Rules for Garnish

• Mickey Baskett, author of "Gourmet Garnishes," outlines several general guidelines for the selection and use of garnishes, the first of which being, "Garnishes should be edible" -- a sentiment that many modern chefs echo. Because food is often eaten without instructions from the chef, diners should assume that anything on the plate is intended to be eaten. The rule eliminates non-edibles like plastic or non-food items, but it also eliminates holly, which is not only inedible, but toxic.

Plant Toxicity

• The berries of several varieties of holly, including the kind most commonly included in holiday decorating, contain theobromine and saponon, the two chemical compounds thought to contribute to holly's toxicity. Though low exposure to theobromine or saponin is unlikely to cause severe illness, even low to moderate doses can impact the nervous system and cause stomach discomfort, especially in children. In high enough doses, hospitalization might be necessary.

Savory Alternatives

• Instead of risking the use of holly on your dishes, opt for a holly look-alike. In savory dishes, like entrees or pasta courses, curly lettuce or other small, leafy greens are a close imitation of holly's spiked leaves. Arrange two to four sprigs on a plate and place three or four pomegranate seeds in the bunch to replicate the bright red berries. Pink peppercorns, or small disks of sliced beets or radishes can replace the pomegranate seeds as well.

Sweet Alternatives

• If you are consider holly as a garnish for a dessert, consider creating spiked leaves from green fondant; pomegranate seeds can be pressed directly into the soft dough-like material. Holly shapes can also be piped directly onto cakes or cookies using red and green colored icing. If you want to decorate a serving plate or the top of a pie, try a reverse stencil: cut out the shape of holly leaves from a piece of paper, lay the paper onto the decorating surface and then sift powdered or colored sugar over the forms. Simply replace the paper and you have a holly-shaped, edible reverse stencil.