THE LATEST FROM FRAN BERGER
Table Top
The Ultimate Guide to White Wine Glasses
When it comes to wine, using the right glass is an important detail in crafting the best tasting experience, as well as aesthetically elevating your tablescape for any occasion. That said, white wine glasses come in all shapes and sizes,...
Read MoreDifference Between White And Red Wine Glasses
Wine glasses come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s so much more to choosing a glass shape than aesthetics alone. Each glass is specifically designed to highlight the best characteristics of your wine of choice, enhancing the overall...
Read MoreChampagne Glasses Types: Different Champagne Glasses to Choose
Champagne, the name derived from its breathtaking site of origin, is an elegant, sparkling wine made primarily from the grapes of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. There are 15 different types of Champagne, ranging from the driest Brut Nature...
Read MoreFlower Market or Farmer’s Market?
The best places to get the freshest flowers for your home. I love how fresh flowers look in my home. I have some in my foyer, some on my breakfast table and usually a few stems in the powder room...
Read MoreHow Many Plates do I Really Need?
4 is not a number no matter how many chairs are in your dining room! My kitchen table seats only 3 and my dining room table has only 6 chairs. So, how many plates do I really need? I need...
Read MoreDress up your table with just the right placemats!
For every meal you host, there’s a place setting that’s perfect to celebrate the event and mood. When I think about all the best dinners I’ve attended or planned, I found that the tiniest details made a huge difference. That’s...
Read MoreWhat your dinner party guests really care about!
At your next dinner party, try these ideas to keep a fun night really rolling. I can’t tell you how many different dinner parties I’ve attended. Maybe almost as many as I hosted? I’ve been invited to some that were...
Read MoreHow to dress your salad AND make sure it doesn’t wilt
A little “insider” trick that keeps your salad from wilting. The fact is, a slightly wilted salad isn’t bad for you. But, it looks terrible on the table and it certainly isn’t very appealing either. There’s nothing worse than a...
Read MoreConversation Starters: The wonder of Salt Cellars
“Above the Salt” Idea: Entertain guests like a pro with great salt cellars for your table. Do you know someone who can really throw a fabulous gathering no matter how large or small? I have to say I’ve been lucky...
Read MoreIn Search of the Perfect Coffee Mug
What are the qualities that sets one coffee mug apart from all the others? Ever notice how we collect coffee mugs? And we all have different reasons not just for accumulating them but also for keeping them. I have a...
Read MoreThe Essential 5: Must-Haves Knives for your Kitchen
Make your kitchen functional and safe with sharp knives that can get the job done! Maybe you’re thinking it’s time to get a nice block of knives for the kitchen. I couldn’t agree more. MOST kitchens need an upgrade. But...
Read MoreHome Entertaining Tip: Create a Great Cheese Board
Make it colorful and fun: alternatives for cheese boards, knives, serving bowls. I have a friend who grew up in England. One afternoon last spring, we sat out on her patio overlooking the valley with a light breeze blowing over...
Read MoreHome Entertaining in Style: The best way to build a collection of fine silver and crystal
The secret: estate sales, flea markets, thrift stores. And they’re fun! For some folks, having the perfect set of home entertaining “ware” is a matter of inheritance. If you are one of the lucky ones to have inherited crystal, china,...
Read MoreParty Etiquette: Which bread plate is mine?
This tip will save you from the embarrassment of grabbing the wrong bread plate (or wine glass) at a formal party. A friend of mine told me this story about one of the first formal parties he attended. It was...
Read More8 Must-Have Items for your Home Bar
Spare yourself the last-minute run-around – get these 8 handy home bar tools now. Next to food, drinks are a main hospitality ‘go-to’ especially if you plan to get serious with home entertaining. Of course, I’m talking specifically about...
Read MoreUpgrade your Coffee Table or Dining Room Table
Make a statement with cool accents and fabulous conversation starters. A lesson I learned from my mother: if it has dust on it, it’s been out too long. The lesson from that idea may not be what you immediately think....
Read MoreEntertaining at home with Magnums
How to use Magnums as a centerpiece for your dinner table. Entertaining at home presents a fun challenge for me because I’m always looking for a way to do something a bit more extraordinary than before. I find the small...
Read MoreGive your flowers a reason to SING!
Your Table Top: turn ordinary into extraordinary with unusual flower containers. Don’t you love to wander in a flower garden during full bloom? It’s such a peaceful experience, but it also draws you closer to nature. That’s why we cut...
Read MoreThe Right Way to Enjoy Al Fresco Dining
Dining outdoors – perfect for longer, warmer nights. Days are getting longer and the nights are warming up – a perfect combination to dine al fresco with friends or a significant other. It’s more than simply eating outside or just...
Read MoreServing Caviar for a Tasting?
Handy tips for serving caviar at your next event. When you own restaurants, as I did for more than twenty years, you learn quite a bit about serving all kinds of different food. Caviar is a little unusual in...
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