Noeleen Foster - Easy Table Settings for Every Occasion

Published in 2013 by Struik Lifestyle

(an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd)

Company Reg. No 1966/003153/07

Wembley Square, Solan Road, Cape Town 8001 South Africa

PO Box 1144 Cape Town 8000 South Africa

www.randomstruik.co.za

Copyright in published edition: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd 2013

Copyright in text: Clare Huisamen, Ingrid Loud, Noeleen Foster 2013

Copyright in photographs: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and the copyright owner(s).

Publisher: Linda de Villiers
Managing editor: Cecilia Barfield
Designer: Beverley Dodd
Editor: Gill Gordon
Proofreader: Anja Grobler

Photography and styling: Noeleen Foster
Text and styling: Clare Huisamen
Styling: Ingrid Loud

Reproduction: Hirt & Carter Cape (Pty) Ltd
Printing and binding: Craft Print International Ltd, Singapore

ISBN 978-1-43230-084-5 (print)
ISBN 978-1-43230-215-3 (PDF)
ISBN 978-1-43230-214-6 (e-Pub)

Also available in Afrikaans as Maklike tafelversiering vir elke geleentheid

ISBN 978-1-43230-085-2

The authors would like to thank the following people for the use of their beautiful homes, and their help: Jimmy and Biddy Mould, James and Mabel Slabbert, Spiro and Vanessa Villiotti, Lindy Channing and Oumie Foster.

Contents

To order and conduct a dinner is given only to fine gastronomes of delicate and cultivated tastes. An able host is as rare as a good cook.LUCIEN TENDRET

Many of the events of our lives are made more memorable because we gather together with those we love to enjoy a meal, conversation and laughter. Whatever the occasion, be it a holiday dinner, Sunday brunch or casual lunch, the table is the gathering point. When beautifully set, it provides an inviting environment where people can relax and enjoy each others company.

For the modern hostess, time pressure and budget constraints often get in the way of her desire to entertain, so this book has been written with just that in mind. Its filled with ideas for simple table settings that will inspire you to make the most of every occasion and help you create wonderful memories of times shared with friends and family around your dining table.

We have suggested different occasions and themes, but we encourage you to generate ideas that will suit your own needs. Weve suggested substitutes and alternatives that will help you stay within your budget, as well as adapt the themes to different occasions. Our desire is that these creative ideas will allow you to enjoy every moment as you prepare to warmly welcome guests to your home.

Youve decided who to invite and youre working on the menu, but what else can you do to make sure the occasion is a success? There are a few simple tricks to being a good hostess, and they are not hard to learn.

1. Be prepared: The hostess sets the tone for any occasion. If youre not well prepared you will feel stressed and anxious. If youre stressed, your guests will be too, which means no one will have much fun. Be ready to greet your guests as they arrive. They have made the effort to get to your home at a stipulated time, so dont keep them waiting. Factor into your planning the time you need to get yourself ready. Use our planning and shopping guides (see ) to make sure you are as prepared as possible before the first guests arrive.
2. Be present: If youre running off to the kitchen every five minutes you wont spend enough time with your guests, which negates the whole point of getting together. Plan well, so that you can spend time with your guests.
3. Enjoy yourself: Relax. Partake. If you want your guests to have a relaxed, fun evening, you have to be in that frame of mind too.
4. Be aware: At least at first... While people are mingling, keep an eye on their glasses and plates. When theyre empty, offer to replenish. Try to delegate the task of barman to your husband or partner or a trusted friend so that you have one less thing to think about and your guests are taken care of.
5. Dont tidy up: Unless your guests have overstayed their welcome and its a desperate attempt to get them out of the door and on their way home, dont tidy up around people; it is very unwelcoming and gives the impression youd rather they werent there anymore. Its fine to take plates off the table in preparation for the next course but whatever you do, dont start washing the dishes and dont allow your guests to wash dishes either.

Its vital that you organise your time efficiently so that you can relax and enjoy the occasion youve planned. The first thing you need to do is make a list of what needs to be done and when. A list will help to guide you on the day when things are a little more frantic and you may not be as focused as you should be.

• Decide what kind of party youre having, who you want to invite, and a date and time to have it.
• Plan the menu based on your theme and decide what courses you want to include:
  • Hors doeuvres
  • Cocktails and pre-dinner drinks
  • First (starter) course
  • Main course
  • Side dishes
  • Bread
  • Salads
  • Dessert
  • Cheese
  • Coffee/tea
  • After-dinner drinks

Once you have decided on a menu, make a copy of each recipe and use it to compile a list of all the ingredients you need for each dish. From there, make a shopping list (or two or three). Check ingredients you should already have, like herbs, spices, salt and pepper, to make sure you wont run out before the party.

Every house where love abides and friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home sweet home, for there the heart can rest.HENRY VAN DYKE

List all the non-food items you need to buy, such as candles, oil for lamps, paper serviettes and whatever dcor items you need to carry your theme through and enhance your table settings.

Make another list of everything you need to do, such as wash glasses and seldom-used crockery, locate items that you may have loaned out or left at a friends house, or have tablecloths laundered and pressed. Youll need to refer to this list in the days leading up to your party.

Also take stock of any cutlery, crockery, glassware or cooking equipment you might need to borrow and add the items to the appropriate list.

The good news is that this is probably the hardest part of planning your event. Once your lists are made, then all you really need is some time.

• Cocktail glasses (lowball and martini)
• Wine glasses (1 for every guest)
• Water glass (1 for every guest)
• Serviettes (if using paper, allow for 2 for each guest)