Hosting Your Way

by Wims ↪ 8 min

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– Dali’s cookbook
– Cleopatra banquet
– Sidewalk Suppers
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Smiling face made out of fruit and veggies for a dinner party

A taste of inspiring hosts throughout history

It’s not gorgeous glassware, or elevated cuisine, or perfect place settings that make a dinner party truly memorable. At least, not according to us. The parts we savor the most are the ones that break the mold: a secret ingredient, an unexpected spark between strangers, a table adorned with bits and bobs gathered in the host’s backyard.

To us, the best dinner party hosts are genuine and present with their company, take delight in the details, and lean into the things that make their gatherings unlike anyone else’s. From New York City sidewalks to Egyptian banquet halls, we’re here to inspire your next gathering with lessons from three of the most original hosts in history.

In Dali’s surrealist cookbook, delight thrives on unrules

Open cookbook with scene of food on a table for a dinner party

A lifelong lover of pleasure, the famous surrealist Salvador Dali fancied himself a gourmand and eccentric host (in addition to being an accomplished artist). At 68 years old, with several decades of weird and wonderful parties behind him, he came out with one of the most bizarre cookbooks ever printed: Les Diners de Gala.

Complete with vivid illustrations, the cookbook covers aphrodisiacs, meat jewelry, and free roaming wild animals as a way of creating ambiance. While we might not replicate Dali’s ideas precisely as prescribed, there’s something we love about his disregard for dining conventions. He throws tradition out the window in favor of pleasure and creativity. It’s a case for hosting by your own unrules, and doing whatever feels good, fun, and inspiring.

At Cleopatra’s competitive banquet, there’s big magic in small details

image of pearls on a backdrop for a dinner party

Perhaps you’ve heard the legend: some 2,000 years ago, Marc Antony and Cleopatra—heads of two of the most powerful empires at the time—set out to see who could throw the most extravagant feast. Both tables teemed with ancient delicacies, gold vessels, and prestigious guests, but in the end victory came down to a tiny detail: Cleopatra dissolved a precious, irreplaceable pearl earring into a vile of vinegar, downed the liquid, and claimed the title of champion.

We love the idea that there’s so much magic in such tiny, unexpected details. Plus, we’re charmed by the parallels to a certain cannabis-based pocket tonic that dissolves in and elevates any drink you choose (although…we probably wouldn’t recommend vinegar).

For Gohar World’s sidewalk suppers, ordinary places become extraordinary

Image of person holding a fruit and pearls at a dinner party

In Gohar World, button down shirts with crisp collars become tablecloths, lemon squeezers look like swans, and hardboiled eggs are presented on their own chandelier. Known for their elevated yet playful tablescapes and dinner parties, the studio describes itself as a “tableware universe.”

Despite the high-end pieces Gohar World is known for, some of their best parties have taken place on the gritty, not-so-picturesque sidewalks of New York City. It’s not eclectic cutlery or elaborate dishes that make these parties so much fun. Quite the opposite, it’s about creating an environment where everyone (including the host) can relax, indulge, and learn to savor what’s right there in front of them.