A few years ago, my best bud from college hosted a dinner party at his apartment for what seemed like 15 people. I arrived early and helped set the table and lit every single GD candle I could find to set the mood. The evening was lovely, mingling and chatting with people I wouldn’t usually cross paths with while also catching up with old pals.
Ina is onto something
A month later, I came across a kitchn interview with Ina Garten and her best dinner party advice. I sent it to my friends, the Oracle has spoken.
“An ideal party size is between four and eight people — once you get to 10, it feels like there are two different parties at the table.”
Ina Garten
Keeping this advice in mind, I was inspired to start up a supper club. My core four gal pals and their other halves make the perfect eight dinner party. I sent an email to get the buy-in from the group and followed up with a link to a Google doc to keep track of who’s hosting when. It’s organized chaos. There are no rules other than you have to host the month that you’ve committed to and send a calendar invite. The menu, decor, the casual or fancy vibe is all up to the host.
Why does it work?
By now, each group has hosted a supper club. There is not a time that we’ve sat around the table and raised a glass without thanking each other for committing to friendship. I speak to 3 out of the four gals daily. When we all get together, it’s still a different vibe. It’s so heartwarming. I love my tribe, and if hosting three intimate events a year lets me show that appreciation, I’ll do it with immense pleasure.
Sassy’s Supper Club
This weekend was my turn to host. Thankfully, I did a little something every day the week of so on Saturday night things were far less stressful. It was so much fun planning the table setting, floral arrangements, and crafting the menu. And yes, I baked my own birthday cake. I didn’t go through with the attempting to make the 17-hour Momofuku Birthday Cake recipe, but I semi-homemade a funfetti cake with Paula Deen’s cream cheese frosting. After this weekend, I’ll happily be pinning ideas until my next party in September. Since I love wine, I think an evening around that theme would be tons of fun.
Tasty bites, cocktails & red wine, fabulous friends, and good conversation — a supper club is, in the end, a simply awesome recipe for a special celebration. I hope you’ll be inspired to strike up your own tradition, so we can dish.
XX- Sassy
