How to Make a Centerpiece Without Flowers

What does everyone want as soon as they sit down to the table? Something to drink and something to nibble on. When the meal is brunch, you don't have to spend cash on flowers to decorate your party table--let the funds do some centerpiece double duty: 1) help create a party atmosphere and 2) count as part of the food and beverage. Whether you are hosting at a restaurant or your home--here's how to set up the flowerless centerpiece.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Deep bowl or bucket
• 2 Large platters or shallow bowls
• Assorted breads and muffins
• Butter and jam
• Bottles of beer
• Champagne splits or half bottles
• Lemons
• Limes
• Salt
• Peach or orange juice

Instructions

1. Start with a deep bowl or bucket. I found mine at Crate & Barrel (see Resources below for link). Partially fill it with ice, start placing assorted bottles of beer, half bottles (or splits) of champagne and small bottles of peach or orange juice (to mix with the champagne), then fill in all the gaps with more ice.

2. Perfect combinations are: peanut butter and jelly, Batman and Robin, Will and Grace AND Limes and salt with beer! Your guests won't have to ask for the culinary accessories...place sliced lemons and limes on one side of the bowl along with a dish filled with salt on the other. If you can find Meyer Lemons, grab them and Google "artisan salts" to find beautiful salts to garnish the beer.

3. Place shallow bowls or platters on both sides of the beverage bowl. Fill one with assorted breads like olive baguette, rosemary foccacia, white country and bagels. Fill the other with muffins and pastries.

4. Include your favorite jams, jellies and spreads. They will add color to the table and make it easy for your guests to serve themselves.

Resources

• Crate & Barrel Vega Bowl