A Christmas Dinner, The Setting (Part I)
We had our first sit-down holiday dinner last week. We have only two planned this holiday season, down from the usual 5-6 meals with say 10-12 guests. This first dinner we decided to use our blue tablecloth as the base color for the setting, and everything pretty much took off from there. Flowers were a bit OTT, it being a sit-down dinner and because we had abstained from flower expenditure most of the previous year… We had purple and green hydrangeas, apple green carnations, tuberroses, white lillies, lisianthus, white snapdragons and greens in several different arrangements…
Tall white dripless candles in crystal candlesticks rose high above the diners hears, while low votive candle holders in white provided light below the guests faces…
A vertical arrangement in a pale green vase was in the foyer…
Leftover flowers in a small glass vase on a side table…
The dining table set with green holiday napkins and pale purple ribbons… it all turned out quite nicely.
And minutes before sitting down to dinner, E, our favorite waiter who we schedule weeks in advance to ensure that he can serve at our dinners (he has a day job), checks the table, lights the candles and the dinner stage is set…
…as guests in the living room nearby are summoned to take their places for the holiday meal…
Lovely, MM….elegante talaga!
December 22nd, 2008looks like a hannukah celebration
December 22nd, 2008Blue…my favorite color. Wonderful flower combinations!! Good company…good food and a great host. Am eager to read up on the menu and its execution. Happy holidays Mr and Ms MM!!
December 22nd, 2008Elegant setting !!!!
December 22nd, 2008Really nice!!
I wonder why some forks are “nakataob”?
December 22nd, 2008Tricia, good eye :), this set of cutlery is a European service, which means the pattern is on “the back” and as such, when the table is laid, the cutlery is placed “upside down” so you see the pattern… and if you eat in the continental manner, the fork tines would be pointing down, not up as you bring food to your mouth… :) I just noticed that the dessert forks were not placed upside down, an oversight… Belle Cohen, yes, this could just as easily have been a setting for a hanukkah celebration, except the food would not have been kosher…
December 22nd, 2008What a lovely set-up! It’s been a while since I last did anything like this. It was mostly my best friend who taught me how to, as well as hours watching Martha Stewart. Green & purple is always a lovely combination. Happy holidays!
December 22nd, 2008This post brought a lot of memories.Lime green and purple were our high school class colors.We just have balloons and confettis then to represent our class colors.Once more, your flower arrangements are fantastic!
December 22nd, 2008Are those flowers edible? hehe The table looks like a garden, I think some of the flowers are already crawling inside the glasses. n_n
December 22nd, 2008Great set-up and love the colors. So many glasses! How do you know which ones to use? Would love to get informed/educated on proper table setting, maybe i just have to wait till MM writes his book :)
December 22nd, 2008I love the flowers. :)
December 22nd, 2008Very elegant, MM. Happy Holidays to you and to your family.
December 22nd, 2008you did it again, fantabulous!
December 23rd, 2008Lovely set up MM…everyone told me I should teach how to set up tables and how service should be done… one day when I retire from the hospitality trade and have enough ;-)
I have been around some shops in London checking the flowers we need for Christmas day.
December 23rd, 2008GigiQ,
December 23rd, 2008Schedule your trip to USA when there are Food & Wine Festival.You learn a lot ,from food pairing with wine,what wine glasses goes with specific wines etc. Food & Wine Magazine is a good place to see the upcoming events.As far I I know ,the closest wine glass to you is the first course.MM can confirm this .HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!!!
MM ,beautiful color combination.Elegant indeed.
December 23rd, 2008Good Life,
December 23rd, 2008Thanks for the tip!
how i wish i can do something elegant like this for my favorite people…love the color combination…love the flowers…love all your ideas! Merry Christmas to you & your family!
December 23rd, 2008MM, you must know I would be enamored with that table setting, what with all the purples! It’s just STUNNING, and I’m sure that one look at that table, and all your guests knew they were lucky to be there. :-)
December 23rd, 2008nice is an understatement
December 23rd, 2008Elegant!
December 24th, 2008nice color pallete. . .
December 24th, 2008Nice arrangement MM! :)
December 26th, 2008