Take Charge

When I was ten years old, my parents took my sister and me to see our first Broadway play, Annie. I was so utterly excited that I pinned my hair up because I wanted to look sophisticated for my big day out in Manhattan. We followed up the incredible matinee with a dinner at Le Perigord, a renown French restaurant on East 52nd Street that tragically closed in early 2017. I had never been to such a luxurious restaurant. I remember extravagance…crisp linens, gorgeous fresh flowers and tuxedo-clad waiters. I was intimidated when I stepped inside and instantly knew that children were not the norm here. But my parents were not exactly the norm. They thought nothing of bringing their daughters to upscale, jackets-required eating establishments all over the country. This exposure, along with the hours spent in my mother and grandmother’s kitchens was the fodder for my rather sophisticated palate as a child. I think the waiters must have wondered if the two little girls would actually eat the cuisine. Well, these little girls DID! We devoured the sweetbred crepes, pate, roasted duck with truffle and of course, Grand Marnier souffle! But what I will never forget about that day was sitting down to the table and staring at the most beautiful plate that was set before me. I could not believe that I would eat off a golden plate. Imagine my dismay when the waiter whisked it away after we placed our order–an order I was genuinely concerned about as the waiter did not write it down. I asked my mother why they took my beautiful plate away. “It’s a charger,” she explained. You don’t eat off of it. But why, I wondered when the table was so much prettier with the chargers on it. Thus my love affair with the charger began at that moment. They are festive and make a table sing. And why use them only for the special holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas? I get them our for even small family dinners, and of course, my chargers do not just make an appearance, but rather stay put for the entire meal. I’ve gathered a small collection over the years including a variety of shapes and materials like wood, rattan along with the typical gold and silver round ones. They all make their rounds on my table depending on the season and my mood.

Treat Yourself

Burnt orange charges available at Wayfair. https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/linen-tablecloth-13-charger-lntb1147.html?piid=16047531