THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502080069
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Morsels
SOURCE: Ruth Fantasia
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
SOME NIGHTS I'm lucky to get dinner on the table, never mind fussing over whether the plates look good.
Such was not the case last weekend for organizers of a Chrysler Museum exhibition called ``The Artful Setting: A Festival of Fine Design.''
About 50 tablescapes were created by area decorators, antiques dealers and private collectors to raise funds for the museum's Changing Exhibition Fund.
Among the settings were a teddy bear's picnic, large sculpted cats and Adam-and-Eve topiaries ( feasting on apples, of course).
Aside from the wit and whimsy, there were a few trends:
It doesn't have to match. Mixing silverware with gilded plates is acceptable.
Try placing small sculptures on the table.
Linens aren't the only table covers. Use mosses for place mats and fake fur fabrics for tablecloths.
Don't limit your design to the table. If you scatter confetti on the table, throw a little on the floor as well.
For a comfortable look, make lumbar-support chair pillows to match your napkins.
Choose your colors to match the mood of the party. Pinks and whites for bridal lunches, reds for romantic nights, and green and gold for elegant evenings.
Forcing branches of spring-flowering trees and shrubs can make dramatic flower arrangements.
New for the freezer
Pepperidge Farm has introduced two product lines.
Cheese breads come in Cheddar, Monterey Jack With Jalapeno, and Mozzarella Garlic. Each 11 3/4-ounce loaf costs about $2.29.
And Chocolate Clouds pastries are available in milk- and dark-chocolate. An 8 1/2-ounce box holds four clouds and costs about $2.99.
Look for them later this month in the freezer case.
Va. food fun
The annual Virginia Food Festival Directory has just been published by the commonwealth's department of agriculture.
The little brochure lists 95 fun events across the state, including the obscure Whitetop Mountain Maple Festival (March 25 and 26), a Milk to Cheese Day (June 24) in Staunton and Thomas Jefferson's Tomatoe Faire (Aug. 5) in Lynchburg.
For a free copy, write: The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, Va. 23209. Or call (804) 786-5867. MEMO: MORE MORSELS/F1
ILLUSTRATION: Look for Pepperidge Farm cheese breads later this month.
by CNB