The holiday season is around the corner and we want to help simplify yours with what we hope will be inspirational ideas for entertaining and gift giving so you can focus on what really matters; time with family and friends. We’ll be sharing ideas and offering tips that we learned while collaborating with our talented food stylist and one of our favorite designers.

A Tale of Two Tables

In both cases, to emphasize the harvest theme and our dinnerware collections, we chose to incorporate some of the fresh, beautiful bounty of the season by integrating natural textures and simple fragrance. By sourcing our local nurseries and produce stands, we found a variety of seasonal  colors and shapes to complement the table, dinnerware, and of course, to provide a delicious meal. 

TABLE #1

 
Our more casual table features our Lungotevere, Taormina, and Laccata Puro collections which already have the warm fall tones of butterscotch, rust, and fall foliage, so we complemented our table with white pumpkins over the more traditional orange. The addition of a more neutral palette allows the food and dinnerware to take center stage.

We love the movement of the trees and leaves that our talented painters have captured inspired by the Lungotevere which is the waterfront along the Tiber River that winds through Rome flanked with beautiful trees that show their spectacular colors in the fall.

The addition of eucalyptus provides a lovely aromatic (be sure to trim up the stems) and is visually appealing, and the dahlias add the perfect amount of texture and pop of color. A little tip I learned was to use odd numbers and not be too regimented about placement. As the table fills with food and serving pieces, this approach is more relaxed and natural.

TABLE #2

Our more formal setting features our classic originals Frutta Laccata, Sogno Toscano, and Terre di Chianti (Fruits, Tuscan Dream, and Land of the wine) which are mixed with our solids Taormina in rust and Laccata Puro in butterscotch. The perfect iconic Italian combination.

Italian fruits and vegetables are the foundation for flavor in the country's cuisine, from figs to lemons to tomatoes. Let’s not overlook the wonderful grapes and olives as well! The ability of Italy's chefs to make wonderful use of the country's abundant harvest is a major reason Italian cuisine is so coveted. The backdrops of Tuscany mirror our Sogno Toscano where each piece provides a painting of the Tuscan landscape that evokes the sunsets that have captured imaginations for generations.

This tablescape is presented on the traditional Italian long table which exudes celebration and warmth and yet the full setting of glasses, chargers, and flatware along with a stunning floral centerpiece lend a more formal feel. Notice the simple greens, lemons and artichokes as the runner for the table which is affordable, simple and could be enough on its own with votives as shown or with an additions of some smaller floral touches as well.

For me, the lessons I learned were to focus on quality not quantity, simple is always better, don’t be afraid to mix and match, and relax and enjoy the process as it evolves.

For more, please enjoy our post about Place Settings.

Focusing in on the specific place setting for your guests, each table offers something unique. Both options have the same ending feel that is the Italian way. Family gathering for a wonderful meal with love and laughter. Embrace La Grande Vita this season!

As October arrives, most of us begin thinking about the fast approaching holidays. It’s the time of year when we look forward to sharing our precious time with family and friends, and enjoying the traditions and festivities of the season.
Additionally, it’s a time of year where many of us want to extend our generosity beyond traditional gifts through the giving of our time and money to those causes that have special meaning to us, for whatever reasons.

For us, October carries a great importance because it’s Rett syndrome awareness month.

What’s the significance to us? Because, it was just 23 years ago when our family first met a wonderful young lady named Bea. Ever since that introduction, she’s been a blessing in our lives along with her parents, grandparents, and sister.

If you’re not familiar with Rett syndrome, it’s a rare non-inherited genetic postnatal neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls and begins to show its effects in infancy or early childhood. It can often be misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy, because it causes problems in brain function that are responsible for cognitive, sensory, emotional, motor, and autonomic function. These can then impact learning, speech, sensory sensations, mood, movement, breathing, cardiac function, and even chewing, swallowing, and digestion.

As one can imagine, Rett syndrome can present numerous challenges to those living with the disease, as well as those caring for them. But with therapy, assistance, and endless amounts of unconditional love, every single one of them can benefit greatly by participating in typical life activities like school, social, educational, and recreational programs. Even our Bea was able to attend her first prom like any other young girl her age.

Years ago we made the decision to do something to not only help raise awareness about Rett syndrome, but to raise funds for the incredible research underway.
 We continue each year to give 10% of all of our sales for a week in October to benefit Rett Syndrome research for years to come.

While we know our contribution is a very small one, we like to think that we’ve been a part of helping further research, and ultimately finding a cure for Rett syndrome.

The amazing news is that researchers have been making wonderful strides over the past several years. Their research strategy has yielded unprecedented results. If you’d like to learn more, visit www.rettsyndrome.org for ways you can support this important cause.

We are incredibly grateful to all of you for your continued support. Thank you on behalf of all of us, and most importantly, our lovely Bea and her family.

“And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.” 
― Percy Bysshe Shelley

Spring is almost here and the promise of renewal, new growth, and a fresh perspective blissfully come with it. There’s joy in the softness of the warmer weather and sweet smell of the air. Trees are erupting with young growth and flowers break through the hardened ground of winter. You can almost hear the song of birds in musical harmony.  

The season of change gives us the opportunity for something fresh. Our Primavera collection is just that. It’s classic spring in a symphony of soft pastels and playful patterns. This handmade Italian dinnerware is the perfect guest at your spring table.

In the beautiful setting above, we’ve complemented our Primavera pieces with several of our soft and sophisticated accessories. We love the idea of layering to bring both depth and drama to a setting, and even with a serene and muted palate it works.

The addition of texture with Biancheria linens balances the subtle tone of the table. We’ve chosen a neutral selection in ivory and pale beiges so the dinnerware doesn’t contrast too harshly. This allows us to top it off with a pop of natural color in the yellow Paperwhite Narcissus planted in our Intrecci Cachepots. These handmade ceramics are woven to mimic traditional baskets, perfect for spring.

With the new season comes the promise of fresh fruits and vegetables. We enjoy serving up colorful carrots straight from the garden. Below we offer a quick and easy way to prepare the bounty of your own garden, or what you might pick from the local farmer’s market. Get your veggie on and get dinner cooking.

RECIPES



Roasted Spring Carrots

In this photo, we’ve used a mix of thinner carrots in a variety of colors. Feel free to use what you have access to. So if simple orange carrots from the grocery store are all you have, that works perfectly.

• 8-10 carrots (feel free to use more based on number of servings needed)
• 2-3 tablespoons of good virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of coarse kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• Fresh dill sprigs

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. If your carrots are on the thinner side, you can keep them whole or cut them down the middle. If you’re using thicker carrots, you can quarter them into long strips. Note that carrots shrink when you cook them, so ensure they aren’t too thin or you may overcook them.

Lay the carrots across a cookie sheet and cover with the olive oil. Add the salt and pepper and then use your hands to toss ensuring full coverage. After you toss them, lay the carrots across the sheet in a single layer.

Cook for 15-20 minutes, depending on the texture you like -- testing for softness or the level of al dente you prefer. You should see the carrots slightly caramelizing, which enhances the sweetness of the dish.

Plate the carrots on our Primavera Oval Platter and sprinkle with a little chopped dill or dill sprigs and serve.

Smoked Salmon with Capers

This isn’t a recipe as much as a set of instructions. If you’ve ever had a wonderful smoked salmon appetizer at a restaurant but weren’t sure how to serve it at home, it’s incredibly easy. Smoked salmon brings decadence to any Sunday brunch or spring dinner.

• 1 package smoked salmon
• Capers, drained
• 1 small red onion, sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• A few radishes, thinly sliced

If you’ve never purchased smoked salmon before, ask your local market for help in deciding what’s best. You can get great quality options of Scottish, Pacific, and Nova Scotia versions at most grocery stores.  Depending on how many people you’re entertaining, you may need to purchase two packages. What you’re looking for is a clean, silky, buttery taste.

Tear the salmon slices into 2-3 inch pieces and lay out on a nice platter. Sprinkle the salmon with capers, as many as you like, sliced red onions, radishes, and lemon.  

Serve your salmon platter with your best crusty loaf of bread and watch it disappear.

Looking to accent your table? 

Flatware can add a bold pop of color or compliment a neutral place setting. All Modigliani flatware collections pull inspiration directly from places all around Italy. From traditional elegance to bright and bold, Modigliani stainless flatware features styles everyone will love. Get inspired!

Learn the stories and the rich history behind each of our collections!