What helps you decide what's for dinner?

Welcome to dining alfresco Bennett style. We tend to spend a lot of time outside in the spring, summer and fall. Well, mainly spring and fall because the summer evenings are just too hot around here. And sometimes, I even set a special table for just the two of us. Does it look like seafood is on the menu?

I was in TJ Maxx the other day and saw these scrumptiously cute starfish plates. I was enthralled and knew that they would match the place mats, glasses and votive I already had. And seeing them, I knew what was for dinner. Seafood. We were going to eat outside and husband was fixing seafood. So off to the supermarket I went whilst visions of the perfect table danced in my head.

The dinner plates came from TJ Maxx several years ago. I love the scallops and the shells on the rim.

And these are what prompted our dinner plans for the evening. I think they are just too cute. Perfect as bread and butter plates, or salad plates or even for a delectable dessert.

The silverware is by WMF, a German company, and were a gift from my mother a decade or two ago.

A fish knife does not have a serrated blade. The blade is curved so that it helps separate the fish from the skin or to separate a smaller piece from the entire piece.

The goblets came from United Market Street a couple of years ago. They have the faintest blue tint to them. They remind me of the beautiful blues you see in the waters in the Caribbean. When I found the goblets, Stein Mart graciously offered the placemats for sale! They were just meant to be - don't you think?

I surrounded the matching large votive with shells that were purchased at a craft store.


Of course if you live by the beach you can simply pick them up on your walk on the beach. Just be sure to bring them home and place them in gently boiling water to kill any micro-organisms that might inhabit them.
I love to use the unexpected. These fingertip towels from Martha Pullen Company make great napkins. If you have an embroidery machine, a simple monogram makes a beautiful addition.

I love mixing the patterns. This one has several rows of beautiful hemstitching. Buying it ready made turns this into instant gratification.

This towel/napkin has raised dots in between two rows of hemstitching. Quite delectable.

The napkins were tied with a bit of raffia to play off the light wooden beads on the edge of the place mats and the wicker on both the goblets and votive.

So what did the starfish plates inspire for dinner? Copper River Salmon! Click the link to find out what all the hype is about. It's available at United Market Street and the price ranges from very expensive at the beginning of the mid-May season to less expensive at the end of the Mid-June run. We love to eat it fresh at the beginning of the season, start freezing it by the middle of the season so that we can enjoy this delicacy a few more times throughout the year. Keep in mind that a serving size is the size of a deck of cards, keeps the price down! Husband fashions a tray from tin foil, sprays it with a non-stick coating and then during the cooking (over moderate heat and only for a few minutes) sprinkles the juice of a Tangelo over the meat. Awesome.

A green salad of butter lettuce, radishes, avocados and green onions lightly doused with a French vinaigrette; Haricot vert and parslied new, red potatoes are the simple touches that let the Copper River Salmon take center stage, as so it should.

I hope you enjoyed joining us for dinner. Come back soon and we can do it again some time! And to see more cool tablescapes, click on the picture below..