Tablescaping with Sea Turtles
BY PAT BURNS
Thinking about warm summer days and so many fun times at the beach gave me reason enough to bring back my “Sea Turtles” table theme featured last year in GRAND.
Seeing the table settings side-by-side you may notice a few subtle changes. (here is the link to last year’s tablescap with turtles (https://www.grandmagazine.com/2022/05/sea-turtles-for-a-dinner-theme/) In the previous year’s setting, you’ll notice that I used more seashells and had more open space in comparison to this current compact setting. This year I omitted the seashells and added a few more nautical features.
“Placing the teal vase centerpiece and the two rope candle holders closely together provided enough room for stacked sea turtle-themed place settings.”
Wanting to properly honor these magnificent sea creatures with this table setting, I chose the exquisite summer colors of navy blue, beautiful teal, and crisp white. After all, these sea turtles have been around for over 100 million years and can live well into their hundreds. They deserve something extraordinary for the right look and surroundings.
Placing the teal vase centerpiece and the two rope candle holders closely together provided enough room for stacked sea turtle-themed place settings. To have the look of a South Sea island, I began with round, rough brown grassy placemats and layered each with another navy blue placemat. Then I selected my brown, leather-looking chargers and placed them on round blue placemats. When my 5-year great-granddaughter, Rylan, came over to see the table setting she pointed out that the leather-looking chargers look like the shells of turtles. I’m sensing that one day she might be a tablescaper, too!
Dinner plates and sea turtle salad plates came next. After I positioned the blue goblets, I placed the brass and teak flatware I purchased decades ago in Thailand. The table was almost where I wanted it.
The color and design aspects added the finishing touches. For example, the glass sea turtle figurines with their little bit of bling resting on crystal pebbles resembling the colors of the ocean add to the visually exciting lure. These sea turtles and crystal pebbles were Rylan’s favorite part of the table, and she loved repositioning them on the table.
A special dinner of seared sea scallops is a snap to prepare and will certainly “wow!” your guests. Just add a fresh green salad with homegrown tomatoes, if you have them, and ripe avocado. For dessert try a generous scoop of Häagen-Dazs White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Ice Cream with a splash of Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur.
This meal is not only elegant; it’s also refreshing like a breeze off the South Seas ocean worthy of a summer celebration!
CHECK OUT THIS RECIPE TOO! YUMMY!
Easy Garlic-Lemon Scallops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaS1kks-YSs
