Setting the Scene: Dinner for 2
Overview
Moving back to Seattle single has been an interesting plot twist to my dating life. Because entertaining and cooking are such a huge part of who I am I usually like to share that piece of me with someone I am dating. Let’s be clear here, this is usually a 2nd or 3rd date kind of situation. I prefer to keep the first date outside my apt just to feel him out first. Here I’ll explain how you can quickly pull a quick casual tablescape together ahead of time.
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Here’s my bare little farm table which I love! It was a gift from my good friend Kyle. It’s just the right amount of wear and tear for a fun vintage look. In this situation in particular I would like to dress up the table with a cloth for a fresh soft look for a. nice dinner with a view.
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So when I am building a table I like to think about the theme and color story. I usually decide this based on what linens & cloths are not dirty at the moment. To me, any cloth can be fit as a tablecloth you just need to make sure that the fabric isn’t too thick. You also want to make sure that your glassware isn’t going to topple over with one little shake. It definitely should be thin enough to where your dishes sit flat on the table. Most of the fabrics and tablecloths I find are from thrift stores, or they’re scraps from when I worked at Ralph Lauren. A fabric store is just as easy too. I’ve also used Turkish towels before but I’ll tell you. My favorite thing to use is painters cloth and yes I will go buy them at hardware stores! They come in multiple sizes which you can cut and even dye if you have the time! I buy the cloth that has a natural tone that way it can pretty much go with anything.
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Once I chose the tablecloth I start to build the table basics. Plates, Serving dishes, glassware, etc. Then you start building a color/material theme. In this setting, I’ve gone with a navy and white theme with wood accents. I wanted to use my new white plates but directly on the white tablecloth, it looked bland. So I used navy plates I had as chargers to create a break in between the tablecloth and white plates.
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I start to pick out and place napkins and silverware. By the way, the wood accents I am using are apart of the same set. This set is a family heirloom from my grandmother Elouise. The salad bowl set is from the 1960s, it’s very special to me, and its also a good conversation starter. If you have heirloom pieces mix them in for fun. I didn’t want to use a traditional trivet for the dutch oven on the table. I remembered I had this fun woven bread basket, which I lined with a towel. It was a fun texture add-in for the table. It gave me Southern France countryside vibes, especially with the navy.
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If you have a window to look out to make sure that the seating permits that each person can see the view. I usually set my table 3 hours before the guest arrives so I have time to get showered and dressed. I have to be honest sometimes it takes me an hour to pick out what the heck to wear! Remember this is a date so my nerves are racing. So setting the table ahead and having adequate time to get ready and cook is such a game-changer. It brings down the jitters a bit knowing that I am prepared.
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By the way, I added a couple of things here. Water glasses are always a must. Any other fixings I lay out on platters that stick to my French countryside theme.
Bon Appetite!