20 June 2023. Eating out of doors in the summer is truly one of life's simple pleasures, and while we're happy eating on the back stoop with paper plates and napkins, sometimes it's fun to dress things up a bit. Lightweight and easy to wash, our linen napkins and tablecloths add a touch of casual elegance to outdoor dining.
We asked our friend, food photographer and stylist, Shilpa Iyer, to create a summer setting for our Josh tablecloth and Anne napkin. We love the short film she created, a dreamy nod to meals in the backyard.
Since this is the season for planning menus based on what's looking good at the nearest farm stand and cooking with intuition rather than following a recipe, we're sharing a few of our favorite no-recipe suggestions with you here. We encourage you to substitute and experiment as you like.
For starters: Fresh mozzarella, ricotta or feta torn into chunks with sliced peaches, watermelon and cherry tomatoes doused with a little olive oil, cider vinegar, flaky salt and fresh ground pepper. With a little fresh chopped basil sprinkled about if you have it.
Potato salad made with new potatoes, boiled until a knife goes easily through, and dressed with a simple mustard vinaigrette and some fresh chopped parsley, red onion, shallots or dill. Maybe some capers or a chopped hard boiled egg if you feel like it.
Thinly sliced kale, swiss chard, or collard greens, center rib and stem removed, then tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add some grated parmesean cheese or some toasted bread crumbs for more flavor and texture if you like.
Easy Mains: Throw your favorite protein on the grill and you have a lovely meal.
Last but not least: For dessert, we'll keep it simple this summer by serving fresh seasonal fruit with whipped cream or a few pints of ice cream and calling it a win. And we'd never turn down a good old ice cream sandwich or a klondike bar...we've delighted guests of all ages with these options.
When you're ready to set your summer table, check out all our tablecloths and napkins for the full selection of colors and patterns.