by Helen Kain | Nov 19, 2025 | Antique china, Fall Tablescapes, Recent, Thanksgiving, Vintage glassware
It’s late-November. Just a month from the shortest day of the year, and outside, the final fall clean-up has begun. The Japanese Maple has shed its brilliant red foliage; the oaks are the last to surrender their leaves. Canadian Thanksgiving is long past, American...
by Helen Kain | Nov 19, 2025 | Makers Behind the Magic
In the heart of British pottery lies a story of artistry, craft and quiet transformation. For over two centuries, Royal Doulton has married functional utility with high-style design, shaping not just tableware but culture itself. From the salt-glazed stoneware of...
by Helen Kain | Nov 5, 2025 | Books, Recent
When I began photographing my first book, Entertablement—The Four Seasons, I had no idea it would lead to a second, Entertablement—Much Depends on Dinner, and now, a third volume, Entertablement—Twelve Months at the Table. Each book has reflected an exploration of the...
by Helen Kain | Nov 5, 2025 | Antiques, Fall Tablescapes, Green, Pink and Red, Recent, White
Every November, the poppy reminds us to pause and reflect — a small but powerful emblem of remembrance. This year, I’m marking Remembrance Day through art and tableware. The square poppy plate shown below is one of a set of twelve Royal Doulton Arts...
by Helen Kain | Oct 29, 2025 | Cakes, Desserts, Fall Recipes, Recent
Pears are one of autumn’s loveliest fruits, but they can be tricky customers when it comes to baking. Beneath that silken skin lies a great deal of moisture — wonderful for eating out of hand, but a challenge when folded into batters or layered beneath cake. Left...
by Helen Kain | Oct 29, 2025 | Afternoon Tea, Fall Tablescapes, Recent
It’s getting rather late in the autumn season, but let’s sneak in one more table, and better still, a tea table. Really, autumn is the perfect time for tea, especially when built around the season’s most graceful fruit: the pear. Their honeyed sweetness...
by Helen Kain | Oct 23, 2025 | Fall Tablescapes, Halloween, Recent
Some holiday traditions are stitched right into our childhood memories, and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is undeniably one of them. Decades later, Charles M. Schulz’s beloved characters still charm us with their wide-eyed sincerity, dry humour, and...
by Helen Kain | Sep 28, 2025 | Amber, Green, Recent, Terracotta, White, Yellow
There’s just something about owls, isn’t there? Wise, a bit mysterious, and oh-so-stylish when adorning a pasta bowl. This table was pure autumn whimsy—a little farmhouse, a little forest fantasy, and a whole lot of golden sunflowers to top it off. Let’s start with...
by Helen Kain | Sep 28, 2025 | Fall Recipes, Mains, Pasta & Rice, Poultry, Winter Recipes
As the air turns crisp and the trees begin their colourful transformation, meals take on a more grounded, generous character. This hearty pasta gathers the dusky sweetness of roasted squash, the gentle anise of fennel, and the savoury richness of duck confit....
by Helen Kain | Aug 10, 2025 | Mains, Pasta & Rice, Recent, Summer Recipes
Late summer brings an abundance of squash in varying hues — sunshine yellow, soft chartreuse, and deep forest green. This pasta celebrates their fleeting prime, marrying buttery ribbons of squash with the peppery perfume of fresh basil and a whisper of lemon. It’s...
by Helen Kain | Aug 10, 2025 | Green, Recent, Summer Tablescapes, Yellow
Suddenly – it’s August, along with its oppressive heat. On the plus side, though, is the bounty of produce providing endless scope for fresh vegetable medleys, grain salads, and warm and chilled pasta. Easy to prepare in advance, such dishes hold...
by Helen Kain | Jul 10, 2025 | Makers Behind the Magic
A Tapestry of Two Worlds Let’s begin far from the world of candlelit dinners and spring brunches. Picture this: it’s 1925, and a young Persian man named Rafi Y. Mottahedeh has just arrived in New York City with little more than a suitcase and a dream. He’d grown...
by Helen Kain | Jul 10, 2025 | Blue, Brown, Pink and Red, Recent, Summer Tablescapes
As summer reaches full bloom we are turning to the timeless charm of Mottahedeh’s Cobalt Blossom, a delightful design evoking handwoven wicker and bright botanicals. Like many Mottahedeh designs, Cobalt Blossom draws inspiration from historical...
by Helen Kain | Jul 2, 2025 | Blue, Cobalt, Pink and Red, Recent, Summer Tablescapes
Who says grown-up table settings can’t be fun? This week’s table brings a bit of childhood joy to the summer patio with a bicycle-themed tablescape inspired by long sunny days and lazy afternoon rides. The starting point for the table was the wicker...
by Helen Kain | Jul 2, 2025 | Mains, Recent, Salads, Summer Recipes
Grain salads are the unsung heroes of summer dining. They’re hearty enough to stand on their own, play well with grilled mains, and can be made well ahead of time—improving in flavour as they rest. Ideal for picnics, potlucks, and easy weekday lunches, they’re a...
