What comes to mind when you hear the word settings? If you are like most people, you will immediately visualize different types of table settings. But, is there more to serving good food than just what kind of plates or flatware that is typically used to serve food?
When I think of good food, I think of the entire experience. Think of it like this. What comes to your mind when you envision your favorite restaurant? Before you sit at the table and take the first bite, you experience the atmosphere that hugs you immediately upon entering the room.
This brings me to the subject of this blog. Settings is a perfect description of what I strive for when putting together a good meal. Immediately after creating What I will serve, I begin to imagine, Where the meal will take place.
The image you see here is my favorite room to eat breakfast here on our Tucker Hill Urban Farm. The gentle breeze wafting through cracked casement windows creates a feeling of being wrapped in a blanket of love. The sun dapples just right in the early mornings, with a welcome that lasts for brief moments and then disappears only to return another day.
So what are some of the secrets to creating the perfect setting? Here are just a few.
Create your menu. This is important as everything will flow from this starting point.
Organize all serving pieces such as bowls, serving platters, trivets, pitchers, etc. in advance.
What type of meal will it be? Family style where the food is set on the dinner table or will it be self-service at a sidebar?
How many people will be gathering around the table? Are there children and if so, what are their ages? If young children are a part, is a children’s table in order?
What’s the mood? Is it formal or ultra casual; or somewhere in between? Formal can be indoors or out; depending on the season. If casual, introduce elements that will encourage engagement such as a menu that will allow them to build their own food combinations. Baked potato or bowl bars are good options.
Make it extra special. My mantra for living is and always will be, to use the good china. And if not good china, you can pick up pretty plates and flatware that looks amazing at places like Ikea, or one of my favs; thrift shops. Don’t be concerned with having everything match. You can pull together a uniform look with napkins and centerpieces.
Make sure the area you will be serving is free of clutter to allow people to move about with ease. If necessary move out furniture pieces temporarily to make extra space.
Music is everything. I always like to have very soft music playing in the background. The type of music is whatever suits you. The idea is to make it soft to avoid having to yell when having conversation.
Bring all your good energy. Politics and religious debates should be put aside for another time. Oh, and before I forget, put away the electronic devices.
I cannot wait for you to share your special settings, and please, do share. Because life should be good. How good is that…
Deigratia,
Bonnie
