Archive for April, 2009

Classy Dinner

Need an idea for a charity auction? Offer a full course dinner, prepared and served in the winner’s home for 8 people. My friends Sherry Theimer and Judy Larsen and I have been doing “Classy Dinners” for five years. We have raised close to $5000 for ARCh, the Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps! We catered last year’s winners Saturday night at the home of Jim and Lora Stark.

We do all the cooking, bring 3 appetizer selections, soup, salad, rolls, entrée with two sides, wine and dessert. We even bring the tablesetting and clean up the kitchen before we leave. It’s as much fun for the three of us as it is for the hosts and guests.

Appetizer and dinner menu:

Gazpacho Martini
Caramelized Onion Dip
Shrimp

Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Cranberry Lettuce Salad
Chicken Alouette
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
with Brandy Maple Syrup
Honey Pecan Green Beans
Herb Twist Bread

Chocolate Mousse

A Classy Affair

I used a similar table setting as the one I did for the friends this winter. I don’t have orange anywhere in my house, so maybe that’s why it’s becoming a favorite at the table. I used the square black chargers with the white plates trimmed in a decorative scroll pattern. Since the rim of the plate is silver, I chose silver ball napkin rings and a simple accordion fold. By placing the napkin on the plate, the table got a big blast of color.

Orange napkins add a splash of color

Silver napkin ring

Mini sauceboat

Each person had their own butter pats and miniature sauceboats for the brandy maple syrup.

I knew Lora’s guest were all old friends and enjoyed each others company immensely, so I used letter tiles and stands from an old Scrabble game to seat everyone. The extra tiles on the table added to the entertainment!

Use Scrabble tiles instead of place cards

Change your name!

Bountiful bouquet

Instead of tulips, I chose a colorful bouquet with purple, red and orange flowers to brighten the table.

A great time was had by all. Good food, good friends and good wine. What more can you ask for?

Anyone who lives in a northern climate like I do (Wisconsin) can’t wait for winter to be over.  Spring never arrives too soon.  It’s almost mid-April and the temperature is 38 degrees.

Srping brunch

I like to hurry spring along with colorful table settings.  Purple dinnerware probably isn’t a color found in too many china cabinets, including mine.  But it is so fresh and pretty I couldn’t resist adding to my collection.  It is perfect for Sunday brunch.

Purple dinnerware

This hand painted set was a bargain at Goodwill SEW.  Layering and adding height are two techniques that can be utilized to improve any design solution.  Since I didn’t need the little bowl for my brunch, I chose to use it to lift the salad plate.  Something so simple can change the whole look.

Break the rules

I think rules are made to be broken, but it’s important to know the rules in order to break them successfully.  As long as you know the proper place for the forks, spoons and knives at a place setting, you can do whatever you want.  I kept the napkin to the left, and placed the fork and knife on the plate.  I couldn’t believe I found purple flatware!

Little posies

Silk violets as napkin rings have an old-fashion look and remind us we will see them soon in the garden.  I love to mix and match glasses. A crystal cordial and frosted juice glass are perfect complements.

Looks like a fresh bouquet

Silk flowers in coordinating colors, along with candles tie the whole table together.

Arne Jacobsen

We hear a lot about Modern Furniture and Modern Design. Most people confuse Modern with Contemporary. The term Modern is reserved for mid 20th century design the classic work of American, Scandinavian, German, and other celebrated designers and architects. Contemporary furniture and design is the current style or trend that is being manufactured or used in interiors today. If it’s great design, it may become a classic too. Only time will tell.

Arne Jacobsen was an influential Danish architect. The SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen (1956-1961) is said to be his most important work. Not only did he design the building, he designed furniture, lamps, dishes and cutlery and door knobs.

SAS Royal Hotel 1961

He designed the “Egg” chair and the ‘Swan” for the lobbies. These ‘easy” chairs allowed guests to participate in conversations or sit back and turn away for privacy. They were considered to be the first upholstered swivel chairs. New technologies developed in the 1950’s allowed him to create single-pieced molded shells.

The Egg and Swan Chairs

More than 50 years later, the Egg and Swan chairs are still manufactured by Republic of Fritz Hansen in Denmark.

Swan sofa

Men In Black

Movie set designers have reinterpreted the Egg chair for such films as Men In Black. This version doesn’t look as comfortable as the real thing!

Will Smith in Men In Black

Another intrepretation of Jacobsen's chairs

Remember when Sunday dinner was the norm? Mom or Grandma made a nice dinner (meat, potatoes, veggies and dessert). Family dynamics have changed over the years and so have eating habits. Next time you can get the whole gang gathered around the table, make the most of the event.

Sunday Dinner

I think about design every time I set the table or advise a hostess. Sometimes you get inspiration from the interior design of the dining room. Other times the event sparks an idea. Most often a color or a particular dish is the launching pad.

Hand painted plates

My son’s new girlfriend was the guest of honor at last Sunday’s dinner. The hand painted Tuscan inspired plates were a gift and I decided to pair them with basic white dinner plates.

A study in contrasts

You know how much I love contrast. It’s important in any interior design scheme. It’s also necessary at the table. Etiquette dictates there should never be an empty space before a guest. That’s why chargers are often used. When the dishes are cleared away there is still something pretty in place.

Wicker Charger

Woven wicker chargers provide the appropriate contrast with the white plates and lace table cloth. I coordinated the rest of the table accessories with the dark stain on the chargers.

Place Card

Napkins are rolled into metal rings. To avoid playing musical chairs, it’s important to assign seats even at a family gatherings. Instead of place cards, I found an old card game with initials and tucked one into each napkin ring. The rest of the cards were scattered on the centerpiece tray (also dark bronze).

Assign Seats

Vintage card game

Gotta love tulips!

What can I say? Its tulip season and they will grace every table I set until they are no longer available!

Pocket door pulls and nail spoon

Salt cellars have been used at very formal and elegant dinners for centuries. Traditionally you would find small glass or silver bowls with tiny spoons for serving at each place setting. Today we use salt shakers at informal meals.

Salt cellar

I love the challenge of finding new uses for found objects. This is one of my favorite ideas. I picked up these old pocket door pulls at an antique store. They are perfect for salt. The little spoons are made from old nails match the bronze finish. I purchased them in Coloma, California where gold was first discovered.

It’s not the table setting or the design or the food that makes a dinner party successful, it’s the people gathered around the table. Invite your family this weekend!