With nearly every Jewish holiday, food is at the front and centre of celebrations. Whether it’s matzah, brisket or challah, the dining room is a place of worship and thanks.
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This can be a little daunting if you are preparing to welcome family and friends over to your house for a celebration. If it’s your first time hosting and you’re feeling a little nervous, no one blames you. There is almost a signature dish for every holiday, so what can you do to reflect this with your own holiday preparations?
The Dining Room Is Key To Success
The first answer is, of course, to practice cooking. Honestly, there are a lot of intricacies when it comes to creating good Jewish food and there are so many Jewish recipes to try. Putting a little practice in before hosting a bunch of people will be highly beneficial, especially if you are making everything in-house. But even if you are not, there are other things to consider when it comes to hosting the holiday.
The other most important thing is the dining room itself. Yes, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to food preparation, but you don’t want to go to all that effort if you are hosting everyone in a dining room that is not up to the task. A good, well-prepared dining room is the accompaniment to the food. Without it, the shine will be taken off the food and the entire feel of the celebration itself. No pressure, then. Don’t panic. Changing up your dining room in preparation is relatively straightforward.
Give Your Dining Room A Warm Feel
Firstly, you have to make sure the dining room is well lit. A collection of candles resting upon the spine of the table is crucial to creating an ambient and warm atmosphere. Not only that, but it will put more emphasis on the food. Just imagine that steaming challah, with the glaze almost glowing in the flickering light of the nearby candles. It’s enough just to get hungry thinking about it.
Another important thing to remember is to keep the décor to a minimum. It can be tempting to fill out the tabletop with beautiful pieces such as wide breadbaskets or tall flower vases. This may look nice, but it isn’t all that practical. You want a lot of space for the food itself, as well as condiments and spices. You also want to ensure that a guest on one side of the table can actually see the guest on the other side of the table.
Invest In Some Beautiful Table Sets
To create a memorable and gorgeous dining room, it is also wise to consider purchasing some table sets. Professional and charming table sets can transform a dining room into an almost restaurant-like scene, and it will also prove to your guests that you have gone above and beyond to host a perfect holiday celebration. There are plenty of ways to get yourself a new looking dining room, whether it’s sterling silver Judaica cutlery or gorgeous aluminium Kiddish cups, you can find the sets specific for the holiday and go from there. Your guests are sure to be both impressed and appreciative, ensuring you are invited to host holidays over and over again. Whether that’s a reward or a punishment, however, is another question entirely.