Simple & Elegant Hosting Tips for Your Summer Gatherings

Aug 14

When Les Dames d’Escoffier, one of my favorite professional organizations of which I am a proud member, asked me to provide a few tips for hosting a summer soirée ~ or any meal where you have the luxury and privilege to gather your dear family and friends, I eagerly and humbly complied. They published a fabulous storyboard on social media that, in turn, I want to share with you. After all, sharing is caring. And when gathering, you are sharing your food and drink and love…

Hosting is all about making guests feel welcome and appreciated; being generous and genuine. A gathering should not be performative; it’s not about you…. Rather, you want your guests to feel valued and appreciated. Bear in mind that you’re making, memories…

To that point, Les Dames headlined their postings with:

The most memorable gatherings are the ones filled with thoughtful details.⁠

⁠Dame Leeann Lavin, author of The Art of the Garnish, shares a few simple ways to elevate your gatherings and make your guests feel extra special this season. Swipe through for her expert tips. ✨

Here is the Gallery of Gathering tips:

Thank you, Les Dames d’Escoffier (LDNY) for asking me to share my hosting tips. I love creating pretty, thoughtful tablescapes, food and drink menus that reflect the seasons ~ offering glamorous garden-to-glass cocktails. You can read more in the Art of the Garnish book and chapter on the Garden Glamour blog, here. And more tips on creating festive, unique, tablescapes in the Art of Gathering chapter.

Les Dames d’Escoffier is “an unparalled collective of forward-thinking and successful female leaders in all sectors of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.” You can read more about our initiatives on the web site, including how to become a member and to embrace our Scholarship Program, “one of our proudest achievements.”