Originally aired on YPR’s Flavors Under the Big Sky
The flavors from breaking bread with friends and family at the holiday table emanate not just from the food. The setting of the table – the dishes or glassware arranged at each seat, the adornment of flowers, greenery or candles, or the treats left for guests to take home all play into the vibe of the celebratory meal.
Three experts: Jim Gainan, Dale Hopkins and Marie Taylor share ideas and advise on how to make a more festive and welcoming holiday table. Along with the decorations they also provide tips on how to make sure the holiday meal prep is fun and timely.
Jim Gainan of Gainan’s Flowers in Billings has been bringing holiday cheer to homes and tables for years. In 1951, his grandparents Grant and Betty started the business that sold flowers, gourmet products and high-end homeware in downtown. The shop moved to a new mid-town location in 2018 for a more centralized shopping venue for customers.
Dale Hopkins started The Kitchen Shop in Livingston in 2020 during the pandemic. He had worked at the shop previously occupying his current space. After Home on the Range shuttered, Hopkins made the decision to open up his own culinary business. Already, he has doubled the space he originally moved into.
Marie Taylor is the Arts and Events Coordinator as well as the Floral Designer at Roots Garden Center. As a fine artist, Taylor brings her creativity in putting together different materials and elements to create something magical for a holiday table…