Great Service

I am a big fan of delicious food and great service.  I rarely eat at fast food restaurants.  When I sit down and eat, I like it be on a plate (not paper) with a knife, fork and spoon (not plastic) and using a cloth napkin.  I like real glasses, except that I am pretty partial to my Tervis tumblers, and don’t drink out of plastic bottles at the table.  I love the Fort Worth Club for just that very reason.

I also enjoy feeding a lot of people.  I love to cook and do it pretty often.  I like to manage meals and not have leftovers.   I cook in large quantities but the food should always taste good no matter what you are cooking or for how many.  On a recent Princess cruise ship, I figured it would be really difficult to feed so many people and say that the food is not bland or fast food quality.  However, on that cruise, to say that there were thousands of people and the food was always delicious is really an understatement.  I am amazed at how the ship daily prepared delicious meals and yet managed to present the food in tasty servings on a consistent basis.  Several thousand folks on this boat  were being fed three or more times a day.  The meals were well seasoned; the servings were a nice proportion, and the combinations amazing.  Most restaurants serve a special type of food and don’t try to do it all.  Princess does it all.  The thing I am most impressed with is the consistency of how great the food AND the service each and every day. 

The service was amazing on the ship.  The wait staff was always kind and courteous.  They were very attuned to your wishes on board the Princess Cruises.  This is by far my favorite of cruise lines I’ve ever sailed.

Linens

My Mother and I were shopping today at this really neat little store on the square in Glen Rose.  The sign on the store front said, "We don't have antiques.  We have Junk."  But they had some really cool junk.   And boy, did they have some cool junk.

 

I bought some great odds and ends of napkins, linen cloths to wrap up hot rolls and a beautiful square table cloth for my Mother to put on her oak table.  I bought two sets of cloth napkins with beautiful handwork.  We had a great time talking about the different dishes these beautiful linens would accompany on my table.

 

I am thankful that my Mother instilled in me the desire to have a beautiful table.  To this day, we eat on real plates, use real glasses and cloth napkins at meal time at our house.  I often use my china and crystal just because.  Mother always said there was no point in having it if you weren't going to use it.  The same she said was true for cloth napkins.  We have washers and dryers and there is just no reason not to use them.

 

So don't let them dry rot in the drawers.  Pull them out.  Set your table.  It really does make the food taste better.  Thanks Mom for teaching me to appreciate the family dinner!

Placemats

I was raised by a woman who believed in setting the table.  I think that is why I am so fascinated with placemats and napkins.  I love to see a table set and how pretty the plates are on a beautiful placemat.  

I think the food tastes better and is not gobbled down when it is presented in a lovely setting.  I know I enjoy eating more when I am seated at a table and have the opportunity to enjoy the company that I am with and the food that is before me.  

Garden Ridge has a great selection of placemats that are not expensive if you are looking to start a collection.  I have fall, spring, Christmas, Valentine, and pretty much a set for any occasion.  I love to find a  set on a sale with matching napkins that goes with any of my dishes.  Next time you want to really enjoy a meal, start by setting your table with a set of placemats and matching napkins!