Architecture- Art de La Table - Alchemy - VIP Pre-Art Basel Rizzoli / Christofle Dinner

 

 

Thome Fuchs Tavolo Artist Dinner Series Invite

As a barware, lighting and home accessories design company, at Thomas Fuchs Creative we specialize in handmade goods.

Every week, we dive into the stories and inspirations behind the people, places, and things that fuel our creative journey. From the best eats, sleeps and beats, my blog encompases it all. 

Going into the week Pre Art Basel Miami and the American Thanksgiving Holiday this is the most apropos time post election to "come to the table". The term coming to the table has so many connotations in English, French and Italian but all can be synonymous with sitting together to converse and partake of a delicacy. 

Twice a year we take it a step further with our Thomas Fuchs Creative Tavolo Artist Dinner Series—a one-of-a-kind event that blends art, design, and storytelling.

These biannual dinners are not just events; they are immersive experiences. Each dinner celebrates an artist, transforming our home into a living installation by removing all of our belongings and allowing the artist to reimagine the space. Thomas, inspired by their art, designs a bespoke Art de la Table with handcrafted drinking glasses and dishware that echo the artist’s vision. The final touch? A home-cooked meal designed by Thomas to complement the evening’s theme.

Thomas (standing) & Michou (sitting) in front of their Table

This year’s Miami Art Basel 2024 VIP Dinner was truly special, as all our worlds collided in the most magical way. We celebrated Architecture - Bernardo Forte-Brescia , Art de La Table - Stephanie Stokes and Alchemy - BTL SVC. 

We were honored to be asked by the Wolfsonian Museum Director Casey Steadman and Director of Events Michael Huges to host a dinner celebrating the Rizzoli launch of Stephanie Stokes' stunning coffee table book, The World at Your Table. Our co-host for the evening was none other than Bernardo Fort-Brescia, the legendary founder of Arquitectonica and the mastermind behind Miami’s skyline.

The Palace, The Imperial and The Atlantis, all designed by Bernardo, are three iconic buildings that make Miami's Brickell Avenue skyline so 80's Iconic the opening and closing scene of then Television show "Miami Vice" features the three buildings. 

Bernardo Forte-Brescia, Thomas Fuchs & Michou Mahtani in front of the original hand drawn pen and ink floor plans

This was the first time Mr. Forte-Brescia had been back to the building since he built it as you will hear him recount the story of Harry and Leona Helmsley, the New York City Developers and owners of The Empire State Building among other landmark New York properties and how they hired him to design The Palace.

I had found the original forty year old hand redernings for each floor plan of the apartments encased with the avant garde plexi tube given to my grandfather at the time he purchased all the units. These drawings all done in pen and ink and I mounted them down the hallway creating a step and repeat where all guests were photographed as they entered into our apartment. 

Michael Huges & Casey Steadman of The Wolfsonian Museum holding Stephanie Stokes Book "World At Your Table" (Rizzoli) 

The Essence of The World at Your Table

Stephanie Stokes, renowned for her timeless interiors and global travels, has created more than a book—it’s an invitation. The World at Your Table is a celebration of the art of hosting, weaving together curated items from far-off locales like Japan, Cartagena, and Budapest into inspiring tablescapes. Each setting tells a story, transforming table settings into journeys through the world’s most enchanting destinations.

In her second book with renowned publisher, Stokes—a celebrated interior designer, consummate hostess, and world traveler—offers readers inspiring tablescapes set with unique and irresistible items she has collected during her extensive travels. These curated pieces are designed to help readers create imaginative and evocative tabletops, bringing her global experiences into the home.

 

Christofle's Iconic Bud Vase on show at MAD Paris

A Celebration in Iconic Style - The Art de La Table

This intimate sit down dinner for 18 people was as much about connections as it was about artistry. The venue, The Palace Condominium, holds deep significance—it’s a structure designed by Arquitectonica, where my family were its first residents with all of us cousins living on different floors using the elevators to have racing competitions.

This event was more than just a gathering. It was iconic in so many ways, hosting Bernardo here and celebrating yet another connection between my family and Christofle creating a full-circle moment of honoring the past while embracing the future.

Christofle Collections

My family's history with Christofle dates back to Beirut, Lebanon in the late 1950's then to the Caribbean and South America where we were appointed as distributors for the brand. Central to the evening was the harmonious interplay of Christofle’s timeless designs and the handcrafted table-top pieces of Thomas Fuchs Creative.

It was so important to me to reimagine the use of iconic items in Christofle's collections seeing them from a fresh point of view. Weather bought, gifted or inherited everyone can resonate with the brand in their own way. I used the champagne bucket as the soup holder, the serving tray as the cookie holder and the ice buckets for our floral arrangements. 

 

Christofle Talisman Silverware 

Utilizing our Talisman Sienna Brown lacquer silverware, a wedding gift from my parents, while featuring Christofle’s Putman, Vertigo, and Belle Epoque collections all re-imagined, paired seamlessly with bespoke plates and bowls from Thomas' Moroccan Collection that surreptitiously match the book cover a top of Thomas "Zanzare Collection" tablecloth for renown Italian textile company The NapKing. 

Christofle Andrée Putman Candlestick

Deciding to use André Putman's collection for Christofle layered the evening with yet another subtle homage to a great architect. In this instance the saying "if you know, you know" applies while gazing at the table.

Ironically on the same night thousands of miles away at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD) there unveiling of a grand retrospective exhibition aptly named “Christofle: A Brilliant Story.” Running from November 14 to April 20, 2025, the showcase features nearly 1,000 extraordinary pieces, celebrating the rich history and legacy of this iconic French Maison a few of them used on the Michou's tablescape .

“It takes architectural intelligence to host a dinner party,” says Mahtani. “From the guest list to the table setting, everything comes together like an orchestrated masterpiece.”

BTL SVC 

Dining as an Artistic Experience

The evening also shined a spotlight on craftsmanship in dining. Guests were treated to a unique culinary experience designed by Thomas Fuchs. Thomas made eggplant stacks in the shape and form of the staircase of The Palace while each alternate plate had a square shaped hole cut out to resemble The Atlantis.

In the realm of artistic expression, craftsmanship extends far beyond the canvas. It intricately weaves through every facet of creativity, from the strokes of a painter's brush to the meticulous distillation process of fine spirits. At the heart of Thomas Fuchs Fine Art Tavolo Dinners lies a celebration of this craftsmanship, where we artfully pair the mastery of cocktail craftsmanship pairing master mixologist Nathan Oliver of BTL SVC recipes with the visionary menu of acclaimed artist and chef Thomas Fuchs.

BTL SVC Cocktails In A Bottle

Throughout the evening all courses were accompanied by cocktail pairings from mixology master Nathan Oliver of BTL SVC. Known for his hand-batched, ready-to-serve cocktails, Oliver’s creations added another layer of artistry to the evening. BTL SVC raises the bar by providing a selection of award winning, perfectly balanced ready to serve cocktails. There are no additives, no preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors and are all gluten free. Hand batched and bottled in Louisville, Kentucky, the BTL SVC family of cocktails are a symbol of craftsmanship and passion.

Each detail, from the menus to the bespoke cocktails, reflected the dedication and creativity that define Fuchs and Mahtani’s work—a dedication echoed by the beautifully crafted items showcased in Stokes’ book.

An Evening to Remember

The event brought together innovators and tastemakers to celebrate the artistry of living well. It was a night where architecture met design, and craftsmanship celebrated its many forms—from the pages of a book to the perfectly mixed cocktail.

Stephanie Stokes, Thomas Fuchs, Michou Mahtani, and their collaborators showcased how the art of hosting is more than a skill; it’s a way to connect, inspire, and tell stories.

@ThomasFuchsDecor instagram reel

As Art Basel approaches, this unforgettable evening reminds us of the beauty that emerges when creativity, heritage, and design come together at the table.

 Have a great week at Art Basel Miami

 

Michou