Tablescapes
Breakfast Charcuterie Board: How to Build One for a Crowd
A breakfast charcuterie board with the exact per-person math for 4 to 12, the make-ahead and keep-warm plan, savory and sweet versions, and what to skip.
Jun 18, 2026
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52 articles, newest first. Jump to a topic, or just scroll.
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Hosting How-ToNacho Bar: How to Set One Up and Avoid Soggy Chips
A nacho bar guests build themselves: the exact chip, cheese, and meat math for 10, 20, or 30, how to keep queso pourable, and no soggy chips.
Jun 17, 2026
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Hosting How-ToHot Chocolate Bar: Setup, Quantities, and What to Skip
A hot chocolate bar guests serve themselves, with the exact cocoa and cup math for 10, 20, or 30, how to keep it warm for hours, and what to skip.
Jun 14, 2026
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Hosting How-ToPotluck Ideas That Work: What to Bring, by Situation
Potluck ideas sorted by the job you got: main dish, work potluck, last minute, vegetarian. Plus how much to bring and what never gets eaten.
Jun 11, 2026
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TablescapesDessert Charcuterie Board: Balanced, Not a Sugar Bomb
A dessert charcuterie board built by role and balanced with fruit and salt, not just a pile of candy. What to put on it, make-ahead, and what to skip.
Jun 7, 2026
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TablescapesGrazing Table Ideas: Build One for Any Size Crowd
Grazing table ideas with the part other guides skip: how much food to buy per guest, scaled for 20, 40, or 50 people, on a budget, and kept safe.
Jun 6, 2026
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Hosting How-ToMimosa Bar: How to Set One Up for Any Size Crowd
A mimosa bar lets guests pour their own and frees you to host. The setup, the best bubbly and juices, make-ahead, and the exact bottle and juice math.
Jun 6, 2026
- Tablescapes
Halloween Charcuterie Board: Spooky and Built to Eat
A Halloween charcuterie board that is spooky from real food, not plastic, and good to eat. The color plan, edible tricks, make-ahead, and what to skip.
Jun 5, 2026
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GlasswareTypes of Cocktail Glasses: The Ones You Actually Need
A clear guide to the types of cocktail glasses, organized by what you actually need, why each shape matters, and which ones you can skip. With a chart.
Jun 4, 2026
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TablescapesChristmas Charcuterie Board: Festive and Built to Eat
A Christmas charcuterie board that is festive and actually good to eat. Fall colors from real food, a tree-shape that works, make-ahead, and what to skip.
Jun 3, 2026
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TablescapesThanksgiving Charcuterie Board That Holds Hungry Guests
A Thanksgiving charcuterie board built for its real job: feeding early guests while the turkey roasts. Fall items by role, make-ahead, and what to skip.
Jun 2, 2026
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TablescapesVegetarian Charcuterie Board That Doesn't Miss the Meat
A vegetarian charcuterie board that feels complete, not subtracted. The savory anchors that replace cured meat, plus the cheese rule nobody mentions.
Jun 1, 2026
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Hosting How-ToHousewarming Party Food: What to Serve in a New Kitchen
Housewarming party food that works when your kitchen is still in boxes. What to serve 15 to 25 drop-in guests, plus the spread and the food-safety rule.
May 29, 2026
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Hosting How-ToGame Night Snacks: 18 Ideas That Won't Wreck the Game
Game night snacks that keep your hands clean and your cards grease-free. 18 no-mess ideas organized by game type, plus the spill rule everyone forgets.
May 28, 2026
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Hosting How-ToBridal Shower Brunch Menu: 4 Complete Menus + Host Plan
Bridal shower brunch menu, 4 complete plans for 8-15 guests with Friday prep, day-of timing, cost per person, and the host arc nobody else covers.
May 26, 2026
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TablescapesTable Manners: 20 Rules That Still Matter (and 5 to Drop)
Table manners that actually matter in 2026: 20 rules organized by purpose, the host-specific ones nobody covers, and the Victorian holdovers to drop.
May 25, 2026
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HolidaysTraditional Easter Dinner: 5 Menus and the Real Stories
Traditional Easter dinner explained: 5 complete menus (ham, lamb, Italian, make-ahead, vegetarian) with Friday prep, day-of cooking, and the why behind each.
May 21, 2026
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Hosting How-ToFrench Appetizer Ideas: 5 Apéro Spreads (Not 23 Recipes)
French appetizer ideas as 5 complete apéro spreads for 4 to 6 guests: what to buy, what to make, drink pairing, 30 minute prep, cost per person.
May 20, 2026
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Hosting How-ToDinner Party Menu Ideas: 6 Menus That Fit on One Saturday
Six complete dinner party menus for 6 guests, each with starter, main, two sides, and dessert. With Friday vs Saturday prep split and real cost per person.
May 18, 2026
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HolidaysHalloween Cocktail Recipes: 8 Drinks That Aren't Novelty
Halloween cocktails for adults who like actual cocktails. 8 classics with spooky names and naturally dark colors. No food coloring, no dry ice required.
May 16, 2026
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Home BarGimlet Cocktail Recipe: Four Versions and the Pitcher
Four gimlet recipes (Chandler classic, spirit-forward, balanced sour, French), real pitcher math, gin recs, plus the lime-juice freshness window.
May 15, 2026
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Home BarSazerac Cocktail Recipe: Rye, Cognac, and the Split Base
Three Sazerac recipes (rye, cognac, split-base), why the sugar changes with the spirit, what to buy, plus a real batch protocol for parties.
May 15, 2026
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Home BarFrench 75 Cocktail Recipe: Classic, Bartender, and Pitcher
The French 75 isn't one cocktail, it's three. All three recipes, a pitcher version for parties, plus what gin and champagne to actually buy.
May 13, 2026
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Home BarPaloma Cocktail Recipe: Classic, Fresh, and Pitcher
The Paloma is Mexico's national cocktail. Both versions (grapefruit soda and fresh juice), a pitcher scale for parties, and which tequila to buy.
May 12, 2026
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GlasswareHighball Glass: What It Is and Which to Buy
A highball glass is the tall tumbler for gin and tonics, vodka sodas, and whiskey highballs. The sizing, the materials, and which six to actually buy.
May 11, 2026
- Home Bar
Bourbon Cocktail Recipes: 8 Drinks That Teach You to Mix
Eight bourbon cocktails as a learning path: start with bourbon and ginger, finish at the Paper Plane. Real ratios, what bourbon to buy, plus non-alc options.
May 10, 2026
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TablescapesCorelle Dinnerware Sets: An Honest Buyer's Guide
Which Corelle set to actually buy, the lead-paint question on vintage Corelle, and how it compares to porcelain and stoneware. The honest third-party review.
May 9, 2026
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Home BarLemon Drop Cocktail Recipe: The Proper Version + 4 Variants
The proper Lemon Drop recipe with the right triple-sec ratio, plus 4 variants: martini, shot, spritz, and non-alcoholic. Plus the technique most recipes miss.
May 9, 2026
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Home BarVodka Cocktail Recipes: 8 Drinks That Teach You to Mix
Eight vodka cocktails as a learning path: start with a vodka soda, finish at the Vesper. Real recipes, real ratios, what to buy, plus non-alc variations.
May 9, 2026
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HolidaysChristmas Cocktail Recipes: A Host's 5-Cocktail Menu
Stop scrolling lists of 24 Christmas cocktails. The 5-cocktail menu framework hosts actually use, with batch-able recipes, hot drinks, and a non-alc option.
May 8, 2026
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HolidaysChristmas Dinner Ideas: A Hosting Plan for 6, 12, or 20
Christmas dinner ideas for actual hosting, not 100 recipes. The menu formula, day-of timeline, drink math, and what to skip. Scales from 6 to 20.
May 7, 2026
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HolidaysFriendsgiving: A Hosting Plan for the Thanksgiving You Want
How to host Friendsgiving, the menu framework, potluck logistics, scheduling around real Thanksgiving, and what to skip. For 6 to 16 friends.
May 6, 2026
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Holidays4th of July Menu: A Cookout You Can Actually Enjoy
A 4th of July menu calibrated for hosting, not the grill. Seven dishes, mostly make-ahead, so you spend the holiday with guests, not standing in smoke.
May 5, 2026
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HolidaysMother's Day Brunch Ideas: A 5-Dish Menu (Not 38 Recipes)
A 5-dish Mother's Day brunch menu, with make-ahead timing so you sit at the table instead of standing at the stove. Frittata, fruit, bacon, coffee, Mimosas.
May 4, 2026
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TablescapesThanksgiving Table Decor: A 3-Path Framework
Stop scrolling 62 Thanksgiving table settings. Pick one of three paths, follow the 3-5-7 rule, and use components that don't go in the trash on November 27.
May 3, 2026
- Home Bar
Gin Cocktail Recipes: 8 Drinks That Teach You to Mix
Eight gin cocktails as a learning path: start with a G&T, end at the Last Word. Real recipes, real ratios, what to buy, and the non-alc gin variations.
May 2, 2026
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Home BarMocktail Recipes: 12 Drinks Organized by Occasion
Twelve mocktails organized by when to serve them: brunch, summer, dinner party, holidays, and the kid-friendly classic. Real ratios, no sad juice drinks.
May 1, 2026
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Home BarNon-Alcoholic Spirits: What to Buy and What's Overhyped
Honest reviews of non-alcoholic gin, whiskey, tequila, and aperitifs. Which brands are worth the price, which to skip, and the rule that makes mocktails better.
Apr 30, 2026
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Home BarShirley Temple Mocktail: The Proper Recipe + 4 Variants
The classic Shirley Temple recipe with real grenadine, plus the 4 variants people search for: Dirty Shirley, Cinderella, no-grenadine, and the Sprite version.
Apr 29, 2026
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Home BarVodka Mocktails: 6 Recipes That Taste Like Cocktails
Two ways to make a vodka mocktail, virgin recipes that mimic real cocktails, plus drinks using non-alc vodka substitutes. 6 recipes and what to skip.
Apr 28, 2026
- Hosting How-To
Finger Foods for a Party: The 5-Category Framework
The 5-category framework hosts use to build finger-food menus, with per-person math and make-ahead timing for parties of 8 to 30. Skip the 113-recipe lists.
Apr 27, 2026
- Tablescapes
Charcuterie Board: A Hosting System (Not a Photo Op)
Build a charcuterie board that actually feeds guests: the 3-3-3 rule, real per-person amounts, and the assembly order that prevents sweating cheese.
Apr 26, 2026
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GlasswareWhiskey Glasses: The 3-Glass System (Not the 12-Glass Set)
Why a Glencairn, a rocks tumbler, and a Highball are all the whiskey glasses you actually need. Plus what to skip and which ones are worth the money.
Apr 25, 2026
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Home BarCocktail Shakers: The Type Bartenders Actually Use
Why a Boston shaker beats the 3-piece cobbler for home cocktails, the 3 sets we'd actually buy, and what to skip. The honest cocktail shaker guide.
Apr 24, 2026
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Home BarBar Cart: How to Set Up a Real Home Bar
What to actually put on a bar cart, the 8 bottles that cover most cocktails, the carts worth buying at every budget, and what to skip. No styling fluff.
Apr 23, 2026
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TablescapesDinnerware Sets: What Material to Buy and What to Skip
Stoneware vs. porcelain vs. bone china vs. melamine, what pieces actually matter in a dinnerware set, and the 3 sets we'd buy at every budget.
Apr 22, 2026
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TablescapesHow to Set a Table: The 3-Tier System for Any Dinner
How to set a table for everyday, dinner parties, or formal occasions. The 3-tier system, the one rule that actually matters, and how to scale for 2 to 8.
Apr 21, 2026
- Glassware
Champagne Flutes: What to Buy (and What to Use Instead)
Champagne flutes, honestly: when they're the right call, when a coupe or wine glass is better, and the 3 sets we'd actually buy at every budget.
Apr 20, 2026
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GlasswareMartini Glasses: What to Buy (and Whether You Should)
What a martini glass is, how it differs from a coupe, why bartenders often prefer the coupe, and the 3 sets we'd actually buy at every budget.
Apr 19, 2026
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GlasswareCoupe Glasses: What They're For and Which to Buy
Coupe glasses, explained: what they're for, what cocktails they hold, how they differ from a martini glass, and the 3 sets we'd actually buy at every budget.
Apr 18, 2026
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TablescapesSilverware Setting: A Practical Guide for Real Dinners
The right silverware setting for a casual, dinner-party, or formal table, with a clear diagram, a what-to-skip list, and budget-tier flatware picks. No stress.
Apr 17, 2026
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Hosting How-ToHow to Host a Dinner Party: A 5-Day Plan That Actually Works
How to host a dinner party for 6, a real 5-day plan, hour-by-hour day-of timeline, menu formula, drink math, and what to skip. No hosting performance.
Apr 16, 2026