Kitchen Essential

Planning — think first, then act

You start with a good idea.

If you only have a vague idea, turn to paper and pencil. A firm design concept can often develop from just a passing thought. There are three steps to achieving this. As a first stage, make a note of everything which you could do. The second stage is to mark what you would like to do on this occasion, and then outline how you intend to carry it out.

Write everything down, even the little trifling things which often get forgotten during preparations and then don’t get done at all. It is always worth writing out such tiny details.

If you are doing a complex table decoration it is worth writing out a timetable, counting down to the big day, with greeting your guests as the final item.

Materials — obtain them in advance

Check in your cupboards to see if you have enough crockery, especially if you are serving several courses; whether you have enough glasses and if they are sparkling clean; whether you have enough cutlery and servers, and whether the silver needs cleaning; whether the tablecloth needs ironing, or if you have the correct number of napkins and whether they are freshly laundered and starched; whether you have candles for the candelabra and enough dishes and bowls in which to serve the food.

Flowers — whatever you prefer

When planning, think of which flowers you would like and how they will be arranged. If you want something special, you should order it from the florist in plenty of time. Take the vase you intend to use to the florist, so they can advise you on what would be suitable, but put forward your own ideas as well. The more experience you have, the more critical you are likely to be of the selection of flowers on offer. Look out fob strong healthy foliage and flowers. In many cases you will probably just buy blooms and combine them in a

bouquet with fresh greenery from the garden or countryside according to your own taste and preferences.

The professionals — when you want something extra-special

Use the services of professionals who know a thing or two about

celebrations and seating plans. Some catering services only offer buffets, others just about anything connected with partiesand celebrations. You can hire all the equipment and even waiting staff if you need to. If you want to serve a very refined meal at home, but don’t want to slave over a hot stove, you can hire a chef who will prepare the finest delicacies to your personal requirements.

Do you want there to be something more to your celebration than just a meal together? Many entertainers, disc jockeys, musicians, small chamber ensembles, stand-up comedians, magicians and other experts make their services available.

Where can you find these professionals? Through Yellow Pages, of course, and in your local telephone directory. Perhaps friends and acquaintances who are experienced hosts can provide you with names and addresses; and restaurants are usually able to put you in touch with the specialists.

The routine — practice makes perfect

A few general tips can help to make your next table decoration more successful.

Don’t be afraid to improvise. If you haven’t got enough crockery or cutlery for a particular occasion, put different patterns together in such a way that it is cleverly done and looks as though it was what you intended all along. It helps if you do a dry run, without a specific

occasion in mind. Simply mix a few different plates, glasses and items of cutlery and see what you think of the effect. You’ll then know the best combination to use for the occasion proper.

Be a magpie. If you haven’t got many materials for decorations and if you’d like to use the pebbles you picked up on the beach in summer on your table in winter, then it is worth having a little store of items which might one day be used as decorative ideas to help to realise a table design. You can test whether or not your finds are suitable for this purpose in your own time.

Write things down. If you make a note of all the things you and your family like to eat, if you write down the recipes so you don’t forget the details, such as the extra touch which made it special, then what’s wrong with doing the same for decorative ideas? If a table design is a success, why not use it again?

Try things out. If your courage almost fails you at the thought of how perfectly other people turn their hands to such things, then spring into action. Using a wide strip of ribbon, practise tying big decorative bows until you get them right. Make up pretty bouquets using flowers and leaves from the garden. Fold napkins into different shapes. Lay a tablecloth across a table in lots of different ways. Try it. You’ll notice how quickly the divide between you and the experts shrinks, and you might have fun experimenting too.

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