Cocktails & Wine Pairings

Here are a few pairing suggestions to go with our menu ~

Mirassou California Pinot Noir

With our first course, we chose Mirassou California Pinot Noir. Its flavors of cherries and pomegranates and complementing fruity aromas worked well with our chutney-topped camembert. ($10 ~ $12)

Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Sparkling Shiraz

With our main course we chose to serve Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Sparkling Shiraz. The wine is medium crimson in color with aromas of spice, rich berries and subtle vanilla. Medium bodied with soft tannins, this wine paired very nicely with our roast duck and spiced sauce. ($16 ~ $18)

Dow's 10 Year Old Tawny Port

To accompany our poached pears, we tried a bottle of Dow's 10 Year Old Tawny Port. Aromas of candied fruit and toffee carry through on the palate with the addition of vanilla and spice. Nicely balanced sweetness and acidity, with a long finish ~ we thoroughly enjoyed it with our dessert. ($26 ~ $30)

For Thanksgiving Cocktails ~
For more Thanksgiving-appropriate beverage suggestions, be sure to check out "Inspired Thanksgiving Spirits '09" for cocktail recipes, including:

• Caramel Appel (Dutch spelling) Martini (pictured left)
• Sapphire Pomegranate Collins
• Tarragon Buck
• Patron Holiday Margarita
• Autumn Sidecar wine[tail]

Table Decor & More

Sure Fit Bristol Dining Chair Covers and Tabletop Accessories

Nothing dresses up the dining room for the holidays like seasonal napkins, placemats and dining chair covers. Sure Fit has taken all the hassle out of replacing chair covers with the Bristol collection.

These chair covers are short, so they're more contemporary and less formal than traditional long chair covers. They're made of 100% cotton and slip right on. We love the Bristol collection in Cranberry for Thanksgiving - you can pick out matching placemats and napkins for the table, as well as other accents for your home. {shop now}

Urban Runner from Sandra Began Holiday

This beautiful, fresh handcrafted 48" table runner from Sandra Began Holiday is ideal for the Thanksgiving table, though it's versatile enough to use throughout the season.

The Urban Runner is made with fresh Wisconsin pine, balsam and cedar and is embellished with pomegranates, pears, cinnamon, pinecones and boxwood. What a perfect tie-in to the Thanksgiving with a Twist menu! {shop now}

Some Mood Music: Quiet Nights

Set the mood for your Thanksgiving meal with the sultry vocals of Diana Krall and her 12th album, Quiet Nights.

She's accompanied by her quartet and orchestra for 12 tracks, including several jazz standards.

The album is mellow yet sophisticated - the perfect backing for an intimate gathering with family and friends.

Some tips from the pros ~

Au Ciel Design Studio's Minoo Hersini provides the following tips for creating a chic tabletop at Thanksgiving:

• Make sure your table is asymmetrical to make it more interesting.
• Work with your market. Use various clay containers and fill them up individually with seasonal berries and weave tree barks throughout your clay containers.
• Don't forget your candles in between. Use a variety of fall colors in different sizes and shapes to keep it original.
• Include as many different flowers and plants as possible.
• Use this concept all along the table. It is best to create this concept with a long rectangular table.
• For a simpler table setting, intertwine berry and huckleberry branches throughout the table. Also, you can add single blooms or petals of flowers in various fall tones and add your candles in between.
• Lastly and most importantly, have fun, be creative and enjoy your festivities!

Lynn Jawitz of Florisan LLC shares some advice on using flowers to enhance the Thanksgiving experience for your guests and family:

• Spread them around - Flowers are not just for the tabletop anymore. A welcoming bouquet in the foyer, a small arrangement on the coffee table, and a subtle bud vase in the bathroom will be appreciated by all your guests.
• Tuck them around - A single flower bloom head tucked into a crisp, ironed folded napkin makes the elegance level skyrocket!
• Garnish them around - Individual dendrobium orchid florets have always graced passed hors d'oeuvres trays. Use them on stationary platters as well (cheese and crackers or veggie crudité, for example) for a shot of color in an unexpected place.
• Appetize them around - Is the first course a fruit salad served in a stemmed sherbet glass or brandy snifter? A flower head on the base plate under the appetizer is a lovely touch.
• Dessert storm them around - Whether full arrangements on a dessert buffet, or on the base of an individually stemmed compote, flowers and desserts go together, usually starting historically with the pattern on the dessert china service.
• Sugar them around - Sugared edible flowers have been pastry chef staples for generations, but personally, our preference is for sculpted sugar flowers on sugar cubes. Keep it sweet, and keep it flowering.