The holidays bring us together around the table more than any other time. From the kids’ table laughter to Grandma’s famous mashed potatoes to that first ambitious attempt at hosting a holiday dinner, these feasts are filled with iconic moments we cherish forever. Perhaps that is what makes the holiday meal so special: it’s memorable for everyone. The ones who cook, the ones who host and the ones who simply show up hungry. Whether you’re planning to host a big holiday gathering this year or simply wanting to make the most of your holiday cooking, you can make it unforgettable by focusing on the conversation, the traditions and the tablesetting. Join us in celebrating the everyday moments that become lasting memories — and the holiday gatherings that give us a reason to come together.
Set the Tone
Think back to the best meals in your memory: you laughed, you talked, you shared. Holidays are too special and family time too rare to squander table conversation on small talk. Try one of these simple ways to spark real conversation.
- Start the meal with a toast — invite everyone to share one word that captures their year.
- Invite each guest to offer up a favorite holiday or family memory.
- Pass around a family cookbook or photo album during dessert to spark storytelling.
- Fill a Mini Cocotte with fun questions and pass it around during the first course.
- Set the table with vintage family photos.
- Use handwritten recipe cards as place cards, sharing dishes passed down through generations.
- Create a holiday playlist together — invite each guest to add a favorite song in advance.
Share with Love
Traditions bind us together, and holding onto a familiar family ritual, a classic recipe or a cherished piece of cookware can remind us of the love that stays constant. Holiday gatherings are the perfect time to honor those family traditions that have become treasured over the years. If you’re hosting a special meal this season, take the opportunity to learn a heritage recipe from a dear family member and try making it yourself. Maybe you’re not hosting this year, but you bring a new dish, one that could become part of the annual menu. Even if you’re keeping the festivities simple, you can turn everyday cooking into something memorable by inviting someone to join you in the kitchen.
Holiday Favorites for Heirloom Recipes
These iconic pieces more than earn their place on your holiday table, delivering flawless results for treasured family recipes time and time again.
Heritage Fluted Pie Dish
Perfect your family’s favorite holiday dessert in this classic pie dish. Premium stoneware construction ensures uniform baking and perfect flaky crusts, while the scalloped edges add a little charm for serving.
Shop the Heritage Fluted Pie Dish 2-Piece Set Get the Recipe: Espresso Pecan Pie with Cocoa Crust Get the Recipe: Honey Roasted Pear, Fig and Rosemary Pie
Signature Roaster
A turkey is as traditional as it comes for a big holiday meal, and this elegant cast iron roaster is designed to go straight from the oven to a beautiful presentation on the table.
Shop the Signature Rectangular Roaster The Complete Turkey How-to
Heritage Rectangular Casserole
Every family has their holiday casserole, the one you can’t imagine the gathering without. Make it even better this year with an elegant dish that bakes evenly and locks in heat to stay warm on the table.
Shop the Heritage Shallow Square Casserole Get the Recipe: Herbed Butternut Squash and Turnip Gratin
Style with Intention
When you set the table for a holiday meal, you set the mood. Use color, textiles, candles and flowers to tell a story at your gathering this season. This is the ideal moment to bring out the family china or heirloom silver. Pull out the stepladder and get the good glasses down from that top cabinet – you know the ones. Bring out Grandma’s vintage tablecloth or her heirloom Dutch oven. These treasured pieces connect the past to the present and strengthen the foundation for all your future gatherings. They remind us that meals are more than food; they’re traditions passed hand to hand. Every polished fork and poured glass invites guests to stay a little longer. The pieces become iconic because the moments they create are unforgettable.
