The holidays are upon us! We LOVE this time of the year – for several reasons. For me, this is t a spiritual season of great reflection, thanksgiving, planning and preparation for what lays ahead. I just like the fact that we get to celebrate the ending of a year and reflect on it and the new one ahead (and all the parties in between). Who doesn’t love a party? Life is better with a party!
How to set the table for entertaining at home
As I have gotten older, I have craved the blaring discotheque less and less and have opted for more low key entertainment where talking is required, not optional and you don’t have to scream over loudspeakers to do it. So, these days I choose a lounge or a restaurant way more over the disco and I am huge on entertaining in my very own home.
Contrary to some people’s belief, entertaining at home is not a massive affair relegated to the uber rich with full time butler service. And it’s not only for older married people either. It is for all of us. As long as you have people you want to invite to your home, you have got the makings of your very own soiree! Today we focus on setting the table.
ESSENTIAL TOOLS:
- A dining table is essential for a seated dinner
- Serveware- ie the vessels in which you will place the food. We tend to prefer the mult-functional flexibility of all white modern serving pieces for more snazzy shindigs. We also like the modular restaurant quality porcelain and fine bone china units (depicted in photo above) for their longevity and ease of storage. Many pieces are stackable so that means less cupboard space!
- Whereas we use large serving pieces for cocktail functions when serving canapés and hors d’ouerves, we tend to favour smaller serving pieces when we are having a seated dinner. This makes more room at the table and you can place smaller servings of each dish at both ends of the table for easy access and distribution without clutter. Plus smaller serving dishes are easier to pass around. Try lifting one of our heavy platters while seated- quite a task!
- Nice stemware. You can go for handmade glass water goblets which are way nicer than their factory made counterparts but if you can, spend extra on your stemware for wine. Shoot for crystal if you can. Look for deals and buy them in small doses to be gentler on the pocket. If you do not serve alcoholic beverages in your home, then go for fancy goblets with stems to elevate your juices to another level.
- A sideboard is a huge plus for a buffet because you don’t have to pile all that food on the dinner table and people can eat without pausing every minute to pass the sauce.
- If you are having a cocktail do, you can get away with using a sideboard only to display food. Serve in small plates to maximise space and stack them.
- If you use a sideboard, you can keep the table free to create your decorations and use any theme you desire.
- We prefer neutral plates generally, and go for them in both classic and formal designs. We strongly suggest porcelain over just regular ceramic if you want things that will last in your dishwasher. Fine bone china is heirloom quality and may be used for ultra formal settings or if you simply feel like. You don’t have to be like the typical Jamaican grandmother who only takes out her good china when she has visitors to impress!
- You need not have the finest things to have a good time. Aim for the best quality you can afford and use them with pride and dignity. There is no shame in this game!
TABLE TIPS
- Flowers warm up any setting. You cannot go wrong here. Pick some that reflect your them and use to draw together the colours being used on the table.
- Put your most elaborate piece on the dinning table but have a few extra stems that you can assemble on your own for the sideboard, etc.
- Make the same cutlery and crockery look new every time by stocking up on relatively inexpensive accessories like placemats, table runners, napkin rings and napkins. It is amazing how much these can change the look of a table especially when combined with a floral centrepiece. Think of it as the jewellery, bags and shoes that can take an outfit from everyday daytime, to a sultry nighttime hottie. Sorry guys, I couldn’t help but get ultra feminine on this one.
- Don’t be caught up with not having enough proper cutlery for formal dinner service. Simply make do with what you have and have a more informal setting like in the photos. You may have to buy in pieces over time to get all you want. Go with a brand that allows you to do this.
- When you are ready for ultra formal, take the plunge and buy a 67-piece fine bone china set from Noritake or Villeroy & Boch. Until then, that is no reason to postpone having a jolly good time right now!
- Select appropriate music. Restaurants pick music that matches their theme- you should too! Select music that puts people in the mood that suits your brunch or dinner party!
- Whatever you do, bring good vibrations to your own party. Remember it is a party so be sure to enjoy it yourself. Don’t let the anxiety of getting everything right overwhelm your desire to have fun. After all, good food and good company are meant to be celebrated!
FORMAL AND INFORMAL PLACE SETTINGS
For more ideas for table settings for all occasions, visit our Pinterest board on Setting the Table.
imagesbytdashfield says
This is amazing! Love it! Still hoping to see a fish ceviche recipe one day – hint hint beg 🙂
Chef and Steward says
Thanks much! OK… we will post a fish ceviche recipe the moment we get our hands on ultra fresh catch. Supermarket fish will not do for ceviche.
Sandra says
You know I am all over this one, I love it!! One of these days I am going to design tables for a living and this is very inspiring. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Chef and Steward says
And that you should! I pinned your thanksgiving tablescape by the way.
gottagetbaked says
I love these tips and the handy table setting drawings. Just tweeted your post – I think we all could use a little help in this area. Your photos, home and tableware are beautiful!
Chef and Steward says
Thrilled that you find the post useful. Thank you so much for your kind comment regarding our photos, table and home. We try to make our house a home 🙂
Coco Cooks says
Thanks for the refresher with the setttings. Great advice to those who are just starting their collections for entertaining.
Chef and Steward says
Thanks Courtney!
duodishes says
Great tips! The use of the sideboard is great. You can keep food close enough without clogging the table.
Chef and Steward says
Thanks Chrystal & Amir. Exactly… plus the added storage when it’s time to put away the serveware is an added bonus to having one!
Sally says
I must admit to being very lazy these days – if people dine at my house I’ll set the table but we tend to do self service in the kitchen! No one seems to mind. I like the informality. Planning my Christmas table now though and no self -service there!
Chef and Steward says
We still maintain an informal setting at our table since we do not set out ultra specialized cutlery and crockery for multiple courses. Eating in the kitchen is fine for close friends over an impromptu meal or for regular family meals though, or even for more elaborate settings once you are blessed with the extra square footage!
Jocelyn says
That table setting is lovely! I definitely need help with things like this. Thanks for sharing!
Chef and Steward says
Great that you find it useful!
Jill Colonna says
Love it – especially, ‘as long as you have people you WANT to invite’ ;-)) I’m getting cynical in old age, perhaps, not having enough time with the folks we want to see more of also people who have moved far away, sniff, sniff. Hubby is always going on about us getting the wine and water glasses wrong way round so this is so helpful as clout material, hehe.
Enjoy the dining and rush up to holiday period.
Chef and Steward says
Jill, I know what you mean! Glad that hubby will be convinced of the correct arrangement of the glasses with this post. Enjoy your holiday dining as well! Wish we were nearer to partake of your lovely Macaroon collections in your book!
me says
I really like it when individuals get together and share ideas.
Great blog, stick with it!