IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUTLERS
Create a pretty, traditional buffet table, with Butlers treats for everyone …
Are you hosting this year and looking for ideas on how to dress your table? Try traditional red and green, it’s quintessentially Christmas. Take notes from Irish event planner and tablescaper Tara O’Connor of The Designed Table, who believes that classic Christmas colours never go out of style. “This year, it’s all about cosy plaids and checks, and the enduring appeal of red and green.” Tara loves to mix red and green with silver accents – candlesticks, coolers and cutlery.
Tara advises to “choose a traditional bouquet of seasonal flowers and greenery at a low height (so it doesn’t interfere with table conversation) and place it at the centre of the table. I love using place names and menus at this time of year – they just add a little formality to the whole setting and can be simply prepared and tucked cosily under the napkin.”
O’Connor uses a green plaid tablecloth with matching napkins, and Portuguese tableware by Bordallo Pinheiro, with chocolate-filled Christmas crackers and delicious truffles arranged on tiered cake stands, jolly snowmen, Santas and reindeer, just waiting to be devoured! Lots of Butlers Christmas gifts and boxes are resolutely red and green this year, proof that traditional trumps trends every time (at least when it comes to the festive season!).
TOP TIPS FOR THE TRAD TABLE
1. If you are creating a buffet table for dessert, fill a big champagne bucket with rosy pomegranates as a base for chocolate boxes. 2. Send chocolate Santas, snowmen and friends marching down the middle of the table, or arrange them in jolly groups. 3. Arrange tasty truffles on tired cakestands. 4. Fill vases with stems of foraged greenery and place dinner candles of little votives in silver holders along the length of the table. 5. Use red berry or holly green dinner or side plates.
CHOCOLATE SHOPPING
Whether hosting or gifting, or hostess gifting, here are some fabulously festive chocolate ideas, deliciously brought to you by Butlers ….
Giant Platinum Selection Box, €45, perfect for after dinner, available at Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
Assorted Chocolate Truffles Decoration Box, €12.50 and Christmas Pudding Milk Chocolate Truffles, €7, available at Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
Hot Chocolate At Home, €5, for cosying up by the tree, available at Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
Chocolate Snowman and Chocolate Santa, €10 each, the perfect stocking fillers, available at Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
A Festive Gifting Bundle, at €50 or €60, to delight family and friends, available at Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
Red Velvet Presentation Box, €28, to impress your guests, available at Butlers Chocolate Cafés.