A good dinner starts before the food. It starts with a heavy plate, a linen napkin and a glass that catches the last of the daylight.
We asked a few of our favorite hosts how they lay a table. The answers were refreshingly simple.
Keep it plain
Stoneware in one color, cutlery that feels good in the hand and a napkin you are not afraid to use. Leave the patterns for the food.
“Set the table early. It tells everyone, including you, that tonight matters.”
Small things that help
A candle that does not smell of anything, water already on the table and one more glass than you think you need.
You do not need matching sets. You need things you love, laid out with a little care.
Theo Okafor
Food Editor
Theo eats out for work and cooks in for fun. Opinions on bread, small menus and where to sit.
