ENTERTAINING: THE RETURN OF THE DINNER PARTY

Our gatherings at home will be more relaxed, more intentional and injected with small, beautiful touches that have lots of impact.

For over a year and a half we have had to employ our creativity and imagination when it came to celebrating some of life’s most special moments. This largely meant socializing outdoors and we did a great job. Now, however, with so many options available for safely gathering inside and with many of us still a little apprehensive about socializing in larger, public settings, there is a newfound excitement for entertaining at home.

I truly believe in the power of the dinner party. For me, there is nothing more intimate than inviting someone into your home. Sharing the private spaces that we’ve created for ourselves with those that we love over food, while exchanging thoughts and laughs and sometimes tears forms bonds that socializing in other ways doesn’t. I also think that the shift in priorities that many of us have experienced will translate into our social settings. Our gatherings at home will be more relaxed, more intentional and injected with small, beautiful touches that have lots of impact.

My thoughts on what makes for a great gathering has evolved over time. The last (pre-pandemic) dinner party that I hosted at my home was for a dear friend who was relocating and we had the best time. The menu was robust. I served comfort food - braised short ribs, roasted carrots and a mashed potato puree. We finished dinner with some wonderful mignardises and multiple bottles of Cabernet. With the exception of dessert, I made the entire meal myself. I also planned every detail of the dinner for weeks in advance and spent quite a few sleepless nights hoping that things would turn out perfectly. Now, after being isolated from family and friends for so long, the aspiration to perfection is a thing of the past. My intent is to create beautifully relaxed, naturally immersive experiences that stimulate and inspire everyone at the table.

There is no formula for creating that type of environment. What beautiful, relaxing and immersive means to each of us will vary, however, I do believe that there are a few things that one can keep in mind when tasked with planning a truly impactful evening for family or friends.

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It’s important to set your intentions for the evening before the planning starts. Once that’s done, everything else that you do will align with that intention.

When planning a dinner party, I ask myself the question that I ask in almost every situation right now – What is your intention? I think that many times when hosting the idea of putting on an over the top Pin worthy gathering is the first thought that comes to mind and that’s absolutely okay. I’m very much in favor of visually stimulating presentations however, that shouldn’t be the sole intention. I truly believe that after almost two years of having to intensely calculate our every move, all most of us crave is connection in a relaxed space with intention and thoughtfulness sans the stress and fanfare. It’s important to set your intentions for the evening before the planning starts. Once that’s done, everything else that you do will align with that.

TABLE

Whether you are planning a dinner party outdoors or inside your home, the setting for the evening does not have to be excessive or cost a fortune. Coco Chanel’s famous statement on accessorizing comes to mind when I think about the direction for the dinner table. She famously said: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” When designing a tablescape, I set the entire table, go back and revisit the design and then I remove one element that I can do without. It's a reminder that less can sometimes be more and that small details can have the most impact.

Using items that you already have in your home can go a long way to creating an intimate setting that will present effortlessly. With cooler temperatures approaching, seasonal fruit and vegetables like pomegranates, pears and cabbage leaves or greenery are excellent low cost, high impact ways to anchor your table. Neutral linen napkins and tablecloths (which will always be chic) paired with your favorite dinnerware and taper or tea light candles can essentially be the foundation for the evening.

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MENU

When approaching the actual dinner menu, my advice is to delegate. When I suggest delegating, I mean don't feel as though you have to cook everything on your own, that is, unless you absolutely love cooking and want to share that with your guests. If that is the case, absolutely, do what feels good for your. While I may have a few really good moments in the kitchen from time to time, cooking is not an activity that I am particularly passionate about so, I’m pretty comfortable with soliciting help.

There are so many other ways to plan and execute a great dinner menu that the entire responsibility no longer has to solely belong to the host. It is okay to order already prepared appetizers, side items or even the entire meal from your favorite restaurant and let the rest take care of itself. Allowing others to help make your evening special will free you up to engage your guests in conversation over a glass of wine. Remember, the dinner party is just as much for you to enjoy as everyone else, so normalize delegating.

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FLOW

When entertaining, I don’t believe that one needs to create a vibe. When a guest walks into your home they bring with them their own energy which is what you want. You also want the evening to flow organically. However, as the host, setting the tone and initial general direction of the evening is still important. The 3 elements that I sort of lean into in order to do that are: ambiance, cocktails and a phone free dinner table. Candlelight or low lighting and great music warms up your space and help to cultivate the energy as your guests begin to arrive. That combination paired with a great vintage or a well made cocktail will inspire your guests to mingle before sitting down to dinner. Encouraging your guests to take photos early on when they arrive and then put their phones away for the rest of the evening goes a long way to promote engagement and active participation with everyone at the table.

After such a dramatic pause on socializing that we've all experienced, whatever your choice of menu or table design, the new dinner party should honor your guests and be a reflection of your truest self. So set those intentions and enjoy your dinner.

Xo,

K