The Table

I’m no Martha Stewart, but I do believe it is important to have a few special items so that the table is looking good, yet simple, when entertaining. I’m one for simplicity. I leave the table quite bare and I don’t usually have salt and pepper on the table at home, because I season my food well. But, by all means, do if you like, I’m not a salt and pepper Nazi – we do have them on the table in the restaurant. I never have flowers because they can compete with the bouquet of a nice bottle of wine. We don’t even have a tablecloth at home, but that is because we have a table that doesn’t need one; however, if it did, it would be white and long (just can’t get the restaurant out of the boy). It is important to have good-quality large linen napkins. You guessed it; mine are white. I have simple cutlery and I always serve and eat food off white plates. It is essential to have some good-quality wine glasses, and every guest should have a water glass. Other than that, I love to have some nice side dishes for serving vegetables in and gratin dishes for potato gratins and things like macaroni cheese. It is worth taking pride in the table and what you serve your food in, as it is as much a reflection of you as the food you serve. Have lovely white main course plates, but make sure they fit in the dishwasher; there is nothing worse than having to hand wash the main plates.