Entertaining Tips for the Season

Prior proper planning is your friend. Consider what on the menu can be made ahead, or as you plan the menu, which dishes easily scale up so that your special meal is more easily doable. The more prep you can accomplish in advance of the festivities means you'll only have finishing touches to tackle day-of. Which translates to more time to enjoy the party yourself!

Make the dish ahead. For braises and roasts, such as the Braised Short Ribs + Creamy Beans from my book A Year at Catbird Cottage, it’s actually better if you make the whole thing at least a day ahead! When given those extra hours, the flavors meld and deliver a more robustly delicious feast. It’s also nice to only need to reheat on the day of, allowing you to make that impressive hors d’oeuvres platter, or simply spend more quality time with your guests.

Serve a nibbles platter. Similar to the version featured in my book, nibbles platters dazzle guests with a colorful array to hit all the flavor and textural notes: salty-crunchy-creamy-crispy-sweet. With a curated selection of cheeses and/or charcuterie, pickles, nuts, preserves, fruits of the season, crackers, flatbreads, and crunchy things, you can't go wrong. I love incorporating ripe persimmons, fresh figs, or other seductive peak-ripe fruit. A mix of homemade and store-bought crackers both wow guests and minimize prep. If you make your own jams or pickles, this is a great way to feature them while only having to pull from the fridge or pantry. This party platter comes together quickly once you’ve decided on the components and is infinitely riffable. Another win-win is that there’s something for everyone. And while the main event may have more ceremony, a great nibbles platter is a more casual format - people can graze, filling their plates with new discoveries and trusty favorites, and inspires conversation.

Add flowers. Anytime I entertain, I think about what mood I want to create. In addition to selecting personal ceramics, napkins, and cutlery for the moment, flowers always set a celebrational tone. A few small, curated arrangements (with or without one large bouquet) always create a meaningful impact. In addition to flowers at the main table, I like to install a bouquet for the powder room. It's unexpected there, and creates an extra special moment, just for a single person.