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Summer Dinner Party

July 31st, 2011

Summer Dinner Party

We threw a little dinner party last weekend. When I say little, I mean 24 people.

Some horrible article came out 10 days ago about how Seattleites had witnessed a mere 78 minutes of weather over 70 degrees. I feel a tad guilty about complaining since I know some of you are hot enough to fry an egg on your forehead- but- please, have some pity for us sun deprived too.

Well that article massively inspired me to gather friends and celebrate the small window of sun we were due for (it was a glorious 73 degrees that day!) We ate outside and enjoyed my summer (city) garden.

It was some work to feed 24 people. But I promise you- if you are organized, it is totally doable. And I even had time to “over-serve” myself wine. But don’t worry- the kids were at my parents, so I only embaressed myself and my husband- (the children were spared.)

My favorite part of all this stuff is decking the table out. I absolutely LOVE giving my guests a full experience.

I thought I would share the menu and the pictures with you. Maybe they will give you some ideas for your own summer entertaining? By the way, I took some of these tips and shared them over at New Day Northwest a few days later- check out this little video ☺

HeatherChristo “Dress up your table!”

I promise that all of this stuff is easy and homegrown. I spray painted those old lanterns in my driveway. The neighbors saw me sweating out there all afternoon like a crazy hag trapped in a filtered mask. I also spray painted the vases and the chargers (chargers were toxin free). I like to get a little crafty now and then.

I only used “filler” flowers like yarrow, billy’s balls (my favorite!) and little yellow mums (victor’s mums?). They are inexpensive and the yarrow is literally growing in droves next to the freeway. When those types of flowers are used in huge quantities they feel very luxurious.

I then mounded the tables full of anything yellow I could find at the farmers market and my local grocery store: Yellow tomatoes, on the vine and heirloom, golden cherry tomatoes, yellow summer squash, gold and yellow chilies and peppers, yellow apricots (called angelcots) and golden raspberries. Most of the golden raspberries were polished off by the guests, but everything else was cooked up: recipes are coming up!

Don’t forget the bar. I like a signature drink (a peach dandy in this case) and lots of bar snacks. Because I personally like to snack while I drink, so I assume everyone else does too… (I also filled the fountain with ice so I could leave all the bottled water in there)

Summer Supper Party Menu
Bar Snacks
-Spicy Cheese Straws
-Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
-Olives

Appetizers
-Calamari with chili’s
-Deep Fried Squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta and chives. Sea salt
-Crostini with fava bean puree, ricotta, truffle oil and a quail egg.
-Smoky Chickpea Crostini With bacon

Dinner
-Corn Soup

-Roasted Caprese Salad
-Arugula, Figs and Candied Almonds with Fried Goat Cheese
-Lobster Salad
-Chilled Roasted Beets

-Lemon Pasta
-Whole Grilled Snapper Stuffed with Tomato and Olive Salad

Dessert Buffet
Smores Cake
Chocolate Raspberry Tart
Blackberry Tart
Strawberry Tart
Almond Ricotta Cake
Oatmeal Apricot Cookies