Setting A Summer Table
written by Laura Sears
on 07/06/2011
Writing and cooking by Laura Sears
Photos and styling by Tricia Martin
Entertaining in the summer can be so enjoyable. There's an element of relaxation since you're not trying to copy that Martha Stewart spread you just saw but rather are looking to highlight the fresh berries or beautiful greens you've picked up at the market.
With these tips you're sure to impress friends without going to too much trouble or expense.
• With the bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, consider showcasing your ingredients in beautiful bowls, allowing guests to take some extra tastes if they'd like.
• Fresh herbs make everything pop. Here mint was sprinkled atop the berries and cream.
• Take a look at the dishes you have and mix them up. Here, all glass, silver and lace items were used. None were meant to go together but the various textures make each individual piece stand out.
• Whether you're serving something bubbly or iced tea, a fresh berry dropped in each glass adds a nice touch.
• Don't have a tablecloth you love? Overlap napkins to center the table instead.
• Give guests various serving pieces from delicate silver to decorative measuring spoons.
• To encourage conversation all around, arrange your flowers in low vases or votives so that eye contact can be made across the table.
I think you're ready to throw a party now. Remember to look around your house and at the market to be inspired by the colors and flavors of summer!
Tricia Martin is a photographer and stylist in the Washington, DC metro area. She loves food, travel and people, and working with clients to create and capture their perfect visual story. Her website is www.studiotriciamartin.com.
Laura Sears is a food writer and the blogger behind LB's Good Spoon. Born and raised in Ohio she is both molded by those roots and the ones she grew in Santa Barbara, Calif. Her love for local, seasonal food blossomed there, along with the nickname LB, as did her desire to garden!
She's adjusting to life in DC and is encouraged by the number of farmers markets and local suppliers of meat and dairy. You can follower her at LB's Good Spoon, which was created in 2008 after several friends kept asking LB what she had cooked up recently!
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