It may feel like Summer has ended abruptly with the start of September, but IMO, it isn’t over until the sun starts setting at 6pm. The Brit in me will keep eating outside (even if that means layering up) until the bitter end.
Hosting is a huge passion of mine and has been from a young age. There is just something about a room full of your favourite people all together, or a busy dining table that doesn’t clear until the early hours of the morning. The energy in the house when we have guests is something I look forward to and cherish. It’s one reason I don’t mind living far from my friends and family in France; I love that bringing everyone together when they visit, and making a real celebration of our moments together.
I’ve always been a foodie and love creating some of my favourite recipes as well as trying new ones. It feels like such a privilege to bring people together and share delicious food together over great conversation, and to me it’s what life is all about. It’s these simple moments that make the fondest memories, and they’re the ones I dream of during the long, cold wait between Fall and Spring.
The Table
Lazy Jamie - Silver serving set
Flamingo Estate - Petrichor candle
Westwing - Acacia wood cake stand
Westwing - Metal butter dish
Westwing - Serving platter
Sezane - Braided pitcher
Gohar World - Fish lemon squeezer
*more items linked here.
What to Cook
Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray have been two of the most influential female chefs in the modern restaurant scene thanks to their restaurant the River Cafe in Fulham. Aside from taking tablescape inspiration from their beautiful hand written menus (see above image), their recipes never disappoint and really know how to please a crowd. Their Summer Minestrone is made multiple times throughout the Summer in my house and makes for a great starter. You’ll find it, among other incredible Italian recipes, in their ‘River Cafe 30’ cook book.
Diana Henry is a renowned British food writer. If you have the time and are looking to plan ahead for a special meal, her book ‘How to Eat a Peach’ is a must read. From the age of sixteen she started a menu notebook and has brought some of her favourites together in this beautiful book which you can use throughout the seasons. Try this Roast Seabass with Fennel & Anise Aïoli as a main course for a late summer gathering.
I often turn to Letitia Clark for dessert inspiration. Her in-depth knowledge of sweet Italian masterpieces is unfounded and made accessible regardless of your baking experience. This Chocolate, Pear , Hazelnut & Brown Sugar Cake from her book ‘La Vita è Dolce’ is the perfect thing for hosting with late-summer produce.
Other Cookbooks I love:
Flamingo Estate - Fridays From the Garden
Bonnie Wright - Go Gently
Gjelina - California Cooking from Venice Beach
Yotam Ottolenghi - Plenty
Yotam Ottolenghi - Nopi
What to Wear
Altuzarra - Alden silk top. This top is simple but fun and can be styled with jeans for a more laid-back occasion or a colour-matched skirt for something more formal
Leslie Amon - Timeless maxi. I wear this dress every single summer without fail. It is so light in warmer weather, and it just feels so effortless to float around in. It’s super comfortable and simple, but it works for both casual or formal occasions
Gwyn - Knitted Sweater. I love this chunky knit. It’s perfect for long evenings spent outside that start to get chilly as the night goes on. There’s something about layering up in a summer dress at the end of a night and this is my favourite knit to do it in.
Faithfull the Brand - Mora top. I love a cotton dress or 2 piece, and I love the embroidered details on this piece. Imagine it styled alone with jeans or as a set with it’s matching pants
Faithfull the Brand - Sant Roc maxi dress. I love a two-tone black and white bandeau, I just think it’s so chic. This is similar to one I designed for NA-KD a few years ago. It’s so timeless and, again, works for both formal or casual events
Arcinaori - Lavinia dress. One of my all-time favourite dresses, the Lavinia from Arcinaori is another floaty number that just feels so elegant and effortless to wear. Granted, it’s a little less practical for serving up a big feast, but it’s perfect for a more formal occasion, perhaps more of a cocktail event
Helsa - The lace camisole. Another perfect top, this one is definitely on the more formal side but can be dressed up or down.
Shona Joy - Column maxi. Another effortless dress, and another one I come back to every summer without fail.
Helsa - Midi dress. This midi is a classic piece. I love the boat neck and A-line shape, its so flattering and it literally can do no wrong. In black it feels a bit more formal for the end of summer but it also comes in white and red. Perfect for daytime or evening events
*More hosting looks linked here.
What to Play
Depending on the occasion, a good playlist is of utmost importance whenever we have people over. Even if Hedi and I are alone or perhaps just my parents are here and we’re chilling by the fire, we always have music on the speakers. For these calm moments or slow Sunday mornings, soft jazz, funk, folk, soul or soft rock runs on repeat. Whilst we’re cooking together in the kitchen on weekends, we’ll have something a bit more upbeat and when we have big gatherings, it could be a mix of old-school classics, soft rock, jazz-house or Motown. Hedi has also just recently bought a vintage record and CD player, so we love flipping through old classics with guests, too, and just see where the night takes us.
Here is a brief intro to the some of the tunes we’ve had on-repeat for dinners in the garden this summer.