I Introduce: Centerpiece of the Month (COTM)
COTM: Centerpiece of the month. Lets be real: if you are a foodie, in the kitchen and attending the artistic side of culinary with great intent, there is a good chance you will spend a few moments creating some semblance of ambiance. In fact, even when I take photographs of food—which happens now almost daily—it is quite often that my camera moves to the right or veers to the left to take a photo of the vase full of flowers, a row of plated tea lights or piles of pears tilted ‘just so’ on a square, white plate.
Our passion is about food, but it extends itself to taking pause to enjoy life, to creating a space and ambiance of good-feelings, of reaching not just one or two, but as many of the five senses as possible. So when I cook, I drink a glass of wine and listen to some mood-setting music. I dim the lights and place a flame on top of the nearest candle. I smell the rosemary in my hand, after moving my fingers lovingly up the stem.
Many food magazines or television-made chefs will spend time on food, then make recommendations for ambiance: what music to play, how to create a fruit and nut or pine cone studded centerpiece, tips on setting an Asian or Italian theme—a Mexican table. Food bloggers are suspect: we don’t create all these amazing dishes day after day, without giving a thought to the mood our table inspires. And for me, it is not a daily affair, but week after week I put my mind to creating certain colors—adjusting the candles and wreathes and rocks and branches ‘just so.’ My table is the stage, and the centerpiece is in the spotlight. Herein is the platform where my fine food dishes and hand-crafted culinary monuments will be displayed, consumed and ultimately appreciated.
With a New Year comes resolutions, new goals and new ideas pushed into fruition. Puns intended, COTM is my blogs way of saying: lets generate a plethora of possibilities for mood-setting, table-gracing, stage-grabbing centerpieces. Not just from my singular humble mind, but from the minds and hearts of food bloggers all over. What is your best idea this month? How did you make your home more homey and give your table more presence? What was your inspiration?
Rules for January 2007 COTM:
1. Send entry to my email janelle@talkoftomatoes.com
(Subject title: COTM)
2. Include photo URL and blog post if applicable
(should be posted or photoed during Jan)
(If no blog post goes with photo, please include 1-2 sentence description of your COTM)
3. Include your name
4. Include your Blog URL/Title
5. Deadline noon January 31
Process for January 2007 COTM:
(sorry this COTM will be a little short due to the fact we are mid-January)
January COTM entries will be posted February 7.
February COTM can be entered starting February 1.
February COTM deadline is February 28.
February COTM entries will be posted March 7.
You get the idea…
Comments
I responded to you on my blog, but I don’t really do centerpieces because we have an informal table (cramped on space here). But I will DEFINITELY watch, for sure!
Jennifer: Yes, please watch! Oh to clarify b/c others have been asking—informal is great. Mood-makers and slices of decor can be a whole dining table or a lonely flower, a bowl of rocks or plumes of pussy willows: whatever little semblances of ambiance anyone uses to jazz up their abode, their table and their lives. Ideally, it is in the vicinity of the endeavors of food:).
Cheers!
I’ll definitely keep my eye on your blog!
I am so bad with keeping my table clear of stuff that should not be on it, because it’s in a dining room that my husband turned in his own personal computer workspace, lol! So a lot of papers end up on my table! ACK!
Jennifer: paper mache? Just kidding—it can be such a trick to keep spaces cleared! I totally get it!
What a wonderful idea! I’ll see what I can crank out
Janelle,
Thanks for your note. I think this month is just a tiny too short for me to participate. I have a line of things
but hopefully next month. In the meantime, I look forward to watching 
I love your pictures!! So pretty. I’m game. Mine might be eccentric. Or not. :):) We’ll just see what happens! :):)
Kristen: Awesome! I can’t wait to see what you send!
Bea: Yes “of the month” is such a tease when I don’t post the event until the 15th. Next month it officially begins on the first:). Hopefully we can still eek out some January table-top inspiration!
Sher: Eccentric… you have my attention peaked! Can’t wait!
[…] This a Centerpiece of the Month event, hosted by talkoftomatoes January 31, 200712:00 pmFor all those who cater to both they eye and the belly - “Talk of Tomatoes” has the perfect event: For food bloggers that create and/or just photo ambiance creating table-toppers to set the stage for their parade of food forays. It may be a single flower or a pile of rocks in a jar, could be a row of candles, bowl of lemons or floating flower petals. Maybe pumpkins and pine cones… food bloggers and food lovers alike love to set a tone in their kitchen—at their table. So what clever centerpiece did you assemble? What colors are your current vogue? What great ideas and photos might you share? […]
janelle! what a GREAT idea!!!! thanks for sharing. count me in! laura
I’m up late, I followed you here and I love your blog! What a great idea and a fun photography project each month. I’ll have to see what I can come up with and hopefully participate this month.
Laura: Thanks, so glad that people are hearing about it! Can’t wait to see your photo!
Joy T: following each other around the world wide web… I like it! Can’t wait to see your centerpiece!
Fun idea…I guess christmas things no longer count in January. I’d better get busy.
I am really simple this month…next month I may work in feathers and more flames!
[…] One of the food blogging events that I’m just becoming aware of is the Centerpiece of the Month event, hosted by Janelle of talkoftomatoes.com. […]
I found your link on A Spot of T. I love this idea. I never know what to do for a centrepiece - I look forward to seeing results.
I love this idea….will be thinking for this month…..thanks
Sandi: Yes, I have this really cool photo of a red/white/green candle. Resist! Think Valentines:).
Debbie: Hats of to Spot of T! Hopefully the centerpiece event will become a pile of great ideas for everyone!
Doodles: February promises to be a great table-top month! Do join!