The holidays wouldn't be holidays without the anticipated annual sharing of fabulous traditional meals with our loved ones. In our December Foodies on Food series, ParentMap profiles an esteemed culinary cohort of Seattle-area food professionals, including favorite local chefs, restaurateurs, and food writers, about their family reminiscences, perspectives on the primacy of food in sustaining connections with family and community, handy cooking tips, funny holiday stories, and — you’ll like this! — favorite recipes.

Each day leading up to Christmas, we will publish a new interview and recipe — a  virtual advent calendar with its counting down of delicious days, so to speak. Check back each day to see a new foodie revealed below.

Here’s wishing your family the yummiest of holiday greetings!