In the hubbub of getting the Thanksgiving meal ready, many hostesses forget about how to best present their food. A beautifully set table, with a few special touches, can enhance gourmet and simple meals alike.
Think Color
The colors of autumn are some of the richest in nature. Start your table setting with a tablecloth in a deep color that compliments your dishes. Add cloth napkins that match or coordinate with the tablecloth and dishes and you are off to a great start. The consideration of color doesn’t stop there. Make sure that you serve some things within your menu that add to the color of each guest’s plate. Turkey and mashed potatoes make a rather bland presentation so add in some bright orange carrots, golden stuffing, or green broccoli.
Place Settings
Planning your place settings can be one of the most important elements to setting a beautiful, yet efficient, table. Think about the dishes you plan to serve and make sure guests have the appropriate equipment for the task at hand. Are you serving salad on a separate plate? Make sure salad plates and salad forks are available as part of each place setting. Will guests be drinking both water and wine? Make sure places are set with a glass for each. When putting the place settings together, work on consistency. Make sure each fork, knife, glass, and napkin are in the same placement for each guest. This will add to the overall uniformity and aesthetic quality of your table.
Centerpiece
Nothing adds style and beauty like an original Thanksgiving centerpiece. There are many inexpensive options that will give your guests something to admire and talk about. A bit of nature brought in from outside can enhance this seasonal meal. A bit of greenery, pine cones, or leaves in bright fall colors will do the trick. Add special touches like fresh or fake flowers in complimentary colors. Then, to give this centerpiece another layer, add something special that will get guests talking. Snapshot pictures placed in between the natural elements, especially those from childhood, will help get your dinner conversation off to a good start. Do you have a special collection on display somewhere in your house? You could also choose a few elements of your collection, even if it isn’t Thanksgiving themed, to add to your table. If you have children in attendance, it is also fun to let them use the centerpiece to showcase their art and small crafts from school.
There are a few things to consider in putting together your centerpiece. One is lighting. Adding candles and turning down the overhead lights can add special ambience. Another consideration is the size of your centerpiece. Make sure it does not spread too far across the table that it leaves no room for the food! Or, plan to put up a special table or use a sideboard to store dishes once they have been passed.
Whether you are a novice cook or have been entertaining for years, you can enhance your entire meal by setting an efficient and creative table
Happy thanksgiving!!!!