Words by Lindsay Mather, AD Clever,
There are outdoor dinner parties, and then there are outdoor dinner parties hosted by chef and artist Jim Denevan. Jim is the founder of Outstanding in the field, a "traveling restaurant" that hosts massive dinners by top chefs in crazy-cool alfresco locales across the world. (Think farm fields, beaches, nature preserves, and even highways .) Even with dozens of attendees, each pop-up meal is sat at a single table, which winds through the landscape and is, therefore, major Instagram fodder. "Eating outdoors is a sensual experience that engages all the senses. That’s the key element of a garden party. You see the sky overhead, smell the earth under your feet, feel the air on your skin, hear birdsong and rustling wind. Then there's the pleasure of the palate when the meal is brought to the table," says Jim.
You will never host an outdoor dinner party this incredible because you are a regular human. But there is a ton you can learn from Jim about making your own get-together run smoothly despite bugs, potential thunderstorms, and endless dirty dishes.
1. Have a backup plan that's
We hate to tell you this, but it might rain on the night of your dinner party. Or perhaps it'll be horrifically humid. That's OK . "Big umbrellas are always good for a smaller garden party, or maybe a harem tent," says Jim. "If it’s hot, plan your event for the evening when things cool down a bit."
2. Don't buy extra dishes for this one night
"One of our traditions since the beginning is to invite people to bring their own plates. Every plate has a story, so it makes for a good conversation starter. We also have a collection of plates we've gathered in our travels," says Jim. A white tablecloth makes all the different colors and patterns pop.
3. In fact, use as few dishes as possible
"Our dinners are communal meals, with one platter for every eight people," says Jim. "Guests serve each other, which adds to the sense of community and fosters conversation. Keeping dishes to a minimum also helps when it’s time to clean up."
4. Make as much as you can beforehand
It's no fun to be running in and out of the house every other minute, so make whatever you can before people arrive. For the main course, Jim suggests cooking a single impactful dish that can feed a bunch of people, such as a whole fish or animal. "Then bring on the condiments—a variety of mustards or a selection of sauces like chimichurri or different pestos, which can all be made in advance." This way, every guest can zhush up their meal however they please.
5. Force bugs out of the picture
Limbs riddled with mosquito bites do not a good dinner party make. 'If bugs are a problem, smudge them out with a small, slow-burning fire near the table. Or set up a few fans to blow them away,' says Jim.
Images: Unsplash
