Kitchen Essential

Either you’ve just come back from a holiday in Italy or you’ve got it still to look forward to. Or maybe you simply love the Italian way of life, relaxed and friendly, cheerful and colourful. Of course, you’re just as keen on Italian cuisine as well, which is so much more than just pizza and pasta. What about the typical antipasti, and many delicious Mediterranean specialities, or “formaggio” (cheese) to round off a meal, and wonderful red wine to drink?

Get together with your friends for a “Bella Italia” evening, and give your table an appropriate southern flavour. You simply must have tomatoes, red wine and, of course, spaghetti!

What to do:

Use the colours of Italy by laying three lengths of fabric over the table in such a way that they look like the Italian flag. You should use these three colours for the napkins as well, preferably as a contrast to the background (e.g., green on white and red on green).

You then arrange tomatoes, basil and different types of pasta decoratively on the table. What is important is that you should be generous with the decorations. Don’t hesitate to take a handful of tomatoes and penne pasta and scatter both over the table. Spaghetti and macaroni can easily be set up as a game of “pick-up-sticks”, tied with a ribbon in the Italian national colours.

Your invitations to guests can hint at what they should expect; try little home-made packets of uncooked pasta, tied with ribbons in the Italian national colours with an invitation card attached. They are easy to make, original and tempt the appetite.

Tip:

You could also place a small Italian travel or food guide on guests’ place settings, as a little gift for them to take home. Furthermore, you could use the food guide as the menu card for the evening.

Do you prefer French food? Well, surely your imagination will come up with ideas for a French-style table, and you must certainly be familiar with the colours of the Tricolor.

Candlelight dinner Table Decoration

The story goes, according to the ancient Greeks, that roses should not be considered in the same way as other flowers and plants, because they came into the world together with the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Thus both Aphrodite and roses became symbols of love among mankind.

They come together again here on this table: roses and a small marble bust of Aphrodite. In your personal situation you can use something which reminds you both of an event that has

happened to you, or some other little thing which will ensure that not only is the table beautifully set, but that it also shows something personal.

What to do:

Make your table atmospheric, but don’t overload it with decorations. The central point can be provided by a candelabra whose candles shed just enough light. Fine china, stylish glasses and other items in silver, combined with candlelight, will give the table a very elegant appearance.

The china used in this table setting, with its complex, filigree pattern (a stylised representation of the Gardens of Versailles) lends additional romanticism to the overall impression. However, if your own china is less complex, or even plain white, it will look much more special if you set silver-plated place plates under it. If you don’t already have some, such place plates are well worth investing in; they are no longer reserved for hotels and restaurants.

You could choose either roses which match the colour of the table linen and crockery, or ones which are in conscious contrast to it. Cut the stems off close to the base of the flowers and arrange them on the table.

You can increase the demonstration of affection described above with other little loving gestures, or decoratively wrapped gifts. Unwrapping such gifts provides a little something extra for the evening.

Tip:

When preparing the food, be careful to avoid the necessity of having to get up frequently during the meal to work in the kitchen. What is the point of the most beautiful diner a deux if yourguest is left sitting on his own for ages, not knowing whether he should come to the kitchen to help you and keep youcompany, or whether he should stay at the table?

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