A Sit-Down Mini-Tasting Luncheon

 

I have been collecting various sets of mini-tasting dishes ever since first seeing them a few years back on the Pier 1 website.  Their pictures made the food in these little dishes look so cute and fun! (Don't bite-sized portions just make everything classier and tastier?!) I wanted to give it a try but it took awhile before I could work out the logistics of how and what I wanted to serve in my mini-settings.

 

First off, I decided hosting a sit-down mini-tasting luncheon for a few women family members would be easiest.  I felt the sit-down part would give me more control over serving the items intended to be hot.

 

 

A tray of mini-appetizers became the centerpiece. (hard for me to give up that valuable real estate on a table to food!) 

 

 

 

Here's a photo-list of the appies on the tray.

 

 

 

 

A closer look at the other side...

 

 

 

Each guest took one of each type of appetizer from the tray. (faux apple is for decorative purposes only)  A large square charger plate with paper doily on top serves as the base for all the mini-dishes.

 

 

 

 

Next up...the entree course

 

 

This is where it was helpful to have my daughter's assistance in getting all the items dished up and to the table before they got too cold.

 

 

Here's a photo-list of the entree items...

 

 

 

 

The beverage-to-taste was a Vanilla Vodka Punch which guests helped themselves to for a pre-luncheon drink. 

 

 

Before I show you the dessert course, here's a look at some of the table decor.  I went with a Spring green with contrasting black and white for the colour scheme.

Above, you see that I placed the tray(s) on a couple of my glass blocks to give the food-as-the-centerpiece some height and I thought it appropriate as it suggested the tray was "on ice".

 

The side-piece (versus centerpiece) shown below was created on a tray that came with one of the mini-tasting dish sets. 

 

 

 

Take home favours were two votive candles wrapped in lace-look bags tied with green ribbon.

 

 

 

 

Okay, on to the dessert....

 

What's more perfect than mini-parfaits? (I actually really enjoy making these!)You will notice one parfait has a candle in it - Yes, this was one of my "self-hosted birthday luncheons"! (Click HERE for details on how/why I host those)

 

 

 

And along with the parfaits, we also had my mom's homemade butter tarts with vanilla ice cream.

 

 

Now that I've finally "tried out" my mini-tasting dishes, I can see all sorts of possibilities for them ... at various gatherings and for a variety of food items.

 

I'd love to hear if you've used any mini-tasting dishes and how it went!

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

I'll be linking this post to the following terrific blogs:

 

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tutorials & Tips at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Tutorials, Tips & Tidbits at Stone Gable
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm
Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home