Cookbook Club
When we create opportunities to gather, they become tributes to our friends and our collective relationships and strengthen our community. Sometimes those gatherings are on a whim and others take time and intention. This year, some edibleOKC staff have experimented building personal gatherings around cookbooks. The steps are simple: identify a group of friends, select a cookbook that is the correct level of difficulty for the group, find a date for the meal, each member of the group makes a separate dish for the gathering, rinse and repeat with a different cookbook at a different friend’s home. To assist in coordination, view the spreadsheet at the QR code on the opposite page. Need more design tips to get started? Check out pointers from Ashford Thomson of The Dine on the opposite page. Bon Appetit!
Tablescape Shortlist
Incorporate your favorite dinnerware or decor elements into the tablescape. You’d be surprised how a few stacks of books, candle holders, and accessories from around the house give your guests a sense of personal taste and style, while simultaneously creating an elegant atmosphere.
• For a more uniform look, use matching glasses and flatware. A cohesive set will reflect and play with the candlelight evenly throughout the evening and into dusk. But, don’t be afraid to mix and match flatware and glasses to create a casual, eclectic, and impactful setting.
• If it’s an option, local rental shops can help with the basics, like chairs for a larger group. Consider incorporating the rentals with various furniture pieces from around your home. For example, a small conversational seating area near the tables can act as a warm and cozy atmosphere to relax while guests sip on coffee or their favorite digestif.
• Use psychology while setting the space. Consider where people typically congregate and allow space or provide amenities that facilitate mingling.
• If possible, local floral shops can be fun and collaborative partners. Florists always love to see photographs of your finished, curated space that include their flowers!
• Assess composition of your table from all angles to maximize the stylized impact.
- Give yourself a few extra hours for any unexpected hold-ups (e g., the time it takes to arrange the florals, ironing linens, or inevitable last-minute errands)
• Most importantly, HAVE FUN! It will be a memorable dining experience, and one your guests will not forget.
SCAN HERE TO START YOUR OWN COOKBOOK CLUB!
