I know a lot of people who love to cook and love to get together but won’t throw dinner parties because they worry about creating the perfect culinary experience for their guests. My advice to them: While good food is great, getting people together is what it’s really all about. If you focus on enjoying each others’ company, the evening can’t go wrong. Even if a dish bombs, share a good laugh about it! It’s not the end of the world.
The way I see it, I enjoy entertaining and sitting around the table almost more than cooking the meal. It’s also my chance to try something new. I have never set the table the same way twice. However, I may have cooked the same meal for more than one group of guests. I’ll admit to that! But for the most part, I like to challenge myself when it comes to setting the table. I enjoy looking around my house for ideas and reinventing the things I own, especially the items I’ve collected over time.
When I entertain, I love to take everything out: My mismatched salt and pepper shakers, the orange bowls I found at a tag sale, and lots of candles (my faves are from Jo Malone and Trish McEvoy). Focusing on these little details, such as setting a beautiful table or plating food in a special way, helps set the mood for the evening. The more inventive I get, the more conversation pieces I offer my guests. I’ve grabbed leaves and branches from my backyard to place down the center of the table. I’ve mixed up dishware, pairing charger plates with hors d’oeuvres plates from different sets. I’ve color-coordinated paper cocktail napkins and flowers with dips, salsas, or cheeses. I always have some sort of theme going on. That’s how I like to keep things fun, fresh, unique and, most of all, memorable.
xox,
M
P.S. For more tips on entertaining, check back later this week to read Ask Monica, where I go in more depth about entertaining with heirlooms. Also our See It Their Way column will feature an excerpt from the new book The Vintage Table by Jacqueline DeMontravel, who also discusses hosting dinner parties with vintage pieces. Plus, in our Go Here, Find This column you’ll meet a man who rents antique tableware for private parties.
Published on March 1, 2010
While there are many sites today dedicated to the pursuit of fashion and style, here at MRK Style we approach these subjects through a collector’s lens. Through exploring how people relate to Art, Family, Fashion, Food, Film and Travel—essentially life’s various, everyday obsessions—we reflect on how we all live with the things we love. 
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