Une Célébration d'Automne - An Autumn Celebration

The autumn months bring in the harvest and numerous celebrations. We at PORTORO show you how you can bring this festive spirit into your home through a beautifully set table.

A celebration in autumn is always a wonderful event. In countries like Canada and the United States, the coming of autumn means Thanksgiving is just around the corner, bringing with it the promise of tables groaning with a bounty of good things. In the United Kingdom, Halloween is followed by Bonfire Night – and, while most of the entertaining occurs outdoors, homes offer substantial meals to friends and neighbours to satisfy appetites sharpened by the cold air and the sense of fun. In France, we also have numerous traditions to usher in the season and celebrate its bounty; indeed, we consider it a precursor to the festive days of December when family and friends come together.

While the changing colours of fall are not endemic to where we currently are in the Philippines, the last weeks leading up to Christmas are also filled with parties and celebrations where our excitement for the Holidays can grow. While banquets and parties are not recommended in our current circumstances, we give you a few pointers on how to turn even the simplest of gatherings or meals into a memorable occasion.

A Well-Appointed Table is the Mark of a Good Host

Never underestimate the effect that beautiful table settings will have on your guests. A well-prepared table shows how much you appreciate and welcome those you’ve invited into your home. Creating beautiful tablescapes is about making the effort to transform your table in order to set the mood and ambience of your meal. It shows people whom you have not seen in a while that their presence with you is reason enough to celebrate.

For this reason, we recommend creating a effortlessly chic autumn table featuring French porcelain such as our lovely Grapefruit Service Plates from Limoges paired with delicately hand-embroidered linens made by masters of their craft. Vintage silverware such as classic pieces from Christofle may feel heavy in the hand, but they add a luxurious, delightfully decadent touch.

“Grapefruit” Service Plates

“Peony” Tablemat and Napkin Set

Some Practical Pointers:

Choose Your Glasses Wisely

If you’re serving wine, coloured glasses will not do. Clear glasses will allow you and your guests to fully appreciate the colour of the wine. Also, to fully enjoy the bouquet of your red wines, use larger and deeper glasses that let the wine breathe, bringing out its finest aromas.

Use Your Best Linens

Most households tend to keep their best linens in storage so as to “have something ready for a special occasion.” In these times, however, we say: make every day a celebration! Beautify your tables with heirloom tablecloths and hand-embroidered napkins. Items like our Peony and Champagne linen sets add a delicate nuance to your table, making your meal even more special with their intricate details and pristine colour. 

Service Plates for Sophistication

For the most part, service plates or chargers are mostly seen at fine dining establishments or at formal multiple-course dinners. We see no reason why we cannot use them at home: service plates add a festive feel that makes diners look forward to their meal with great anticipation.

Fruit and Flowers to Celebrate Fall’s Bounty

Add a natural touch by having fresh flowers at your table. This can be done as a centrepiece or having small bouquets or nosegays to serve as place holders for each diner. To keep conversation flowing, limit the height of your flowers so that you and your guests can talk to the person sitting in front of you. Want to add a European/Western touch to your table? Arrange pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, and other autumn produce to your centrepiece.

Decanters? Yes, Please

Serving wine or water in decanters adds an elegant touch and also makes your table look elegantly neat.

Mix and Match

While having a unifying theme for your table is nice enough, mixing styles through an eclectic selection of items makes it visually more interesting. Antique porcelain and flatware can be set off beautifully by modern linens, or add a touch of whimsy with the use of unusual water glasses or goblets.

Ambient Lighting is a Must

Dinners by candlelight have always been a romantic gesture, but using softer lights around your table also makes it feel warmer and more welcoming. While tapers arranged in a candelabra are classic, smaller candles such as tealights can add visual interest when set in unusually shaped bowls or vases as part of the centrepiece, or as placeholders.

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