Mary Beth Evans
Getting friends together for an intimate gathering of great food, wine and conversation has been one of the highlights of my life. It should be an enjoyable time for everyone, including me (the hostess, chef and cleanup crew) but that wasn’t always the case. In the past I’d bring out the latest issues of my favorite cooking magazines, shop for countless ingredients and proceed to spend the entire day in the kitchen. After hours of sifting, whisking and braising, I was exhausted long before the guests even arrived. A half-hour before party time you could find me frantically stashing mail and papers off the counter into any available drawer and running to the shower at a pace not seen since childhood.
And, of course, the house had to be spotless, with everything in its place and not a dust ball in sight. Even the bedrooms had to be straightened on the off-chance someone forgot my directions to the powder room and ventured down the hall. Then, just to keep the madness alive, I would have prepared foods that needed last minute “tending”. Visions of guests lounging by the fire were replaced with everyone hanging out in the kitchen because I could never really leave.
I somehow always managed to pull it off, but I realize now it doesn’t have to be so much work. After 23 years of marriage and countless dinner parties, I started taking my husband Michael’s advice to “do what you know” and “keep it simple”. When I finally gave up the “pageant,” as my husband so irritatingly called it, my experience drastically improved and I began to actually enjoy the process.
The Set-Up
Round seating: Many years ago I bought a round table from a party rental company for $125 that I use every time I have a dinner party. I love round seating—everyone can see each other and it makes for great conversation amongst the whole table.
Flea market finds: Flea markets are an incredible resource for so many things for entertaining on a
budget. A stack of cloth napkins are a must. They really do make a difference in the overall presentation of your table and with a little spray starch you can keep them looking their best. Flea markets have a great selection of eclectic silverware and plateware that you can mix and match.
Mix it up with a few different sets of salt and pepper shakers and your table will look amazing.
Candles: All shapes and sizes! Votives are the best and very inexpensive. I love to dress the table up with candles and vintage candlesticks found, again, at the flea market. Dim the lights or turn some off and have lots of candles burning. It makes the room more warm and cozy—and who doesn’t look beautiful in candlelight?
Flowers: Go to a farmers market and pick up bunches of your favorite flowers. I always save vases whenever I receive arrangements and reuse them. Tulips are great because you can pack 3-4 bunches in the vase and they droop down beautifully, not blocking your view of the person across the table.
Glassware ...
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