What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Growing up, my grandparents came over on both Thanksgiving and Christmas with my grandmother’s homemade custard. It was always my reason for eating dinner too quickly — to get a glass of her annual treat. Now that she’s gone, my sister-in-law took on the role of making the custard for the holidays. It still remains a crowd-pleaser and makes me smile, remembering that piece of my childhood.
What’s a must-have dish on your Thanksgiving table? How do I pick just one?! Our table always has annual favorites, like my sister-in-law’s mashed potatoes that my niece and nephew insist on, my mom’s fruit salad (another request by the kids) and Vince’s mom’s recipe for Sweet Potato Magic. No surprise that I’m usually the one that tries to mix it up with something we haven’t had before, like a vegetable dish or dressing recipe incorporating rich fall flavors. I guess that’s just the designer in me — always trying to create new experiences and add something new that we haven’t seen before.
What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving Day? Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday, because it’s a day where we get to come together as a blended family, with a relaxed schedule and no agenda. As an event planner, my job is to bring people together through the curation of memorable occasions, and watching guests connect with old and new friends at a cocktail hour or seated dinner is one of my favorite parts of the job. On Thanksgiving Day, I get to personally experience that same feeling of conversation and connection — to gather and sit at the table with the people I love. It’s a day that reminds me of why I love what I do: to allow friends and family to relax, have fun and enjoy each other’s company.
With everyone spending so much more time at home this year, what’s your best advice for making the house feel special for the holidays? We’ve all felt the strain of working from home, educating kids remotely and removing large social gatherings and fundraisers entirely from our calendars. With that comes a need for comfort, but at the same time, I believe people are also longing for something new and different. Have fun with your house this year! Pull out the fine china (we all know it’s dying to be used) and silver turkey platter, but give yourself permission to be spontaneous with colorful napkins and festive cocktail glasses. And of course, don’t forget that pot of mulling spices on your stove to really ignite the smell of Thanksgiving throughout your house.
What’s your best advice for entertaining or celebrating the holidays in a safe way? Being together with family is the one place that we all should feel safe. However, when family is coming from different cities and of different ages and circumstances, we have to be smart before and during our holiday plans. Washing your hands before going through the buffet or passing the dishes around the table, as well as sanitizing after, is an easy way to take care of yourself and others. And while I anticipate lots of hugs and catch-up conversations, being mindful of your space is also important.
What are your favorite seasonal flowers for holiday decorating? Colors of fall bring warmth and happiness, and the flowers don’t disappoint. I love putting together arrangements with tones of orange, rust and gold and adding textures of pods, leaves and feathers. This just screams Thanksgiving and fall to me. Some of my favorites are two-toned garden roses paired with dahlias, kangaroo paw, sunflowers and bronze mums, along with some whimsical texture, like pincushion protea and bittersweet. Pomegranates and pears are also great incorporated into autumnal arrangements, representing the bounty of Thanksgiving.
When we head into the Christmas holiday, I enjoy using various textures of seasonal greenery that only work this time of year, like cypress, pine, magnolia, fir and holly. You can make an arrangement or garland with these elements without needing anything else. But if you want to add on, you could blend large pine cones, ornaments, fruit or flowers into the design. You can also use these seasonal greens in a gorgeous pot at your front door or to surround your nutcracker collection on your mantle.
What’s your best tip for holiday centerpieces? It’s the same thing I recommend for any occasion around a dining table: Keep it low so guests can talk to each other throughout the meal. Oh, and candles. Always lots and lots of candles for an evening around the table.
Are there any new trends for holiday tables this year? Because Thanksgiving is widely known as a traditional holiday, it’s rarely one to set trends. After eight months in a pandemic, I imagine many people will just want to set a table that’s warm, comfortable and inviting. However, that doesn’t mean the table needs to be boring. Pulling out that nontraditional flatware or incorporating mixed metals, like pewter and copper, might be the perfect touch that sparks a good conversation!
How do you typically dress up your Thanksgiving table? When I think of fall, it’s all about the shapes, color, layers and textures. There are so many materials and elements in nature that can only be used this time of year, so I’m not shy when creating my table. For example, I’ve mixed wood or rattan placemats with a slate or marble charger and layered a variety of china patterns on top. Consider mixing and matching your everyday pattern with your fine wedding china and your grandmother’s antique silver. And bring in some tall branches for the buffet table, or incorporate colorful fall leaves into your centerpieces or place settings. There are so many different materials around our home — and even our yard — that are waiting to be used. I’m never surprised how well they can come together and complement one another.
What’s your best advice for meal planning for Thanksgiving? Plan early and start early. (Does this sound cliché coming from an event planner?) Many dishes can be made in advance and often taste better after the flavors have blended together before hitting the dinner table. But let’s be honest: While I always try to practice what I preach, the business of life inevitably gets in the way during the holidays, and cooking in advance isn’t always an option. If that’s the case for you this season, select a dish that can be prepped in advance and easily put together that morning; just don’t skimp on the presentation!
Do you have any Thanksgiving meal prep hacks? Instead of placing a roasting rack under my turkey, I slice thick onion discs and place them under the turkey, instead. This trick adds additional flavor to the cooking process, especially the drippings in the pan that you can incorporate back onto the turkey or into other Thanksgiving dishes. And if you are making mashed potatoes, add some baking powder for an extra-fluffy dish!
What local takeout items do you recommend to round out a Thanksgiving menu? The hospitality industry was hit extremely hard due to the pandemic, so supporting the caterers in my industry is important to me. Caterers, like d.Kates, Kristen Winston, The Party Line, Flavor and others, have been offering delicious weekly meals over the last several months, and I’m sure their holiday meals would complement your dinner table.
How will your holidays be different this year? Aside from taking appropriate precautions, I feel fortunate that I get to be with my family this year, the same way we do each year. I’m looking forward to waking up that morning to finishing up my contribution to the dinner table, driving to Bowling Green and feeling a sense of normalcy with family, which I know we’ve all missed during these challenging times.
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