Just as cooks tweak entertaining traditions by trying new dishes and touches, today’s hosts are bringing a fresh sense of style to table settings with moves such as these:
Old: Matching sets of fine heirloom china.
New: Mixing your Limoges with Crate and Barrel, Pier 1 and garage-sale finds.
Old: Polished silver flatware.
New: Silver-plate or daily flatware.
Old: Fine crystal stemware (be prepared to suffer if you break a piece of Mom’s Waterford).
New: Your favorite goblets and wine glasses, especially in color.
Old: There’s a prescribed dish for every course.
New: Soup is sipped from a shot glass; appetizers are presented on accent plates in the shape of a leaf; dessert is served in a martini glass.
Old: White tablecloth in linen, damask or lace.
New: Colorful place mats that are beaded, bamboo, suede, velvet and cotton; table runners in lieu of cloths; layers of cloths.
Old: Silver or gold napkin rings, preferably monogrammed.
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New: Use your imagination, and anything from a piece of ribbon or raffia to beads and jeweled clips can add creativity to the setting.