At the start of the year, I put together a little Summer Soirée for my girlfriends: a dinner party at home to enjoy the warm night air and good company. It feels like something we rarely do anymore—having people over—but it's something I grew up watching my parents do, and I am a little bit sad that the idea of regularly hosting your loved ones at home has fallen out of fashion.
I wanted to cook for everyone, and I wanted it to be extra special. A night in to be remembered. In hindsight, it was a lot of effort, and for future dinner parties (there will be many!) I'll cut back on some of the frills so that I have more energy and time to relax when people arrive. But it really was lovely to go all out for the first event.
On Arrival:
Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis
Equal parts: fresh espresso, vodka, Kahlua plus a splash of salted caramel syrup and topped with Cobs Salted Caramel Popcorn.
Cheese Board
A must! Choose a selection of soft and hard cheeses that you like, and your guests will enjoy. I chose blue cheese, camembert, cheddar, plus a goat's cheese. Drizzle honey over your camembert, and add a mix of berries, nuts, crackers, and dips.
Entree:
Oysters
Grab a dozen or two from your local fish monger, and make your own mignonette (it's really easy: 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar and a finely diced French Shallot. Leave it to marinade for an hour or so).
This salad was a huge hit and I strongly urge you to make it! You can find the recipe here.
Mains:
Baked Salmon
Marinade fillets early with garlic, salt & pepper, olive oil and slices of lemon. Pop it in the oven when guests arrive and it'll be ready by the time you decide to eat.
Salad
The key to an amazing salad is four-fold:
- Dry roasted nuts (almonds, pine nuts or walnuts are amazing)
- Fresh herbs (don't overlook dill)
- The perfect dressing: honey, garlic, olive oil, and two types of vinegar—balsamic and either red or white wine vinegar.
- Cheese. Parmesan, cheddar, or get fancy with a crumbled blue vein gorgonzola.
Dessert:
I made pavlova, of course. Make the case the night before, and you can decorate it just before people arrive and let it add to the decorations on your table.
Alternatively, I might make a pretty cake for my next party—something I can make the day before to free up more time.
What to Wear:
I've always felt like I was born in the wrong decade and should have been hosting parties in the 70s. To honour this, I wore a blue striped dress that channels ultimate 70s vibes, and my favourite Del Mar Hoop Earrings.
Tips:
- Design the menu & place cards on photoshop and print them onto textured art paper.
- Flowers, of course!
- Go to the effort of making cocktails (salted caramel espresso martinis)
- Set a colour scheme: pink & blue.
- Candles with ribbons tied into big bows.
- Pull out the crystal glassware for serving and drinks.
- Make a Spotify Playlist to set the mood, or use mine.
- Pull out your tarot cards for some after-dinner fortune telling.
- Get dressed up: hair, make up, jewellery, outfit. Add a dress code to your invite.
This is your push to invite your favourite people over for a night to remember—and make it a regular event!
