How to set a table for Thanksgiving that's edible and elegant, according to interior designer Sabrina Soto
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When interior designer and television personality Sabrina Soto celebrates Thanksgiving, she acknowledges that the holiday mostly revolves around the food. “But for me,” she says, “it’s all about your table settings.” To keep everyone happy this year, Soto combines both of those by incorporating edible elements for a dazzling and delicious display — and shares her tips for how to make your table setting unforgettable.
Soto’s most cherished Thanksgiving memories come from hosting at her former home in Washington D.C., when her grandparents were still around. This year, though, she plans to celebrate in California, where she can arrange a safe outdoor gathering. She starts by laying out an area rug that works either inside or outside, giving her al fresco feast the same cozy and comfy feeling of fall.
“My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is that it’s not about presents,” says Soto. “It’s about spending time with family and friends, preparing a meal together.” For her, that means designing an edible centerpiece, which she crafts from a big basket, two sizes of chicken wire and Kraft paper — plus, a cornucopia’s worth of colorful vegetables.
Nestling the wire into the basket, she uses it to hold the peppers, green beans, carrots, potatoes, broccoli rabe, carrots and celery — all of which she has previously blanched. Then she spills out the cauliflower, tomatoes and other vegetables onto the cutting board to create a snackable rainbow centerpiece, with the finishing touch of a dip at the end.
To complete her edible DIY décor, she also puts out place card holders made from caramel apples — a seasonal touch that will keep the kids happy. When making the apples, she places them on the plates, letting the caramel pool a bit to hold them in place. Next, she adds a clean stick on the top of an apple at all the place settings, affixing to each one a Kraft paper leaf with that guest’s name on it.
Later, when the guests all sit down, she looks forward to celebrating with a holiday tradition she adores: “Every year, right before we eat, we go around the table and each person says what they are most grateful for at that point in their lives.” But her family also has a less serious holiday ritual that makes a great solution for vegetarian families that want in on a classic tradition: she uses recycled plastic wishbones to break with her kids.
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