There is an "untranslatable" Spanish Tradition - though we've all done it without realizing it, and we have all loved it, we just haven't named it. The word itself is translatable: sobremesa - over the table, but the meaning is so much more.

Sobremesa  is time spent after a meal with family or friends, talking, laughing, storytelling, lingering in good company, satisfied and happy. The key to a successful sobremesa is, no one has anywhere else to be. There is nothing rushed about the sobremesa.

For a SoHa Sobremesa at su casa? Invite friends more interested in lively conversation than checking their phones! Set a beautiful table - no one lingers wistfully over a paper plate! (I wish I could take credit for that line, but I took it from Juliska's beautiful, inspirational website).

Click here to see the beautiful pieces currently in-stock at Bayberry Cottage, or come in and see us to talk about your perfect table - we can totally make that happen!

Start with the aperitivo (like the sobremesa, but before the meal). A beautiful hors d'oeuvres board like this one will get you off to a great start! 

For the main course, stick with something light - it's summertime in SoHa but we're planning a traditional Mediterranian style meal (lots of food). Tapas encourage socializing and leisurely lingering so they are the perfect food for your sobremesa. Tapas can literally be anything. In fact, I was just reading in my latest copy of Midwest Living that tapas (literally = "lid") were originally bread on top of a beer stein to keep the flies out of your beer. Eventually innkeepers and bartenders started to one-up each other by adding olives, cheeses, and meats to the bread. Now, tapas are just small bites of a variety of flavors and they are always a crowd pleaser!

Wild Maine Blueberry Chicken would be a fun one to try when you've got friends in town for the National Blueberry Festival!

Click here to see all of the tasty Stonewall Kitchen treats available at Bayberry Cottage!

 After dinner, clear most plates (but don't kill yourself - relax, it's sobremesa) and serve up some small bite desserts and some coffee, more wine, or an after-dinner liqueur and let your wildly creative friends entertain you for the rest of the night!