5 Tips for Spring Soirées

INTIMIDATED BY THE THOUGHT OF INVITING FRIENDS OVER FOR A MEAL? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. BUT TESSA MCAULIFF, TESSA’S TABLE, SHARES HER EXPERTISE FOR HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL AND RELATIVELY STRESS-FREE EVENT.

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Dine Alfresco

Mild spring weather makes it the perfect time to entertain outdoors. Whether you are planning brunch, lunch or dinner, hosting outdoors is what the season is all about. To elevate the ambiance in the evening, string market lights above your table — think a Tuscan gathering under the stars. If you don’t have market lights, bring a couple indoor lamps outside or use battery-operated table lamps or candles for extra lighting.

Style A Fun Bar Cart

A bar cart where guests help themselves is a must for effortless entertaining. Leave a bowl of candied pecans or truffle popcorn for guests to enjoy while everyone else arrives. Instead of mixing individual cocktails, mix pitchers of springtime cocktails like a botanical gin and blood orange cocktail, blackberry mint mojitos, or a blush sangria using seasonal fruit and fresh herbs. If you’re not serving cocktails, pitchers of cucumber mint water and hibiscus iced tea are also beautiful options.

Set The Table

makes you nervous, buy lots of the same flower or same color flower to create abundance. A simpler idea is placing single flowers in bud vases down the table and adding candles.

Create A Menu Using Seasonal Ingredients

I begin my spring menus by going to the farmers market and choosing the freshest produce. Some popular springtime ingredients include arugula, citrus, beets, carrots, strawberries, asparagus, pineapple and broccoli. A honey and citrus baked salmon is one of my favorites to serve accompanied by a feta and orzo salad with a lemony vinaigrette. If there’s no time to cook, I love to host a brunch with croissants from my favorite local bakery, a fresh fruit platter, thick maple bacon, quiche, and a mimosa bar.

Enjoy Your Own Party

One of the most important details about throwing a dinner party is actually enjoying your own party. Platters of food on a grazing table is my signature serving style, so try to prepare what you can ahead of time. Place everything on large platters so guests can help themselves. Keep bottles of wine on the table or on your bar cart by the table so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the spring season.

For more of Tessa’s inspiring lifestyle, visit tessastable.com.