Entertaining at home: Table Talk

Food stylist and recipe creator, Kate Flower, shares her thoughts on easy and elevated entertaining. 

“As a food stylist I spend my working days creating beautiful food and table settings for the camera, so when I entertain at home, I like to keep things casual and simply elegant.”

Staple items

I always splash out on a few key ingredients to set the tone. My table always includes great bread, artisan butter, flaky sea salt and olive oil. No work needed, just a great starting point to make the table feel special.

Dress for success

Summer is the perfect season to use beautiful natural cottons and linens for your tablecloth and napkins; it will immediately elevate the feel of the table. Next, introduce dinnerware that has a special element, like these handmade ceramics by Western Australian company Winterwares. The organic shape and colour help create a visual drawcard for your guests.

Visual interest

The most beautiful thing on the table should be your food. I tend to serve platter style to the table when I entertain as it’s easier to plate up, feels more generous and has a wow factor when you present the platters to the table. I also like that guests can serve themselves appropriate amounts of food and you don’t waste anything.

Less is more

Don’t crowd a table setting with unnecessary glassware. I often only set water glasses on the table, as you tend to serve a standing drink on arrival and guests can then take the glass to the table and switch if they change beverages.

Go green

If your budget doesn’t extend to lavish floral decorations, forage for foliage and flowers from your garden to create a simple organic addition to your table. Think citrus leaves, rosemary, viburnum, eucalyptus flowers or other pretty leaves or blossoms.

Don’t save your good dinnerware for special occasions, use it often and enjoy it!

Get Kate’s latest recipe book, A Local Table, Summer Entertaining in WA.