elisa marshall, founder and chief brand officer at maman, is no stranger to entertaining guests. whether she’s coordinating an event at one of maman’s beautiful venues, writing pieces for publications like martha stewart and camille styles, or throwing an intimate dinner soirée for friends & family, elisa has a particular gift for bringing people together. her philosophy? find inspiration at every turn, don’t sweat the small stuff, and invite everyone to the table—simple as that!

“whether at maman or at home, i love to infuse my table settings with personality and creativity, and like the food, nothing is too contrived or uptight. i often pull pieces from my home to work with my tablescape’s color palette or theme, and then add elements inspired by the season or theme. incorporating fun florals, edible elements, and acquired eclectic treasures from replacements.com adds a new and interesting dimension that can give any table ‘maman style’ and make it pinterest worthy.”

with mother’s day just around the corner, we’re sharing inspiration & tips for hosting the ULTIMATE brunch for the mamans in your life (maman, after all, means mother in french) with the help of our friends at Replacements. from styling your tablescape  with your favorite dishware & florals to whipping up delicious, make-ahead recipes from maman : the cookbook, we’ve made entertaining easy as un, deux, trois! 

BUT FIRST, LET’S SET THE TABLE!

in today’s modern world, we don’t all have a 12-piece set of perfectly matched porcelain, so don’t be afraid to mix & match vintage dishware and glassware to achieve a tablescape that’s both unique and perfectly imperfect. 

when it comes to presentation, throw out any ‘rules’ you have heard about table décor and place settings & think outside of the box!  for example, surprise & delight your guests by serving dessert in vintage wine glasses, teacups, or another unconventional vessel for an added touch of whimsy. 

create a sense of unity by establishing a color palette or overall theme for your tablescape. choose an assortment of plates in the same color scheme and varying patterns to create a visually compelling aesthetic. pro tip: curate your very own tabletop collection when you shop from our friends at replacements.com, a one-stop source for vintage china & dishware. beyond the cozy confines of our cafés, elisa has a beloved collection of mismatched green & white floral plates (as shown above) that she uses when entertaining at home.

RECIPES INSPIRED BY FAMILY TRADITIONS

of course, no mother’s day brunch would be complete without a collection of delicious & easy-to-make recipes from maman: the cookbook!

‘maman’s cookie tiramisù’ is not only super simple to whip up, but best prepared in advance. guests with a sweet tooth won’t be able to turn down this coffee-infused treat featuring our signature nutty chocolate chip cookies (available for pickup at your local maman!) we recommend serving it in beautiful stemware to show off all the exquisite layers for the perfect presentation.     

add some color to your table with our creamy ‘kale pea & ricotta spread’ paired with an assortment of crudité. for the grand finale, we love surprising guests with a glass of our refreshing ‘rose and elderflower lemonade.’ pour into vintage champagne flutes & add rose ice cubes for a celebratory toast—salut!   

with these expert tips & a little imagination, you’ll be channeling your inner hostess with the mostest in no time! HAPPY ENTERTAINING!