It’s the Small Things - A Season of Small Gatherings

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. We know things are going to be different, but don’t sweat the small stuff—embrace it! From tablescapes for small gatherings to small gestures, the focus of our feature is on changing our perspective about thinking “small.”

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ~ Winnie the Pooh

Give thanks every day! Fall garland, pumpkins, scarecrow, and turkey can be found at ACE Garden Center. The Happy Fall collection of glasses and wagon with pumpkin salt and pepper shakers are from St. Simons Drug Co. The metallic glazed candleholders came from B&B Design & Consign, and the tray and serving pieces are at Taylor House Interiors. 

If Thanksgiving is a small family affair with only the people living with you, that means you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen making ALL the side dishes. Plan to make just a few traditional favorites like the dressing, the sweet potato soufflé, and the green bean casserole. You can even make them the day before. With early prep and side dishes done, you can relax and enjoy  with the ones you love once you throw the turkey in the oven. If watching a virtual parade or football doesn’t interest you, we suggest a viewing of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles for a chuckle or two. 

Spode Woodland china with Vietri Rufolo chargers, and Lady Diana stainless by Towle are perfect dinnerware for fall festivities. All are available at Cunningham Jewelers. Goblet can be found at Indigo & Cotton. The beautiful seasonal floral arrangement is by A Courtyard Florist.

For pre-holiday feast snacking, prepare a cheese and charcuterie board. Load it up with an assortment of cheeses, cured meats, olives, nuts, dried fruit, crackers or bread, and any other tasty tidbits that strike your fancy. This allows for grazing with no extra dishes and limits trips to the refrigerator. If you don’t have the time (or the inclination) to make your own, contact Golden Isles Olive Oil and Donna can let you know what she has prepared or make a custom board to suit your taste. If you have a platter or board that you’d like to use for your gathering, bring it to her and she’ll fill it with what you want and can customize for any occasion. Donna also serves a variety of boards at Golden Isles Olive Oil, so feel free to stop by and order one while you enjoy a glass of wine and some live music on the patio. They are now offering breakfast boards with waffles, fruit, and other brunch favorites on the weekends. Yum!

With seating restricted at the stadium and tailgating opportunities limited for

this year’s match-up between Georgia and Florida, many people will probably be staying home to watch the game. We know it will still be a party, but now it might mean incorporating kids into the mix. Here are some ideas to keep things fun for the small fries while the adults are hunkering down for the big Dawg game.

You can go all out with tailgate-style treats for grown-ups, but set up a snack station just for the kids too. It can be as easy as bowls or buckets with single-serve bags of chips, pretzels, mini cartons of goldfish, packs of crackers, cookies, and other individually wrapped treats. Fill another bucket or cooler with ice and small bottles of water, juice, sports drinks, or cans of soda. Have coloring pages and other activities readily available. Bingo is always popular if the kids are older and want to watch the game to find things listed on the squares of game cards you create (a Bulldog helmet, a missed field goal, a yellow flag, etc.). Pinterest has lots of printables if you need ideas or don’t want to make your own. Click HERE for some other game ideas.

Maggie’s Boutique isn’t called Lady Dawg Headquarters for nothing! From game day apparel to all the tailgate party essentials, they’ve got you covered! You can find the napkin holder, chilled dip holder, serving bowls and platters, tea towel, glasses, corkscrew set, and stuffed Hairy Dawg there. The small red casserole dish is from B&B Design and Consign. The white platter with UGA helmet by Nora has interchangeable pieces and is available at Indigo & Cotton. The bartender wine holder is from Cunningham Jewelers.

Small Effort - Big Reward

Seafood boils are a perfect example of small effort that yields great reward. A handful of simple ingredients are thrown into a big pot to cook and the result is a filling feast that’s always a favorite for coastal celebrations. Here in the Golden Isles, we use plenty of the sweet white Georgia shrimp pulled from these waters in our Low Country boil, along with smoked sausage, corn, and potatoes. Occasionally, crab is thrown in the mix too. If you head up the coast, however, you’ll discover that it’s clams they boil in New England. Instead of the traditional clambake where the mollusks were steamed over layers of seaweed, they throw the clams in a pot with water, a liberal pour of beer, the same basic ingredients we use here for our LCB, and plenty of Old Bay seasoning. Down the Chesapeake where that seasoning originated, it’s blue crabs that take center stage, and they’re usually steamed instead of boiled. In Maine, you’ll find lobster in the pot; while down in the Big Easy, it’s their smaller crawfish cousins boiled up with that spicy Cajun heat. The best seafood boils and steam pots boast a combination of these ocean delicacies to tantalize the palate. If you don’t want to make your own, you can find a few tasty options on the menu at the new Spartina Grill in Darien, along with a spectacular view!

For a uniquely Georgia twist on the LCB, we dug into our our archives to share a recipe given to us by that now notorious nut man Mark Hanna and our friends at Southern Soul Barbeque. For the recipe, click HERE. 

This rustic wood table at Taylor House Interiors looks like it was made to host a seafood feast in a little cottage by the beach. The crab boil pot, dishes, napkins, denim placemats, and decorative candle are all from St. Simons Drug Co. Decorative coral, glass floats, and buoy are also from Taylor House.

Small Plates

While seafood boils are a great way to feed a crowd, Georgia Sea Grill and Delaney’s Bar and Bistro are local restaurants that offer another way to experience fresh regional flavors on a smaller scale. Delaney’s has been serving a tapas menu at the bar for years. Georgia Sea Grill offers small plate options. Borrowing from Spanish cuisine’s tapas or Chinese dim sum, small plates are a way to showcase culinary creations that are innovative, beautifully presented, and made with high quality ingredients. The portions are similar to appetizer sizes and are often referred to as sharing plates. They’re ideal to nibble with drinks or to pass around a table and enjoy with friends. And the concept is quite popular among diners. Small plate menus were ranked fourth in the top restaurant concepts category in the National Restaurant Association What's Hot 2019 Culinary Forecast. The small plate trend allows diners to customize their dining experience by ordering based upon their level of hunger, their taste preferences, their desire to be adventurous, and any dietary limitations they might have. It also helps individuals who are trying to be health conscious or count calories to have smaller portions or mini versions of foods they love. If you’re hungry, you can always order a few plates to sample different flavors or simply have one as an appetizer before an entrée. Small plates can satisfy even the largest appetite. Make your next date a small plate sharing event.

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Georgia Sea Grill Satilla Pond Catfish Tacos Small Plate

Georgia Sea Grill Satilla Pond Catfish Tacos Small Plate

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Georgia Sea Grill Beef Carpaccio Small Plate

Georgia Sea Grill Beef Carpaccio Small Plate

At Georgia Sea Grill, small plate dishes allow them to highlight their home-grown food sourcing from Potlikker Farm and Satilla Pond. GSG owner Zack Gowen decided the best way to assure that the freshest, healthiest seasonal flavors reach their diners’ tables was to grow their favorite ingredients here on their own sustainable farm. Potlikker Farm currently provides local produce for Executive Chef Tim Lensch to create GSG’s signature fresh flavors and they also sell seasonal offerings as a vendor at Halyard’s Farmer Fridays. Now with Satilla Pond, they’re combining the most modern aquaculture technology with old-world, sustainable farming traditions to provide locally-grown, organically-fed catfish to the Golden Isles. Whether it’s served or grown by GSG, you can rely on the same attention to detail and freshness that has made them a longstanding Golden Isles favorite. This same quality extends to their 3 Little Birds Catering endeavors, so for a truly memorable experience, work with Zack and Chef Tim on a small plates menu tailored to your own intimate gathering in the unparalleled setting of Village Creek Landing.

For a romantic evening at home, this wicker lantern centerpiece surrounded by flowers in glass bottles courtesy of A Courtyard Flowers sets the mood for a coastal evening date. Shell plates, tea towel, shell salt and pepper shakers, candle, glassware, placemats, and lantern available at St. Simons Drug Co. The shell-shaped chocolates are from Sugar Marsh Cottage Specialty Confections’ exclusive Richland Rum Single Estate Luxury Artisan Rum Crème BonBon Collection.

Small box. Big WOW! This gorgeous ring from Joseph Jewelers boats a 21.5 carat aquamarine surrounded by 56 diamonds set in yellow gold. It certainly makes a statement! Also stunning is this Royal Crown Derby china in Midori Meadow and Ashbourne, Vietri Rufolo charger, with Towle Lady Diana silverware from Cunningham Jewelers. The Wedgewood Champagne flute is a fabulous find from B&B Design and Consign. Flower arrangement by A Courtyard Florist. 

Small Gestures

Aesop said “Good things come in small packages,” and that’s certainly true when that small package holds a ring like the one seen in our photo. But not all small packages contain extravagant jewelry. It’s important not to overlook small gifts and gestures that are big on sentiment instead of cents. It’s the element of caring and personal attention that makes them valuable. As Oscar Wilde noted, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” A handwritten note, a homemade creation, a special photo, these things help us maintain a personal connection in an increasingly digital and physically disconnected world. A t-shirt with that movie quote you always say, bubble bath in a scent you love, your favorite cookies fresh from the oven, these are gifts that say “I see you. I know you.” They mean the world to those on the receiving end.

If you need some help coming up with ideas, we’ve got some to share:

1. An expertly framed memory.

A treasured family photo, a group picture of the sorority sisters, a favorite vacation memory, the family pet looking precious, a new shot of the kids when they’re not fighting—frame it! Professional matting and framing can turn any memory into a timeless treasure. Go see Beverly at Main Street Frame Shop in Brunswick for top-notch workmanship and personal assistance in choosing just the right frame.

2. A calendar of family photos.

A great way to infuse each day with instant joy and gratitude is with with pictures of loved ones on a daily calendar. There are a number of online companies who can help make these or drop by The Darkroom Photography and see if they can assist you.

3. A custom pet portrait.

We all know how much people in the Golden Isles love their four-legged companions. There are several artists who specialize in capturing your pet in a drawing or painting. You can find them on social media or by internet search. A call to our local art associations may land you a referral or two if you want to commission a local artist.

4. A framed quote or song lyrics.

Show that you’re listening by surprising him or her with the words to their favorite song or touch their heart with a meaningful quote.

5. A gift with a special message.

Similar to framing quotes, lyrics or poems, gifts containing special messages show how much you care. PillowGrace offers pillowcases and other items with meaningful scripture and can customize as well. Golden Isles Bracelet Co.makes bracelets, necklaces and earrings with a variety of thoughtful designs, like the “Return” symbol that holds the wearer close until they are reunited with the giver. They also have an anchor that’s fitting for those who keep you grounded and steady, and their classic St. Simons design is ideal to give travelers as a reminder of home.

6. Engraved or monogrammed gifts

Personalizing a gift adds a special touch and Southern girls do adore the monogram.

7. Homemade treats.

Whether savory or sweet, there’s nothing like homemade treats. A batch of homemade cookies, fresh baked bread, canned jams, preserves, soups, and other delicious culinary creations are always appreciated by the recipient. You can always give a “gift certificate” for a complimentary homemade meal, with or without delivery service, to be provided upon request as a unique alternative to a restaurant gift card.

8. Handpicked flowers.

Need we say more? Grab a glass or jar from one of our local non-profit thrift stores, like hello Goodbuy, and add a little ribbon to spruce up your bouquet. No fancy vase is necessary.

9. Art from the heart.

If you have artistic talent or even just the willingness to try, a painting or drawing or gift of other personal creative expression is priceless. We treasure gifts that we know are unique and heartfelt, so don’t worry about perfection.

10. The gift of time.

Offer your time to provide babysitting services, promise an uninterrupted evening where phones are locked away, or a weekend escape, even if it’s a spent in a tent in the woods. To some of us, that is heaven.

Lastra Holiday dishes by Vietri and Towle Lady Diana silverware are available at Cunningham Jewelers. Gold reindeer, holly serving dish and spreader are from Indigo & Cotton. Tasteful Temptations provided our Christmas cookies and baked brie & prosciutto rolls finished with honey and pomegranate. Floral arrangement by A Courtyard Florist.

Thank You!

Thank you to Taylor House Interiors for providing us with a lovely setting in

which to shoot our tablescapes. Beyond the gorgeous furniture for every room in the house, Gail Butler and her team offer design services and everything you could want to decorate your home, from lamps to luxurious throws. Stop by the showroom located at 3079 Frederica Road Tuesday through Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to see for yourself. Extra thanks to Elizabeth Zachry for help placing pumpkins, scooting tables, and lending her designer’s eye.

It’s been a while since we’ve worked with talented photographer John Toth, but it’s always our pleasure. Extra appreciation to Karen Eskesen from The Darkroom for sticking around to act as an impromptu photographer’s assistant. Our gratitude to Patty at A Courtyard Florist for creating gorgeous floral arrangements to complement our settings. Call her at 912.634.9622 for all your seasonal centerpiece needs and holiday floral gift delivery.

And last, but not least, thanks to Sara Mosley from Tasteful Temptations for making and styling the perfect holiday appetizer and those delightfully decorated and delicious Christmas cookies. If you’d like them to help with your holiday entertaining, call 912.638.3640.