Around the holidays, it’s a chore to wade through the many articles and guides to hosting the perfect soiree, nailing your yule log technique like a pro, and how to set the perfect table for Christmas dinner. If the past few years have taught us anything, though, it’s that change is inevitable, and that’s not a bad thing if you embrace it. In that spirit, we’ve compiled a few unconventional and unexpected holiday cooking tips and opinions on hosting from some chefs, bakers, and other food world people who know their way around a cookie table.