When it comes to hosting a dinner party, I first refer to my cookbooks for inspiration. Summer has taken its sweet time to arrive, so I’m excited to finally host outdoors for the first time. And what better way to ring in Rob’s retirement than with a celebration dinner? This occasion makes the evening even more memorable as we celebrate his years of hard work and the new adventures that lie ahead.

I originally planned an ambitious menu with nearly ten items. Maybe too much? It felt a bit like packing for a trip: edit, edit, edit. So that’s exactly what I did. While I could prepare everything myself, I decided to take advantage (and save time) of my local market for a few items: paté, charchuterie, dips, olives, and other supporting dishes. This way, I can focus on the main stars of the meal.

Preparing a meal for guests with dietary restrictions, in this case, a vegan diet is easier than you might think. Surprisingly, I’m serving a beautiful tenderloin roast with a Remoulade sauce. The remaining dishes are entirely plant-based, with cheese or other non-vegan ingredients on the side. You’ll be amazed at how delicious and inclusive this meal can be!

Delicious bubbles

Since this was a celebration, serving champagne or, in this case, a Crément rosé speaks to the occasion. A champagne-style wine is always a crowd-pleaser, and honestly, any reason to crack open a bubbly is good enough for me.

What I served

Appetizers:

• Charcuterie Plate: Pâté, assorted crackers and cheeses, hummus, cornichons, Marcona almonds, walnuts, and apple slices

Main Courses:

• Roast Beef Tenderloin: Served with a remoulade sauce
• Roasted Herb Chicken

Salads:

• Greek Salad: Marinated onions, fennel, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese
• Potato Salad: Artichokes and gremolata

Side Dishes:

• Roasted Carrots: Carrot marmalade, toasted hazelnuts, stracciatella, and spicy honey
• French Beans: Roasted peppers

Vegan Option:

• Grilled Tofu: Served with miso gravy (purchased)

Dessert:

• Champagne and Berry Soup with Crème Fraîche

Small Space, Big Impact

Creating a lovely entertaining area on my patio, despite the limited space, was quite an accomplishment. Some of the larger outdoor furniture was moved to another deck and replaced with my son’s old beer pong table (yes, you read that right), which needed serious attention. Years ago, I purchased a beautiful Provençal tablecloth in Aix, which set the theme for our outdoor soirée. The table was first covered with a white banquet tablecloth, then the Provençal tablecloth was added on top. The setting was completed with my pretty Provence Pichon dishes, purchased years ago in Uzès, along with glassware and cutlery. Voilà! It’s that simple, using what I had and improvising as I went along.

Don’t forget the flowers

If you’re fortunate enough to have a flower garden, you can easily create a couple of bouquets for the table. Otherwise, a trip to your favourite flower shop will provide you with something beautiful to complement your setting. I chose sunflowers for obvious reasons—they are the quintessential Provençal flower and are often more affordable. A little tip, you can take your vases to the flower shop and have them arrange a bouquet for you. Just plan to leave them behind and pickup later, or drop off the day before.

Perfect Evening

I love it when everything comes together: the food, the wine, the music, and most importantly, the company. We lucked out with the weather—a perfect summer evening. Plan B would have been indoors, but setting things up outdoors was a joy, even with my small space. Moments like these remind me how fun it can be to think outside the box and get creative with what you have. It doesn’t take much to make any dinner party special, a little effort goes a long way.