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.
“The best evenings always have a little mix of the familiar and the unexpected,” says Alice Russotti, founder and creative director of Brooklyn-based decor brand Porta. “I’ve never once remembered a dinner because everything was perfect. I remember it because it felt lovely and nobody wanted to leave.”
Recently, on one of the first truly warm June evenings, she put this entertaining philosophy into practice with an intimate backyard party in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill. This summer soiree is a new tradition of Russotti’s. Friends and family congregate under twinkling string lights, drinks in hand, to toast to the season in accordance with a theme. Last year, she hosted a pizza party; this year, the memo was paella. “It’s an easy way to feed lots of people, but adds a little bit of theater to the evening,” she explains.
She enlisted the help of Arroces Street Paella to whip up two varieties of the dish, so she could spend the evening mingling with guests. (This writer was fortunate enough to be in attendance, and can confirm that the vegetarian paella was so delicious it has forever spoiled other forms of rice.) “The best hosting is almost invisible,” continues Russotti. “The work happens beforehand so that once everyone is there, including me, the gathering can unfold naturally. People relax when they feel cared for.”
Somewhat ironically, the scene was, in fact, picture-perfect: every little detail thoughtfully considered, not so much as a cherry tomato out of place. Russotti typically looks to her menu to provide decorative direction—here, that meant wicker baskets with heirloom tomatoes spilling out of them, ceramic bowls piled high with lemons; all ingredients you’d find in a paella. “Sometimes, putting the table together is my favorite part of the evening; I joke that once it’s done, I could happily go to bed and call it a success,” she says.
But then she would have missed the paella.
Photography by Brett Warren
Photography by Brett Warren
Set the Scene
“I always start with a tablecloth. It grounds everything and instantly creates a sense of occasion. My all-time favorite is our Riga tablecloth, which just happened to match paella night perfectly, too. From there, I’ll layer in brighter colors and pile the table with vegetables (in all shapes and sizes, from tomato plates to actual tomatoes), fruit, glass candle holders, and serving pieces until it feels abundant and celebratory. I love a table that feels generous and full of life.”
