“The oldest form of theatre is the dinner table.” ~ Michael J. Fox. When friends gather around at home, or in a restaurant, there is a wonderful anticipation of bonding, or there should be! Yes, there are ‘obligatory’ meals, with stilted conversations and muted opinions based on what not to say. But I am talking about those get togethers where there is a genuine rapport and a love of good food and wine. Friends who love to cook are the best as this is a demonstration of passion and a sense of trust. What if the meal doesn’t taste great, the wine is wrong, it is an experiment and if all else fails, there is cheese, fruit, bread and chocolate!
Feng Shui First
A reader will not be surprised that the kind of table is important in Feng Shui practice. Modern glass tables with no metal or wooden edge are seen as to be cutting and sending poison arrows. Decades ago, we had two coffee tables like this, glass sitting on metal and as soon as we gave them away, the energy of the room changed. Perhaps psychosomatic but it worked. A metal table is seen to represent honesty, wood to represent growth and stone, to represent stability. A glass table represents emotion and would be needed to have an edge to contain the energy. We bought an old pear wood farmhouse table in a French brocante over twenty years ago. We fell in love with the spindle legs supporting a golden grained surface with marks of memories that our cats would add to. It is a work of art just with the wooden mechanism allowing the extension to fold in and out. During the day, I happily spread out and work on it and at night, dinners are served with love. It has traveled to New York, Berlin and now Cannes and is often admired by visitors for its beauty and practical elegance.
Laying a Table
It is such an old-fashioned term, but it is an act of friendship and love. If you only have plastic plates and cups to serve and that is the best on offer, it is fine. Having been to dinners with the finest crystal, china and silver, which are wonderful, just as memorable are beach picnics with good friends balancing the meal on paper plates. However; a nice tablecloth or place mats is always worth it. Some tips on what to do:
- A friend only goes to bistros or restaurants with white linen table cloths, colourful ones are fine as well.
- Glassware – if you can, get a set of water glasses, high balls are great for water and cocktails, a set of white and a set of red wine glasses and some champagne flutes.
- Silverware – this can be good old stainless steel but get decent knifes that cut!
- Napkins, either paper or fabric are fine but get the best you can.
- Crockery – white is always good but also mix and match but stick to a colour theme. Big plates, small side plates, dessert bowls and good coffee cups are a great start.
I Am on a Budget!
No idea why people don’t go to flea markets or op-shops. There is so much lovely glassware that can be bought for a song. Gently hold a glass in the air and ping it; good crystal sings. Similarly, plates and bowls can be found at many flea markets and community stores. Just stick with a theme, all white, or all floral or patterned and the same colour or shades of that colour. A true friend is there for you and the food, not for the silver candlestick holder!
Last but Not Least
Food, the most important part. Learn some basic recipes that you feel safe with and refine them. If cooking is not a passion, compile a meal by buying components and presenting it on a large platter. Buy the best quality ingredients possible, the freshest vegetables and fruit. We have had plenty of pot-luck dinners where there is a theme and people bring their own favourites.
Bon appetit!
