A Word To The Wise: Setting A Divine Dinner Table
Penhaligon's sits down with Paula Sutton of Hill House, who shares her top tips for setting the table for a dinner party.
Tips Of The Trade From The Butler
A butler is master of many a trade, don’t you know – simply ask The Omniscient Mr Thompson, the newest addition to the Portraits Mansion. One requires a sharp memory, a sharper eye, and the sharpest of ears (the better for listening at thin walls). So, in celebration of our all-knowing new fragrance, Penhaligon's has spoken to experts in their field for their wisdom on all manner of affairs.
Allow Penhaligon's to introduce, A Word to the Wise. You are most welcome, old chap.
We sat down with Paula Sutton of Hill House, who shares her top tips for setting the table for a dinner party.
I
Every grand table should have a floral display but beware the dreaded droop! Add a mixture of three tablespoons sugar and two tablespoons white vinegar to every litre of water to ensure bacteria doesn’t grow and your flowers are nourished to flourish for days!
II
Ensure that your silver is the gleam of the crop! Cover in a cup of distilled vinegar and add four tablespoons baking soda. Allow to soak for one hour, then rinse until your silver shines like peaches and gleam!
III
There’s no room to be ‘scent o’ mental’ about cooking smells! Spritz your room with a heavenly scent and light candles to delight your guests as they arrive.
IV
Napkins can enhance even the plainest of table settings. Bring style and sophistication to your table with crisp white linen and vintage silver napkin rings, or coloured ribbon tied in bows is a simple yet chic alternative.
V
Don’t be a drip! Pop dinner candles in the freezer but remember to take them out and use them 30 minutes before your guests arrive to avoid drips on the tablecloth.
VI
Be the perfect guest to your host – bring along a lovely gift as a thank you! A scented candle is perfect (and a Penhaligon’s one at that)!
VII
Your salt and pepper mills are married and should always be kept with each other – and passed around together! Make them things of beauty and interest, too: matching copper mills or delightful dishes with tiny serving spoons are a talking point.
VII
Make life easy! Choose starter and pudding courses that can be pre-prepared in advance, leaving you to sparkle and shine with your guests without fussing or cooking as much as possible!
Further Reading
Ah, Halfeti – the jewel in Turkey’s crown. With its wonderful mix of Byzantine, Armenian, Egyptian and Ottoman heritage. And a town well-versed in trading with the world, too. Spices and so...
It goes without saying that we are partial to a good cup of tea here at Penhaligon’s. But where did the British obsession with tea begin? We invited the founder of the Rare Tea Company, Henrietta Love...
Just as wild animals mark their territory, a person’s fragrance extends the personal space they inhabit. Indeed, perfumes smell different depending on the wearer, so one must choose a fragrance tha...
It’s been a few years since the esteemed Portraits family took permanent residence in Penhaligon’s stores around the world. The ever-growing Portraits fragrance collection continues to offer something...
Have you ever paused to take in the scent of a fresh rose and felt instantly uplifted? This is no mere coincidence. Floral scents are scientifically proven to make one feel happier. A fragrance ca...
An intoxicating smell as one enters. Unrivalled care and attention from fragrance experts. Every one of our boutiques has its hallmarks, but there is nothing more distinctly Penhaligon’s than our icon...
Back in William’s day, any self-respecting London dandy could be found bouncing around between Jermyn Street and St. James's Street. Here, a gentleman’s every tailoring and grooming need could be tend...
London’s Most Romantic Spots: Approved by Penhaligon’s Faint heart never won fair lady (or fair gentleman). This Valentine’s Day, it’s time to buck up your ideas and take your sweetheart on an outi...
What a crying shame it would be to omit the telling of a tale such as this. A tale of the Prince of Perfumery. Call him William Penhaligon. He embarked on aplethora ofperegrinations. Some involved the...
Penhaligon's is proud to introduce THE FAVOURITE The stage is set, the setting is Blenheim. The story concerns the mother of this majestic Palace. Her scent fills the Royal Quarters as gol...
