Mother's Day Lunch
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
IMAGES: MARCEL AUCAR
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then your kitchen bench surely is the lifeblood; it’s the literal surface where daily life unfolds. So, this Mother’s Day, we are going to transform the kitchen table and celebrate the beauty of where real-life moments happen. It’s so much more fun to embrace entertaining in unexpected spaces and use your whole home creatively. This year, it’s all about the kitchen bench and turning it from a hub of daily activity into an inviting centrepiece for a relaxed, personal gathering. Are you in? Now, let’s talk styling! The workhorse of this table is the IKEA decorating rod, which proudly showcases our theme for the day - HERBS: fresh, fragrant, and delightfully simple. This simple decorating rod can hold anything you desire, from lights to vines, fabric to flowers. With a little creativity, you can really set the scene by simply tying bunches of herbs to the rod with a pretty ribbon, creating a stage of greenery where lunch can be set. Today, we are eating from my new ‘Trentham’ China collection.
The Trentham collection from Chyka Home for Harris Scarfe is a range that feels classic and contemporary and pairs effortlessly with a herb-inspired setting. Featuring a timeless dinner plate, side plate, bowl and oval platter, the Trentham collection is clean, elegant, and perfect for layering. Like all of my collections for Harris Scarfe, the beauty of the Trentham range is its versatility — designed in durable porcelain with a soft, refined aesthetic, it’s made for both everyday dining and slightly more special occasions. It’s the kind of collection you can build on, mix with, and truly make your own.
Not only do herbs look beautiful, but they also double as the most deliciously natural styling tool: fresh, fragrant, and completely unpretentious. This table invites people to linger, pour another glass, share stories, and enjoy something lovely, just a little longer. And what better way to entice your guests to the table than with a delicious lunch? We're keeping it simple with some Greek-style Lamb chops, a spring salad loaded with delicious Moondarra Marinated Cheese, a potato salad, and sweet cream cheese-stuffed peppers. This soft and creamy triple cream cheese, made from cow’s milk sourced from beautiful Gippsland in Victoria, is one of those wonderfully versatile favourites you’ll find yourself reaching for constantly. Infused with garlic, thyme, and peppercorns, then marinated in fragrant oil with garden herbs, it can be spread generously onto crusty bread, diced into salads, or crumbled over pizza and pasta to instantly elevate a dish. Made in Australia and twice awarded a Gold Medal, it’s incredibly addictive in the very best way! Rich, flavourful and perfect for families, entertaining, grazing tables or simply enjoying straight from the jar when you can’t resist another bite.
Marinated Cheese Greek Salad
Ingredients
4 ripe heirloom tomatoes, sliced or cut into wedges
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
1 cup of tiny baby tomatoes, whole
2 small orange/red baby bell peppers, sliced
125g black kalamata olives
A handful of small oregano
A handful of mint leaves
For the dressing…
1 lemon juiced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
⅓ cup olive oil
kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Steps
Arrange the tomatoes and goat cheese on a platter. Scatter with the herbs. Drizzle with the vinaigrette as needed.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
And isn’t that what Mother’s Day should be? Effortless, thoughtful, and filled with beauty in the event. Skip the formalities this year. Celebrate Mother’s Day by dressing up your kitchen table, the space where everyday moments become truly special.