Tulips in fall shades
For November’s Retro Foodie shoot, we present a berry-toned palette with bright pops of orange. I recently gathered my parents and hubby for a pre-Thanksgiving light lunch–some quiet before the bustle of Turkey Day begins. With one of my favorite ’80s art pieces as the backdrop, I designed a table that incorporates cool tones, autumn hues and some authentic 1980s decor. Read on for more details…
While I used orange as my main accent color, I also LOVE a combination of yellow and berry tones. Whether you’re cooking with lemons or displaying golden fall produce such as squash and apples, don’t hesitate to add something sunny to your Thanksgiving centerpiece!
Add some yellow to your berry-toned palette
Let’s talk about the table… While the tulips at the top of today’s post rested on a nearby surface-top, the true focal point for my meal of thanks was a 1980s custom floral centerpiece that I purchased at a garage sale a few weeks ago. Boasting a look that blends beautifully with Asian and Deco styles alike, this arrangement instantly grabbed my attention. It’s definitely a showstopper (the two people I shopped with at the garage sale thought I was kidding when I said I was going to buy it). Hey–when it comes to ’80s decor, you have to stand your ground, right?! On a side note, I added some pumpkins to the base of the arrangement to give this centerpiece a fall look. I also think it would work beautifully with holiday decor!
An ’80s-style Thanksgiving table
I welcomed my guests with individual place settings that included stainless steel chargers, ’80s Deco glasses in a shade of blue, earthy napkins, and a little pre-dinner appetizer of goat cheese rolled in sumac and ground pink peppercorns. This is a super easy way to make an impact! Simply form goat cheese into donut hole-sized balls and set aside. Use a mortar and pestle to grind the pink peppercorns, and sprinkle them onto a plate. Add some sumac for a dash of deep red, roll the goat cheese balls in the mixture, and you have a beautifully seasoned, dark pink amuse-bouche!
A festive fall place setting
Here’s another shot of the ’80s Deco glassware I picked up while shopping for retro treasures at Goodwill. I love the sweeping lines that cover each glass–I see them on ceramic vases all the time, but hardly ever on tableware. I had to grab this set of 4 drinking glasses!
’80s Deco glasses add a touch of blue
Here’s a montage with some of my favorite shots from the “lunch of thanks”…
Let’s talk about the food! Of course, you already know about the goat cheese balls with pink peppercorn and sumac…
Goat cheese with pink peppercorn
I served a vegetarian meal that included stuffed acorn squash. I used this recipe from One Green Planet. Yes, those are wheat berries, along with pine nuts, shallots, carrots, celery, dried cherries, sage, thyme and parsley. I pre-baked the squash to soften it up, and I think next time I’ll try adding a dash of soy sauce to the pre-baking phase for another kick of flavor. Or maybe something sweet like the cherries, or even apple. Yum! A special thanks to One Green Planet for inspiring me with their amazing harvest-themed recipe.
Acorn squash stuffed with wheat berries, veggies and dried cherries
I also roasted some Brussels sprouts in the oven, following this Food Network recipe from Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa). I tossed the Brussels sprouts in sea salt, pepper and olive oil before baking, then added some delicious balsamic vinaigrette once they were out of the oven. A dash of lemon and some colorful zest finished off this tasty dish…
Roasted brussels sprouts
The lunch was light, fresh, and healthy (for the most part)!
Time for dessert!
I also served Pão de Queijo (Brazilian cheese rolls), which I purchased from one of my favorite bakeries. Finally, I ended the festivities with a stout gingerbread cake and some cinnamon brittle from my favorite market. Hey, when you prepare some of the dishes from scratch, there’s no shame in supplementing the meal with some store-bought goodies!
When designing your Thanksgiving table, remember that no rules apply. I have to say that one of my friends who chuckled as I bought today’s featured ’80s floral centerpiece later said how much she loved the way it looked on my dining room table, especially when combined with the other decor in this post. Don’t be afraid to take your idea and go with it!
Hit local thrift stores for bargain finds, then unite them with a solid color palette. Fall leaves are great, but sometimes it’s fun to deviate from the norm, especially when the Decade of Decadence is your inspiration!
Mirror80 wishes you a joy-filled Thanksgiving…
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