Please, I beg you, do not get squeamish on me for this one. Oven roasting it whole is a great way to get a moist, flavorful fish. Some people shy away from the whole thing. I get it. It’s hard to miss the eyes, the mouth and even the tail. I will admit that this freaks me out a bit, too. It used to be worse for me but now I simply keep my focus on the body and away from the facial attributes. Most importantly, I concentrate on how to honor the fish. The whole fish; because the skin and bones not only impart deep flavors but also protect the fish from drying out by providing natural oils. Another key to increasing its savor and tender texture is stuffing the body with aromatics, such as lemon, onions and herbs. These truly perfume the inner flesh and keep it supple. Additionally, you can cook it en papillote, which mean enveloped in paper. This steams the fish locking in moisture. I simply oven roasted mine this go around.

*NOTE: When buying whole fish, to ensure it is fresh, look for these keys elements.

The fish should be bright, with a metallic luster.
The eyes should be bright, vivid, clear and bulging. If they are sunken or cloudy, it is old
The gills should be bright, wet, pink or red.
The smell should be pleasant and mild.
If the scales are still on, they should be shiny and not detach themselves.

2 fish, not in the same position as the logo for my main company, 2fish, inc, but there they are together.

I like making this for a small dinner party. It creates a lovely presentation and produces a succulent dish. I served this with green veggies, a quinoa salad and a watercress salad. If you continue to scroll down, you will find visual instructions for those dishes. These sides were ideal; light and refreshing to accompany the red snapper. Together they make for a perfect Spring meal.

And as my mom pointed out in the comments section, this method can do used with most any whole fish.

Ingredients

Red Snapper *2-3 lbs for 4 servings
2 Lemons (1 sliced, 1 in wedges for serving)**
1 small Onion
Parsley (or fresh herb of your choice)
Magic 3 (Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper)

*When buying a whole fish figure about 12 ounces to 1 pound of whole fish per person as a main course (as the fish generally yields 50 percent, thus making a 6 to 8 ounce serving) or for 2 people as a first course.

**If you are going to make the Quinoa Salad, then zest the lemon before you slice it for stuffing. Reserve the zest to season the quinoa.

Instructions

Make sure there are no scales on the outer skins of the fish.
Pat dry both the outside and inside of the fish.

I know it seems counterintuitive to make sure the fish is dry when you want it to be moist, but water just water logs the fish.

3. Cut the onion and lemon in slices

4. Brush the interior with oil. Sprinkle with salt & pepper then stuff with the onion, lemon slices and parsley.

5. Place on a parchment lined baking tray and score the skin making several long slits. Brush with oil and season the outside with a good amount of pepper, and salt. You can also envelope the fish in a tin foil or parchment paper pouch for the en papillote approach.

6. Bake at 425 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees.

You can place the whole fish on a platter lined with greens or herbs, or you can debone it.

Serving suggestions:

Of course any sautéed green vegetable will pair nicely. I made both broccoli rabe and string beans prepared in a simple sauté of olive oil, garlic slices, salt and pepper. The other accompaniments were a side of quinoa and fresh baby watercress salad. Below are the quick visual instructions for the latter two dishes.

Quinoa with Sautéed Onions, Lemon Zest & Mint

Quinoa is a wonderful source of protein and a fairly neutral flavor that is enhanced by the addition of herbs.
Ingredients

1 c Quinoa
1/3-1/2 c chopped onion/shallot
2-3 t lemon zest
4-6 T lemon juice (depending on your taste
6-8 T mint, minced (mixed in and some for top)
Olive oil, salt and pepper

Instructions

Sauté onion and/or shallot, add the quinoa and water and cook according to the package. (I usually measure 1 cup of quinoa to 1.5 c water)
Bring to a boil, cover and lower to simmer cooking for 15-18 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
Then zest the lemon, squeeze some of the juice, season with salt and pepper and toss in the chopped mint and fork fluff. Save some mint for the top decoration.

Baby Watercress, Avocado & Orange Segment Salad with a Citrus Dressing

When making finger sandwiches, I prefer regular watercress as it has more of a textural bite to it as well as a sharper, peppery flavor. For salad purposes I prefer Baby Watercress. It is much more delicate. This salad is all about light and bright, and the citrus does that beautifully.

Ingredients

2 bunches baby watercress
1 avocado, cut in small chunks
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 lemon, zest and juice
1 large orange, segmented

Instructions

First zest the orange and reserve for the dressing.
Then as you segment the orange do it over the dressing bowl to catch all the juices, and squeeze any juice from the remaining pulp.
Thinly slice the shallot (or red onion if that’s all you have)
Cube the avocado (squeezing some lemon to stop it from browning).
Assemble the salad in a bowl, then add orange juice, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil to the orange zest and whisk until emulsified. That simple.

This is a perfect Spring or Summer evening meal. It would be a lovely Sunday lunch idea, too. The fish is delicate and moist. The sides are light yet filling. The citrus brightens the whole meal up, and if you have leftovers, all this would make a wonderful taco lunch.

Here we are again, right back at the holiday season. Time sure does blow by quickly. But it’s a guarantee that the holidays show up on schedule with all the trimmings, ie: hectic, hustle and bustle with a side order of stress. So since you might be experiencing some of these as you plan your menu, make shopping lists, tidy the house, pull out the turkey platters and hopefully breathe deeply, I thought I might help out in another area; table settings. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that has very particular food servings. Typically guests want, in fact, they almost demand, the usual suspects. With that in mind, it seemed to me that posting yet another recipe variation on mashed or sweet potatoes wouldn’t be all that helpful. Most people straight up crave those heavy, carb laden dishes aka sleep inducers. So I say, go ahead and make what you know and what they love. Seriously, it’s one less thing to think about, go with tradition.

My goal for this Thanksgiving post is to give you tables-cape options; from the casual to the more elegant. These may be less traditional but festive all the same. And when I say options, brace yourself. I have taken that word to its ultimate meaning, providing a multitude of variations. Another objective for this mind bending table option extravaganza is to use basic items that you might already have, and combine them with inexpensive florals that won’t break the bank. Sure, more heavily Thanksgiving themed tablecloths can be used, but the idea here was to use a neutral palette and add pops of color to create a more subtle holiday vibe. Some of these ideas can easily be used any time during the year by simply swapping out the orange tones for other more seasonal colors. So, let’s just see how you can play with your tableware, since playing with your food is gauche.
(Also, I figure you might like some of the items I used, so I included a few resource links at the end that have similar items.)

First things first, florals. Since the meal can break the bank, I didn’t want the centerpiece to be sacrificed for budget reasons, so all the florals I chose are actually just fillers. That’s right, I only bought fillers which are the least expensive. I picked each one up at Trader Joe’s for $2.99 each. I will show you the various ways you can use these, so you can decide which works best for the way you want to style your table this holiday. In some cases it will only cost you $2.99. Other combinations incorporated several bunches but none of the arrangements I created cost more than $15. Now that is some frugal finagling. Here’s the floral line up.

Ok, before proceeding hold onto your hats. There is going to be a ton of photos to demonstrate the various options. As I was writing this piece and pulling together all the elements I knew it needed to be orderly, so to make it manageable I broke up the various options into sections. If you already know that you want something more elegant, maybe jump down to that section. If you want to see all the various, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.

Casual Table Settings with options
Centerpiece options
Simple Elegance Table Setting with options
True Elegance Table Setting with Options

(Truth be told, it was overwhelming for me to decide what to share and what to leave on the cutting room floor. I tried to limit the amount but still show the variations and then grouped them. I hope I’ve made it easier for you to digest all this. Including a new way of displaying imagery through slideshow boxes. This seemed the perfect way to display it all. (Would certainly love to hear your feedback on this way of showing photos.)

Simple & Casual Table

Let’s say you are having a less formal Thanksgiving dinner, but still want to make it feel special.

Option #1 - No Tablecloth | Autumn Colored Plaid Napkins | Burlap Table Runner
The simple use of white plates and bowls right on the table keeps this setting more casual. Balancing the spoon on the bowl makes it fun and whimsical. Giving a nod to the season, the plaid, autumn colored napkins continues the laid back feel while the burlap runner adds a rustic tone and gives a landing spot for centerpieces and candles. I used dark metal candlesticks to blend with the theme.

Option #2: White Tablecloth | Orange Napkins | Floral Runner
Still casual with the ante upped a tad. Use a white or cream tablecloth and the same white dishes. Swap out the plaid napkins for plain orange ones to give an instant pop of color. No formal runner here, just the eucalyptus leaves as a base for one main centerpiece.

Centerpieces for Casual Table

These two casual settings can take on a different tone simply by the centerpiece choice. Here are a few options.

Option #1 - Florals featuring Orange Tones
Since the table settings are more understated, the centerpiece can make a color statement. A variety of green and orange floral fillers can be arranged differently depending on the vases you have or the look you want to achieve. The larger arrangement was actually the most “expensive” of all the options. It used 5 filler florals each costing $2.99 for a total of $15. Impressive.

If you prefer a more low profile approach, choose smaller individual vases and spread them out in the middle of the table. Note the difference in style simply by switching out the vases but still using the same florals. As well the change of feeling from using the burlap runner vs. the eucalyptus leaves. The addition of pine cones also adds a nod to autumn.

Option #2 - Fruit Centerpiece
Don’t want to fuss with flowers, use seasonal fruit to create a colorful centerpiece. By arranging the fruit on a tray, basket or round platter it makes for easy removal if you need the table space. If you don’t have anything or simply don’t need to move it, you can also just arrange it right on the table. Add pine cones, nuts and votive candles to finish off the look. Choose fruits that would like to serve, then this becomes the dessert platter. Now that is cost savings; Pretty, functional AND edible! Here are a few options for fruit.

Wood Tray Base

My parents brought this back from their Mexican honeymoon 58 years ago. It’s my pride and joy.

Use eucalyptus leaves and stalks to line the bottom.

Gold Charger & Glass Cake Plate
If you don’t have long tray or you don’t have a long table, choose a smaller platter. I chose a gold charger, but you can really use any platter as long as it is sturdy to hold all the fruit. Place the eucalyptus leaves down (trim if necessary) then arrange and pile up the fruit. Add pine cones and grass stalks. You can even add nuts in their shells. For additional height, place the entire platter on a cake plate. Then you can tuck your candles slightly underneath. The lift creates a more dramatic feel.

Directly on the Table
If you don’t have a platter because they are all being used to serve the mountains of food you are preparing, go ahead and create the centerpiece directly on the table, placing candles in and around. Please note that this version means leaving it there the entire time until you are ready to eat the fruit for desset.

Don’t have a long tray. Use a round charger plate.

Want to give it height, place it on a cake plate.

Table of Simple Elegance

Option #1: White Tablecloth | Silver Chargers | White Napkins
Again, using some of the basic elements from the casual setting and adding touches of elegance. Start with the white or cream tablecloth. Still using white plates, but changing out the soup bowl for a salad plate and turning diamond shaped adds the whimsy. Grounding the place setting with a silver charger takes this to a more refined level as does adding a water glass. The silver keeps it bright but still not full on formal, as do the simple white napkins tied with raffia.

In keeping with the white theme, the scattered placement of various vases filled with white baby’s breathe creates a simple elegance of singular focus, with the eucalyptus leaves centering it all.

Option #2: White Tablecloth | Silver Charger | Black Placemats & Napkins
Want a little edge? Add sharp contrast with black placemats and napkins. This version is the same as above with those two small changes. Turning the placemat vertically instead of horizontally lends more of a modern touch. A simple roll of the napkin also plays into the contemporary, sleek feel. The white baby’s breathe with candlelight takes it to a romantic elegant space.

Option #3: White Tablecloth | Silver Charger | Orange Pops of Color
If those white and black options seem to stark and not enough holiday bling, then bring back the orange accents. Toss down the runner and add the orange napkins back in but this time bunch them up and place them on the plate. Continue the festive feel with the orange and green florals, this time arranged in a wider, lower glass vase, and now you have a touch of elegance with a splash of color. And don’t forget candles. Bang!

Option #4: No Charger Plates - No Problem
Using the casual orange napkin place setting, add a bright orange runner to the center of the table and watch how that simple addition ratchets up the elegance factor.

The varying height vintage vases filled with baby’s breathe pop off the bright, high contrast runner. But if are not a fan of baby’s breathe and want something a bit more organic, Go Green. The austere use of only filler greens feels like nature itself and a different kind of breathe: one of fresh air.

True Elegance

Option #1: White & Gold | Orange Runner | Cream Napkin
Bringing in gold adds an elegance all its own. Gold equals regal, so simply adding the gold charger takes the same cream colored tablecloth setting to another level. Since the orange runner makes the color statement, keeping the napkins soft and neutral brings true elegance. The simple roll or tuck into the glass makes the napkin not too fussy. You can also simply wrap the rolled napkin with organza, ribbon or twine. For other napkin option, go back and check my post Napkin Folding - 5 Basic Folds - Countless Options.

Option #2: White & Gold | Orange Runner | Gold Glassware & Napkin Rings
If gold adds elegance, then why not add more gold elements. This version piles on the golden accents with the addition of vintage yellow gold glassware and golden silk napkin rings. Swapping the dark metal candlesticks for vintage glass ones brings in sparkle. (Don’t worry if you don’t have vintage, try outlet type stores for bargains, like Marshall’s.
Depending on how much of a statement you want your centerpiece to make, below are three options. Note: I snuck in hydrangeas which were no cost at all since these were cut from our garden as they turned from white to their lovely autumn hues.

I know, I know this was a ton to process. Believe me when I say I know since I had dozens upon dozens of photos from which to choose to demonstrate the many possibilities of using the same basic elements. Sure each one could have been a single blog post, and maybe easier to digest. But this way you can visually see how small changes can dramatically alter the look and feel of your table. My suggestion is to first decide the style you want, Casual or Elegant. Then go back directly to those options and re-review that section. Or if you are like me and absolutely love all the variety, have at it and keep looking and scrolling and tapping to your hearts content. Nothing would make me happier.

I do hope that I have helped and given you inspiration.
Happy table dressing. May your guests appreciate all the efforts you put forth.

Resources

White Napkins with Orange Trim
Stone Colored Napkins
Plaid Napkins
Charger Plates
Table Runner
Glasses