With the holidays right around the corner, many are looking forward to time spent with family members — and indeed, some are already experiencing the incoming flow of out-of-town relatives. With more time off from work and school, the focus turns instead to leisurely meals and relaxed evenings with family and friends. For one of the best ways to bring family together — and for a return to an old tradition — check out Herringbone’s Sunday Suppers.

Started by chef Amanda Baumgarten in an attempt to bring back the communal dining experience of the Sunday supper, Herringbone offers a prix fixe menu on Sunday evenings starting at 6 p.m. With a menu that changes weekly, guests can choose between two appetizers and two entrees, and top it off a dessert for $35. The menu includes a suggested cocktail to start the meal, and house wines are offered at $6 a glass or $22 a bottle.

Striving to cook seasonally, Baumgarten is currently deep in autumn fare. Making use of cold-weather comfort foods like squash, root vegetables and slow-cooked red meats, she brings the diner back to a different time, evoking the feel of a warm kitchen with a table surrounded by several generations of family members. On Dec. 9, Baumgarten offered up the choice of either shrimp and loca bass ceviche with an avocado mousse served with homemade crackers (the recipe for which Baumgarten guards closely) or parsnip agnolotti (similar to a ravioli) with roasted chestnuts for the appetizer. For the entrée, guests could choose bet-ween a slow-cooked brisket with pan-fried macaroni and cheese or grilled snapper with a cranberry-apple Israeli cous cous, acorn squash and a pistachio vinaigrette. For dessert, a chocolate pecan pie perfectly rounded out the autumn-themed meal.

Inspired by a similar event at an L.A.-area supper club, Baumgarten was determined to bring the tradition of gathering around the table with family and friends on a Sunday evening to La Jolla. She starting creating the special menus about six weeks ago, and has since attempted to grow the event, hoping the dinners could become a regular tradition for locals at the end of their weekend. At the beginning of each week, she creates the menu and by Wednesday, the next Sunday’s supper is up online for diners to view.

For more information about Herringbone’s Sunday Supper, to view menus or to make a reservation, visit www.herringboneeats.com or call (858) 459-0221. Herringbone, part of Brian Malarkey’s Fabric of Social Dining family of restaurants, is located at 7837 Herschel Ave.

Herringbone’s Sunday Supper menu for Dec. 16: Cocktail:

The Bruce Wayne (A twist on a traditional Manhattan)

Appetizer:

Chilled borscht, crème fraiche, rye bread crisp

OR

Polenta frites, ricotta salata, persimmon and stinging nettle dipping sauce

Entrée:

Pork osso bucco millanese

OR

Grilled swordfish, red clam and potato dumpling ragout

Dessert:

Hungarian-style cheesecake

Drink:

Herringbone chardonnay, Searsucker red and Burlap zinfandel available for $6 a glass or $22 a bottle