A Tropical Sunset Supper

Tropical prints and lush botanicals are very much on trend at present, but rather than sticking to the odd decorative touch, I went all out with this colourful sunset supper. Now all we need is the weather to match!

Bookmark this playful tablescape for the next sunny weekend – whether you dine indoors or in the garden, it will get everyone into the party spirit. I took inspiration from the saturated colours of the jungle: hot pinks, delicious orange hues, vivid yellows and refreshing greens. Patterned cushion covers were fashioned into an informal table runner, and fresh tropical fruit and flowers were made into centrepieces. This is not an occasion for white linens and clear glassware! Colour, colour everywhere! Read on for more ideas, and scroll to the bottom for shopping tips.

London Shopping: Handmade Ice-Cream at Ruby Violet.

This week we visited Ruby Violet to celebrate the sunny weather in London! The forecast for this weekend is looking fabulous, so take a trip to Tufnell Park for some ice cream and ambience, then stroll over to Hampstead Heath to make the most of the sunshine!

Ruby Violet is a gem of an ice-cream and sorbet emporium on North London’s Fortess Road: It is small, glittering and appropriately jewel-toned. Apart from luscious and unusual flavours of handmade ice cream on an ever-changing menu (including Lavender or Horseradish or Liquorice), you’ll find a beautiful vintage-inspired interior with endlessly charming decorative touches. We left with four tubs of ice-cream and smiles on our faces.

Easter Tea Time: Florals, Neon, Chocolate & Geometrics!

This year in the UK, Easter Sunday falls on the day that clocks go forward, so it’s a sign that spring is truly here! To celebrate, we ditched the traditional pastel palette and opted for vibrant and zingy hues – perfect for the season where nature springs back to life.

This Tablescape makes a bold statement. I layered patterns on patterns, clashing delicate spring florals with sharp geometric prints. I mixed materials, from china and glassware to plastic egg cups and melamine plates. Of course, it wouldn’t be Easter without chocolate bunnies and decorated eggs, and it wouldn’t be a tea party without pretty china and home-baked treats, so there’s plenty of those too. Above all, however, it’s a glorious celebration of colour. In fact, when my husband walked in, he did a double-take and dead-panned ‘… I think that table needs some colour!’

Brunches & Blood Oranges

Today’s post is a sunset-hued citrus extravaganza. Blood orange season is short, so I love to make the most of it. This time it’s with a beautiful blood orange brunch.

Fresh blood oranges are sweeter than standard oranges and, of course, they have a gorgeously dappled ruby colour. Whatever you can do with an orange, you can do with their crimson cousins, but with an added dash of colour and aroma. For brunch, I made a fruit-studded yoghurt platter served alongside freshly squeezed juice. For something a little heartier, I made Blood Orange Marmalade and syrup to serve on toast or pancakes – just wait until you see the deep red colour!

A Cozy Winter Picnic Lunch

Ah, January. The weather is miserable and we’re all aching for warmth and comfort. Enter the Indoor Picnic Table Lunch Party to lift our spirits!

To transform your dining area into an incredibly cozy nook, all you need is… a picnic rug used as a tablecloth! Lay it on the table and, all of sudden, you’ll have visions of warm summer picnics dancing in your head. With the addition of a few steaming dishes you’ll be all set until Springtime! This is what I served up earlier this week, for a casual lunch in the office. Read on for my favourite warming recipes and simple styling tips.

Jenni’s Table x Roger la Borde: A Christmas Lunch Party

For this blog post, you’ll be joining the Roger la Borde team for our annual Christmas lunch! It’s great fun when my day-to-day life as Creative Director of Roger la Borde overlaps with what we do here on Jenni’s Table.

While many of our posts feature decorating ideas and vignettes we’ve styled up for you, this post features a real party in action, complete with table decorations, food and drinks…and friends! For our party of 15, I kept things simple and colourful. With a magenta table runner as a backdrop, I added clusters of pink and white flowerheads and sprigs of festive red berries. Lots of tall candles and brightly coloured glassware made the table feel rich and warm, while a handful of sparkling Christmas tree ornaments sealed the deal.

Porridge, Chia & co: An Autumnal Breakfast Party.

Autumn has been creeping up on us for a while now, but it’s not all drizzle and gloom! It’s finally porridge weather!

The days are darker and the evenings chillier, and I’m sure I’m not the only one reaching for cozy food to counteract the cold. But why stop at a quick breakfast on a weekday morning? Why not throw a Weekend Breakfast Party, and invite friends over for a colourful, creamy, crunchy, fruity feast?  With a helping hand from cheerful tableware, it’s a sure-fire way to inject joy into these grey-skied days.

 

Swiss Cottage Farmers’ Market: Juices, Jams, Cakes & Kale.

 As much as I love styling my table for dinners and parties, Jenni’s Table would be rather sad without wonderful fresh foodieness accompanying the displays. The last few posts have centred around fresh produce and where to stock up on it. Today we’re exploring Swiss Cottage Farmers’ Market.

For those of you who don’t frequent North West London, Swiss Cottage is just a few stops north of Baker Street – you don’t need to venture very far to get these goodies. In fact, you barely have to poke your head out of the station before you stumble upon the Farmers’ Market and the 15 or so stalls selling fruit, vegetables, fish, eggs, baked goods, ice cream, cheeses, meats and more. 

Humpday Happiness: Porridge!

Creamy, nutty, fruity porridge for breakfast, as spotted on Instagram. White flesh nectarines, dried mulberries, goji berries, chia seeds and of course…golden syrup!

Humpday Happiness is a weekly feature on Jenni’s Table. Think of it as a little Wednesday treat to help you through your week!

Onions & Damsons: Getting into a (Delicious) Jam at the Allotment.

Last week we went on a little adventure to Gladstone Park Gardens Allotments on a cloudy summer day. Well, I say ‘adventure’ but it was only a 10 minute drive from the heart of Hampstead.

My sister is lucky enough to have a patch in this inner-city oasis, and I joined her early one morning to harvest beans, onions and damsons…as well as to soak in all the green-thumbed gorgeousness that abounds. After a morning of ogling flowers, fruits and vegetables (and butterflies, bumblebees and birds) my eyes and spirit felt refreshed! I hope these photos have the same effect on you.

We returned home carrying bags full of produce, and got to work making jars of jam from our damsons and onions. Of course, you don’t need to grow vegetables yourself in order to make jam, and you don’t need specialty ingredients either. Scroll down for simple recipes to make your own homemade preserves. But first, let’s explore the allotment.