Whether it’s a long, lazy dinner by the flicker of citronella candlelight or a post-work apéro on the terrace, summer entertaining is in full swing, and we’ve enlisted the help of the most stylish hosts we know to serve up their party tricks. Pour yourself a Campari soda and settle in—it’s Aperitivo Hour.
“Potlucks are the enemy,” says Tessa Tran. “When you’re invited to my house, I take care of you—if I’m hosting, I’m hosting!” The CEO and creative director of Chan Luu is also, as anyone who follows her knows, a prolific cook, accenting her feed of silk-chiffon clothing and playful charms with the occasional photo of Basque cheesecake, sweet and sour fish soup, and chou farci.
Much of her culinary inspiration comes from her backyard garden, and while the dishes may seem elaborate, you’d never know it from the way she entertains. “I want guests to feel relaxed when they arrive: Open windows, natural light, a drink in hand, and maybe a cigarette in the garden pre- or post-dinner,” continues Tran. “Our kitchen is open and bleeds into the dining area, so it’s always fun when guests wander over and start helping. It’s much more memorable than pretending you’re a Michelin-starred chef.”
Take her latest dinner party spread, for example. The wine was flowing, the windows were kept open, and the bright colors of the table were rivaled only by the rainbow of seasonal vegetables and ruby-red Campari spritzes. It’s Tran’s version of a laid-back Sunday supper: “I never invite people over for ‘just a drink,’ but it’s the height of summer, so this felt casual,” she says. Here’s how she pulled it together.
Photography by Tessa Tran
Photography by Tessa Tran
Set the Scene
“I always start with the food. The table should feel like an extension of the meal first, then the aesthetic of your home. If I’m cooking Japanese food, I use indigo straw placemats I bought in the countryside of Kyoto. When I’m serving Vietnamese food, I’ll use little white paper doily placemats I buy in India; they feel very French to me, and I like seeing the Vietnamese-French fusion on the table.
The menu for this evening was vibrant, abundant, and relaxed, so I wanted the table design to mirror this. Every summer I pull out the Lisa Corti placemats. They’re made in India, but the design aesthetic is very Italian coastal-countryside; they remind me of my two favorite places in the world. Simpler plates work better with the printed placemats, plus solid-colored napkins.”
