Summer Entertaining Tips

Roots Catering • August 10, 2019
A person is pouring a drink into a wine glass with strawberries and orange slices.
A wooden cutting board filled with different types of food on a table.

1. Appoint an Unconventional Theme

While it's fun and totally acceptable to have a summer garden party for absolutely no reason, you can't go wrong with a fun and unique theme to get your guests excited! Imagine a Hot Havana Nights dinner party where your guests arrive in billowy floral dresses, panama hats and laid back linen only to be greeted by an ice cold Mint Mojito Bar and Cuban Cigar Lounge. Or maybe you keep it simple and ask your guests to a Soiree en Blanc where everyone dresses in white, sipping on white wine spritzers and enjoying an interactive oyster raw bar. Whether you choose to host an Alice in Wonderland Tea, or a Backyard Low Country Boil, appointing a unique theme will make it easier to decide what food, drink and entertainment to serve up at your next backyard party.

2. Greet with a Simple Batch Cocktail


Stocking a full bar can be time consuming, expensive, and almost always unnecessary. Keep it simple for your next outdoor party with a refreshing signature cocktail offered to your guests as they arrive. Our favorite signature cocktails are ones we can muddle, prep, store and serve in a big pitcher. Keep the ingredient list simple and splurge on anything you can get fresh. Squeezing your own citrus juices and muddling fresh herbs makes a huge impact on flavor, so you without having to track down any obscure ingredients. You can plan for most guests to imbibe with 1-2 signature cocktails at the beginning of the party, then switch to wine or beer for the rest of the evening. Check out this recipe for a Summer Sangria that is impossible to mess up:


Serves 8 glasses, multiply as needed

Ingredients:

1 bottle dry, crisp Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or Vinho Verde

2 tablespoons fine sugar

1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 banana, peeled and cut into chunks

1 orange, sliced

2 peaches, cut into 6 wedges each

1 red apple, cored and sliced into wedges


Directions:

Combine wine and sugar in a pitcher, stir until combined. Add juices and fruit, refrigerate for at least one hour before serving and up to 1 day.




A white plate topped with towels and lavender flowers on a wooden table.

5. Luxe Chilled Towels


A little bit of luxury goes a long way when entertaining at home. One of our favorite luxe touches for outdoor parties is to offer a chilled lavender towel to guests just before dinner to wipe their hands or brow. This is a hostess with the mostess level service and so easy to prepare ahead! Simply add a few drops of lavender essential oil to 2 gallons of water and soak white washcloths in the diluted mixture for 10 minutes. Remove the washcloths one by one, wring out excess liquid and roll. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days on a platter until you’re ready to pass them out!



6. Plan for Rain AND Shine


Afternoon showers won’t get you down (or soaking wet) if you plan for them! Just make sure that any formal seating and the buffet are tucked away under a covered porch so that you don’t have to scramble to move tables around at the last minute. Outdoor seating and yard games can stay outside and will encourage your guests to enjoy the sunshine while the weather is nice! If you think the sun might be beating down a little too hard for an enjoyable afternoon, choose a corner of the yard with plenty of trees to block the rays. A little tree cover can drop the temperature up to 10 degrees!



7. Keep it Chill


Avoid needing to run out and pick up more ice midway through the party by stocking up in advance. Whether you purchase bags of ice, or fill up gallon sized plastic baggies over a couple of days, keep at least 2lbs of ice per guest stored in the freezer. When it comes time to ice down drinks in a tub or cooler, be sure to add a little bit of cold water. This will actually chill your drinks faster than ice alone! Water also stays cool longer than air and is a much better conductor, so keep the water as long as there is ice in it and avoid draining the cooler until necessary.


8. Hydrate with a Twist


On a warm summer day, you need to stay hydrated. Too much sun and too little water will make everyone feel sluggish as the party wares on. Entice your guests to hydrate in style with a bright and herbaceous infused water. Start by filling a glass dispenser halfway with ice, then add fresh wheels of citrus or sliced fruit, your favorite garden herbs like basil, lemon balm or mint, and fill to the top with cold water. A gorgeous infused water will rival any cocktail and keep the party energized!



9. Easy Grazing Boards


Our favorite, totally fail-proof summer entertaining tip is to throw cooking completely out the window and create an easy grazing board for guests to pick through all night. Start with a large wood board or several platters, then scatter (in no particular order) fresh berries, pickled vegetables, 3-4 hard and soft cheeses, 3-4 cured meats, toasted nuts, crackers and breads to create a perfectly rustic smorgeshboard. Pair with a fruit spread and artisanal mustard to up the anti and watch your guests devour! If this is the only food you plan to offer for the evening, we recommend purchasing 4oz of meat and 4oz of cheese per person. Make sure to have 8 crackers or slices of bread per person as well.

Maison Psyché Unveils Éclat d’Ombre

April 25, 2025
Maison Psyché, the ultra-luxurious perfume house of the Rémy Cointreau Group, continues to push the boundaries of haute parfumerie with its latest olfactory creation, Éclat d’Ombre. This limited-edition masterpiece is a sensorial journey, infused with deep, woody contrasts that evoke the mystery and richness of time itself. Since its groundbreaking debut, Maison Psyché has redefined the fragrance landscape by marrying the worlds of fine perfumery and exceptional spirits. Through its pioneering process of sublimating essences in Cognac cellars, the House has perfected the art of metamorphosis—blending, transforming, and elevating the rarest raw materials into olfactory treasures. “Maison Psyché draws on its ancestral savoir-faire to create a new level of excellence in perfumery,” shares Catherine Sardin, Managing Director of Maison Psyché. “Our natural, artisanal approach achieves a veritable art of metamorphosis, delivering vibrant, richly aromatic fragrances.”  A tribute to the timeless expertise of Maison Rémy Martin, Éclat d’Ombre pays homage to those who have imparted their wisdom to the House, enriching its craft. As with its predecessors—Alexanor, Belle-Dame, Alcyone, Nymphalis, and Hamadryas—this fragrance embarks on a journey to the heart of Cognac, where nature’s bounty transforms in the depths of the Maison’s revered cellars. A chypre composition of luminous and shadowy elements, Éclat d’Ombre conjures the sensory contrasts of Cognac’s terroir. It oscillates between warm sunlight and cool shade, revealing luscious woody accords and intoxicating floral nuances. The scent is an invitation into a hidden world, where eaux-de-vie and perfume essences evolve in quiet harmony. True to the House’s philosophy, Éclat d’Ombre is the creation of an exceptional duo: Master Perfumer Sophie Labbé and Maison Rémy Martin’s Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau. “It is a delicate balance of bright citrus, the captivating power of rose enhanced by osmanthus, and the shadowy, earthy freshness of patchouli,” Labbé describes. Loiseau adds, “The time spent in barrels and the metamorphosis in contact with wood imparts a rounder, more elegant character—apricot, creamy textures, and a deep, balsamic intensity.” More than a fragrance, Éclat d’Ombre is an objet d’art. Limited to just 30 numbered crystal flacons, each bottle is adorned with an 18-carat gold cameo—an exquisite symbol of rarity and refinement. This collector’s edition is available exclusively by appointment at Maison Psyché’s Salon at Place Vendôme in Paris and in Cognac, as well as through the House’s private advisors worldwide. For connoisseurs who seek the extraordinary, Éclat d’Ombre is an invitation to experience the alchemy of nature and time—an ephemeral jewel that lingers on the skin, radiant and untamed. Founded in 2021, Maison Psyché stands at the crossroads of nature and luxury, reviving the grand traditions of perfumery with a visionary approach. Rooted in the legacy of Rémy Cointreau, the House is the first to craft its fragrances within Cognac cellars, embracing the transformative magic of oak wood and time itself. Each scent is a living masterpiece—an exquisite fusion of craftsmanship, intuition, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. For those who understand that true luxury is an experience, Maison Psyché is the pinnacle of olfactory artistry.

The Veranda House Returns

April 18, 2025
Nantucket, with its misty harbors, salt-kissed breezes, and centuries-old charm, has always been a place where history whispers through every weathered shingle and cobblestone street. This spring, one of the island’s most beloved landmarks, the Veranda House, will once again welcome guests, rising from the ashes of a devastating 2022 fire that necessitated a complete rebuild. Set to reopen in spring 2025, the new Veranda House is a masterpiece of restoration and reinvention. Owned by Procaccianti Companies and managed by TPG Hotels & Resorts as part of the Nantucket Resort Collection, the rebuild was meticulously overseen in collaboration with the town and historic district commission to ensure that the property retained its original federal-style elegance while incorporating modern luxuries and state-of-the-art amenities. First built in 1684, the Veranda House has stood as a symbol of Nantucket’s rich maritime legacy, its wraparound porches offering a front-row seat to the island’s ever-changing seascape. The new design remains true to its original size, scale, and architectural character, seamlessly blending historic integrity with contemporary comforts. Guests will find spa-like ensuite baths in every room, featuring Carrara marble, custom fixtures, and sleek walk-in showers—a nod to modern indulgence without sacrificing classic charm. The 19 redesigned rooms, including the Grand Harborview King with its private balcony and fireplace, exude an intimate, serene luxury. Expanded outdoor gathering spaces now offer even more opportunities for guests to soak in the island’s ambiance, whether sipping coffee at sunrise or toasting the golden hour over Nantucket Harbor. “This reopening marks a significant mile- stone, not just for Veranda House, but for the entire Nantucket community. We are deeply thankful for the community’s unwavering support in bringing this iconic property back to life,” says Paul Hitselberger, EVP of Operations for TPG Hotels & Resorts. The Veranda House is not just a recon- struction—it’s a resurrection, a tribute to Nantucket’s ability to endure, evolve, and enchant. Its doors reopen as a beacon of timeless hospitality, welcoming travelers to a place where history is honored, and every detail—from the breezy verandas to the handcrafted interiors—tells a story. For those who love Nantucket, the Veranda House is a homecoming. Images courtesy of The Veranda House.

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