Must Haves – Dinner Party Delights

There are so many things to be said about the ultimate dinner party, usually starting with the guest list. We can probably all agree that our ideal fantasy dinner party list—as the popular social game suggests—would be an eclectic mix comprising luminaries both current and long dead. Who wouldn’t want to be sitting with David Bowie to the left, William Faulkner to the right, and George across the table—Clooney, that is.

But really, for most of us, a gathering of our beloved family and dearest friends is all we ever need to set a table and assemble a nice meal.

Summer is such a joyous time for casual, informal gatherings around a grill, alfresco, with fresh wildflowers and pitchers of icy, citrusy drinks. But the coming of autumn signals a different type of gathering—cozier, warmer, intimate—festive in perhaps a more universal way as we gather round to celebrate various holidays and the coming of year’s end.

My ideal dinner party is about food, food and more food. Fall is my absolute favourite time of year to cook. I crave the riches of the autumn harvest, by which we are bountifully blessed in our fertile region. Squashes and pumpkins and those deep, dark late-harvest greens. Stewing and preserving and the slowness of it all starts to set in, delicious and luxurious.

I tend to favour a table set with found objects, well-loved dishes, vintage candlesticks, antique glasses, unfussy linens and riotous, unkempt foraged arrangements and strewn vines. It’s an effect that always feels right and timeless.

Lastly, lighting and music. For me it’s candlelight all the way. Everyone and everything looks beautiful in the soft, warm glow of candlelight (dead rock stars and writers too, I imagine!). And while music is a very personal choice, the colder and darker the evenings become, the more I lean towards the old jazz and classical favourites. Our very own president and executive producer Moses Znaimer would agree and made it simple with the perfect playlist.

Whatever the size or style of your holiday gatherings, may they be safe and warm and nourishing, full of love and laughter and, of course, candlelight.
Cheers, Anya

A Modern Harvest

Gather your friends and family around an ample table, like the Aventura Dining Table. Sleek sculptural forms elevate the simple lines of this modern take on the traditional harvest table. Pedestals are formed with concave cast resin over a square base in a creamy Tusk finish. The wood top, which includes two 20-inch leaves, offers a stunning contrast in a warm Marcona finish, and plenty of surface space for bountiful holiday feasting.

Aspen & Ivy
322 King St., Unit 5, Barrie
705-721-8585
aspenandivy.ca

The Credenza

A perfectly distressed reclaimed credenza is an essential furnishing of the romantic vintage-inspired dining room. Take, for instance, the Laurent Reclaimed Wood Sideboard. This 81-inch custom statement piece features four-door and four-drawer sectioned storage to keep all your heirloom treasures. Top with foraged flora and fauna amidst your serving platters. Plus, its name is “Laurent.” Move over, Jeeves.

White hill Home
2791 County Rd. 124, Unit 3, Duntroon
416-834-5918
whitehillhomeshop.com

The Ultimate Playlist

Nobody knows how to set the mood better than On The Bay’s president and executive producer, and classical music connoisseur, Moses Znaimer. Conveniently available on Spotify, Moses’ playlist features a sophisticated selection of soothing classical favourites. From Vivaldi to Williams, with all the romance of violin concertos and serenades, it’s music soft enough to carry you through an evening of dining and conversation.

Listen here