare, meaning you can have a sweet treat ready to serve faster than you can say "mistletoe."