How to host the perfect al fresco dinner
*Picture by Slim Aarons
There’s nothing like spending a warm evening outside, eating a delicious meal in the company of great friends. It almost feels like being on vacation somehow… But to make it pleasant and seamless, planning an al fresco dinner requires some thought and consideration (mosquitoes aren’t welcome).
So here are my tips for entertaining in the great outdoors a.k.a. your backyard or garden.
The decor and table setting
Dining al fresco might seem like the perfect excuse to just relax, let go, be totally casual and not really care - and you can if you want to - but I think it’s even more important to be mindful of details when you don’t have the interior design of your dining room to help. Just have the table set with elements that speak to an outside environment, like raphia, linen, tropical prints, more rustic stemware. They are neutral enough that can be used time and time again, but are more adequate to an outdoor environment.
Then, if you want to, you can play around with themes. I personally adore when the decor of the evening reflects what’s going to be on the menu: lobster night with more New England-inspired elements and a blue and white color palette. Or delicious pasta leading to a Mediterranean vibe: lots of bright colors, lemons and hand-painted jugs.
Flower arrangements will add to that ambience, and be a touch of sophistication and care for your guests. The don’t have to be expensive or fancy: in lieu of huge vases filled to the brim with stems, go for smaller clusters of posie vases spread through the table.
And even if it is a more laid-back occasion, try and make it elevated by following classic table-setting rules: forks to the left, knives, spoons and glasses to the right. Maybe add some fun hand-written place cards. Give your guests the proper stemware for separate beverages.
The atmosphere
Let’s face it: the right vibe is 99% of hosting. Your dessert might come out a little wonky. the wine might not be a superb vintage, but a bad playlist can absolutely ruin a dinner. Lucky for you, I do have a playlist on Spotify for entertaining at home which seems to lift the mood every time I have it on. Other styles like Bossa Nova, Cool Jazz or Unplugged Standards can also work really well. Never underestimate the power of music!
And what is atmosphere without lighting? Being outside means that you probably won’t be under harsh, overhead spotlights, which already helps. To further add to the glow, I really love those battery-powered lamps. Add some beautiful candles as well! They provide glamour and ambience, and their flickering flame always looks great as background to pictures. And speaking of candles, if you live in an area prone to mosquitoes, some citronella candles will keep your guests from having to scratch their legs all night long.
The hostess outfit
Call me flamboyant, but when people come to my home, I see it as an opportunity to dress up a little bit. Nothing drastic, but just a small touch of sophistication to demonstrate that you respect your guests enough to not host them in yoga pants (we’ve all made that mistake before).
And since we’re talking about dining al fresco, it’s important to avoid excess. Compensate the glam with comfort, the more refined or intricate elements with simpler ones. For instance, finally take that colorful kaftan out of the close and dress it down with a pair of embellished flats and a sleek bun. Prints work really well here as a way to elevate simple silhouettes. For a more contemporary look, an off-the-shoulder top with wide-leg linen pants will do the job beautifully, especially paired with bolder gold jewelry.
The food
This is the moment you don’t want to test out recipes you’ve never made before. I‘ve made this mistake a few times: trying to impress everyone with a really gourmet meal, just to end up spending the whole night in the kitchen, flustered and frustrated. So I’ve learned a few lessons:
If you’re hosting for a lot of guests, either do something simpler like a lot of entrées, grazing boards and things you can buy ready-made, like quiches and stuffed vol-au-vent. Or you can hire staff. It seems extravagant, I know, but it’s such a HUGE help. You’re not going to be passively listening to your friends while worrying in your head about how long you have before taking the roast out of the oven. The kitchen doesn’t turn into a meeting spot just because you’re there, adding to the pressure. And, after the evening is over, a chef will have left your kitchen clean and spotless, so you can wake up the next morning without the stress of a messy house.
Know your hits and stick to them. It’s better to eat very simple, but delicious roast chicken, than see your guests pretending to like your latest thai-fusion invention or, even worse, serve dinner 2 hours late because you didn’t know you had to marinate the pork before grilling it.
I’m a bit paranoid, so I try to avoid risky foods like clams, oyster, shrimp, raw meat. They’re delicious, and if you’re very careful and diligent, it’s probably going to be fine, but one of my worst fears is to accidentally give my guests food poisoning. So if you’re not versed in these types of ingredients, if you don’t have the proper refrigeration space or if you don’t know in detail how to properly cook them, maybe leave them to a restaurant experience.
Dining outside is a more relaxed affair, so I would either put out a console table with the dishes where people can serve themselves, or do it family style, with the dishes on the table. However, if you’re not plating the food in your kitchen, make sure to transfer the food to beautiful containers, with pretty serving ware. It doesn’t have to be silver platters, but maybe some white porcelain or colorful stoneware. If you’re not cooking on gorgeous Le Creusets, or if you’re not serving paella, don’t put pots and pans on the table. Not only do they not look good, but they occupy a lot of space and are harder to pass around. Lay out serving dishes that fit the space, and refill them as needed.
And even if it is a more laid-back occasion, try and make it special by following classic table-setting rules: forks to the left, knives, spoons and glasses to the right. Maybe add some fun hand-written place cards. Give your guests the proper stemware for separate beverages.