T
he holidays are upon us and with this time of year comes joyful gatherings of
friends and family. If you are the hostess for a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, the art of setting a beautiful table can make the simplest of meals or the Southern potluck a truly elevated event. Guests should feel welcome in your home with an inviting ambiance and here are a few steps for enhancing a dining experience during this festive time of year. STEP 1: Consider your setup and which rooms will be used. The easiest way to host a meal is by setting up a buffet. Serving all the food from your kitchen island lets guests choose what food items they will partake. Setting up a buffet on the kitchen island or counter allows you to carry the chosen theme or color scheme into the buffet layout. Using runners, whether paper or fabric, makes for a great base to begin with. A few post-it notes will be your best asset when setting up a buffet. Make a note for each item being served and place it on the buffet where that item will be placed and go ahead and grab the serving utensil you'll need for that dish and set it with the note. Planning everything a couple of days in advance makes the day so much more enjoyable for you, the host. Now, how to display your delicious food? Elevating some of
ENTERTAINING
ESSENTIALS FOR THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS!
the dishes will add interest to the buffet and allow a little more room on the counter. Use cake stands, risers, or a few coffee table books stacked to change the height of several items, while leaving others directly on the counter. TIP: Fill in open spaces with small jars or wine glasses of flowers or simple greenery from the yard
BY AMY MONTGOMERY PHOTOS COURTESY OF HESTER & COOK
between serving dishes.
MAURYCOUNTYLIVING.COM
|
51
