13 Pieces of Ina-Approved Serveware for the Holidays

Whenever I have a hosting question, I think to myself, “What would Ina Garten do?” and sometimes the answer comes to me instantly. Make a chocolate cake. Throw together a two-ingredient cocktail. Serve straight-up chunks of Parmesan cheese as a hors d’oeuvre. But sometimes, I come up short. And for that, I head to the Ask Ina section of her website.

As I geared up for the holiday season, I realized how woefully unprepared I am in the serveware department. So I went to the queen of entering for inspiration. On Ina Garten’s site, a fan asks her where she gets all her white serveware. Ina replies that she shops mainly at Williams Sonoma and Crate & Barrel. “They both have a huge range of white china,” she says. She also specifically calls out a few brands: “My large serving bowls are Crate and Barrel brand, and my Pillivuyt and Apilco dishes are from Williams-Sonoma.” Bingo. I began shopping.

Best Serveware Deals Overall

• Best Deal: Jamesware White Stoneware Serving Bowl, $12, originally $25 at crateandbarrel.com
• Modern Pick: Basel Recycled Stoneware Shallow Serve Bowl by Daniel Humm, $22, originally $50 at crateandbarrel.com
• Doubles as Bakeware: Oven-to-Table Small Serve Bowl with Wood Stand, $20 at crateandbarrel.com
• Best for Holiday Cookies: Rustic Ceramic Rectangular Platter, $38, originally $60 at williams-sonoma.com
• Ina-Approved Brand: Pillivuyt Eclectique Porcelain Serving Bowl, $104, originally $140 at williams-sonoma.com

Jamesware White Stoneware Serving Bowl

For just $12, this is the ultimate staple serving bowl. It has super-tall, steeply sloped sides that can handle recipes with a lot of liquid. The high sides also mean you can mix a salad in it without sending lettuce flying over the side. 

Basel Recycled Stoneware Shallow Serve Bowl by Daniel Humm

Ina usually sticks to classic porcelain serveware, but if you’re looking for something a little more modern, but still white and not too busy, this is the ideal bowl. There’s a slight grain to the glaze, so it’s not totally shiny white and has a more hand-made feel. At almost 50% off, it’s a holiday entertaining must-have. 

Oven-to-Table Small Serve Bowl with Wood Stand

If you’re serving a casserole or something baked this holiday season, like Ina’s Crusty Baked Shells & Cauliflower, you’ll need a baking dish that can go straight from the oven to the table. This Crate & Barrel bowl is precisely that. Skip the potholder or trivet — this comes with a wooden stand to protect your table without sacrificing style. 

Aspen Large Porcelain Serving Bowl

Ina always seems to have an unlimited supply of just-right serveware on her show. For those of us with less room for a hundred-piece collection, a versatile do-it-all white porcelain serving bowl is the workhorse of the holiday season. Something shallow but not too flat and big but not gigantic, like this bowl from Crate & Barrel’s Aspen collection, will be the staple you reach for over and over. 

Poppy Recycled Clay Round Ceramic Serving Dish by Gaby Dalkin

When it comes to holiday parties and meals, appetizers can be just as important as the main course. Store-bought is fine for crackers and dip, but don’t be caught serving them in the unsightly plastic packaging they come in. Snag this chip-and-dip serving dish to instantly elevate your grazing table. 

White Ruffle 12-Inch Earthenware Pedestal Bowl

In my family, the holiday dessert table always includes a bowl of small mandarin or satsuma oranges. This ruffled pedestal bowl is the perfect fruit bowl to break up all the heavy desserts on the table. In contrast to low, shallow pie plates and cookie platters, its height adds visual interest, and the unique design is eye-catching amid a sea of other white serveware. 

Rustic Ceramic Rectangular Platter

I’m grabbing this platter for holiday cookies. Round platters are standard, but a squared-off platter like this one is equally versatile and has just enough going on design-wise to be interesting. It can sometimes be tough to stack cookies on a round platter since you lose space in the corners. For under $40, this platter is a great deal. 

Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Rectangular Platter

Quality servware doesn’t have to break the bank. Sure, there are some must-haves from luxury brands (see below), but $30 can get you a sturdy, dependable platter. At over 15 inches across, it’s one of the largest on this list, making it an excellent value for the money. 

Pillivuyt Eclectique Porcelain Serving Bowl

Ok, technically this is a bowl and not a platter, but the wide surface area puts it in the realm of bowl-plates, like a pasta bowl. And speaking of pasta, my family is Italian, so pasta is a first course at every holiday meal, and this shallow bowl is the perfect serving vessel for a mountain of spaghetti and Sunday sauce for a crowd. 

Apilco Octagonal Porcelain Serving Platter, No. 13

Aplico is a brand Ina specifically calls out, and it’s easy to see why with this stunning octagonal platter. The fluted edges are unique and timeless. The large size means it’s big enough for a centerpiece like a turkey or a whole fish. This is an heirloom piece you’ll have for years to come. 

Le Creuset San Francisco Coupe Serving Platter

Le Creuset is a Food & Wine-favorite brand, but in the shadow of its Dutch ovens and bakeware, the brand’s serveware can fly under the radar. If you’re looking for a platter that’s big and wide with minimal edge decoration, this is the one for you. 

Pillivuyt Plisse Porcelain Long Appetizer Tray

A long, skinny platter is the piece I always want when I’m adding grissini to my charcuterie spread or tucking one more tray of cheese slices along the edge of an already-full table. This Pillivuyt Appetizer Tray is essential for holiday hosting. 

Pillivuyt Handled Oval Porcelain Platter

If you’re cooking a large centerpiece protein for the holidays, like ham or roast beef, ferrying the platter from the kitchen to the table after carving can be daunting. For hefty loads, a handled platter like this one is a must.