Antoni Porowski on Cooking for a Crowd and His Favorite Host Gifts

Through the Netflix series Queer Eye, Antoni Porowski has proven that cooking means more than simply being able to whip up a meal—it can be a path to greater self-confidence and independence.

For Porowski, his interest in the kitchen started early, but he didn’t really experiment with cooking his own meals until college, which is when he learned that it could serve as a pathway around house cleaning chores that would still keep his roommates happy.

“I initially cooked them a very unsuccessful eggplant Parmesan, where I put the eggplant in cold oil because I didn’t know that oil had to be hot for it to crisp up—so that was a good learning lesson,” says Porowski. “I was at a point in my life when I started having this need to connect to other people and wanted a sense of community, and I felt like food was a natural vehicle for that.”

Now, as Queer Eye heads into its 10th and final season, cooking has not only helped Porowski find his own community, but it’s allowed him to build the same for others. This is especially helpful during the holiday season when work in the kitchen reaches its pinnacle. And Porowski has partnered with Carnation to highlight some fun recipes that will take the anxiety out of Thanksgiving recipe planning. The limited-edition box even includes a red carpet table runner and placemats, an apron, and lots of Carnation ingredients.

Of course, experiencing general nerves and anxiety around cooking is completely normal—especially when making a big meal for other people. To combat any nervousness, Porowski emphasizes the importance of sticking to what you know and says it’s important to remember that “for a lot of people, it’s the first time they’re ever having this thing that you’ve made 100 times and you want to enjoy yourself.”

The best part is that the skills honed while cooking old favorites can always be put to use when trying out new things. So, while Porowski admits that he often finds himself stressed when he chooses to make fully new dishes for groups, he emphasizes that it’s important to remember that you already know the basics—and they’ll help you no matter what’s on the menu.

Porowski was also kind enough to share some of his favorite holiday hosting gifts and preparation tips for meals.

Antoni Porowski’s go-to host gifts

Opt for a nice salt

Instead of opting for decorative items for host gifts, Porowski likes to bring gifts that people can use or consume. “Someone brought me a J.Q. Dickinson salt from West Virginia, which was fantastic,” says Porowski.