Making that summer party extra special
Home and lifestyle boutique owner dishes on gifts for the host, outdoor parties and more
Amanda McClements is the owner and creative director of Salt & Sundry, a home and lifestyle boutique in the U.S.
McClements rose to prominence as a food critic, editor and graphic designer. In 2005, she created the website Metrocurean to share what she adored about cooking.
Her writing has been featured in Food and Wine, Martha Stewart Living and Time Out guide books, among many others.
She recently sat down to discuss ways in which to dress up outdoor entertaining this summer, wedding gifts and tips on choosing and cleaning cutting boards.
Q I need new cutting boards but am overwhelmed by the selection available. I’d prefer some attractive wood ones that can be displayed in the kitchen. What is your favourite wood for cutting boards, both from a durability and appearance perspective? A My favourite wood is black walnut, both for its gorgeous tones and durability. Maple also makes a great cutting surface. Q What is the best way to clean a wood cutting board? A Use hot, soapy water to get the board clean, dry well and then every few uses or so, apply a natural oil to protect the surface.
Q What are your top three hostess gift ideas if you’re invited for a weekend at the cottage? A To make sure you get invited back, I’d bring a few Turkish towels for the host to enjoy, fixings for bloody marys one morning and a great bottle of champagne. Q I need a wedding gift on a budget of $100. What can you suggest?
A One of our most popular wedding gifts is a nice slate cheese board paired with a trio of French cheese knives. You could even (add) a gift card to the couple’s local cheesemonger. Q My outdoor cushions and furniture always look dirty. Any tips on how I can maintain them? A Grab throw pillows and colourful blankets from inside that are easy to wash. Drag them outside when you’re entertaining to cover up the rough spots. Q Do you know a commercial shampoo that can be used to clean outdoor cushions? A I (recently) pressure-washed my patio and ended up throwing my cushions in the mix, too. All force, no finesse, but they look better! Most outdoor fabrics can take a lot of abuse. Q Any ideas for food that can sit outside during a picnic?
A I try to think of foods that are great at room temperature and are easy to eat with your hands. I love making Spanish-inspired pintxos — put cubes of hard cheese, cured meat and a salty pickled vegetable on a skewer. Grain salads are another great room-temperature option (think farro, barley, etc.). Pre-portion them in small jars with lids so guests can eat right out of the container. Q Are there any good alternatives to citronella candles or bug zappers? I find the lit candles to be distracting and unpleasant when eating on my patio. A If you can run an extension cord to your outdoor space, a good old box fan works wonders to keep bugs away! Q I am thinking of throwing an outdoor pizza party. I have a portable woodfire grill, but do you think it would be too much of a hassle to let people build their own pizzas? I just fear keeping the ingredients (especially meats and cheeses) safe in the outdoors, but I think it would be fun. A We’re kindred spirits! This is one of my favourite summer parties to throw. My advice is to get organized: Have several sheet
pans to move pizzas to and from the grill, and keep all of your toppings on a table right beside the grill. (And keep everything cold until you’re ready to top!) Guests love the DIY aspect, and if you can embrace a bit of chaos, everyone should have a blast. I did this once in high winds with toppings flying everywhere, but we all had a good laugh and eventually, dinner. Q I am struggling to find a theme for a big party in a couple of weeks. I am somewhat inspired by your Bauhaus dinnerware, and am wondering if you have suggestions for drinks, menu or decor to help make this an incredible night.
A Work off that modern colour scheme of the Bauhaus plates and try a few low jars of white and deep-purple flowers, simple linens and plenty of tea lights. Pre-batch a pitcher of boulevardiers (a great classic cocktail for summer with rye, vermouth and Campari) so you’re ready to pour when your guests arrive. Then keep the meal light and summery — maybe a big bowl of pasta with roasted tomatoes and heaps of fresh herbs? I hope it’s a blast!
Q Do you have any ideas for cocktails that will impress but
that aren’t really involved?
A Try mixing up a punch in advance, chill it well and transport it in hinge-top bottles. Then you have a delicious cocktail without having to bring along a mobile bar. One favourite that’s super simple: Take a bottle of dry sparkling wine and mix with 1/4 cup (60 mL) of lemon juice and 1/3 cup (80 mL) of a sweetened syrup such as grenadine or Royal Rose lavender-lemon syrup. (A funnel helps get it back into a bottle!)