SERVING IN STYLE

5 MUST-HAVE ITEMS TO SET THE MOOD WITH YOUR FOOD

By Kathryn York

Food — it’s often the centerpiece of any gathering. So, the way you display or serve food can really set the mood when entertaining guests. No matter if your gathering is casual or elegant, it’s important to find a healthy balance between practicality and style with your serveware. Whether you’re purchasing catered dishes or creating a spread of your own, these five essential items can save the day when it comes to serving your guests in style and leaving them in anticipation of your next event.

1. BOWLS

From dips to desserts, having a good stash of serving bowls on hand is a must! Maybe you love pulling out your heirloom serving dishes. Or you just can’t wait for the right occasion to use your favorite wood salad bowls. Or maybe you just need a good reason to pull out your white porcelain or clear glass serving bowls. All of the above can really put the spotlight on your food. Larger bowls are perfect for salads, trail mixes, side dishes, and cold desserts or fruits, whereas smaller bowls lend well to dips, garnishes, and dressings.

PHOTOS BY MAIDEN AND MOON PHOTO CO. BY MEREDITH JOI

2. BOARDS

From cheeses to chicken, a board can be used as a plate or even a platter. With the ongoing popularity of charcuterie boards, you can find so many beautiful and unique varieties of boards in multiple designs, shapes, and sizes. Even more, boards can beautifully display both savory and sweet foods. All in all, boards are a win-win for guests who love to graze while mixing and mingling, so having a few marble or wood boards handy at all times will set you for success when entertaining guests.

PHOTOS BY MAIDEN AND MOON PHOTO CO. BY MEREDITH JOI

3. PINCH POTS

From honey to hummus, pinch pots can take the place of any bottle or jar. Consider pinch pots as fancy ramekins. They are great board accessories, and they work well on their own alongside larger bowls or platters. Available in a variety of styles from marble to wood to copper to stainless steel and more, pinch pots can definitely be the conversation piece of your entire spread, as guests will enjoy adding everything from herbed butters, jams, jellies, olives, and spreads to their plates — all from these small and simple serving dishes. Bonus: you can put marble and stone pinch pots in the fridge an hour before use to keep your dips and spreads chilled and ready to serve before guests arrive!

PHOTOS BY MAIDEN AND MOON PHOTO CO. BY MEREDITH JOI

4. UTENSILS

From spoons to spurtles, it’s important to have proper serving utensils (and a good variety) for guests to indulge and partake in your delicious food spread. A perfect segue from pinch pots, know that you can never have too many small spoons in your serveware stash. Small spoons work like a charm for dips, olives, and spreads, whereas large slotted spoons and ladles are a must for serving sides, soups, and even desserts. You also can’t go wrong by keeping cake or pie servers, salad claws, tongs, and small forks just a drawer’s reach away.

PHOTOS BY MAIDEN AND MOON PHOTO CO. BY MEREDITH JOI

5. GLASSWARE

From water to wine, a variety of glassware goes a long way when entertaining guests. Some guests may not partake in food, but almost every guest will need something to drink while mixing and mingling at your gathering. So, have fun with your glassware by keeping a couple of different options that will accommodate both casual and formal settings. While cocktail and wine glasses may be top of mind, don’t forget a timeless goblet or drinking glass that can be friendly to any beverage of choice.

PHOTOS BY MAIDEN AND MOON PHOTO CO. BY MEREDITH JOI

PHOTOS BY MAIDEN AND MOON PHOTO CO. BY MEREDITH JOI

ABOVE ALL, KEEP IT PRACTICAL

Regardless of your style or serveware selections, make sure to keep practicality as your top priority. There’s a multitude of beautiful yet practical serveware options out there that will not only make your food shine bright but will also withstand the test of time when it comes to cleaning and using it time and again.

KATHRYN YORK is the owner and curator of Smith & York Company, a modern home boutique located on the square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee, and Lime & Loaf, a kitchen shop located at New South Marketplace in downtown Columbia. Both shops are open seven days a week, Smith & York Co. offers a diverse selection of home goods, including tabletop accessories, barware, lighting, textiles, planters, and gift items, while Lime & Loaf offers a wide selection of kitchen essentials for cooking and baking. Learn more at smithandyork.co and limeandloaf.com.