by Cesca Janece Waterfield

Many times, expertise is a matter of mastering a choice medley; of choosing just a few things to do very well. Want to select and serve wine with confidence? Choose three basics and learn them inside and out. Hoping to wow your guests at a holiday meal? A few carefully planned and prepared dishes can make the whole table a triumph. With this in mind, let our guide be a basis for simple yet memorable entertaining throughout the season.

Create a Gorgeous Buffet Table

• Create risers beneath your tablecloth using hardcover books, terra cotta pots, or inverted cake pans. Make sure dishes sit steady.
• Fill in the buffet table with gourds, pinecones, evergreen boughs and apples.
• For a Christmas buffet, use ornaments, gift-wrapped boxes, Santas, snowmen, or nativity scenes.

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