I’m a part of a super fun couples’ dinner group that was spontaneously formed one year when all of our kids attended the same grade school. For years, we’ve taken turns hosting the group, and serving up some of our favorite dishes. Most of our kids are now in high school, but we have kept the tradition alive and still rotate houses every quarter and meet for dinner. It’s something I always look forward to, and it’s been a great way to stay in touch and experience new foods… like the BBQ dinner we shared this time!
One of my friends from college, who is also a part of this group, invited me to co-host with her this month. Leslie is from Texas and was raised in Atlanta, so she knows a thing or two about BBQ. She wanted to serve this lively cuisine she grew up with, and together, we pulled off a great event.
Here’s how we combined my love for tablescapes, her love for BBQ, and our mutual love for hosting!
I love a good dinner collaboration, and my friend Leslie is an amazing co-host
A colorful tablescape
White flowers are Leslie’s usual decor, but we stepped out of her comfort zone and used a lot of color for the centerpiece this time around. Blue and white ginger jars from Leslie’s own collection provided the vessels for our centerpieces. We filled them with gorgeous fresh blue hydrangeas from Trader Joe’s, and also took advantage of the seasonal produce to add color and interesting textures to our decor.
Blue hydrangeas looked amazing in Leslie’s ginger jars
Silver scalloped placemats combined with vintage silver flatware and heirloom napkin rings allowed Leslie’s Southern style to shine through!
Printed name cards were a nice personal touch, and took the guesswork out of where to sit
By incorporating seasonal produce like grapes, eggplant, pears, and pomegranates, we brought some interest to the table’s decor. I used long wooden skewers to spear the fruit first, which made them easy to stick into our arrangement
Just look at the gorgeous table filled with a mix of old, new, white, blue, and color!
Texas BBQ dinner
We decided on pork spare ribs and beef brisket for our main courses, and tasty comfort foods on the side like Panko mac and cheese and dinner rolls with honey butter. Stacked caprese salad bites with rosemary skewers added also some nice pops of color and freshness to the buffet.
Here’s one of my favorite recipes for BBQ sauce that you can adjust to make more sweet (add more brown sugar) or make it spicier (add more Worchestire).
How beautiful are these cheeseboards adorned with herbs?
Caprese salad bites were stacked and secured with fresh rosemary skewers!
Pork spare ribs and beef brisket are quintessential Texas grub, and were front and center at our BBQ dinner!
Side dish with a nice toasty crunch – thanks to the Panko sprinkled on top and broiled for just a few minutes right before serving!
Extra details
Little details can make all the difference, so don’t overlook the small stuff. Personalize your party to keep all your guests comfortable, and anticipate their needs. For this dinner, we offered meal options for the vegetarians, made menu cards, and set out Pashmina wraps to keep everyone cozy.
Menu cards provided another visual element to the buffet line
There’s no shame in choosing the ‘Wimpy’ sauce, or is there?
Pashmina wraps were rolled up and ready for the chilly night — I loved this special touch!
The best part — the company!
Once all the prep work was done, we loved spending time enjoying one another’s company and catching up on life. After all, this is the part that really matters most, and it’s what I relish about entertaining.
Enjoying a cocktail with our husbands a few moments before the guests arrive. Don’t overlook this time to relax!
Libations flowing, friends laughing, music playing, and memories being shared… this is why I love entertaining
