New Moon Table Setting

As important as the menu is to transporting your guests, nothing sets the mood quite like an evocative table setting. With New Moon's gothic Italian setting as the inspiration, here is how to create a dark and romantic interior tablescape that will completely seduce your guests.

• Choose a rich red, or black tablecloth. The cloth should hang softly over the edges of your dinner table. Choose the converse color as a runner and place down the center of your table.
• Set tall white candles in silver sticks towards the center of the table. You want them to create a seductive glow.
• Choose silver, or pewter place settings, and crystal goblet style glassware. Tie silverware in a simple black ribbon. Take two ruffled tulips (the book's cover flower) and tie them together with the black ribbon. Place them together on each guests dining plate.
• In addition to the candles, create a glamourous flower arrangement using tarnished oversized silver or pewter vases-you can find these at thrift stores or antique shops. Select dramatic flowers like dahlias, callas, eucalyptus, and the book's cover flower; the ruffled tulip.
• Add whimsical dark touches, like fake sparrows or lanterns.
• For a creative take on place cards; find an astrological chart that depicts the various phases of the moon. Print on card stock in black ink. Fold in half. On the inside write your guest's name in red ink.