Dressing the Table

Creating themes for entertaining seems to be going down well with friends and my recent Chinese New Year dinner was no exception. People seemed to enjoy the fun of using some simple decorations to set the scene and enhance the atmosphere.

On this occasion an oriental runner, an Asian box filed with satsumas, a few brightly coloured paper flowers with some supermarket napkins were the supporting act for the food.

This approach is not all my own idea. One current favourite for evening TV viewing is "My Kitchen Rules" or MKR it's originally Australian, with MKR New Zealand now appearing on Sky Living. In the early stages the competing pairs entertain in their homes and are scored by their rivals and the celebrity chef judges for three course meals produced in their themed instant restaurants http://mykitchenrules.info/ 

Closer to home and just before new year I read a great article in the Saturday Telegraph by Alex Hollywood http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/keep-away-fromthe-kitchen-on-new-years-eve/ with inspired ideas on dressing a table for NYE celebrations, I just copied her suggestions and then enjoyed the compliments!

But what I am really looking forward to is dressing the table outside on a warm summer night, another blog and more pictures will follow.