Ina Garten-Inspired Garden Forward Mediterranean Party
As a lover of all things Ina Garten, I wanted to host a garden party inspired by her elegant yet approachable vibe and aesthetic on my backyard patio. It was so fun to put together this Ina Garten-Inspired Dinner Party, combining cozy touches with elevated serve ware, homemade garden-forward dishes, and an inviting atmosphere with a curated and semi-thrifted tablescape. The setting was beautiful, the food was absolutely delicious, with a menu full of fresh, flavorful recipes that were easy to prepare, allowing me to actually sit down and enjoy the party myself!
The Timeline
Dinner parties can seem intimidating or stressful, but I make sure to plan for them in a way that creates the most low-stress hosting experience possible so I can enjoy the experience alongside my guests. Here is a rough outline of how I prepare in the days leading up to my dinner parties!
Months Leading Up:
-Create a mood board, keep an eye out at the thrift stores or garage sales for items that may fit the theme.
Two Weeks Out:
- Draft a menu and grocery list, inclusive of dietary needs and taste preferences of your guests.
- Take inventory of plates, linens, and serveware to ensure you’re covered based on the number of guests and types of dishes/drinks.
- Order any supplies or ingredients that need to be purchased online.
Week Of:
- Grocery shop for everything that can be prepared in advanced.
- Make menus or food labels as a fun (and completely optional) touch!
Day Before:
- Gather and organize all serveware so it’s ready to be set out.
- Prep any recipes that can be made in advance, such as appetizers and desserts.
- Arrange florals, chairs, tables, etc
Morning Of:
- If needed, do a secondary grocery shop as soon as the store opens to get any final needs.
- As soon as you get home, measure and prep all ingredients that can be prepared in advance and set aside into stations based on each dish.
- Finish any dishes that need to be cooked.
- Set the table while the dishes finish cooking.
Have food made in advance that you can eat while prepping because you probably won’t want to be cooking when prepping multiple dishes for your party. Plus, it saves time! Run and empty your dishwasher before the party so you can load everything instead of hand-washing and taking up counter space. The easier the cleanup, the better!
The Menu
Inspired by produce in season, with a garden-forward menu, this included a grazing charcuterie board with various imported cheeses and meats, and fresh raw or sautéed vegetables, dips, crackers and pastry puff tarts all handmade.
To Sip:
I always have a non alcoholic and alcoholic option, as well as seltzers and water available. The drinks often compliment the menu, for this party it included an assortment of juice and dye free seltzers and sodas by Swoon, Sun Sip, United Sodas and Drink Bawi.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok to see all of the behind-the-scenes recipe creation as well as how-to videos to watch them come to life! You can also head over to my Pinterest to save all of my recipes in one spot that you plan to whip up in the future.
By combining the elegant, effortless style of Ina Garten with a garden-forward, Mediterranean-inspired menu, this dinner party was a beautiful success. With thoughtful planning and preparation, you can host a stress-free, enjoyable evening that leaves your guests feeling cherished and delighted. Happy hosting!