Sayonara

While the pictures may be pretty, today's story is a sad one.  When he was 2, my son Anders chose a favorite food...sushi.  Fourteen years later, he would eat it every single day if possible.  And he had a favorite sushi shop...a little restaurant named Bowl House.  Sadly, Bowl House recently served up its final fish, and needless to say, Anders was heartbroken.  Today, this post is my tribute to our beloved Japanese restaurant.  Bowl House was not a fancy restaurant.  Miso soup was served in little plastic bowls.  Sushi arrived on mismatched trays and platters.  My own table is a bit more structured.

What could be a better place to begin than my little bamboo table.  Won't some sushi look beautiful sitting on these simple white plates.

They'll act as a blank palette for the colorful fish.

Matching dipping bowls will hold soy sauce and wasabi.  For the non-sushi lovers (that would be me)...

...I'll be slurping noodles from these big gingko-covered soup bowls.   What Japanese meal would be complete without some tea,

which I will serve from this darling tea set, a gracious gift from my recent Thanksgiving guests.  I've set my tea cups upon this handmade glass tray...

...which would also make a fabulous sushi plate.

A beautiful yellow orchid is the final touch.  Bowl House was run by a charming gentleman, who I do believe enjoyed watching my kids grow up from sushi loving toddlers to teenagers who are actually quite fun to go out to dinner with.  Sadly, we did not even know his name...we just called him "the boss". Sayonara, dear Bowl House, and thank you for years and years of wonderful meals and memories we will never forget.  And a special thank you to this week's stand-in photographer, Sofie.  Don't worry Laura...the job is still yours!  Need some holiday ideas?  Please join me this week at the following parties:

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)Potpourri Friday (2805)Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look...one year ago...Sketchy Santas.

Year of the Dragon

This week, my table celebrates Chinese New Year...the Year of the Dragon.  It just so happens that a few years ago, I threw an...

...Asian themed bridal shower for my nephew and his bride, so I had a good supply of perfect accessories for this tablescape.  This table starts with a rich red linen tablecloth.

I've added a topper...just a large square of shiny red satin, embroidered with dragons.  How lucky!  These plates are part of an entire set of china my father shipped home from his Navy days (circa 1940's).

They still look stylish, set atop my golden chargers.  These adorable very vintage blue glass tumblers will be perfect for sipping Tsing Tao beer.

The glass is paper thin...I can hardly believe they've survived the years.  I picked up this cute ceramic Chinese take-out container at Pottery Barn years ago!

I have used it us a vase, but this time, it holds a handful of colorful chopsticks.  In addition, my guests will navigate this feast with cute little Asian soup spoons.

Red and gold paper fans add a festive touch.

These satin red lanterns were a very lucky find at Target.

And now for my favorite touch...the napkins.  Plain red linen napkins are magically turned into giant fortune cookies.

Thank you to David Stark for his wonderful resource book, Napkins with a Twist:  Fabulous Folds for Every Occasion.

While I added oversized fortunes to my cookies napkins, these could easily have been turned into darling place cards.  My table is set.  My guests are on their way.  Time to pick up the phone and order a delicious Chinese feast...take-out, of course.  What fun!