SURVIVING TURKEY TIME
Ronda Carman, an authority on entertaining and etiquette and author of Entertaining at Home, shares her ideas on how to weather the social and family demands of the holiday season with style and grace. And in this case, all roads lead to gravy.
Q Do you still use holiday tablecloths for formal meals, and do they have to be white?
A I don’t use tablecloths. I love to layer with placemats and dishes. I was just playing with setting my table recently and did think about using a tablecloth. Maybe
I will at Christmas. White is classic, but I say have fun with texture and colour.
Q Should you carve the turkey at the table or in the kitchen? Should you serve gravy hot or at room temperature?
A I love the idea and image of the turkey being carved at the table, but in reality I always do it in the kitchen because it can get messy. As for gravy, though I prefer it hot, I’ll take it any way any day, it’s my favourite part of the meal.
Q If you have 10 guests for Christmas dinner, should you do a buffet or a sit-down meal? A I think it is a personal preference and either works. For Thanksgiving, I had 14 … so I set the table for everyone, but I am setting up a buffet in the kitchen and breakfast room for Christmas.
Q What could you serve in a punch bowl besides punch that would be different and festive? A Popcorn, chips, pretzels or a trifle would be great. When you’re not using the punch bowl, fill it with wine corks in the kitchen.
Q I see many lovely table settings where the dishware is stacked: charger, dinner plate, salad plate, bowl. While this looks great, it doesn’t seem helpful for eating the meal. I would worry that what’s in the bowl would get spilled on plates yet to be used, for example. How do you balance serving and eating with a great-looking table?
A I do love a layered look, but I only use dishes that I will need and in the order I need them. For example, if I am not doing a salad, I won’t use a salad plate. Once you are done with a dish, you can take it away.
Q Do you have suggestions for brining a turkey?
A I just started brining a few years ago, and it does make a big difference. I have always done a wet brine, but this year I am trying a dry brine.
Q What is your favourite holiday and why?
A I adore Christmas, but more and more Thanksgiving ranks right up there. I love that it is all about the food, family and thankfulness. Not to mention I love setting the table.
The Washington Post