serving

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.

When dining at a high-end restaurant, you expect to receive a presentation of the wine from the sommelier. It adds something to the dining experience and is almost like a small show, enjoyable even if it is not intended as entertainment. You would not expect a decanter to be able to perform such a show on its own, but clearly that is exactly what the designers of the Rojaus Grapevine Decanter intended to do. When the wine is poured into it, it flows fountain-like over a glass bubble, which allows the wine to open up and breathe. The wine can then be dispensed to individual guests as they feel like refilling their glasses. If you chill the bubble by keeping it in the freezer for several hours before used, your wines will be slightly chilled as you serve them. Price: $248.

The Christofle K+T Cylinder Box is a series of connected, stacking containers that solves the problem easily. The box was designed by Thomas Keller and designer Adam D. Tihany and appears to be one soild object when the compartments are not extended. It can be used for storing or serving snacks to guests or, if you are inclined to try cooking like Keller, as a way to introduce a few surprise items to a multi-course meal. The box measures only 4.25" in diameter by 4" high and comes packed in a gift box. Price: $450.

This cabinet is definitely a must-have for a wine lover. Wine barrels are often discarded after a few years of use, but this one was reworked into a great cabinet/end table. The barrel stands just over three feet high and has a door that opens to one side, revealing an inner storage shelf and plenty of space for just about anything that needs storing. On top of the white oak barrel is a removable maple serving tray, so the barrel can be used as a serving station at a party, as well as as a simple storage device. Price: $850.

Is it already time to start thinking about holiday entertaining? It must be, since retailers are well on their way through fall and into winter goods. The Mauviel Copper Champagne Bowl would make a fantastic presentation at just about any party from now through New Year's. It is a 15 3/4"x8" unlined copper bowl that is meant to be used to chill bottles of champagne or wine for serving. The outside of the bowl, as well as the base, is finished with a clear, protective varnish to preserve the shine of the copper and the bronze handles on either end make it easy to transport. The bowl can hold up to 6 bottles of wine with ease. Price: $299.

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.

The little paper cartons that ice cream is packaged in are not terribly attractive, especially if you intend to include ice cream as part of your dessert when company is around or during a party. Since few things are more refreshing than a sorbet on a summer evening, to create an elegant presentation, most people resort to individually plating their ice cream desserts. You can slip the full cartons into one of these elegant silver-plated ice cream containers, however, and serve away. The container measures only 4" tall, but it will still make an impression at the table. Price: $95.

It's hard to say which of the collections from the Seattle-based Rosanna Bowles is the most appealing. I already have the Hot Chocolate set, which is beautiful blue stoneware, decorated with words meaning "chocolate" in four different languages. Hot chocolate is a bit of a seasonal drink, however, so for summer, I prefer the Wine Tasting collection. With drawings, words about wine and bold, block-lettering, each porcelain piece is classy and fun, reflective of the fact that wine drinking doesn't always have to be a serious business. There are appetizer plates ($30), coasters ($15) and a serving tray ($20), all of which are useful for entertaining friends over a glass of your favorite wine and a plate of cheese and crackers. The whole set would also make a great housewarming or wedding gift.

The glass "O" Sake Set by Riedel offers a beautiful way to introduce sake into your home. Riedel actually conducted tastings with sake experts from Japan when designing these, keeping in mind that they wanted to glasses to be varietal, intended to be ideal glassware for serving sake. This means that all the flavors and aromatic notes of the sake will be brought out to their fullest when decanted into the small carafe and served in these glasses. Price: $38.