Table Talk: Holiday traditions, with food and family at the table
Christmas meals with family and friends around the dinner table are a holiday tradition. (Courtesy RonTech2000 from Getty Images Signature)
Jennifer Chandler
A cookbook author and former restaurateur, Jennifer Chandler has been writing about food and dining for more than 25 years.
She is the author of four cookbooks: “The Southern Pantry Cookbook,” “Simply Salads,” “Simply Suppers,” and “Simply Grilling.” While she boasts a degree from Le Cordon Bleu, this Memphis native is about making real food accessible for real families.
The holidays are a time for family and fun. For me, a highlight of the holidays is gathering with family and friends around the dinner table. Christmas meals are a holiday tradition I look forward to every year.
Traditions look different for everyone. The key is to find a tradition that works for your family.
I have friends who boil fresh lobsters every Christmas Eve. Another family makes their grandma’s homemade ravioli. And other friends always go out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
I have a friend whose daughter is hosting her first Christmas Eve this year and is making a big pot of Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon.
There really are no rules for making a tradition. You can continue a generations-old tradition or start your own. I do a combination of both.
Topics
Holidays Christmas Table Talk Subscriber Only2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
Will you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news? Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization, today.
Thank you for keeping up with what’s happening in Memphis. Thank you for investing in our community’s trusted local news source.
Related stories
Downtown’s Café Keough set to close Saturday
Cafe Keough was Kevin Keough’s modern spin on a traditional European cafe, but, he said, the location has always been a little difficult.
Sound Bites: Ice cream can make the holidays sweeter
It may be winter, but Kameisha Wilson of Kaye’s Pints & Scoops says that shouldn’t mean ice cream is off the table.
New owners to take over Knifebird, The Public Bistro locations
“Kate (Ashby) and Kyle (Bankston, the owners of Knifebird and The Public Bistro) are like-minded people. We are good friends, and we want to do their legacy justice,” one of the restaurateurs taking over the spaces said.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.