How Jenni Hosted the Perfect Midsummer Soirée
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Food & Drink
How Jenni Hosted the Perfect Midsummer Soirée
August 2, 2022
We’re of the opinion that summer’s worth celebrating simply for the sake of it being summer—and we can’t imagine a better setting for a midseason gathering than the sprawling natural backdrop of Jenni’s Mandeville Canyon backyard. With a table as organically set as the oaks and sycamores it’s situated beneath and the inspired seasonality of a summer menu by our favorite culinary creative, Melissa Norton, Jenni was able to capture the quintessential Californian informality of a perfectly imperfect backyard party. Read on for the dinner party menu ideas you’ve been searching for, plus a guide to hosting your own gathering with complete ease.
How Jenni Hosted the Perfect Midsummer Soirée
The Tabletop
A major catalyst for this particular dinner party was Jenni’s eye-catching table that sits atop the hill in her yard—right underneath illustrious oak trees. Inspired by the surrounding greenery, we enlisted Jenn Sanchez to curate florals that felt seasonally in sync. With a large amount of space in the form of Jenni’s wood table, we were careful to ensure the scene felt impactful. With this in mind, Jenn utilized a variety of vessels to create her arrangements, focusing on bundles of scabiosa, wild grasses, chocolate cosmos, Queen Anne’s lace, and white sweet pea.
Once the florals were set, Jenni edited the tabletop details to ensure they spoke to the notions of California living. Each setting was reinforced with our Pacific Dinnerware, but Jenni chose to forgo the impulse to match and decided to pair taupe bowls with ivory plates for a touch of dimension. She finished the scene off with Bistro Cutlery and our Frayed Linen Napkins, curating a tabletop view that was equal parts relaxed and refined.
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The Menu
The key to a memorable dinner party is to have a menu that everyone ends up craving by the end of the evening. To accomplish this, Jenni called on Melissa Norton of Cucina Melissa to craft a seasonal menu unlike the rest. Italian-inspired and full of fresh ingredients, the lineup featured dishes such as roasted cauliflower with Manchego cheese, whipped burrata with poached peaches, and a simple green salad with shaved farmers market vegetables.
To keep the casual air that is synonymous with summertime, Jenni opted to serve dinner family-style so that everyone could settle in without having to worry about heading back inside—read: down the hill—for more.
The Details
The best gatherings are those that consider every detail, and this evening was no different. The celebrated air started hours before guests arrived as Jenni queued up a great playlist and left her doors wide open for her friends to wander in with ease.
While the finishing touches were being made with dinner, Jenni and her friends gathered atop the hill with cocktails in hand—simple tequila spritzes were the drink of choice. To simplify hosting, Jenni made a batch of drinks and left them on our Wood Tray for her guests to grab as they made their way outside.
As the sun began to set and the temperature started to dip, our Alpaca Basketweave Throws, which were bundled up beside the table, served as a welcomed addition for everyone who was eager to continue their conversations without getting cold.
Photos by Nicki Sebastian