Trends: The Artful Appetizer Table

Photos by Pier 1

I adore Amy Atlas and her gorgeous dessert tables. I love the artfully arranged sweets and beautifully labeled and jarred confections. But sometimes you want something a little different–savory and filling, maybe? This whole post started because I stopped into Pier 1 the other day and immediately felt a large hole in my wallet appear when I saw they have started to carry a line of tiny dishes made for single servings for entertaining. Yes, I will find room in my burgeoning cupboards for more serve ware, because not only are these pieces cute, I believe we are going to see a lot more appetizer tables fall under Ms. Atlas’ influence.

I am in no way compensated by Pier 1 for this post (although I would mind!)…but I can hardly contain my excitement here because sourcing these kind of serving dishes is always difficult. In addition to carrying all these great dishes, Pier 1 has been nice enough to include a page on their site here with suggestions and recipes on how to throw what they call a “tasting party.” Which is a great idea, and a will be something neat to watch in emerging parties!  To throw your own “tasting party,” you could mix up a pitcher of different flavored beverages you don’t ordinarily have and serve in small glasses. Different preparations of a singular ingredient. Or make an artful arrangement of a variety of single bite foods in single bite dishes. Think fancy tapas!

When designing the appetizer table for my Midsummer’s Night party, I wanted to use shot glasses for single servings of fruit, and wonton soup spoons for an elegant/artfully arranged presentation. This concept is popping up other places, two parties in particular come to mind…

The “Lumberjack & Jill” bridal shower by Frilly Milly – corn on the cob instead of cake pops, french fry cones instead of candy corn, and little individual jars of baked beans with spoons attached…and all brilliantly pulled together.

A birthday cocktail pre-party by Enchanted Expectations. Soup in the shooters and mexican gumbo in the spoons. The little glasses make it so much better than serving out of one big bowl!

I really and truly look forward to watching appetizer tables evolve this direction. It will be a nice change of pace, and interesting to see who emerges as the Amy Atlas of the savory side of the party!