ENTERTAINING ON THE EASY

HIP HOSTESS ILANA ECK TELLS YOU HOW TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON

PARTY IN THE GARDEN

Now is the time when gardens are brimming with lush greens, fresh produce and fragrant flowers.
Use the bounty of the season as the backdrop for a garden-themed party. A garden is the perfect
place to host a summer soiree, whether it’s a bridal shower, birthday party or just a fun dinner with friends.

SETTING THE SCENE

Garden Style
A party in the garden can be casual or elegant, depending on the mood you set. For a casual garden party, use biodegradable paper goods and serve buffet-style. For a more formal feel, serve a sit-down dinner in the garden with fine china and cloth napkins.

Aluminum Utensil Holders
Instead of putting empty cans in the recycle bin, use them as utensil holders. Clean aluminum cans (with the label peeled off) are a great way to transport silverware outside. Set out three cans, each filled with forks, knives and spoons. Leave them on the table and let everyone grab their own utensils as needed. When it’s time to clean up, simply fill the cans with the used silverware and tote them back into the kitchen. Use the cans as they are, or paint the outside a color that coordinates with your scheme.

Night Light
There are several ways to add flattering light to a nighttime fete: Line the perimeter with tiki torches or scatter glass hurricanes or lanterns with pillar candles on a windy night. You can also greet your guests by lining the path to the garden (or your driveway) with brown paper bags filled with sand or gravel and electric tea lights.

Eco-Friendly Centerpiece
Use pretty potted flowers for a centerpiece—either one large pot or several smaller pots with different flowers and/or herbs. A potted plant is perfect for a garden theme and will last longer than fresh-cut flowers. Tie satin ribbons around the pots for added interest. For a shower or birthday party, place a colored napkin under one plate on each table and let the guest who chooses that seat take the centerpiece home.

Hip Tips

Use the colors from your garden as inspiration for your color scheme. Stick with different shades of green if you have a very colorful garden—you don’t want to compete with Mother Nature.
Keep sunblock, bug repellent, odorless citronella candles and a lighter on hand.
Give seed packets or small potted plants as party favors.

A tropical-themed menu naturally works well for a warm-weather party. This menu is both elegant enough for dinner and casual enough for a luncheon.

Edamame hummus* with rice crackers and fresh veggies

Tropical salad (butter lettuce, red pepper, mango and toasted macadamia nuts) with mint vinaigrette*

Pineapple grilled chicken

Citrus quinoa or couscous salad*

Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons*

Mango sorbet

Hip Tips

Serve a refreshing white wine spritzer by using two parts white wine and one part club soda, or make a quick sangria by adding diced fruit to the glass. Use fruit that will complement the wine, such as a crisp green apple in sauvignon blanc or watermelon for a nice rosé.
Limit trips inside by setting up an outdoor station—a table off to the side—with pitchers of water, extra glasses, a bucket of ice, additional bottles of wine and extra napkins.
Simplify dessert by making cookies, cupcakes or any other dessert that doesn’t require serving utensils.

*Recipes available at www.hiphostessblog.com.

Ilana Eck is an attorney by day and the Hip Hostess by night. She writes a food and entertaining blog, www.hiphostessblog.com, offering recipes, tips and ideas for hosting with style. Ilana lives in New York City with her husband, Etienne, and doesn’t let her small space stop her from entertaining at home.