If you’re hosting a houseful of family and friends this Thanksgiving, give careful thought to your setup. A well planned arrangement of food and drink can make the day go smoothly.
Eduardo Xol, author of Extreme Entertaining Made Simple (Celebra, $27.95) and a designer on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, shares these tips for creating an efficient dining area:
-Set up a bar for drinks. Stock it with cups, ice buckets, two types of soft drinks, water pitchers assorted alcoholic beverages and mixers, cocktail napkins and stir sticks.
-When serving space is tight, resist the urge to over crowd it with every morsel of food. You can always replenish a platter or bowl or guests return for seconds.
-Plan your serving strategy. Set plates only for the number of people who can sit down comfortably for dinner; for holiday crowds, buffets are more practical. Arrange a buffet in this order: plates, salad, main dishes, sides, sauces and condiments, bread and butter, utensils and napkins.
-Make your setup a stylish one. Serve food in baskets and wooden vessels. Decorate the table with seasonal flowers and platters with fruits and vegetables of autumn.
-Kitchens are often impromptu gathering spots when you’re entertaining, but too many people can impede work flow. To prevent a traffic jam, serve food and drinks as far from the kitchen as possible.
-Anticipate your guests’ needs. Designate a place to store coats and purses so they aren’t piled in the primary entertaining areas.
This article was adopted from Mary Vuong-Houston Chronicle.
Happy Thanksgiving Holidays from your friends at Bailey Connor Catering
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