topic Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece? in Home

Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

151949 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:36:40 GMT

I've done both. I have a large buffet that easily will hold the food if I want to put out a buffet service and use a pretty centerpiece but I mostly put the food on the table to be passed.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

Carmie — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:43:35 GMT

I only keep a centerpiece on the table when we are not using it.

I think they are beautiful, but not practical while we are eating. Even if food is served from the buffet, there is not enough room on the table for non essential items.

They would probably work when you have only a few people, but we usually have over 30 people when we entertain. I would even hesitate to put one on the buffet table.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

proudlyfromNJ — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:43:57 GMT

If I have four people or under, food goes on the table. For family gatherings the food goes on the peninsula. My table is very narrow. No way could I fit all the food on the table. With my small dining room and hutch, I had to get the most narrow table I could find.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:48:22 GMT

if it is 6 people or less, I put the food on the table, but if it is more, then we do Buffet Style. I have a Centerpiece on my table when it is not in use!!!! I change it out for the seasons as well.....

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

OKPrincess — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:54:01 GMT

We usually go to my sisters house and eat buffet style. There’s 10-12 of us and no centerpiece. No longer have traditional holiday meals since Mom is gone.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

ALRATIBA — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:59:58 GMT

No centerpiece. Just not my style.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

gidgetgh — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:02:47 GMT

The 1-2 times a year we have people over (Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Day) we put the food on the kitchen counters and leave some on the stove burners and serve ourselves from there. We eat at the kitchen table. On Christmas, it’s just 7 of us. Thanksgiving it’s 9 maximum, if everyone comes, and we eat at the kitchen table and the overflow sit in front of the tv in the living room.

We have dining room furniture and never use it. I love looking at it though. We have my mom’s dining room furniture. When we got it a few years ago, I donated ours to the Habitat for Humanity Store.

Both my family and my husband's are very casual.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

Mj12 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:42:34 GMT

I do not like centerpieces for our table so that's that for us. But whenever we have more than 4 people, we serve dishes on top of the serving buffet in the dining room (with a covering on the top). We love that buffet piece. That way, the dining table isn't filled up with bowls and serving plates, and people just get up and help themselves.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

vermint — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:17:27 GMT

We put food all over the kitchen, including the stove, the island and the kitchen table when we have our typical 15-25 people. Everyone lines up to serve themselves. There may be a small centerpiece on the dining room table, but none on the folding table(s) we set up in the living room.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

chrystaltree — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:22:08 GMT

I do it both ways. It depends on how many people are dining. I generally set up a buffet for a large group, I use candles but not a big centerpiece. If it's a small group of 4 or less, I serve the meal and I do use a nice centerpiece.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

GingerPeach — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:23:28 GMT

I am enjoying thinking about sitting at a table with an "enhanced" light fixture over it, as Alberti Popaj has done here. No need for a centerpiece with this as eye candy. The greenery down the middle could easily be replaced by dishes holding food.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

chrystaltree — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:26:44 GMT

@GingerPeach wrote:
I am enjoying thinking about sitting at a table with an "enhanced" light fixture over it, as Alberti Popaj has done here. No need for a centerpiece with this as eye candy. The greenery down the middle could easily be replaced by dishes holding food.

No...No. Something that big hovering over my head would make me nervous.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:27:02 GMT

@GingerPeach wrote:
I am enjoying thinking about sitting at a table with an "enhanced" light fixture over it, as Alberti Popaj has done here. No need for a centerpiece with this as eye candy. The greenery down the middle could easily be replaced by dishes holding food.

@GingerPeach This is so festive, and happy looking!!!!

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

Regal Bee — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:35:51 GMT

If I am entertaining, I always use a centerpiece. I have a buffet to hold my food.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

sunshine45 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:52:49 GMT

food on the table if it is six people or less, buffet style if there are more than six people. no centerpiece during the dinner.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

vermint — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:11:50 GMT

@GingerPeach I would probably never be able to do that...but it is beautiful. What would break my heart is when I had to take all that work apart!

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

SXMGirl — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:27:22 GMT

I keep a centerpiece on the kitchen and dining room tables all of the time because it looks nice. When eating, they are removed. Even if I have a crowd, I put food on the sideboard and generally forego a centerpiece.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

faeriemoon — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 18:23:19 GMT

@CANDLEQUEEN wrote:
if it is 6 people or less, I put the food on the table, but if it is more, then we do Buffet Style. I have a Centerpiece on my table when it is not in use!!!! I change it out for the seasons as well.....

This is my "policy" too. The centerpiece I display on my dining room table is removed regardless of whether we're doing a buffet or family style meal. I prefer to decorate the table with candles and small floral arrangements either at each place setting, or in the middle of the table.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

homedecor1 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 20:34:46 GMT

For me, if I have 4 then we'll sit at the kitchen table and use the "pass" method.

The days of "traditional sit down" dinners are long gone for me! I love doing buffet style (i have the room). The food I place on island or buffet table.

Everyone can get up and eat what/when they want --no worries about spillage, cold food, timing so everything is on table on time, Etc.

Of course, the ladies normally hangin the kitchen/DR, the guys hang in the den or the lanai. (once summer temps hit in FL most stay inside).

My DR table sits 10 and I put up a 6' folding table if necessary -- everyone has a seat somewhere!!!

It's also more relaxing & enjoyable for ME as the hostess😊😊😊

as for a centerpiece : I always have one on my DR table and kitchen table but it's removed when we sit down to eat. As for one during gatherings, I usually have a "theme" so something is down the middle of the DR table & something small on buffet table.

Re: Do you prefer putting the food on the table or using a centerpiece?

blackhole99 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:36:11 GMT

I don't like passing food around the table, I like a buffet offering better. I like a centerpiece on the table.