Blog

Gorgeous, beautiful, and supremely  "instagrammable": tablescapes are on the rise. Rather than concentrating solely on the artistry of the meals themselves, tablescapes serve up an entire table of food along with well-designed, themed table decor. Tablescapes are an immense and singular work of art, and while they take a lot of additional effort, they produce an incredible "wow" factor.

Here's everything you need to know about the biggest catering trend of the year.

What Exactly is a "Tablescape"?

A tablescape blurs the line between the decor and the food, making it so that the decorations and the food blend seamlessly into a specific theme. Seasons, colour-scapes, or the type of event may be used to create the designs. Tablescapes are so incredibly visually dramatic because the entirety of the table is a single art piece. Often, a single, large design is laced through the center of the table.

What Are the Advantages of a Tablescape?

Why are tablescapes becoming so popular? It's because they have a number of advantages over traditional, discrete catering services. Here are a few of the major advantages:

• Tablescapes help set the mood of the event. Considered, to be elegant, sophisticated, and classy, tablescapes become a part of the decor. With a well-designed tablescape, you barely need to decorate the rest of the venue. The tablescape becomes a centrepiece to the venue, and you can get away with less decor overall. 
• Tablescapes are extremely shareable. If you're hosting an event that you want to be photographed and shared, tablescapes are perfect. Tablescapes set the scene, making for gorgeous pictures that will be the envy of many. This is perfect for an event that you want to be well-photographed and well-shared. 
• Tablescapes are becoming very popular. Modern caterers are interested in designing tablescapes, and they've become quite efficient at it. A caterer is going to be able to make an excellent tablescape very quickly, thereby improving upon the event as a whole.  
• Tablescapes immediately elevate an event. As they are considered to be very sophisticated, a tablescape can automatically elevate an event to something that is more professional, polished, and intriguing. 

All of these advantages mean that a tablescape isn't just gorgeous in and of itself: it's also a shortcut for making the event as a whole better. 

What Are the Challenges for a Tablescape? 

As attractive as it is, tablescapes aren't without their challenges. There's a reason why an expert caterer is needed for a tablescape. Some challenges include:

• Not overcrowding the table. As there are designs and food on the table, it's important to still provide enough space for the diners.
• Creating a complete, thematic design. A design requires both art and utility, and it demands both aesthetic sense and experience.
• Providing high quality food. Food can't just be beautiful; it also has to be delicious. It's important that the taste still be prioritised over service.

All of these challenges can be adequately covered by the right caterer, but it highlights the importance of working with an experienced service. 

Examples of Some Gorgeous Tablescapes

The best caterers will be able to produce a gorgeous, custom tablescape by seeing some examples of the type of tablescape that you're interested in. Here are a few examples:

• Seasonal tablescapes. These utilise the colours of the season, as well as fresh produce that is available that season. Often, a seasonal tablescape is going to feature accent pieces that relate to holidays that are within the season. Autumn tablescapes could feature oranges and browns, along with fall leaves, and the dishes may feature things such as citrus, wine, and cinnamon. 
• Floral tablescapes. These use flowers and plants to decorate the tablescape, making a table that looks like a giant bouquet. Fresh cut flowers can be incorporated directly into the design, though care must be taken to not include heavily fragrant flowers that could potentially damage the taste of the food. Fresh flowers are perfect for light, bright, and airy events. 
• Minimal tablescapes. These hyper-modern tablescapes make the food the focus, but still integrate the table into the design. Colour can be used to emphasise the food on a minimal tablescape, by making it greyscale and making the food really pop. Alternatively, only a few very simple items of decor could be used to surround the food, and emphasise it. This lends itself to fusion foods and small bites. 

You can take a look at tablescapes on Pinterest and in design magazines for more information and inspiration,   or talk to the experts at Laissez-faire Catering  for table  and tablescape  design    ideas.   If you already have   created a pinboard, you can show it to us to find out more about what   possible design  we can offer you.

Gorgeous, beautiful, and supremely  "instagrammable": tablescapes are on the rise. Rather than concentrating solely on the artistry of the meals themselves, tablescapes serve up an entire table of food along with well-designed, themed table decor. Tablescapes are an immense and singular work of art, and while they take a lot of additional effort, they produce an incredible "wow" factor.

Here's everything you need to know about the biggest catering trend of the year.

What Exactly is a "Tablescape"?

A tablescape blurs the line between the decor and the food, making it so that the decorations and the food blend seamlessly into a specific theme. Seasons, colour-scapes, or the type of event may be used to create the designs. Tablescapes are so incredibly visually dramatic because the entirety of the table is a single art piece. Often, a single, large design is laced through the center of the table.

What Are the Advantages of a Tablescape?

Why are tablescapes becoming so popular? It's because they have a number of advantages over traditional, discrete catering services. Here are a few of the major advantages:

• Tablescapes help set the mood of the event. Considered, to be elegant, sophisticated, and classy, tablescapes become a part of the decor. With a well-designed tablescape, you barely need to decorate the rest of the venue. The tablescape becomes a centrepiece to the venue, and you can get away with less decor overall. 
• Tablescapes are extremely shareable. If you're hosting an event that you want to be photographed and shared, tablescapes are perfect. Tablescapes set the scene, making for gorgeous pictures that will be the envy of many. This is perfect for an event that you want to be well-photographed and well-shared. 
• Tablescapes are becoming very popular. Modern caterers are interested in designing tablescapes, and they've become quite efficient at it. A caterer is going to be able to make an excellent tablescape very quickly, thereby improving upon the event as a whole.  
• Tablescapes immediately elevate an event. As they are considered to be very sophisticated, a tablescape can automatically elevate an event to something that is more professional, polished, and intriguing. 

All of these advantages mean that a tablescape isn't just gorgeous in and of itself: it's also a shortcut for making the event as a whole better. 

What Are the Challenges for a Tablescape? 

As attractive as it is, tablescapes aren't without their challenges. There's a reason why an expert caterer is needed for a tablescape. Some challenges include:

• Not overcrowding the table. As there are designs and food on the table, it's important to still provide enough space for the diners.
• Creating a complete, thematic design. A design requires both art and utility, and it demands both aesthetic sense and experience.
• Providing high quality food. Food can't just be beautiful; it also has to be delicious. It's important that the taste still be prioritised over service.

All of these challenges can be adequately covered by the right caterer, but it highlights the importance of working with an experienced service. 

Examples of Some Gorgeous Tablescapes

The best caterers will be able to produce a gorgeous, custom tablescape by seeing some examples of the type of tablescape that you're interested in. Here are a few examples:

• Seasonal tablescapes. These utilise the colours of the season, as well as fresh produce that is available that season. Often, a seasonal tablescape is going to feature accent pieces that relate to holidays that are within the season. Autumn tablescapes could feature oranges and browns, along with fall leaves, and the dishes may feature things such as citrus, wine, and cinnamon. 
• Floral tablescapes. These use flowers and plants to decorate the tablescape, making a table that looks like a giant bouquet. Fresh cut flowers can be incorporated directly into the design, though care must be taken to not include heavily fragrant flowers that could potentially damage the taste of the food. Fresh flowers are perfect for light, bright, and airy events. 
• Minimal tablescapes. These hyper-modern tablescapes make the food the focus, but still integrate the table into the design. Colour can be used to emphasise the food on a minimal tablescape, by making it greyscale and making the food really pop. Alternatively, only a few very simple items of decor could be used to surround the food, and emphasise it. This lends itself to fusion foods and small bites. 

You can take a look at tablescapes on Pinterest and in design magazines for more information and inspiration,   or talk to the experts at Laissez-faire Catering  for table  and tablescape  design    ideas.   If you already have   created a pinboard, you can show it to us to find out more about what   possible design  we can offer you.

The world of catering and food is constantly evolving and adapting in a variety of dramatic and exciting ways. 2019 brings with it some surprising new trends, which can be used to make your next event truly stand out. Here are a few of the trends that we've found most interesting, both in food itself and in the presentation of it. 

Use Unique and Inspired Plating Techniques

From sauces on painter's palettes to literal buckets of fresh treats, plating techniques are becoming whimsical and dramatic. Rather than using traditional plates and platters, you can think about the types of plating that would best match your cuisine.

If you're going for a luxe look, consider marble slabs. If you're trying to make your event reminiscent of a tropical getaway, serve appetizers in seashells. You can get truly creative about your presentation depending on the theme you're using for your event. With food, presentation is often just as important as the actual ingredients. 

Pair Savory Foods With Fresh, Bright Flavors

2019 is all about mixing comforting standards with bright pops of flavor, such as adding a zest of citrus to a creamy pasta, or pairing fresh fruits with dark, bitter chocolates. For added effect, seasonal produce and more exotic flavors can be used, differentiating foods season by season.

Farm-to-table remains exceptionally popular, which both continually refreshes menus while supporting the local community. If you want to explore new flavors for your next catering event, consider checking with your caterer regarding the items that are presently available in your area.

Create Complete Tablescapes  Rather Than Place Settings

  Rather than thinking of each meal or course as something individual, instead consider the entire service as a single entity. Creative tablescapes  bring together meals, especially when they're shared plates like charcuterie. You can dress up the entire table in an organic, themed design, to really make every element of the service pull together. 

When you create a complete tablescape  rather than individual place settings, you can create larger, more dramatic staging. Not only do you free yourself to be more creative, but you also create something that's an interactive, whole table experience for your guests.

Add Shared Dining to the Menu

Family-style, shared dining platters are intimate, exciting, and fun. And they don't have to be relegated to wine-and-cheese plates. Shared appetizers and even main courses van encourage people to interact with each other, especially at friendly, social events. Not only does this provide some entertainment for them, but they can discuss as well as enjoy the food.

Small plate, tapas experiences are perfect for shared dining. Everyone can enjoy a little bit of everything, rather than having to commit to a single meal. This also means they'll experience more of the delicious food options... and they're more likely to find something they like, if they have a picky palette.

Get  Into the Materials When Building Your Design

Wood, marble, slate, and other brilliant materials  can be used to make a meal really pop. Using different materials for utensils, platters, and plates is a great way to offset the design of your food and really elevate it to another level. Unique types of material are a topic of discussion, and can draw your guest's eye to the decor.

Apart from that, different materials really impart different experiences when it comes to food. Wooden serving boards are often paired with cheese, meats, and earthy flavors, letting everyone take their food from a communal platter. Meanwhile, cold marble is often used to accent desserts, ice creams, and other cold foods, as they keep the food chilled. 

Put  an Emphasis on the Sweet

Finally, every meal should have a sweet surprise at the end. Classic desserts are coming back, but with modern plating and techniques. The last course of the meal is absolutely going to be the thing that they remember most. And since not everyone likes sweets, some more savory desserts can be tested out.

Dessert platters and chocolate plates are becoming an interesting and often discussed replacement for wine and cheese plates. An assortment of chocolates gives everyone the option of choosing the type of chocolate they like most. Pair it with a lovely chocolate fondue and you'll have a menu that is as delicious and fulfilling as it is interactive.

At Laissez-faire Catering, we're not only at the forefront of these trends—we're creating new ones all the time.  Laissez-faire Catering, based in Alexandria Sydney, is right in the middle of it all: events, food, experiences. If you're looking for a caterer in Sydney dedicated to trying new things, bringing that WOW factor, and introducing your taste buds to something new, give us a call about your next event:  (02) 9209 4810.