A savory, smoked turkey is the centerpiece of this Thanksgiving, rich in history, tradition and memories in the making.

Although no one knows for certain whether turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving, the large, flavorful bird has been the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of years. This gathering celebrates the turkey in its entire splendor, with turkey–themed dinner and serveware, and handmade decorations crafted with real turkey feathers.

Gilt pumpkins and vibrant paisley linens bring a festive mood to the table, creating a fitting backdrop for a meal of smoked turkey, bread stuffing, and roasted butternut squash soup, served in miniature lidded tureens. Read on for our best tips on hosting this turkey–centric Thanksgiving with style and flair.

Setting Up

The turkey has been a symbol of Thanksgiving for over than 300 years. This Thanksgiving, pay tribute to the magnificently feathered bird with a festive menu and decor.

Opinions differ widely on how make the best turkey, with some cooks favoring roasting, while others swear by grilling or deep frying. For a wonderfully savory bird, we recommend smoking.

Although it takes longer than other methods, the result — a turkey with crisp, browned skin and slightly pink meat that's moist and succulent — is well worth the wait. See our Recipe section for our favorite smoking recipe.

To start the meal, serve a creamy roasted butternut squash soup in our mini tureens. Fitted lids keep their contents hot, making it easy to serve a crowd. Since smoking works best when the turkey is unstuffed, we've also included a recipe for stovetop bread stuffing that's studded with currants and green apple.

As for a wine pairing, pinot noir is the perfect accompaniment to a Thanksgiving dinner. Its juicy red and black fruit flavors, and subtly spicy notes go well with turkey, and vegetables like green beans and Brussels sprouts. Focusing on American pinots gives you an easy way to narrow your offerings, for this American holiday. Select several from different regions, including New York, Washington, Oregon, and California's prized wine country.

Since turkey is the main attraction at this Thanksgiving, our stylists created a table setting that celebrates the magnificent bird. A trio of decorative turkeys takes pride of place at the center of the table, with their fan–shaped tails crafted from real turkey feathers. The serving platter echoes their design with its rendering of a gobbler surrounded by corn and pumpkin leaves, and the matching plates feature an array of printed turkeys. A cornucopia of gilt pumpkins adds a festive sparkle, and a pair of clear glass taper hurricanes adds height to the display, without impeding lines of sight. For a personal touch, create burned wood nametags for each guest by following the directions in our video.