TABLE TALK: Buffet Chic

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During the holiday season, many hosts stage buffet-style dinners to create a livelier, festive atmosphere. Traditional sit-down dinners remain a vital way to entertain, but buffets allow you to easily feed a large group of guests and foster mingling.

Powerful Presentation
When planning a sophisticated buffet, look to your favorite restaurant or hotel for inspiration. Top hotels and chefs recognize the power and importance of eye-catching presentation. Some tricks:

• Create height. Tall, tiered trays, elevated platters and high centerpieces boost the drama quotient.
• Serve foods in bowls or platters with unexpected shapes For example, offer up shrimp and cocktail sauce in martini glasses. Or pile fruits, cheeses and vegetables in curvy, footed bowls like those offered by Nambe. Angled square designs, rectangular pieces and scalloped serveware are also good options.
• Hosting a cocktail party? Go for a show-stopping display of wines in a variety of shaped decanters.

Fresh Fare
Make a uniquely bold statement by using serving pieces that have been given a more captivating look.For example:

• Stainless steel chafing dishes from Red Vanilla sport sleeker designs than their traditional counterparts, some even featuring divided porcelain inserts.
• Your mother’s plain Jane silver-plate ice buckets are being outshone by ultra-modern designs from firms such as L’orfevrerie D’anjou, a French company whose Sosso model looks like a fashionable handbag.
• One-of-a-kind metal accessories blend with both contemporary and traditional settings. Designer Michael Aram’s metal servers, bowls, trays and platters in polished aluminum and oxidized copper feature nature-inspired motifs such as lily pads, river rocks and olive branches.
• For a more glamorous presentation, try Julia Knight’s colorful platters, ice buckets and bowls in purple, green, red and pink. The collection includes striking shapes and materials, including pieces embellished with hand-cut aluminum, hand-inlaid mother of pearl and hand-painted enamels.

Dashing Details
In addition to oversized and graceful serving pieces, it’s important to incorporate small items when holding a party or event.

• It's a nice touch to place bread or pastry tongs on your table. Sambonet of Italy has some great small serving tongs, which are used by many top hotels and restaurants.
• Try using pretty containers for condiments so that everything looks organized and neat.