The dining table is at the heart of family celebrations during the joyous time of Christmas. Give your home and your guests a festive feel with a beautifully dressed table this Christmas as family and friends gather around it. Gauri Patil, Assistant Professor, F&B Services at V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), one of India’s best hotel management colleges shows us three ways we can dress our dining table this festive season.

“Dressing up a table for your meals at home gives your guests and your family members a luxurious feel and it’s easy to pull off,” says Gauri. Choosing a color theme is the first choice. Colors associated with Christmas such as red, white, green, and even gold make for a great combination.

Start the day right. Christmas themed breakfast set-up

“Firstly, choose a color scheme for your breakfast table” advises Gauri. For breakfast, an all-white setting is ideal as it’s calming to the senses. One can use a white tablecloth or even a bedsheet and top it with a Christmas themed table runner of your choice says Gauri. Make sure it’s spotlessly white and iron out the creases.
When it comes to cutlery Gauri advises to keep it simple. ” Place the teacup facing down on the saucer in the four o’clock position. Add a teaspoon. A compartment or a bishop’s hat napkin fold would add to the aesthetics of the dressed breakfast table. Opt for a floral napkin if possible to add a bit of flourish. All-purpose knives and forks should be placed at the sides of each plate,” says Gauri. It’s best to avoid heavily scented flowers at a breakfast table, says Gauri. Instead, opt for green foliage or mildly scented flowers instead.
Breakfast choices can be varied. Team the breakfast of choice along with a platter of muffins, donuts, or pastry accompanied by a pot of tea or coffee for a great start to the day.

Lunching the luxurious festive way

Christmas lunch is a grand affair in Goa. Families come together to have a big hearty meal and have conversations and laughter. The celebration calls for a festive look.
A lunch table set up for Christmas can be centered around the colors red or green. Gauri recommends a green tablecloth with a white table runner, white cutlery, and red napkins which can have any type of fold. . Says Gauri, “Bring out your best glassware as it can instantly upgrade the look of the dining table. When it comes to glassware, a goblet for water is a must along with tall stemmed glasses for either red or white wine”. She adds, “If there’s fish or chicken which is white meat, a white wine pairs perfectly with it. Similarly for red meat like pork and beef, red wine as an accompaniment is a must.” As it’s lunchtime, salt and pepper shakers should be placed at the center along with some small Christmas ornaments or statues. An ideal four-course menu would include a cold and hot appetizer, a main course dish, and finally, a dessert followed by coffee, green tea, or liqueur…

Wine and Dine in a candlelit atmosphere

The key differentiator between a lunch and dinner table setup is candles or warm lights that give off a beautiful vibe of their own and get everyone in a cozy warm mood. A red tablecloth along with a few candles and a flower arrangement can lift the mood of the room. A table runner preferably in contrasting colors to the tablecloth would work well. For dinner a three-course meal setup with an appetizer that could be a salad, fish, or meat for the main course along with white wine and dessert is ideal.

Add your own individual style

Nature is full of inspiration for those who seek it. Green foliage, flowers from the garden, wild berries, seashells can be creatively used to dress up the table. Says Gauri, “Garden grown roses or other flowers with a tall stalk placed in a vase makes for a nice centerpiece. Just make sure it’s not too tall that it obstructs people’s view of the other at the table. Alternately, fill fresh water in a transparent bowl, sprinkle gold glitter powder, and add some flower petals to it. Place it along with a few tea lights. It makes for a cozy centerpiece. Or just pile a bread basket with colorful locally grown fruits as a centerpiece”.