Kitchen Essential

The finale of the opera takes your breath away, the orchestra puts everything into it and all the actors are gathered on the stage. The curtain falls, and there is prolonged applause; the evening at the opera was once again a wonderfulexperience — but, as so often happens, it was all over far too quickly.

You can change that by planning a finale using an operatic theme for your table design. Invite your friends to join you for a post-opera dinner tobring the evening to a close. The table is your backcloth, using items from the world of opera for your theme. You’re the director here, this is your stage setting. Curtain up for a table at the opera!

What to do:

An old bright red velvet cloth thrown loosely over the table is your tablecloth. Fine china on silver place plates, engraved glasses and orchids as the floral decoration emphasise the table’s character.

The connection between the table setting and the opera is created by placing objects from the world of theatre on the table — small props, crowns, masks, gloves, as well as opera glasses and the programme from the evening. You may have some of these things at home already, but you can borrow them for a modest sum from theatrical suppliers.

Old-fashioned face masks can be used as place cards for your guests. You can write the names of your guests on them with a silver pen. These place cards are particularly effective and your guests are sure to add to the evening’s merriment by trying ontheir masks. Let the actor in you take over, with the table as your stage for the evening.

Tip:

If you have a recording of the music from the opera, why not play this for your guests during the meal asa pleasant reminder of yourevening together?

The gaming Table Decoration

Do you enjoy board and card games? Are you and expert at draughts, or do you prefer whist and mah jong? Perhaps you are a wizard at chess, or like to meet up with friends for bridge parties?

If so, then you could turn your home into a private gaming room and surprise your guests with a table decoration which continues the gaming theme throughout the meal to the games afterwards.

What to do:

Use the familiar game boards from your collection. If you are using
different types of boards you should ensure that the overall decorative effect of these and the other decorations does not clash. In this case it’s a good idea to use just a few pieces from the games as decorations. Scatter pieces, dice and playing cards across the table. You can also construct very attractive card houses on the table which will no doubt tempt yourguests to have a go at building them.

You can easily make a napkin ring which tones with with the colour scheme out of two strips of stiff paper. The strips should be about 60 cm [2 feet ] long and 2cm [1 inch] wide. Lay one strip on top of the other and then fold them together to make a concertina, as illustrated. If you glue all four ends together you will get a ring which can then be slipped over the napkins.

Red roses or carnations are always associated with elegant casinos in films. Simply place a few flowers on the decorated table.

Tip:

If you can’t find enough game boards, you can achieve an equally decorative effect by placing dominoes in a pattern around the place setting.

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