The time for the giveaway for Entertablement—Much Depends on Dinner, has arrived!
To celebrate the launch of the book and to say a most sincere thank you to my loyal readers, I’m giving away three copies of the hardcover or Kindle version of the book—reader’s choice.
If you’d like to get more detail on what Much Depends on Dinner is about, check out the Entertablement Books website. There are detailed chapter descriptions, and my partner in website and book creation, Mary Plumstead of Creative Sidekicks, has been busy creating a flipbook that takes you inside both books. So much fun!
For a chance to win, please leave a comment on this blog post, telling me what you’d like to see more of from the blog. Recipes? Tablesettings? Travel posts? I’m also curious about themed posts, such as the Robert Burns Scotch Tasting Dinner or the Cat Themed Tea.
Subscribers/followers automatically get a second entry. Subscribe by email or follow on Pinterest or Instagram and let me know you’ve done so by commenting in the comments section.
A winner will be chosen on August 20th. This giveaway is open worldwide and is administered by me.
Thanks again to all my readers for all their support and encouragement. Good luck with the giveaway!
UPDATE August 20, 2021: Congratulations to our winners: Joy, Page Cooper and Rachel Vogt. This contest is now closed.
Dear Helen,
Well don’t you know I would comment! Please, more gorgeous table settings. No one in blog world has the beautiful pieces and the eye you have. Even for me–the ever peripatetic–your travel threads occasionally introduce me to places I haven’t seen, or they evoke memories. Recipes are nice, but one can find them in other places…but not your tables or your backgrounds. We live in the same world…
I would have been very disappointed if you hadn’t commented, Beatrice! And your comments were very helpful. I’m more than eager to get going on travel again—in actual and virtual forms. I was reviewing my cache of unprocessed photos yesterday and began sorting the ones for Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire. So far, our October trip is still on the books. Fingers crossed…
Helen, I’m so excited about your new book! Congratulations! Thank you for all the time and research you have spent putting together this beautiful creation. I would love to be one of the lucky ones to win your book. I especially love your tablesettings. You use the most interesting plates, many that I have not seen before. So creative the way you pull everything together from the glasses, napkins, napkin rings, salt and peppers, flowers or center piece, and tablecloth. Well, you can see that I love it all. You’ve been collecting for years and it’s so much fun to see how you put it all together. You have a very creative spirit!
Thanks, Lynn! It’s such fun to try different combinations and settings. I can’t tell you how often I’ve scoped out a table on Evernote, only to find that major revisions are needed when I go to set it in reality—the salad plate is too big for the dinner plate, the shade of yellow is off, those napkins are too busy… But that’s half the fun! Back to the drawing board (or cupboard)! Once I’ve done the centrepiece, though, that stays in place. Everything else gets juggled around it.
Lucky us! Another gorgeous book! I have already put in a request with my public library to purchase it for their permanent collection. Your design style never fails to thrill. I love the tables and themed menus, and Dundee to the nth degree. Subscriber and follower, thanks for the opportunity.
That’s so lovely that you requested the library purchase the book. Great idea! Thanks for the feedback on what you’d like to see more of. Dundee is puffing himself up as we speak. (I told you, Mum. It’s ME they want to see…)
I would love more recipe ideas for a vegetarian main course.
Hi Christi,
Thanks for that suggestion. I have a few in mind for this fall. And I don’t know if you saw the recipe for Mushroom and Celeriac Lasagne in Entertablement—The Four Seasons? I’m thinking it might be a good one to have on the site, as well as in the book.
Oh, the book looks fabulous!! Looked at what I could, Can’t wait to see the rest. I am crazy about dishes and table settings. My husband never knows what dish his meal will be served on. Such an inspiration.
Thanks, Ruthie. Glenn usually has some idea of what’s coming, food-wise, as he does the grocery shopping (thank goodness). And he’s very patient when I do the seasonal overhaul of the kitchen cupboards to change out the plates and glasses. He often helps me put everything away, too, if I’ve set the table for photography. Lucky us!
Dear Ms. Kain,
Many Congratulations on your newest book! Again your photography of beautiful tablescapes as well as food is wonderful! Your baking is art!
How quickly this book came together after Entertablement-The Four Seasons. You have definitely mastered the process to produce another beautiful book!
Second, only to your beautiful tablescapes, I really enjoy the travel portion of your blog, especially the castles and churches. Perhaps we can persuade you to begin thoughts on Book #3. A combination travelogue and themed dinners….
Entertablement Abroad?
Again…Congratulations and Best Wishes!
Kathi, it’s funny you should mention the combination of travel and themed dinners. I had a niggling idea about that a couple of years ago after visiting Chantilly in France, in which there was a room where the walls were covered in fantastic monkey drawings. I began plotting a table along the same lines… Hmmm… 🙂
I’m deep in the throes of learning Adobe InDesign now, having pushed the limits of Lightroom’s Book module to the “nth” degree. I have a little project going for a mini Autumn-themed publication to try it out. Stay tuned!
Hello Helen! I am loving the blog pictures and IG posts of your new book. I immediately downloaded a sample from Amazon and read until I could t anymore, then added it to my Christmas list.
I’d love to see you do a whole post on a dinner party meal (ex. Outdoor small fall get together) and how to serve each course. The tablescapes you make are beautiful but I get caught up in the logistics of things. Do you have the table set like your pics when guests arrive then pull off salad plates before serving? Do you pull dinner plate away after salad course? If so, is that gross that you’d possibly be putting a dinner plate that’s already been in front of one person then in front of another person? I need help!
Hey Page!
That’s a splendid idea on the logistics aspect. Thank you. You’re clearly a person after my own heart! (you should see the editorial calendar spreadsheet I keep going for cooking, to say nothing of all the Evernote combinations for future tables…) LOL.
To answer your specific question on an outdoor small get together (and not make you wait for the post – hehe) I set the table fully so I can take pictures before guests arrive. Guests will be milling around in the back yard, having drinks and appetizers, so I leave the table intact until just before I start serving. If I’m plating the salad, I take the salad plates to the kitchen and fill them while Glenn fills the water glasses, gets everyone settled at the table with their wine, etc. If we’re serving family-style, I bring out the serving bowl and let everyone help themselves.
Then onto the main course. If I’m serving guests, once the salad course has been consumed, I remove both the dinner and salad plates to the kitchen, leaving the charger in place. I pop the salad plates into the dishwasher if they can go in. If they’re hand wash, I stack them to one side after rinsing them off. Then I give the dinner plates a quick wipe with a clean dishcloth and plate them with the main course. If we’re serving family-style, I return the dinner plates to the table and bring out the platters.
If it’s a very casual meal for the family, I’ll just remove the salad plates and bring out the serving platters for the main meal. The kids can deal with spillage on their dinner plate—a good incentive to be tidier. 🙂
For multi-course, more formal meals with courses of soup, salad, sorbet, etc. the dinner or cabinet plate might stay in place longer to receive the additional courses. When something gets spilt, a subtle wipe off with a clean cloth or even a quick removal and return of the plate is in order. Nothing overt to make the guest feel uncomfortable, but you don’t want them sitting in front of a dirty plate, either. Quiet, matter of fact, and quick clean up.
Helen,
Thank you for the opportunity to win this fabulous book! I enjoy all aspects of your blog. I especially would enjoy seeing some theme dinners and tablescapes. I do a lot of theme dinners for my family and grandchildren. Sometimes, a book is my inspiration.
I appreciate all your efforts for the blog and books.
You are most welcome, Katherine.
Thanks so much for your response; I like your idea of using a book for inspiration—lots of scope there!
It looks like a wonderful book!
Thanks, Lynn!
I would love to see more on etiquette and recipes too! Your book is wonderful!
Researching etiquette was one of the most fun parts of writing the book.
Love creative tablescapes, especially the ones that don’t look like you’re having the Queen for dinner. Unless its part of a themed party. Personally not interested in recipes as I usually stick to my old tried and trues, nor travel, as I prefer the All American, localized approach to most things. I want to welcome guests to my home and make them feel comfortable, not impress them.
Hi Sue,
Special occasion “Queen for Dinner” meals are fun once in a while, but more down-to-earth tablescapes are more frequently in demand, no? Like you, I prefer people feel comfortable and welcome, not awe-struck.
Thanks for weighing in.
Your new book is gorgeous . Myself, I love table settings and themed dinners. I lose myself in seeing photos of beautiful table settings and themed dinners. When I was younger, I loved doing themed dinners such as: Cobalt Blue – Everything was cobalt blue with hits of silver and white. Mexican – The decor had sombreros, serapes as table cloths, chilli pepper lights, even piñatas. This is just a couple of themed dinners. I found them so much fun to plan. Looking for the right accessories to delight guests.
Thanks so much, Rachelle,
Hunting for accessories is one of my favourite pastimes. Often it’s the accessory that sets off the whole train of thought on the table. So many of my dinner plates, chargers, cutlery and glasses are repeat items; it’s the fun accessories that make the table special.
Tablescapes and recipes
Thank you!
your Tablescapes and recipes are a perfect combination. Keep up the beautiful work
Thanks, Brenda! I find the inspiration goes both ways – a recipe to a tablescape and the reverse. 🙂
I have followed you on Instagram and look forward to your future posts.
Thank you!
Helen,
Congratulations on your newest book! You certainly used your pandemic quarantine time in a most productive way!
I want more of it ALL! I love your table settings, of course, being a dishaholic tablescaper myself, and I also love it when you use vintage or even fine antique pieces of china. And I love the travel–I see you are still going in October, but ALL of our 2021 trips have been cancelled, some for the second time, and now we are looking forward to early spring to Europe and Russia (!)–keeping fingers crossed. Your cathedral series of blog posts was excellent and brought back many happy travel memories, and maybe you can add a little bit of Canada and the Cape? Of course we can’t forget the Cat and his antics with the Dogs. China storage is always helpful and it is so much fun to go snooping around your storage photos, looking for my next hunt objective!
So, yes, more of all of it!
Linda
I joke that the books probably prevented homicide. 🙂
Fingers crossed for your 2022 trips to Europe and Russia. We have a Baltic cruise planned for June… Here’s hoping the world is in much better shape by then.
I’m planning to track down my final eight Anglican Cathedrals in Britain in the next couple of years. The trouble is they’re far-flung – from Truro down in Cornwall to Newcastle in Northumberland. Strategic travel is clearly on the cards.
Thanks for all your suggestions and encouragement. It’s wonderful to hear from another dishaholic blogger!
p.s. And I follow you on Instagram on subscribe!
Thanks!
Hello Helen!
Tablescapes, please!!!
I especially enjoy your themed dinners & tablescapes, such as the Downton Abbey and Robert Burns ones that you’ve created. I love seeing your Venetian stemware and your sets of exquisite china.
Even though we haven’t been able to entertain like we used to,
I still enjoy setting a beautiful table. My six year old grandson has renamed my dining room “Fancys”!
I saved your cake recipe that you recently posted on IG, and plan to bake it for my daughters birthday. Although I’m not sure about my cake decorating skills…
Thank you for the tablescape inspiration, and congratulations on your latest book!
Thanks so much, Julie!
I’m getting a clear message that more tablescapes are desired. As you say, even though it’s been difficult to entertain, many of us are enjoying setting pretty tables. Perhaps it’s a much-needed creative outlet in troubling times…
Good luck with the cake. My decorating skills were zilch a couple of years ago when I begged my daughter Lauren to come and decorate some cupcakes for a wedding. The main thing is just to grasp the nettle, so to speak. Courage! It’s far easier than you think, once you get going. In fact, I filled small piping bags for the granddaughters to decorate Christmas cookies last year, and both Lauren and I were surprised at how quickly they caught on. I’m sure your cake will be wonderful.
Good morning!
I have decided to ask my family for your book for Christmas! I love your recipes. Your results are beautiful and I have actually tried a few but your stunning tablescapes truly make me happy! I loved your themed dinners and I have had themed dinner parties as well (big Outlander fans in my circle)! I really enjoy reading all of your history and your travel experiences. Your traveling helped to encourage me to go to Scotland two years ago and it was amazing!
When I started buying dishes and theming my table my husband thought I was crazy! Now my mother, sisters and friends have started and it makes us all feel great making our tables inviting to share. My husband is totally on board now too, lol!
I know I don’t comment often, I am not on Facebook or anything but know that I am always looking and enjoying your wonderful talent!
Sincerely,
Tracy
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for your very thoughtful comment. It does my heart good to hear about the joy that you, your family and friends experience while setting different and themed tables. As you know, it’s a wonderful creative outlet, and a fun way to lighten the task of getting dinner on the table.
Big Outlander fan here, too. Eagerly awaiting the next book, but it seems to be taking a long time…
Good luck in the giveaway. Ends tomorrow 🙂
Very interested in this book. Love dishes, setting the table-have more dishes than I know what to do with but can’t stop “saving” more. My husband never knows which set he will be served on. Thank you for entering me. Also followed on Instagram and pInterest.
I’m the repository for people who want to downsize their dishes (or pass on unwanted inheritances), too. Lucky us! 🙂
My favorite thing to see on your blog is your beautiful table settings. I’m always happy to see more of those. Congratulations on your lovely book!
Thanks, Joy! Great feedback.
I already subscribe to your blog and am heading to Pinterest now to follow you!