Fandango Catering and Events Offers Ideas for Serving from a Coffee Table with Style

At Fandango Catering and Events we create events large and small, formal and informal, and today we offer ideas for serving your guests from a coffee table with style.

At smaller, more intimate gatherings (say, less than 30 guests), a coffee table can be a great choice to serve guests food, beverages, or both, especially if the space where the event takes place is on the small side.

Often hosts want to serve guests from a dining room table, a sideboard, or a kitchen island, and these can all be the right choices.  But the often-overlooked coffee table can also provide a wonderful place to serve from and has the added benefit of also promoting conversation and interaction among your guests.  Or if you've just moved into a place and don't have it fully furnished but do have a coffee table and a sofa or some chairs you can use them to have a small gathering anyway, no need to wait for other furniture!

Keep in mind, though, that the coffee table is best to serve drinks and finger foods, nothing messy or hot.  And the coffee table should not be extremely low either.

Here are 2 ideas for serving stylishly from a coffee table:

Idea #1: Put a cloth or runner on the coffee table and put trays with food and/or drinks (whether wine bottles or a pitcher of some beverage) and an ice bucket and bottle opener on the coffee table, plus napkins, plates, and glasses.  This works best for around 20 people or less so you have room on the coffee table to put these things.  If you have room, also decorate the coffee table with a small vase or goblet with flowers or a small decorative piece.

Idea #2: Put the food platters directly on the coffee table (no cloth or runner) if you like a more minimalist look, but we advise clients not to put drinks directly on a coffee table unless they're on a tray because of drips and condensation.  Flowers or a decorative element in a more modern style would go well with this setup, again, if you have room.

In both cases it's good to designate a place for people to put used plates and glasses.  We like to put a small card table or even a small round patio table, covered with a cloth, off to the side for this, as if you don't, and you haven't hired help for your gathering, you'll be picking up used glasses etc. everywhere, even in the bathroom.

Try using your coffee table at your next small gathering for stylish serving that encourages great conversation.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
http://www.fandango-catering.com/