Dressing Up Dinner
12 Ways To Create A Festive Holiday Table
By Amy Meadows
The holidays are such a joyous time, especially when you celebrate by sitting down with family and friends for a seasonal feast. You can picture it now, can’t you? The people you cherish encircling the table, filling the room with laughter and merriment, as a glistening, succulent turkey or ham surrounded by exquisite side dishes and an array of sweet treats takes center stage. But as you prepare to bring this festive image to life this year, remember that food isn’t the only thing you can use to create the quintessential holiday table. In fact, here are 12 ways to help you dress up your dinner table and add a touch of cheer to your yuletide gathering.
1 Set the mood
Give your guests something to ooh and ahh about even before the festive fare hits the table. Whether you’re using your grandmother’s treasured holiday china or your own favorite Christmas-themed dishes, the place settings that adorn your table act as a decorative backdrop to the meal you serve. Plates and bowls can be formal or casual, elegant or whimsical. As long as the pattern you choose fits the mood you’re trying to evoke, you can’t go wrong. And you can accessorize your dishes with gold or silver flatware, colorful placemats and napkins and sparkling stemware. If you don’t have an heirloom set, start your own tradition by purchasing festive fine china or holiday dinnerware — options are available for nearly every taste and budget.
 2 Offer a frame of reference
If you’re serving a large party, you’ll want to think ahead about the seating arrangement for your table. Use place cards to avoid that awkward moment when everyone congregates in the dining room and begins the where-to-sit debate. This tactic will keep your soiree moving smoothly. Instead of using generic place cards, Kimberly Kennedy, author of “The Art and Craft of Entertaining,” suggested using mini frames that your guests can actually take home and put a favorite picture in later. Just type up the names of your guests, print and cut them out, insert the slips of paper into tiny frames that match your holiday table décor, and place one at each setting. You can purchase mini frames at any local craft store, or check out Kennedy’s book for instructions on how to make and decorate your own wooden place card frames. Courtesy of “The Art and Craft of Entertaining” by Kimberly Kennedy, Atria Books, November 2005
 3 Savor your centerpiece
The center of a bedecked table is a coveted spot. So it’s a good idea to fill the space with something unique and festive. An excellent option is a fruit design from Edible Arrangements. These bouquets of sculpted fresh strawberries, pineapple, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe and honeydew are not only conversation starters, but also a great way to provide your family and friends with a healthy and refreshing delicacy. According to Barbie Pressley, owner of Edible Arrangements’ East Cobb location, “The bouquets are real showstoppers, and they’re as yummy as they are beautiful.” Some of the most popular arrangements for the holidays are the Berry Tree Bouquet ($70) arranged in a bright red drum; the Holiday Delicious Celebration ($55) featuring the Star of David inside a pineapple; and the signature Delicious Fruit Design, which can be customized with chocolate-dipped strawberries ($71).
For last-minute planners, same day delivery is available on orders placed by noon. Arrangements can also be picked up at one of Edible Arrangements’ four metro area locations. www.ediblearrangements.com
3005 Old Alabama Road
Suite 240
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770-667-7887
4880 Lower Roswell Road
Suite 820
Marietta, GA 30068
770-579-7081
1125 Woodstock Road
Suite 300
Roswell, GA 30075
770-650-7900
2986 Grandview Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-814-0101
 4 Have panache
Eggnog is a wonderful holiday beverage, but it’s really not a decorative drink. So Kimberly Kennedy came up with a better idea — the Panache. This champagne cocktail, made with Torani Italian almond syrup, will add spice to your festive holiday table thanks to the cinnamon stick that’s placed in the glass. In her book, Kennedy observed that the champagne bubbles travel up the cinnamon stick, jazzing up the cocktail’s flavor and appearance. She also noted that Torani Italian syrups can be purchased at gourmet shops or through www.torani.com. Her recipe makes 12 drinks.
Ingredients:
2 bottles of champagne, chilled
11⁄2 cups (12 tablespoons) of Torani Italian almond syrup
12 cinnamon sticks
Directions:
Fill each glass 2⁄3 full with champagne
Pour 1 tablespoon of almond syrup into each glass
Place a cinnamon stick in each glass and serve
Courtesy of “The Art and Craft of Entertaining” by Kimberly Kennedy, Atria Books, November 2005
5 Spark some holiday spirit
There’s an age-old European custom in which a freshly cut log was brought into the house on Christmas Eve, ceremoniously placed on the hearth and lit with splinters from the preceding year’s log. In France, this Bûche de Noël, or Yule Log, commemorated the holiday and was used to prepare Christmas Eve dinner. The ashes were thought to have powers that would protect the house during the next year. By the late 1800s, when many homes in France were built with cast-iron stoves instead of fireplaces, the log was replaced with a replica, a delicious pastry made of sponge cake and a rich chocolate buttercream frosting. Today, the cake roll is actually decorated to look like a log from the outdoors and often includes sugared holly leaves, meringue mushrooms and “snow” made of powdered sugar. You can easily make a Yule Log at home and revel in a tradition from bygone days. It’s a lovely complement to any holiday table décor. For a Yule Log recipe, visit http://www.joyofbaking.com/YuleLog.html.
 6 Go hog wild
There’s nothing wrong with having a pig at your holiday dinner table, particularly if it’s the famous Peppermint Pig. The Victorian tradition associated with this adorable pink hard candy pig dates back to the late 1800s and the village of Saratoga Springs in New York. It was here that candy makers fashioned the pigs in special molds during the holiday season. Family and friends would gather together, place the candy pig in a velvet pouch, and break it with a tiny hammer. Everyone would then eat a piece of the candy, which was said to bring good health, happiness and prosperity. These days, you can purchase your own Peppermint Pig from Saratoga Sweets, which renewed the tradition in 1988, 50 years after it had disappeared. The Peppermint Pig will bring a bit of whimsy to your table and help you start a new tradition. An 8-ounce pig, complete with a velvet pouch and a tiny hammer, is $15.95, and you can purchase replacement pigs for $11.95.
Saratoga Sweets
1618 Rt. 9
Halfmoon, NY 12065
800-827-9060
www.saratogasweets.com
7 Shake things up
By now, you’ve probably seen, and possibly own, the Thanksgiving Pilgrim Pair salt and pepper shakers from Publix Super Markets. The commercial with the loveable pair captivated families across the Southeast, and just about everyone went out and purchased a set. Well, soon after Publix presented its much-loved Pilgrim Pair, it introduced two new salt and pepper shaker sets for the holiday season. Now you can purchase a Santa and Mrs. Claus set or a SnowFolk set (with Mr. and Mrs. Snowman). Either set will give your table a lighthearted tone, and your family and friends will look forward to their appearance every year. But you better act fast, this is the last year Publix will sell the Pilgrim Pair and SnowFolk sets. To find a Publix near you, visit www.publix.com.
 8 Get cracking
Want to incorporate the element of surprise while adding some sparkle to your table? Then turn to Holiday Crackers, something the British have been privy to since 1846. Delightfully wrapped paper tubes filled with tiny gifts like riddles, paper party hats, toys and trinkets, these crackers make a marvelously loud popping sound when you pull on the ends to reveal what’s inside. They come in an assortment of shiny, festive patterns, so you can definitely find the perfect match for your decorating motif. Just place one at each setting and let your guests have a blast. The favors never fail to enthrall young and old alike and will surely get the party started.
Old English Crackers
106 Briza Court
Bellingham, WA 98229
877-606-2972
www.oldenglishcrackers.com
 9 Invite in Jack Frost
Another way to add shimmer to your holiday table comes courtesy of Pike Family Nurseries. Since the late 1980s, the company has offered an in-store custom flocking service at all of its Metro Atlanta locations. While you might think that flocking is exclusive to Christmas trees, Mike Chapman, director of the customer experience, revealed that almost anything can be flocked, or showered with an authentic-looking white powder so it appears to be covered with a layer of fresh snow. For instance, you could have several wreaths flocked and use them on your table as rings around your serving dishes. Or you could flock a small topiary and transform it into a snowman centerpiece by affixing button eyes, a carrot nose and a tiny top hat. You can even have a basket of pinecones flocked and use it as an accent piece. Flocking can be applied as light or as heavy as you like to either live or artificial pieces. (If you choose live greenery, the flocking will help preserve it and keep the needles from falling off; if you flock an artificial piece, the powder could begin to yellow after two to three seasons.) The service is $12 per foot, or $5 to $6 for wreaths, depending on the size. Just bring your to-be-flocked item to the nearest Pike Family Nursery. Be prepared to wait one to two days to get the piece back as it needs time to dry before you bring it home. But once you get it home, you can get creative, adding berries, ornaments or other decorations to your freshly flocked décor. To find a Pike Family Nursery near you, visit www.pikenursery.com.
 10 Tie one on
What’s a table without chairs? When you’re planning the decorating scheme for your holiday table, you need to consider your chairs. One of the easiest ways to dress them up is to wrap each one in a big beautiful bow. You see this often at wedding receptions, and there’s no reason why the practice can’t translate to your very own dining room. Any fabric will work, from satin or velvet to metallic or organza. Check out your local fabric store to see what patterns and colors are available. On the day of your gathering, simply tie the material around each chair with a bow in back for a truly festive look. Of course, if you don’t have the time to make the bows yourself, you can purchase them online through sites like Grandin Road. To purchase bows online, visit www.grandinroad.com and search for “Sheer Organza Chair Wrap.”
 11 Don’t forget the kiddies
You remember what it was like getting relegated to the kids’ table year after year. That doesn’t have to be such a bad thing though. Make the kids’ table a really cool place to be by pulling out a few stops. First, cover the table with a white paper tablecloth and put crayons out so the children can draw while they eat. Use a small potted Christmas tree as the table centerpiece and give kiddies their own special place settings with holiday-themed paper plates, napkins, cups and placemats. And finally, don’t leave them out of the festivities. Put their table close to the adult table so everyone can share the holiday spirit. Get more tips from www.eHow.com.
 12 Capture the magic
During your holiday dinner, you’ll certainly have many Kodak moments. Why run the risk of missing them by being the only designated photographer in the bunch? Custom Camera Collection has a wide selection of disposable cameras for purchase online that would be a wonderful accompaniment to your table décor. The cameras feature a variety of motifs, from snowmen and poinsettias to wreaths and menorahs. Everyone will know how to use the cameras, and they can pick them up at any time to capture a moment in the making. While the cameras aren’t digital, you can always request a photo CD when you have the pictures developed so you can email the images to your family and friends, allowing them to look back fondly at this year’s feast and look ahead with anticipation to next year.
Custom Camera Collection
800-929-0130
www.americanreporters.com
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