Entertaining in Autumn

Our gorgeous floral arrangements were created by Jaclyn Rutigliano, floral designer and owner of Hometown Flower Co. All locally sourced from local flower farms.

An alternative to having one large arrangements is having individual floral stems in bud vases scattered down the length of your table.

Jaclyn creates arrangements in cooperation with whatever Mother Nature has in bloom. All of their flowers are grown and distributed on Long Island.

Set the atmosphere by setting a fabulous table.

THE TABLE Thanksgiving is almost upon us. We love this holiday because the only goal is to spend time with loved ones. And eat. There is something very special about setting a beautiful table for friends and family to gather around. It definitely adds a little magic to the meal. Just thinking about Thanksgiving put us in the mood to throw a little gettogether. Loving the crisp autumn afternoons, we decided to savor the season and set our table al fresco amidst the beauty of nature’s backdrop. Pairing wildflowers and natural elements with glass-enclosed fall colored candles gave our table an air of casual elegance. All it needs is some wine. The magnificent arrangement gracing our dining table was created by Jaclyn Rutigliano, floral designer and owner of pop-up flower truck Hometown Flower Co.. Using only locally-sourced flowers, picked weekly from a collective of Long Island flower farms, Jaclyn creates arrangements in cooperation with whatever Mother Nature has in bloom. Never a fan of traditional roses, Jaclyn has always preferred rather unique flowers and unusual vases for her centerpieces. “Have fun with your table and embrace the individuality of each stem. We like our arrangements to feel lush and seasonal, while looking like they grew in a field of wildflowers.“ “Texture and color make for a beautiful centerpiece. This arrangement features a lush mixture of rich colors and blooms, including white turned ‘antique’ hydrangeas, dinner plate and pom pom dahlias, celosia, amaranthus, strawflower, pampas, and stonecrop, amongst others. Adding extra greens, dried flowers, and branches give a more dynamic look to arrangements. Don’t be afraid to showcase your personality and let the flowers guide you.” When setting your table, remember to display your arrangements so that guests can still see one another and converse across the table without any obstructions. Rather than doing one large centerpiece, consider doing a several small ones that can be scattered down the length of your table. Group a harmonious variety of individual floral stems in various size bud vases or vintage apothecary jars. Create a variety of arrangements within the same color palette and cluster them together on the table.

Grazing Tables

Starring as both the food and the décor, a “grazing table” is a long table brimming with artfully arranged meats, cheeses, crudité, crackers, breads, hors d’oeuvres, condiments, nuts, seasonal fruit and more.

A grazing table is an elegant way to entertain your guests with appetizers when they arrive at your home before dinner is served; or a perfect alternative to offer at a cocktail party. It’s a relaxed way for you and your guests to mingle. Eye-catching and delicious, they are easy enough to make and your guests will love it!

SETTING UP THE TABLE • Use your table as one long tray, but put down a layer of parchment paper to protect the table prior to placing serving boards and platters upon it. Do use serving dishes; it’s not a good idea to put food directly on the table. If hosting a small gathering, a “parchment runner” can be laid down the center of table for serving platters. • We varied the height of our serving boards, trays, and stands, which made for a striking presentation. • Add small bowls for dips, jams and soft cheeses, along with spoons and cheese knives. We put our plates, napkins and cutlery on a nearby table, easily accessible to guests. • Bunches of grapes and fresh herb sprigs are great for filling in any large gaps you may have on your table.

SELECTING CHEESES • Include a mix of different cheeses and a variety of textures; select creamy, hard, crumbly, and aged cheeses. • Most cheese belongs to one of four basic categories: aged, soft, firm, or blue. For a good variety, choose at least one from each group. Some examples: Aged: Aged Cheddar, Comte, Goat Gouda

Soft: Constant Bliss, Brie, Camembert, BrillatSavarin Firm: Manchego, Mimolette, ParmigianoReggiano Blue: Gorgonzola Dolce, Valdeón, Stilton • You may want to label and identify the cheeses with festive tags so your guests know what they are eating. Consider offering a mix of different milks (goat’s milk, cow’s milk, and sheep’s milk cheeses) if allergies are an issue.

ACCOMPANIMENTS • Cured meats are perfect partners for cheese. Hard salami, Prosciutto, Pancetta, smoked ham, dry-cured Chorizo, Capicola, and Soppressata are all popular cheese board meats.

• Bite-sized hors d’oeuvres, like stuffed mushrooms or mini quiches, are also great to have on your table. Choose foods that will keep well at room temperature. • Offer a selection of breads, baguettes, bread sticks, and crackers in all different shapes and sizes. It’s a good idea to vary taste and texture among the breads as well as the cheeses. • Condiments and dipping sauces for bread and crudite’ are a must. Try sweet preserves or honey, tart chutneys, gourmet mustards, and herb-infused olive oils. • Various other sweet and salty items, such as nuts and assorted dried fruits, like figs and apricots, also work well. Include cashews, pistachios, flavored almonds and other roasted or candied nuts. Olives and pickles are also crowd pleasers. • Seasonal fresh fruit such as pears, peaches and apples are always a nice addition. We used fresh figs on our grazing table. Roasted red peppers and roasted eggplant caponata are delicious. Homemade is wonderful, but often you can find a quality jarred brand that is also good.

SET IT AND FORGET IT Once you’ve set up your grazing table, don’t worry about refreshing it as supplies dwindle; this is just something to tide folks over. Pour yourself a cocktail and enjoy time well-spent with your guests!