How to host a spring dinner party with Big Night’s Katherine Lewin
Do you feel that? Spring is finally here. The season of long-overdue sunshine, blossoming tulips, all-day picnics in the park, and, of course, spring dinner parties. It’s the perfect time to gather with friends as we ease out of winter hibernation, embrace the energy of a new season, and take advantage of all the fresh veggies, bright colors, and warm vibes that springtime brings.
To help us curate the perfect spring dinner party, we recently spent time with a true dinner party aficionado, Katherine Lewin. Katherine Lewin is the founder of Big Night, a one-stop hosting shop with locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Big Night offers a wide collection of stylish home goods, tableware and glassware, decorative trinkets, elevated pantry staples, and more fun finds. With Big Night, Katherine hopes to empower hosts to make any occasion feel more special, whether it’s a formal dinner party or a casual pizza night. From cute wine glasses to unique candles to whimsical bowls—adding a few thoughtful details to even the most low-key of get-togethers can make any night feel like a “Big Night.” Following those passions, Katherine has also authored a cookbook: “Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties.”
While preparing to host a seasonally-inspired “Spring Pea Party,” Katherine shared her favorite entertaining tips, do’s and don’ts, creative menu ideas, and insightful tidbits to help any host feel inspired, empowered, and excited.
Welcome spring with a snap pea theme party
When asked what excites her the most about springtime, Katherine replied, “Fresh vegetables! All of the peas! All of the greenery! And all of the optimism that comes with all of those things.” So when choosing a theme for her spring dinner party, a curated dinner party menu incorporating plenty of peas—from snap peas in the martinis to English peas on toast—was the ideal choice.
For cocktails, Katherine recommends a refreshing martini with snap pea-infused gin (and of course, a snap pea garnish). As an appetizer, ricotta toast crostinis are spread with a layer of puréed pea mash. The main course? Pasta primavera with asparagus and a mix of both snap peas and English peas, along with a complementary cream sauce.
Take inspiration from Katherine’s pea-themed party and plan your own spring dinner party centered around peas—or your seasonal veggies of choice. Host at home for a comfortable vibe, or perhaps dine al fresco in a backyard, garden, or wherever you feel surrounded by springtime energy. Wherever you choose to host, embrace décor in green color palettes for an impressively on-theme tablescape you can elevate with items like linens, glassware, and serving platters. Provide a playlist that sets the mood for a good time, and let guests know all the details in advance with elegant online spring dinner party invitations.
When hosting a spring gathering or any dinner party, plan your menu thoughtfully with guests’ preferences in mind by sending Guest Questions with your Paperless Post invitation. Ask multiple-choice, checkbox-style, or open-ended questions to gather any dietary restrictions, allergies, or even special requests. All that’s left to do is a trip to the farmers’ market!
Katherine Lewin’s hosting tips, tricks, and inspirations
While preparing for her guests to arrive, Katherine shared her insights on all things hosting and dinner parties. Read on for her inspirations, do’s and don’ts, advice for dinner party guests, and more.
What does your hosting process typically look like? Do you start with a moodboard or theme?
It always starts with a reason—the “why.” Maybe I want to host because I haven’t seen a group of friends in a long time, and I want some quality time with them in a place we can stretch out and relax. Maybe I want to host because I’m dying to make a recipe that feels especially perfect for “right now.” Or maybe I want to host because it’s a big holiday (New Year’s Eve is one of my favorites for hosting) and I want to celebrate. I find that starting with the “why” makes planning easier and more intentional.
What are your favorite types of events to host?
I personally love one of two extremes: either a super-casual hang with close friends on a Friday night when everyone just needs to decompress (and maybe we’re even ordering pizza). Or, on the other end of the spectrum, a go-all-out party where all the details are dialed up—there’s a signature cocktail, there’s a seating chart, and maybe there’s caviar.
What are your top 3 hosting do’s and don’ts?
Do:
- Have more than enough for everyone to eat. You don’t want people having to be polite about the last serving of anything.
- Offer people specific beverages. Not “What would you like to drink?” but “Would you like a martini or a super-fresh white wine to drink?”
- Take a social nap if you need to. Hosting can be a lot! It’s perfectly okay to hide in your room for a few and recharge your social/hosting battery.
Don’t:
- Do dishes in the middle of the party. At the end of the night is okay, especially if you want to send a subtle hint that it’s time for people to leave you be in peace.
- Forget to take your cheese out of the fridge in advance if you’re serving cheese as one of your appetizers. You want it to taste like cheese, not fridge!
- Forget dessert. But also, don’t stress dessert. Store-bought is fine! But have a sweet treat to end on.
Is it okay for hosts to ask guests to take their shoes off?
YES. But don’t assume people will do so without you asking nicely!
Do you have any specific hosting tips?
- I like to set the table long before guests arrive—nothing puts me in the mood to host better than a table that’s already festively set.
- If you’re serving multiple dishes, plan out which platters or bowls you intend to use. I even like to label them with a post-it, so I’m not scrambling to figure out how to serve food while it’s fresh out of the oven or skillet.
- Place cards might feel old-fashioned, but I actually think they really make a dinner party feel like a Dinner Party.
- Break out the fancy glasses, or fancy plates, or fancy flatware—even if none of it matches. If you don’t use that stuff when you’re hosting, when will you?
Do you have any party tricks?
I’m a big fan of turning just about anything into a bar, when possible. I love to create a spritz bar, or a BLT bar, or a martini bar (in that case, just remember you’ll need multiple shakers). I find that when you give guests the chance to DIY, it loosens up the mood immediately.
What’s your go-to drink to serve at a party?
One thing that always impresses people (and makes your life easier as a host) is a batched cocktail. And I love to chill cocktail glasses in advance, which always feels like a special extra touch everyone loves.
And your go-to snack?
Quick-marinated olives immediately make whatever jars you have in your pantry feel instantly special. Just pop them in a saucepan with olive oil, lemon zest, any woody herbs you have around, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Is there anything you’d advise guests to do more at parties?
Bring ice, even if it’s not asked explicitly by the host. Seek out the other guests at the party who may not know as many of the other guests, and chat with them. Offer to help with something specific. Rather than “Can I help?” ask, “Do you need help refilling everyone’s wine glasses?”
What inspired you to create your cookbook?
I wanted to create the kind of back-pocket hosting guide that a reader could pull out for inspiration to get them excited to host: practical tips to help them feel more prepared to host, and recipes already scaled for a group, whether it’s lasagna/soup season or summer salad season. That was the kind of book I wanted most, couldn’t exactly find, and decided to make for myself, my customers at Big Night, and all of my fellow hosts and aspiring hosts!
Who or what inspires you to host?
Our Big Night customers are the most inspiring. It’s so much fun to chat with them as they swing by on a Saturday morning to pick up the goods for whatever they may be hosting that evening.
Watch Katherine’s “Spring Pea Party” come to life
Planning any soirée is easy-peasy with Paperless Post
From spring garden parties to milestone birthdays, channel your inner host extraordinaire with recipes and inspiration from Katherine Lewin, and invitations and planning tools from Paperless Post. Explore our collection of invitations in any style to match your theme or event, customize everything to your liking, and deliver via email, text, or link. Then, track RSVPs in real time and conveniently stay in touch with your guests through direct or broadcast messages.
Whether it’s snap pea season or tomato girl summer, it’s always the right time to host your friends, drink a fun drink, and create memories that will last far beyond the last of your leftovers.
Find customizable spring party invitations for warm weather get-togethers.
