Leanne Citrone on Having Your Dinner Party and Enjoying It Too

Rip & Tan: Tell us a bit about your move to the kitchen. What inspired it and what’s on deck for the future?

Leanne Citrone: I have always found that cooking and being in the kitchen has been a refuge for me. When I owned a hair salon, cooking was a way for me to wind down from my hectic day. Stepping away from the salon has really given me the time to explore the world of food and nurturing. I find so much joy in bringing people together through food and entertaining. As for the future, I am so excited for a few projects that I have been tediously working on! I cannot wait to share them with everyone and just grow that love of food, wellness, entertaining, and gathering.

Rip & Tan: We love the unexpected simplicity of an elevated (read: grown-up) pizza party. What was your inspiration for this gathering?

Leanne Citrone: Pizza is just so universally loved! Having a pizza oven built into your space or one of those great tabletop ones was a no-brainer for our home. It’s just so fun and enjoyable. It really lets you relax and have consistency as a host and for picky eaters, it creates a level of customizing at a dinner party that is so great! The possibilities are endless for how much or how little you want people to be involved in the process.

Rip & Tan: As we look forward to a season of warmer weather and more time outside, what is it about outdoor entertaining that feels so special?

Leanne Citrone: It always feels special when you are under the stars. It’s easy to lose track of time and the evening can go on forever. Also you don’t have to look at the dishes piled up in the kitchen!

Rip & Tan: Hosting comes so naturally to you—but for some, catering to guests can keep them from truly enjoying an evening. How can we make the entertaining process more seamless? What are your thoughts on getting guests involved?

Leanne Citrone: Don’t feel like you have to cook everything! You can always buy dessert from your favorite bakery. Ask a guest to bring wine and other drinks you may need. Assign a dish you hate to make to a friend to lighten your load. You can always transfer the things people bring or you ordered to your own dishes so everything feels homemade.

Most importantly: remember the time together is what matters most and if all goes to hell you can always order pizza!

Rip & Tan: What are some simple ways to make spontaneous entertaining feel effortless? Do you have any tips for the hosting hesitant?

Leanne Citrone: Don’t try to take on more than you can handle. If you need to order dinner in, do it! You can always put together a cheese board that people can graze from all night and some fun desserts. I really find that not making dessert is an easy way to cut corners, you can buy great fresh baked cookies and all kinds of quality ice cream to make ice cream sandwiches. Everyone is always impressed and you didn’t have to do a thing.

Rip & Tan: Fresh, in-season produce can take a good meal and make it a revelation. How can we expertly navigate the booths at our local farmer’s market? Do you have a favorite seasonal ingredient for spring?

Leanne Citrone: Always ask the farmers, they know what’s best and they can easily give you tips for how to cook things! They are such an underutilized source of wonderful cooking knowledge. I love my farmers! I always like to tell people to commit to buying a new ingredient they have never bought before and simply google a few recipes. It’s fun! My favorite ingredients for spring are snap peas, English peas, and all the beautiful carrots and radishes.

Rip & Tan: Other than ingredients for a delicious meal, what are some hosting must-haves to always have on hand?

Leanne Citrone: I always encourage everyone to go through their pantry often and commit to using the food that goes out of date the soonest. It’s also a great way to not have food waste.

Rip & Tan: We’re officially inspired—what should we make for dinner tonight? Any never-fail recipes you always turn to?

Leanne Citrone: Oh, there are so many on my site! I love the vegan kale caesar salad. The lemon pasta is always a hit. I am British so I love love love a potato in any form! And lastly, I love the tarte tartin and the rose chocolate bark.

Rip & Tan: Last question: how can we make the perfect pizza?

Leanne Citrone: Whether you are making pizza dough from scratch or buying frozen dough from your local market, the pizza topping options are endless. One pizza that is always a hit at my house is this smoked salmon pizza.

Drizzle a little olive oil on the dough and bake per the pizza directions, then leave the dough to cool slightly. Once cooked, spread creme fraiche onto the pizza dough and arrange the smoked salmon on the top. Then, add thinly sliced red onion or chives and top with a little Maldon salt and fresh cracked pepper.