As time ticks towards the most talked about meal of the year, here are easy-to-implement, impactful ideas for your Christmas table to help feed the eye.
Lead shot Ikea
Sally Ann Luykx knows a thing or two about tablescaping and dressing a table for dinner. She runs Food by Sally Ann and thinks nothing of rustling up dinner for 30 or 60.
Mother to Bianca Luykx, editor of celebrity magazine VIP, she’s comfortable dealing with crowds and knows the importance of presenting well.
For those looking to invite a crowd, she caters sit-down dinners, birthday, anniversary and engagement parties in the home, supplies all staff, organises the rental of tableware and serveware and can offer a full bar service on a sale or return basis too.
This festive season, she’s offering dinners at €30 per person, with a minimum order of 20 people that includes canapes and gourmet desserts.
And if you’re on Christmas dinner duty this year, why not cheat and buy her Christmas All-Wrapped-Up Box? To order or peruse the tempting menu, visit sallyann.ie.
Check this out
Tara O’Connor’s The Designed Table delivers festive greetings in one simple tablecloth.
It channels Italian trattoria and high Americana and is almost sold out.
There are rectangular shapes from €145 and a 280 cm round table, which will seat eight to 12 people.
The 100 per cent cotton design costs €195.
Crackerjack crackers
These clementine print luxury Christmas crackers, €45.95 for a set of six, by Nancy & Betty, will charm.
It features practical gifts such as a wooden honey drizzler, a nutmeg grater, wooden plant labels, a metal slinky, a wooden yoyo, a faux leather keyring, a wooden comb, washi tape, a cookie cutter or mini strawberry jam - Tiptree by Wilkin & Son, as well as corny jokes.
Classic colour scheme
Swedish band Sagaform sells classic cork-topped Nature carafes, which you can gift the host along with a pair of glasses for €81, Dite bowl sets, a serving bowl and two pudding-sized dishes in a cream and burgundy mix, €69, all set atop an Edith tablecloth, in a gold and Bordeaux pattern, €64 for 150 cm wide by 280 cm long design to fit a rectangular table.
Star turn centrepiece
Suspend Strala lampshades, €6 each, from the ceiling using fishing line and insert LED Battery-operated tea lights to create an illuminating centrepiece that will bring in some ambient lighting and set the scene.
Serve water in Stockholm carafes, €15 each and wine in Storsint vessels, €15 each, with tumblers from the same range costing €10 for a set of six.
Serve wine in Goblets, €2 each and add some flattering candlelight in Vinterfint snowflake nightlight holders, €1.50 each. Gladelig tableware, featuring bowls, €2.50 each and plates, €3 each, completes the picture. All from Ikea.
Showstopping sweets
Caterer Sally Ann Luykx of Food by Sally Ann knows how to make an impact. She makes use of simple styling strategies. A chalk-striped cloth adds punchy colour.
It’s a trope that comes through in the tableware that she serves her amuse-bouches in. But here it is, edible decorations that elevate the plum pudding’s look.
In season, clementines ring the pudding’s base, interspersed with freshly-cut slices.
Berries hang over the footed dish base, and a sprig of holly atop is the finishing touch. Villeroy & Boch’s travertine design, €149, from Arnotts, is a worthy gift.
Keep burns at bay
The Christmas dinner table is laden with side dishes and main options.
Next’s Christmas tree trivet is a practical gift that will add festive flavour.
The ceramic design is big enough to take a roasting dish and costs about €13, ex delivery. Buy several.
