LIFESTYLE
As the festive season ramps up and the pressure to host the perfect party reaches its peak, it’s time to claim your place as the reigning queen of Christmas entertaining. No, we’re not about to roll up our sleeves and join you in the kitchen, but rather we're going to give you all the tools to take the party crown. Even if it is a paper one.
Elevate The Traditional Buffet
Grazing tables continue to reign as the perfect centrepiece for any gathering, but the key this season is refinement. Swap the usual hodgepodge of beige food for a curated selection of high-quality cheeses, charcuterie, and artisan bread, paired with seasonal fruits like figs, pomegranates, and grapes.
The secret to an elevated grazing platter lies in thoughtful pairings. Include small dishes of honeycomb, spiced nuts, or truffle spreads for a luxurious touch. Arrange everything on wooden boards or marble slabs and layer items at varying heights using cake stands or overturned bowls to create visual interest. At this time of year, everything feels more festive if it’s really elaborate, or filled with colour and twinkling candlelights.
Layer items at varying heights to create visual interest.
Statement Drinks with Seasonal Twists
Drinks are no longer just an accompaniment—they’re part of the show. This year, focus on cocktails that highlight seasonal flavours like cranberry, orange, and cinnamon. Consider serving the classic mulled wine in unusual glassware or creating a signature drink, such as a rosemary gin fizz or go all out with a martini or champagne tower. Festive entertaining is all about abundance and drinks are where you can really go all out and make the event feel extra special.
For larger groups, set up a DIY cocktail station where guests can mix their own drinks. Include a menu with simple instructions and a selection of syrups, garnishes, and festive glassware. Not only is it fun, but it also encourages conversation and lets you speak to your guests rather than being stuck as a waitress all night.
Festive entertaining is all about abundance.
Elegant Tablescapes with Fresh Touches
A well-dressed table can transform your space into a festive haven. More is most definitely more when it comes to festive decorating. One of the new trends that we love is filling your table with ribbons. Layers and layers on candlesticks, around the stems of glasses, around rolled napkins all make for an easy but contemporary decoration.
You can never go wrong using an abundance of candles or fairy lights, as it creates such a warmth to the space that you can keep other decorations to a minimal if you want. Use seasonal foliage like eucalyptus, pine, or holly for a centrepiece, weaving in candles of varying heights to create an ambient glow.
If you're hosting a sit down dinner, opt for individual place settings featuring linen napkins tied with twine and sprigs of rosemary. If you want to go the extra mile, include handwritten place cards or small favours like a mini ornament or a wrapped chocolate truffle.
Use an abundance of candles or fairy lights.
Food as Art
A new approach to serving this Christmas is to bring some height and drama to your food. From towers of mince pies and clementines to brightly coloured desserts piled high, merge your food with decoration. Serve individual portions like mini pavlovas topped with fresh berries or layered trifles in interesting glassware. These not only look stunning but also make serving a breeze. Or create centrepieces with seasonal fruits like the aforementioned clementines, pears, and pomegranates, arranged in a shallow bowl or piled high on a platter.
Consider reimagining traditional dishes with a fresh perspective. Instead of a classic roast, opt for herb-crusted lamb or a whole baked salmon with citrus and dill. For a playful twist, consider colourful trifles or bundt cakes as edible centrepieces. Their vibrant hues and intricate shapes double as décor and dessert, making them both practical and visually striking.
From towers of mince pies and clementines to brightly coloured desserts piled high, merge your food with decoration.
Christmas entertaining this year is about balancing simple but quality ingredients with elegance, drama and interest. By focusing on thoughtful details and the best ingredients you can, you can create a feast that’s not only delicious but also a feast for the eyes.
We'll cheers to that, with our custom TLJ themed cocktail of course!