Thanksgiving: Spanish Fiesta Style

By Karl Lohnes & Butterball Canada

Directions

Savour the tastes of Spain with a tapas-inspired Thanksgiving dinner that is perfect for a large gathering. Simply cook tapas fare and serve on standard dinnerware or go all out and fill the table with small plates in true tapas-style. Even the turkey can be “tapa-size” by substituting two to three Lil’ Butterballs for one big one or by pre-carving the turkey and placing on smaller platters.

The Spanish-inspired tablescape is anything but subtle: exotic, rich Meditteranean colours, such as warm terracotta, orangey reds, yellows and cobalt blue, flood the table with patterned dinnerware, beaded placemats, hand-painted serveware and vibrant flowers. It’s a dramatic, eye-popping table – the ideal backdrop for fiery Spanish cuisine.

How to Get the Look

Think vibrant, rich colour: choose a main colour like yellow or red for the dinnerware and add complementary colours such as blue, green and burnt orange for the napkins, side plates and glassware
Use colourful hand-painted tiles as coasters
Large, round chunky candles in Mediterranean-inspired colours grouped on a tray will make a colourful tablescape
Mix fuchsia, orange and yellow flowers in a beaded or hand-painted terracotta vase
Choose beaded placemats or a patterned tablecloth that complements your colour theme
Turn your chandelier into a festive light fixture by hanging strings of beads, streamers and party favours from it
Add one exotic spice to your meal, such as saffron
Adorn your side dishes with simple Spanish food items like olives and garlic mushrooms
Accompany your meal with a Spanish wine or go for the bubbly with a bottle of cava (Spanish sparkling wine)