Spring into fun outdoor entertaining with these great ideas
Here’s something we can all use right now: A little stress-free spring entertaining. And by that I mean getting together with friends outside — because it’s finally beautiful out.
So do it on your teensy back deck, your luxuriously landscaped patio, at your Hollywood-style pool, or in your toddler-toys-strewn backyard. It really doesn’t matter. The point is to take things outside and have an easy, breezy spring patio soiree at which you actually get to enjoy yourself. That means relying on deceptively simple meal kits from local celeb chefs made just for entertaining, plus cocktails that are a cinch to shake up, and a few creative touches.
Here are three ideas to inspire you:
What: A decadent sit-down seafood dinner party
Where:
At a table on the patio or deck, set with plenty of Mosquito Repellent Tea Light Candles ($9.99 on murphysnaturals.com). Keep the locale close to the house — these gorgeous dishes should be savored straight from the kitchen.
When: On a Saturday. You want time to enjoy getting everything ready for this one. And you’ll definitely want the next morning to sleep in.
What to serve: The Wulf’s Fish + The Banks Fish House Chef Box ($145 on wulfsfish.com) is a kit of luxurious ingredients from Wulf’s and recipes from chef Robert Sisca. They include Ora King Salmon for a caviar-topped ceviche; monkfish loin over eggplant and tomato; and a whole Dover sole in a pan sauce of browned butter and almonds. Get ready for applause!
Serve it on: The Fish Grain six-piece 8.3-inch Dinner
Plates ($111.99 on wayfair.com).
To drink: Icy sancerre and Champagne.
To wear: Something as elegant (but relaxed) as the dinner — like Tommy Hilfiger’s Plaid Maxi Dress ($139 on macys.com).
To play: The “Made in France” Playlist on Spotify.
What: A bakery buffet brunch
Where: Find an open area — a lawn works as well as a porch — and set up a long-ish table. Cover it with a pretty cover (that hides spills well) like the French Tablecloth Jardin Red & Grey (starting at $99 on couleurnature.com).
When: The next Sunday you have available, from noon to 3 p.m.
What to serve: Have everyone bring something (a coffee cake; a pile of pistachio muffins; a bunch of bialys), and then throw down with what you baked up with the help of pastry chef extraordinaire Joanne Chang. Her Flour Bakery + Cafe ships kits of the ingredients (you’ll need to buy a few ingredients separately) with simple instructions for sticky buns ($28 on flourbakery.com) and multigrain sourdough ($19 on flourbakery.com).
Serve it on: A stand worthy of your creations, like the Mosser Glass Robin’s Egg Blue Cake Stand ($54 on westontable.com).
To drink: Grapefruit mimosas couldn’t be easier; just mix two parts fresh grapefruit juice with one part sparkling white.
To wear: Go casual and classic, as in the Fit-and-Flare Mesh Polo Shirtdress ($198 on ralphlauren.com)
To play: Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Lady Gaga’s album with Tony
Bennett.
What: A splashy cocktail soiree
Where: On your private beach, your poolside patio, or your humble porch — defiantly anchored by a blow-up kiddie pool.
When: Happy hour, any day of the week
What to serve: Oysters shipped from Island Creek Oysters in The Starter Pack box ($85 on shop.islandcreekoysters.com), which comes with shucking gloves and a recycled ocean-plastic shucking knife.
Serve it on: A big, wide tub filled with ice, like Tablecraft BT1914 Oval Galvanized Steel Beverage Tub ($28.49 on webstaurantstore.com)
To drink: Classic mojitos — make them by the pitcher to save time.
To wear: Isabel Marant’s statement Fuchsia Round Sunglasses ($200 on olivela.com). And do a smoky eye for when you take them off.
To play: Bossa nova on repeat.