The Foodie Tablescape

Good cooking is all it takes for Filipinos to appreciate good food. A fresh banana leaf for a table and plates, and servings of lechon, adobo, menudo or any other ulam, plus generous servings of steaming rice already makes for a meal one can sit on comfortably. A place to sit down, maybe raise a foot on a seat for support, and good company – and that is what you need for starters.

As your tastes become more elaborate, the tablescapes gradually change. As the meal or celebration becomes more specific, ingredients are added, colors lift the mood, candles and lighting add dimensions that add more than flavor to your palate. The dining experience can be as simple or as complex as it can be.

The Basic Elements of Tablescapes

Some people think of tablescapes as harmony, and it is true. Colors should not clash, centerpieces should enhance and not deter the celebration, and so on and so forth. Other people prefer to imagine tablescape levels, where each level from the tabletop is an added experience to the participant, But all in all, the elements one cannot do without are simple. A plate, a spoon and a fork, or at least, utensils. These are the basic elements, but after that, anything goes, whether it is for harmony or by the level.

There are rules for setting the utensils, but these can be broken. A flower arrangement can be as high as one pleases, as long as the intent is clear, such as in wedding tablescapes. Round or square tables also contribute to the arrangement – a circular arrangement will be hard put to blend well with edges. A candle may be perfect for most occasions, but bright lighting can reduce the most exquisite candlestick to table clutter. Even the manner of folding napkins is part of the dining experience. It is all a matter of taste and intent.

The Mango Farm Tables

The Mango Farm is an outdoor reception venue located in Antipolo, around 30 minutes from the borders of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. In an all natural landscape, the 250 odd mango trees, already decades old, grace the venue, though for indoor occasions, the Glass Pavilion inside the walls of the farm does not lack in ant way in terms of ambiance.

Mango Farm tablescapes that emphasize harmony are enhanced further in this setting. Take a look at vatelmanila.com for more examples– or even the official blog of The Mango Farm. The Sunken Garden of the Mango Farm adds depth to the venue, very much the same way the levels on the table add a richness to the dining experience. Imagine the Mango Farm as one huge tablescape, and your table reflecting the selfsame image.

Your Dining Pleasure

But whether it is a simple banana leaf on a grassy knoll in the Sunken Garden or fine dining at the Mango Farm Pavilion, the whole point of the enterprise is good food, good company, and a cause for celebration. That is all you really need. Anything else is an added bonus, though sometimes, that is what it takes to surprise you.