Visual Entertaining

DIY Dining

My husband and I love entertaining. We enjoy gathering great people to hang at home, share a cocktail, nibble, and usually have dinner. Even for large crowds or fundraisers, we rarely, if ever, hire a caterer. We always find ways to keep it simple and do it ourselves. 

We hosted a party for the Montclair Art Museum honoring Cindy Sherman. The way we fed over 60 people at our house was pretty simple. We bought our favorite Mediterranean takeout food: grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, baba ghanoush, tahini salads, falafel, etc., and served them at room temperature on beautiful trays and plates. We used our collection of white china-looking plates, which I bought at Linens 'n Things for a dollar apiece. I store them in my basement, so I never have to rent plates. The food was a hit, and my husband and I enjoyed talking with our guests instead of worrying about heating up mini hotdogs. We hired a few kitchen helpers to handle the cleaning, which was a big relief. I wish we had more help with bartending, though. We usually set up a self-serve bar with drinks in multiple locations for easy access.

I always consider what to serve alongside chips or breadsticks, including a protein for easy eating. I try to buy the best-tasting, highest-quality crackers, cheese, and dips I can find. Here are some DIY tips to make it look great:

Here’s one of my favorite crudités that my daughter-in-law and I made for a Jones Road store opening in Palm Beach. The addition of caviar made it really special. Roe is one of my absolute favorites. The influencers loved the display and shared it widely on social. I always pay attention to offering a mix of healthy and rich foods, ensuring there's a variety of choices for everyone. I love putting colorful items in little bowls to keep things neat and interesting. Shout out to caviar for the elegance it adds. Note the cucumber slices as an option next to the blinis.'

Next, here is one from a family backyard dinner party. I adore the tablecloth (aka old newspapers and duct tape). The boys took charge of making the seafood boil in the sand, and cleanup was super easy. I loved the rustic vibe.

This was from a healthy family dinner. See how great a solo tomato looks on a Mae Mougin plate.

Here are a couple of photos from an aerial view of a family dinner, where everyone cooks and helps clean. I use these Emma Bridgewater dishes from the UK both at home and at The George Hotel. They make everything look better.

Here is a shot from our latest Thanksgiving table, which joyfully expands every year. I order new tablecloths on Amazon annually; they are linen and quite affordable. When they get worn out or ruined, they double as beach blankets.

Note: the $1 plates I bought at the closeout.

One of my personal favorite party snacks are homemade flax crackers, a crudité and red pepper dip, which was made by my friend Lily of Clean Food Dirty City. Some people either love it or hate it. As for me, I love a good homemade flax cracker.

Lastly, caviar is always a crowd favorite. Shoutout to the potato chips—they have never tasted so good.