There's an element of theatre in every dinner party - the smooth running of the serving, the performance of the meal and hosts - so why not extend the metaphor by casting guests' names in lights?
To create these elegant, lantern-like place markers, design nameplates on your home computer, print them out on individual sheets of vellum paper and wrap each sheet around a glass or ceramic tealight holder (containing a tealight, of course). Just before your guests arrive, light the tiny candles, then wait for the applause. Smash hit guaranteed.
Chef Michael Tong is the owner of Toronto's Sublime Catering.