ENTERTAINING FINDS I’M LOVING LATELY

One of the ways I beat the winter blah’s over here is to focus on food and our table. Seems a little silly, but it always works! Trying new recipes, putting together a small charcuterie board and taking the time to set a beautiful table for no reason are such simple things but go such a long way in helping me get out of my winter funk. The kids love getting involved, too; they especially love creating their own cheeseboards and my daughter loves picking out table linens, candles, candleholders and making a centerpiece for the table. The kitchen has always been my happy place; growing up in a Greek/Italian family, food was such a huge focus and the same holds true for me now.

There isn’t anything I really need for elevating my every day table and I typically try to keep from buying anything new so soon after Christmas, but, naturally, there are a few entertaining pretties that have caught my eye lately. The key for me when shopping for entertaining pieces is always versatility – a beautiful tray that works equally well for charcuterie at a dinner party as holding oils and salt and pepper cellars on the counter; ruffled bowls that can hold crackers and olives on said tray when entertaining and garlic and shallots or even candy every other day of the week. Here are a few things I’m loving lately for the table:

French champagne glass / Wood trays / Ruffled bowls / Silver empire salt and pepper shakers / Cheese knives / Silver candlesticks / Rattan placemat / French Country Cooking cookbook

FRENCH CHAMPAGNE GLASS – The champagne version of my beloved French wine glass, is such a beautiful alternative to the traditional glass and is high up there on my wishlist.

WOOD TRAY – These trays are absolutely gorgeous! I love the wood grain and how low they sit; they would look equally amazing holding charcuterie as they would holding oils and pepper grinders on the counter.

SILVER SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS – Something as simple as a beautiful set of silver salt and pepper shakers can elevate your every day dinner table; I like to look for sets when I’m thrifting and antiquing and Etsy always has some beautiful options in good condition.

RUFFLED BOWLS – The fluted edges of these bowls are such a beautiful, sculptural addition to a table, a counter or, again, a charcuterie board. I’m obsessed!

CHEESE KNIVES – A good set is a must-have for entertaining. I love these and think they also make a great gift for the friend/family member who loves to entertain!

SILVER CANDLESTICKS – A simple set of silver candleholders are another great way to dress up your table very easily. These are a much more budget-friendly alternative to the set pictured above and would look amazing with different colored tapers for the seasons!

RATTAN PLACEMATS – While I love rattan chargers at the dinner table, I prefer placemats that are large enough for the flatware to sit on them and not the table. I love the color and shape of these!

FRENCH COUNTRY COOKING – I have and absolutely love Mimi Thorisson’s Old World Italian cookbook so much that I also purchased her French Country Cooking the second I saw it in our local bookshop recently. The recipes are straightforward and delicious, but the photography is out of this world, and the story about the French chateau she and her family bought and moved into was as enjoyable to read as it was to flip through and ogle all the gorgeous images! I highly recommend both!

What are you loving lately?