How Should a New Year's Eve Table Be Set?
Good conversation around the table is the best way to ring in the New Year. But what makes a truly magnificent New Year's Eve spread? With the holiday just around the corner, we're here with a guide full of tips.
Plenty of Variety, But Keep the Portions Small
As you well know, New Year's Eve dinners tend to go on for hours. That's why it's important for the table to be rich in variety — a spread made up of different flavors and dishes is truly the herald of a wonderful evening. That's not to say you should stuff yourself, of course. A range of different tastes in small portions will be the best approach for both you and your guests.
What About Table Layout!
Presentation is just as important as the flavor of the dishes on your table. A proper table layout is both pleasing to the eye and the epitome of elegance. Arranging your plates, cutlery, napkins, and glasses thoughtfully really matters. For a great presentation, pay attention to color coordination. If your tablecloth is light-colored, your serving plates can be dark — or vice versa. So that your table becomes the star of your home, we've laid out the detailed table arrangement below:
* Dinner fork to the left of the plate
* Dinner knife to the right of the plate
* Dinner spoon to the right of the plate, outside the knife
* Meze fork to the left of the plate, outside the other forks
* Meze spoon in front of the plate
* Dessert fork in front of the main dinner plate
* Water glass to the front right of the plate
* Wine glass to the right of the water glass
* Salt and pepper shakers between two serving plates
* Oil and vinegar near the center of the table
* Bread basket in the center
* Floral arrangements in the center of the table
* Napkin should be placed to the left of the serving plate.
An Absolute Must: Table Decoration...
If you're going for grace and elegance, take care to keep your table free of clutter and stick to no more than two colors. Elegant napkins placed beside your serving plates can completely transform the mood of your table. We recommend placing a name card in front of each serving plate. Even if you have only a few guests, this gesture will make them feel special and add to their enjoyment. You can decorate your table with pine cones gathered from nature — and they'll smell wonderful too. Can't find pine cones? You can also use your Christmas tree ornaments on the table. After all, anything that decorates your tree will decorate your table just as beautifully.
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No Table Is Complete Without Drinks…
Of course, alcoholic beverages may be part of your New Year's Eve celebration. In such cases, it's important to pay attention to pairing drinks with food. The most well-known pairings are: white wine with white meat, and red wine with red meat. White wine should be served in a cold glass filled to one-third to keep it chilled, while red wine should be served at room temperature, filling the glass up to halfway.
One more small reminder: don't forget to stock up on plenty of ice at least one night before New Year's Eve…
And Music, Of Course...
Now that the table layout, decoration, and preparation are all done, it's time to get the music right! Music selection is at least as important as the food and drinks that evening. Avoid anything too loud — music should play softly in the background without interfering with conversation. Jazz is one of the most ideal choices, and that's our recommendation.
End on a Sweet Note, Start the New Year Sweetly…
Can you even imagine a New Year's Eve table filled with hours of wonderful conversation without dessert? Of course not — after all, we come from a tradition that says "eat sweet, speak sweet." Since we're right on the topic, we strongly recommend checking out our article: 7 Unique Desserts for New Year's Eve.
And as the Tarifi Kolay family, we wish you a year as colorful as your table, spent with the ones you love...
