Amid the hullabaloo that is the Christmas season, a lovely idea is to have a respite—in other words, a pause in the grand celebrations—by planning an intimate, elegant dinner for two at home. I adore the idea of moveable feasts and have been known to set up the dinner table in very unexpected places, such as the driveway and entryway when the number of guests threatened to overflow the dining room; or in the bedroom with children and adults; or beside a bay window on an early spring day. But my favorite place of all has always been in the library by the fireplace. As the mantel is decorated, the tree is dressed up, and the house is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, sitting by the fireplace, soaking it all in, creates a cozy, relaxed moment to delight in the season. A practical square card table, a round …