The holidays are here, bringing cozy gatherings, nostalgic flavors, and those tiny moments that make the season feel magical.
For author, home and entertainment content creator, and Cheese Gal founder Cortney LaCorte, hosting is all about crafting an atmosphere that feels warm, effortless, and joyfully un-fussy. She leans into nostalgia, tiny indulgences, and the kind of thoughtful details that make guests feel cared for the second they walk through the door.
Cortney sat down with us to share her philosophy on holiday hosting, the origins of her beloved snack rituals, and the stories and memories that shape her signature approach to cooking and connection.
HW: When you think about the holiday season, what feeling do you hope people experience the moment they walk into your home?
CL: First of all, I feel like I live my entire life for the holiday season – the nostalgia, the smell of my mom cooking, the music… all of it. When someone walks into my home, I hope they feel instantly cozy and almost transported back to that feeling of being at home themselves. I’ve learned that hosting is so much less about the menu (though of course that matters!) and so much more about people feeling thought of and cared for the moment they step through the door.
HW: You’ve become known for these elevated-but-playful snack rituals — like Couch Caviar. What sparked that idea, and why do you think it resonates so strongly?
CL: Ah, my specialty! I’ve always been a couch snack gal, and as I got older and my palate expanded, I really leaned into this belief that you don’t need a big promotion or major life moment to treat yourself well. Why wait for some huge occasion when you can have a tiny celebration on your couch, in your sweatpants, on a random Tuesday? I think it resonates because it’s not fussy, not over-thought – just a fabulous little moment where you catch yourself thinking, “This is it. This is what it’s about.” It’s that spark of freewill, choosing to make something special for yourself simply because you can.
HW: Your recipes often celebrate the in-between moments — the late-night bite, the snack on the couch, the casual, unplanned gathering. How have those small moments shaped how you cook?
CL: Those in-between moments are honestly where my love of cooking lives. Those smaller moments, the casual “come over if you want” hangs – they taught me that food doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special. It can be simple, a little indulgent, totally unplanned, and still memorable. That’s shaped how I cook: always aiming for ease, comfort, and joy first.
HW: When you cook for the people you love, what are you trying to express through the food, the atmosphere, the pacing of the evening?
CL: The biggest thing I want to come through when I’m cooking for the people I love is that they matter to me. I want the food, the vibe, the pacing – all of it – to feel relaxed and not overly planned. Just an easy night where everyone can take a deep breath and be themselves. Because let’s be honest, no one remembers the exact menu – they remember that the food was delicious, that they could exhale a little, and that they had the best time. If they leave feeling appreciated and comfortable, that’s the whole goal.
HW: Your approach to entertaining feels effortless rather than overly staged. What are the small details that, for you, quietly elevate a gathering?
CL: For me, it’s the tiny, almost sneaky little details that quietly elevate a gathering. A playlist that makes people say, “Wait, who picked this?” Candles absolutely everywhere – No big lights. A pretty water pitcher with citrus or herbs because… why not? I hand my guests something to drink (could be a cocktail or even sparkling water) the second they walk in. And always a fun little bite waiting for them. It’s never about perfection; it’s those little things that make the night feel cozy and fun without overdoing it.
HW: What’s currently inspiring your holiday snack board — in terms of flavor, texture, color, and mood?
CL: This time of year, I hit full send on everything cozy – give me creamy, give me warm and baked, give me indulgent. Think: whipped goat cheese with a gorgeous cranberry sauce spooned over the top and rustic slices of baguette that feels both nostalgic and festive for the holidays. Maybe baked prosciutto-wrapped dates stuffed with Gorgonzola, drizzled with a little spicy honey and chopped walnuts that is simple but decadent addition to any snack board. Or even something as simple as my Crispy Baked Boursin – with a salty butter cracker and glass of bubbles.
HW: Your debut cookbook is titled Oversharing. What does that word mean to you in the context of food, story, and inviting people into your life?
CL: I’ve always been a chronic oversharer – in life, in recipes, in giving every detail when I tell a story – so it felt fitting that the title of my first cookbook be something that sort of holds all of those meanings at once. Oversharing means giving you the recipes I love and the why behind them: the memories, the nostalgia, the unhinged moments, the things I probably could’ve kept to myself but… here we are, ha. What even counts as “TMI” anymore? For me, food tastes better when there’s a story attached, and inviting people into those stories – the funny ones, the tender ones, the slightly (okay, maybe very) dramatic ones – is how I connect. That’s what Oversharing means to me and is the spirit behind the book.
HW: Cooking and hosting clearly come from a place of joy for you. Where did that joy begin? Was there a moment or person who shaped your relationship with food?
CL: Oh, completely! I truly love it and have loved it my whole life. Growing up, my mom would host the most fabulous dinner parties. I remember watching her do her thing and thinking, “I want to do that one day.” Between her, and then later watching Julia, Martha, and Ina, my fate was pretty much sealed. At five years old, I’d even pretend to have my own cooking show in front of my stuffed animals – complete with two teddy bear camera men both named Dan? I would start the show with “Thank you Dan, and thank you Dan. Hi everybody, my name is Cortney and I’m here to show you how to make spaghetti.” I started hosting my high school girlfriends at my house, which turned into hosting in my first big-girl apartment, and… here we are. Cooking and hosting have always come from this place of joy for me, because they’ve been woven into my life from the very beginning.
HW: What’s your philosophy around hostess gifts during the holidays — and is there a specific item you love to give because it always makes people feel seen and celebrated?
CL: My philosophy with hostess gifts is simple: bring something that makes their tomorrow easier, not their tonight harder. I learned that from Ina, and I’ve really taken it to heart. No one needs another bottle to decant, or a candle to hunt down a lighter for in the middle of a party. I want to give them something they get to enjoy once everyone’s gone and they’re finally in their sweatpants. So I’ll show up with bagels and good cream cheese for the next morning, or a cute little basket of couch-snack ingredients, or something that basically says, “You survived hosting – here’s your prize.” It’s my favorite way to make someone feel seen, appreciated, and a little spoiled.
