294395 Fri Oct 10 13:24:44 -0700 2003 6 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1614440 I would love to hear any suggestions you have on making a dessert buffet table look spectacular. It will have a few different cakes, some gourmet bars and pies. Fri Oct 10 13:24:44 -0700 2003 0 Elle 1 1614449 Depending on the theme, different types of foliage look great. I have often used the spiky tops of pineapples as part of the decorations. I always use lots of pillar and taper candles and votives as well. My other suggestion is that you should use height for dramatic effect. put the desserts on different height pedestals. I have also turned boxes upside down, covered them with wrapping paper, and used them as pedestals. Fri Oct 10 14:40:47 -0700 2003 1614440 0 Maya 2 1614452 You can also put pots and pans ** underneath ** material and/or table cloths to create heights. Use lots of material and drape it, bunch it, pucker it around the dishes. Also, for added interest, drape thick garlands of material with bows at each corner (and the center) of the lowest table surface. You can intertwine the greenery with it, also. If you have SILVER, use it now without abandon. A popular design scheme is BLACK AND WHITE. You can add bright fall colors for a dramatic effect, such a orange or yellow Gerber daisies or Mums. These can be placed singly laid on the table, gathered in a vase, or stub stemmed and placed in small pieces of oasis wrapped in burlap (interesting with the silver platters.) Or play with the food colors to add the the effect. Dark Chocolate looks great with white (or cream), yellow and orange. If you are having a powder pink/pastels table, work with those colors with dark brown or black (and SILVER) and lace. Fri Oct 10 15:08:59 -0700 2003 1614449 0 kc girl 2 1614499 I agree with those suggesting that you vary height. Putting everything at table level tends to give the impression of a bake sale, so do what you can to break this up. If you can lay hands on a few bricks, they are perfect---you can wrap a couple in a napkin to make a strong little platform---or a sturdy shoebox works well. Using pedestal cakeplates or trifle dishes also lifts food up. You can also vary with temperatures of foods---I remember a commercial buffet that had used bricks to make a little safe cooking area where hot fudge sauce was actually simmering over a Sterno, and I know an Indian restaurant that always ends its buffet lunches with a pan of kulfi, rich unchurned mango and pistachio ice cream, set in a pan of ice. I think in a buffet of any kind you want to overwhelm the guests not only with plenty but with variety so strive for different colors, textures, and types of foods (a fruit thing, a custard thing, a chocolate thing, a spicey thing, a flaky pastry thing, etc, some buttery cookies, something dripping with syrup and rum, small discrete fruits like cherries or whole strawberries, and also some candies like homemade truffles, candied ginger, or chocolate-covered black walnuts). Putting small cakes or tarts or squares of cake in fluted paper cups makes a nice presentation. If you use paper doilies on some plates, on others use a pretty paper or linen napkin so you avoid uniformity. Flowers and candles are attractive but I have yet to have room for them on a buffet, which I tend to fill up with more large and small dishes of food. I think a dessert buffet or a tea buffet should blitz you, absolutely knock you out. Fri Oct 10 19:38:00 -0700 2003 1614449 0 N Tocus 1 1614454 If you'd like to attend a tabletop design showcase display at the Laguna Design Center in Orange County the first Friday/Saturday in November, e-mail me. Over 25 Interior Designers present in the showrooms for two days and there are 3 seminars for attendees. Fri Oct 10 15:11:17 -0700 2003 1614440 0 kc girl 1 1614476 Try the unify the table with color (i.e. all silver or all white dishes). This allows the desserts to be admired. Try and vary the desserts by height. This adds drama. Use lots of flowers in one color or type, i.e. gerbera or roses. They make a strong statement. Fri Oct 10 17:02:28 -0700 2003 1614440 0 JudiAU 1 1614483 Purchase edible flowers and decorate the cakes and their plates with them. Encourage your guests to try them. Get different shapes of confetti and toss around the table. If it is for a celebration you would like to remember get white butcher paper and section off a corner of the table. Get a few boxes of markers and have people leave messages. It's best to place pre-cut items like cookies at this end so there is less chance of food getting on the messages. Fri Oct 10 17:20:31 -0700 2003 1614440 0 specialteach