Thursday's Food Tip: Make Great Centerpieces with Grapes

Grapes have been called "a caterer's best friend." That's because clusters of large grapes in various colors are an easy and quick way to accent a buffet or dining table. And they aren't so tall that they make it difficult for guests to see and talk to each other as they enjoy their dinner the way large floral arrangements often do.



This past weekend my older son was married. For the rehearsal dinner we decorated the tables with clusters of green and red grapes on large, square wooden plates, with a votive candle in a pretty terra cotta holder in the middle of the clusters. Plain glass candle holders with cream colored votives were scattered around each centerpiece, and we put a few printed menu cards on easels on each table. The tables looked "casually elegant." But the best part was - not only did the guests enjoy looking at the centerpieces they also got to eat them!

Next time you're decorating for a dinner party, use grapes. They make great centerpieces!

Note: Wash and dry the grapes thoroughly before arranging them on the dining tables or buffet. Use seedless grapes.