For some reason, specialty Thanksgiving platters and serveware tend to be rather cheesy, with little pictures of pilgrims or cornucopias adorning them in the worst examples and an overly rustic look on the slightly more stylish side of things. Thankfully, there are at least a few good-looking serving implements out there, like these Chromed Turkey Lifters, which are simple, functional and attractive. They are made out of chrome-plated zinc and measure 4"x9.5". They will give you the support needed to lift even heavy turkey from the roasting plan to a serving platter, then can also be used to serve the individual slices to guests. Price: $18.

Perhaps I shouldn't go so far as to say that coordinating dinnerware is overrated, but these Geo Espresso Cups are definitely more visually appealing than the average matched set. The four white porcelain cup and saucer pairs all feature a different geometric design that has been adapted in to cup form. While you can use them to serve espresso, they would also make great individual servings of creme brulees or tiny pot de creme at a holiday dinner party. Price: £55.

Black and white may be the hot colors in dinnerware, but few things are bolder than a flaming red dragon, which the Ming Dragon Dinnerware from designer Johann Joachim Kaendler proudly displays. The fine porcelain is hand painted, with gold edging on the plates. Because the dragon is traditionally portrayed either in the clouds or amidst waves, the dishes have a slightly scalloped outer edge and, in a slightly unusual touch, the coordinating teacup shows the same wave-like patter along its rim. Price, per 5-pc. setting: $958.

The pattern for the Woodgrain Breakfast Set was originally created in the late 18th century, an expertly-painted wood pattern set on fine porcelain, and though this is a modern reproduction, it is the first to be seen in a very long time. On top of the wood pattern, there is an image of a painting, similar to one that an 18th century engraver would have tacked to his workbench for reference as he reproduced it on copper. The plates are all rimmed with 24K gold. Each set comes with a cup, saucer and breakfast plate. Price: $3,200.

When it comes to high end dining, most consider the food, rather than the tableware. At Berkeley's Chez Panisse, chef/owner Alice Waters worked with Heath Ceramics to design custom place settings. Her reasoning was that since her food was locally sourced, her tableware should be, too. While you can buy the full range of Thomas Keller's tableware, Heath Ceramics has only released a 4-piece set, along with some serving dishes, for home use from their Chez Panisse Collection. The set is available in a neutral almond/ginger color. Price: $146.

Eating at Thomas Keller's Yountville restaurant, The French Laundry, is one of the best dining experiences in the world, but is certainly not an everyday one. For the sake of your wallet and your waistline, your best bet is to save a trip out to Napa for special occasions and try to recreate the experience at home with Thomas Keller's line of dinnerware. You can cook up your own gourmet meals, perhaps with the help of the French Laundry Cookbook, or simply add a few presentation points to your favorite chicken and rice dish. The collection was designed by Keller with Bertrand Raynaud, the president of the Raynaud porcelain company, which produces the all-white table and dinnerware. It is named after Fernand Point, certainly one of the most famous and influential French restaurateurs/chefs of the past century. The whole collection, from classic plates to cups and saucers, is available at Gumps. Each piece is beautifully simple, suitable for both casual and formal occasions.

The gold accent plates from notNeutral designs come in four, limited edition designs. The symmetrical, spiraling designs are done in 22-karat gold on fine, white porcelain and only 250 of each plate were produced. At 12.5-inches in diameter, the plates can be used as chargers or even as serving pieces. Each plate is $76.