Wealthy Virginia planters used any excuse to entertain. Sometimes they entertained so eagerly and lavishly that their guests from Europe and the north felt overwhelmed and wondered if maybe Virginians were a little vain. But once they were here for a while, they came to understand that hospitality was just an important part of southern society.
At formal dinners, it was more important to serve abundant food than hot food (since most of it cooled en route from the outdoor kitchen), and imaginative table displays were in high style. An Asian temple or nature scene often served as the centerpiece. Balance and symmetry dictated the arrangement, and season dictated the foods.
Favorite dishes were very similar to today, such as soup for a first course. In the homes of wealthy Virginians, the meal ended with a grand dessert pyramid—tiers of footed glasses that contained wine jellies, dates, and other sweetmeats. Coffee and tea were served in a different room after dinner.
Spring brought some of the most mobile entertainment. Everyone gathered at the dinner table in early afternoon for a formal meal that lasted several hours. Afterward, guests would stroll through the gardens. Then everyone went back inside so the men could enjoy drinks and cards and the ladies could have tea. Later it would be time for dancing. For the 18th century hostess, entertaining offered the opportunity to openly display fine furniture and expensive processions. Enthusiasm was stoked by the newest imports—tea, Chinese porcelain, Indian fabrics—that encouraged new social rituals and the equipment to serve them. Many stores and importers in Williamsburg offered lavish new goods. Those just ascending the social scale would often splurge on a fine piece of creamware or a set of silver spoons.
Scents were an important way to entice and relax guests. Cookbooks of the period included recipes for “sweet bags” (sachets), “burning perfumes” (incense), and potpourri. Many of the same plants, forms, and accessories are still used for entertaining around Williamsburg.
Today, the promise of a popular tavern in 18th-century Williamsburg—“Genteel Accommodations and the very best Entertainment”—still holds true. With our rapidly expanding line of home accessories, gifts, and furnishings, WILLIAMSBURG has never been a richer resource for those seeking entertainment ideas.