Feast Dinner Party & 5 Ways To Up Your Hosting Game
photos by bridget burnett | florals by keep floral | dinner & styling by feast dinner party | video by o.ski films | bar service by avantgarde
“We Gather. We Create. We Celebrate.”
That’s the motto of Feast Dinner Party, a local Denver company that specializes in bringing the dinner party to you.
Hannah, owner and founder is a force of nature that exudes a warm and welcoming aura that makes you want to give her a hug the first time you meet her. While she is a jack of all trades (she does everything from calligraphy, to florals, to teaching pilates) she knows how to delegate & lead a team so that every detail is executed with ease and poise.
And yes, she is always wearing that smile.
When we opened our doors in June 2019, we knew we wanted to get a dinner in the books. We created this space for people to come together, and partnering with Feast Dinner Party made our dinner dreams come true.
Read on for inspiration on throwing your own summer soiree.
1. Welcome Well
When the weather is warm, the first thing you want to do when guests arrive is get a cold drink in their hand, but that doesn’t mean you have to be slaving over a cocktail shaker whenever you hear a car pull up.
Making a batch of cocktails is a great way to have craft beverage without that extra labor. Hannah batched an Italian Holiday, a lovely, boozy drink with gin, lillet, sage bitters and a twist of lemon.
You can also steep some mint and cucumber in a pitcher of ice water—it’s cool, refreshing and lets your guests who don’t drink know you’re thinking about them too.
And where there is drinking, there’s the craving for something to munch. The morning of, put together a meat, cheese and fruit board. Pop it in the fridge and set it out 30 minutes before your guests arrive.
2. Plan & Pair
The first thing you should think about when planning a menu is the season. And in the summer heat plan your menu around fresh ingredients that are cool, crisp, and refreshing.
Hannah & her team served a summer harvest board with a mix of local veggies, cheeses, fruits and nuts, okroshka, a cold summer soup topped with egg yolk, a grain salad packed with seasonal goodness, cold marinated grilled veggies, and farmer’s market pasta with zucchini and tomatoes.
Once you’ve settled on your menu, instead of wandering the aisle aimlessly, looking for a bottle that catches your eye, take a few minutes to text that wine snob friend (we all have one), ask an employee of your local wine shop, or even do a quick google search.
The little extra research will be worth it when your meal fits together like lovely pieces of a delicious puzzle.
And to make everything a little easier, before guests arrive, set the wine bottle on or near the table so guests can help themselves throughout the meal.
3. Don’t Be Afraid Of Color
It’s summer after all—flowers are in bloom, bees are buzzing, grass is lush, and produce is ripening. Lean into the bounty and use it as inspiration to mix and match.
Bust out your grandmas vintage plates that are back in style, or take a trip to your local thrift store for a fun new serving platter, pitcher, or glassware.
Hannah used bold colored glass ware and bright yellow menus to compliment neutral dishes and linens. The pops of color were a lovely addition to Realm’s large white tables and neutral furnishings.
You don’t want to be balancing plates and glasses as guests are knocking, so take the time to set tables ahead of time.
You’ll be glad when you’re sipping wine and chatting it up with your friends instead of trying to place utensils and linens.
4. Incorporate florals
Nothing spruces things up like a pop of color from fresh blooms but you don’t have to break the bank.
Pick up some stems while you’re doing your grocery shopping or forage some greenery and place in a jar as a centerpiece or to adorn the cocktail bar.
But if you want to go the extra mile and have a little extra room in your entertaining budget, you can always order an arrangement from your local florist.
Hannah partnered with Bethany, owner of Keep Floral to create a hanging floral photo backdrop & colorful arrangement.
Taking her cues from Realm’s furnishings, Bethany did what she’s known for and created a floral work of art that is down right stunning.
The hanging ombre installation was the picture perfect back drop.
5. Sit Back & Enjoy
As the host you set the tone. And while there are hosty duties to be performed—you may want to refill a glass or two and make sure plates are replenished—take as many moments as you can to enjoy the night. Because you know your guests are!
And all those dishes? They’ll be there tomorrow.
We couldn’t have asked for a better way to inaugurate Realm into the dinner party world. Feast Dinner Party and our collaborators truly put on the event of our dreams.
