Elsie Green X The Outdoor Table
Oh, summer how I love you so! Bluebird skies, turquoise waters, and sun-kissed blooms are just a few of my favorite things about this time of year. The lingering days are the only golden drop of inspiration needed to call some family and friends around for a dinner party al fresco. Over the years, I collected a few favorite pieces to make entertaining outside easier and lovelier. (Even though sipping away by the roses is about as beautiful as it gets!) Elsie Green is my go-to shop for sourcing heritage and practical items for the home and alfresco dining. They scour France's flea markets and vintage shops and find unique and beautiful treasures with character, warmth, and class. Elsie Green has an impeccable style that is so very French that it has a dash of that elusive je ne sais quoi. What’s even more to love is that each item comes with a handwritten tag of where it was sourced in France - how neat! I love things that have a story; they have so much more character and personality as opposed to some fresh out of a factory. Vintage pieces have a soul and a depth that already feels convivial and inviting. I always get compliments on my cherished items. So with my new book coming out this August, I wanted to get Elsie Green’s take on outdoor entertaining. They shared with me a few of their shop picks, and I added some items of my own that I love (and pining for too!)
I used several of their items when shooting my book, which made the table and food shine. I added a few of items of my own that I love and pining for too!
Here are a few of their tips and picks for creating a beautiful and delicious outdoor gathering:
1. What are a few key elements to keep in mind when setting an outdoor table?
We like to keep our tablescapes unfussy and natural to let the beauty of the outdoor space shine. Vintage flatware, linen napkins, natural beeswax tapers, and a floral centerpiece of pretty things gathered from your yard or on a little walk about in your neighborhood.
2. What are your essentials for easy alfresco entertaining in the warmer months?
Our top picks are linen napkins and light blue Moroccan wine glasses. The napkins are light and airy for the summer months, and nothing screams summer more to us than a pretty cocktail in a Moroccan glass!
3. What do you prefer to serve for a leisurely outdoor gathering?
We love serving a big salad with fresh summer ingredients, mainly homegrown from our gardens! A big salad and something grilled on the BBQ (like peaches or chicken) is our absolute favorite!
4. I love the simplicity and modern elegance of Elsie Green - what are 5 of your favorite pieces in the shop for outdoor entertaining?
Oh, this is so hard to choose, but here are our five favorites!
1. Moroccan Glass Tumblers
2. Washed linen napkins
3. French flatware
4. Classic white dinnerware
5. Twisty beeswax tapers
These are few items that I treasure and use time and time again for an alfresco gathering:
Vintage French Bread Board
Vintage Transferware Set of Plates & Bowls
Moroccan Salad Bowls
Vintage Glass Ventouses
Stainless Champagne Bucket
I couldn’t agree more! A big salad with homegrown veggies and a pretty cocktail in a turquoise blue glass sounds divine for summer, don’t you think?
With those items to inspire and delight, I wanted to share a small excerpt of opening chapters of The Outdoor Table on creating and setting a lovely table.
Enjoy! You can preorder the book here!
Set The Scene
Like an idyllic painting of a golden sun shining in cornflower blue skies with billowy clouds, creating a beautiful scene is just as important as planning out an enticing menu. There is something so welcoming about a thoughtfully set table outside. The dappled sunlight dancing on the linen and the breeze ruffling the blooms on the table creates a scintillating atmosphere. Even if I’m serving something simple with the closest of family, I still try to make it look pretty and inviting. My view is that setting a lovely table doesn’t inherently make it feel more formal or stuffy, but rather makes for a more enjoyable and memorable occasion. Because at the end of the day, you set the flow and feel of the meal. I like things to feel lived in, not uptight or sterile, especially when I’m entertaining outdoors. It doesn’t take much effort either because half of the ambience is already created purely by being outside! Although, you don’t necessary need all these items below to create a splendid table or evoke a convivial feel, collecting a few will entice you to have friends come ‘round for a sunset dinner more often.
The Outdoor Table
The outdoor table is a place where memories are created, stories are told, and good food is shared. The table is a place to gather. Whether it's a picnic table in the backyard or a hand wrought iron table out on the lanai, finding a table that suits you and your style is the foundation of all great dinner parties, lunches, cookouts, and anything in-between. Usually, I find that longer, rectangular shapes fit more people and are easier to shift around if needed opposed to something circular. It doesn’t necessarily have to have matching chairs or be an expensive set. Honestly, I prefer something that looks a little more worn, weathered, and rustic. Those kinds of chairs and tables have character and feel more inviting. It feels like old memories are seemingly etched into them. Sometimes I simply pull out a spare table from inside the house and set it up for the evening under the trees. Any rugged or stained table can be transformed with a pretty, pressed linen into something lovely. If you’re in the market for an outdoor table specifically, look for something weatherproof. For seating, scour estate sales, antique, or charity shops for mixed match chairs or farmhouse style benches to add a charming touch. Have extra chairs on hand too so you will always be able to accommodate that extra plus one.
In Maui, summer can be extremely hot, leaving you feeling like you’re melting away like the ice cream cone in your hand. Try to position the table in the shade if possible, or under an umbrella or awning, especially if you are planning on dining midday. Overall, food doesn’t fair well under direct sun exposure for a long period of time either.
Linens
There is nothing quite like crisp linen. A fresh, pretty tablecloth or runner can easily makeover a rather nondescript and shabby table. I like to choose something that is light and neutral in color such as a sand, stonewashed grey, cream, white (of course), or a pale blue. Small floral patterns in a pale or neutral color can be quite charming and demure. Otherwise, I find patterned or large floral prints to be quite distracting and jarring, although if you love it go for it. (I am partial to neutral stripes – must be that New Englander in me!) Likewise, with napkins, I prefer a neutral linen or cotton. You can find lovely affordable handmade options on Etsy or thrift shops. Buying up a few sets in different colors or even small patterns will brighten up the table. I like to have a variety to play with, especially if some get worn or stained after a rowdy dinner party. Also forgo paper ones if you can, especially for a Friday dinner party with a few friends, they just don’t feel special or add any substantial quality to the overall feeling of the evening. Reusable napkins are also a more sustainable option. For a big barbecue or a larger get-together, rather than having a pile of saucy, stained napkins to wash on repeat or spot-treat the following day, use a durable yet attractive alternative to paper. They are thicker, feel like napkins, and will go much further than those flimsy nearly sheer standard ones. Lastly, for a laid-back weekend soirée or lunch, fancy table accessories aren’t necessary. Casual outdoor entertaining for me is less about the trimmings and more about a relaxed and beautiful ambience with good food and good friends.
Serveware, Plates & Glasses
Most of what you use day to day is perfectly appropriate for outdoor dining, especially for intimate gatherings, but I would be mindful of using anything too precious or fragile. In Maui, the trade winds are an ever-present factor to consider. I can’t tell you how many times the wind has knocked over wine glasses, flower vases and scattered napkins every which way. A word of caution not to use your prize show pieces from the cabinet or something you couldn’t part with. Accidents happen, be it natural, pet or child related! So, with that in mind, I opt to use mismatched transferware sets found on Etsy or at a thrift shop for a nice lunch or dinner and enamel for a larger party or barbecue. If any shatter on the stone steps, there will be no tears shed over it. They are inexpensive and can be easily replaced. The same goes for serving platters or bowls. Enamel or melamine are not only lightweight and unbreakable, but available in a rainbow of colors. Do yourself a favor and save your precious porcelain from getting the odd chip or scratch.
An outdoor dinner party wouldn’t be complete without something refreshing, be it bubbly or a zingy lemonade. For glassware, I prefer tumblers, mason jars, and stemless wine glasses. (If it isn’t windy, I adore those vintage coupes or slim wine glasses). I always opt to use glass when it’s practical to do so. In the same mindset of the plates, go with something that won’t shatter your heart too. Nowadays they make some fantastic acrylic and shatterproof options that you’d swear were glass. They are far more attractive than the old and dated plastic looking ones. The handy dandy Mason jar is a versatile and inexpensive alternative to your finer stemware or glasses for a barbecue. Stack or arrange them on a pretty tray by the pitcher or wine for everyone to help themselves. A trusty galvanized bucket full of ice is an appealing and generous display for beer that is an easy step up from a basic cooler. If you have a larger group, scatter a few buckets around the area with ample ice and stocked to the brim.
Lighting
One of the easiest (and inexpensive) ways to set the mood or atmosphere of a dinner party is with some glow and sparkle. Light is ethereal, inviting, and enchanting. In the evening, scattering a few tea lights around the table or lanterns on the deck instantly creates an intimate and warm ambience. I like to use sturdy clear holders, Moroccan tea lights, and votive glasses. Mason jars (again the do it all wonder) also make practical tea light holders too and add a rustic touch. Clusters of candles of varied heights down the table can be quite alluring. Torches either flammable or LED, staked around the perimeter is both celebratory and practical. For those pesky uninvited guests (mosquitos), include a few citronella candles around the perimeter and on the table in the buggy summer season. What I absolutely love in high summer, especially on a warm, balmy evening, is lingering under bistro lights. Lights have a way of transforming an otherwise uninspired setting into something festive and special.
Blooms & Fruit
Now we've come to my absolute favorite part of setting the table - using fresh flowers, greens, and the season’s bounty. If there is one trick that makes a table look instantly welcoming and special, it’s this decorative touch. Whether you are hosting five or twenty people, arranging some fresh and colorful blooms are essential, and there is no reason they should be a costly addition. My approach, if you will, is rustic and seasonal. I prefer using what is readily available to me in my own garden or a simple bouquet picked up at the farmers market. If I’m really in a pinch, using hearty and lush greenery gathered outside can be quite lovely when done right. It takes only a minute to arrange and is well worth the effort. Be it wildflowers, olive branches, from roadside florals stands, apple or peach blossom branches - all are simple, natural, and beautiful. Whether you pick a sweet confection of May’s peonies or cheery, golden sunflowers, be sure to use a properly weighted vase or a pitcher. Little bud vases with single blooms scattered down the table runner can also be very darling and practical too, especially if there is a steady breeze. I swear I drive with one eye on the road and another looking for wildflowers, blooming trees, and honesty box bouquets. Setting a pretty table can be effortless. Another gorgeous idea which makes the whole table feel plentiful and inviting, is various bowls filled to the brim with ripe, juicy fruit and veggies. With a big bowl of lemons, artichokes, and heirloom tomatoes - Benvenuto a Sicilia! Especially in the summer and harvest season, I love to showcase the beautiful abundance on the table. This is a particularly effective decorative trick if it is windy or if you don’t want anything too tipsy with lots of little ones running around. And why not offer up those just picked juicy peaches at your feast!
Extra Bits
If you entertain outside often, or aspire to, it might be worth investing in some of these bits and bobs. Without a doubt, the summer months can often be unbearably buggy. Flies, mosquitos, and other pesky creatures can be a real nuisance hovering over a beautiful spread and biting your guests. Mesh or cloth food covers can protect your dishes and cheeseboards from those relentless party crashers. Another handy item to have on hand is a utensil holder, either made of wood, rattan, or wicker. It’s a tidy and casual way to present utensils and weigh down napkins for everyone. Trays of wood, rattan, ceramic, melamine, and materials of all sorts are great to have in your entertaining armoire for serving cocktails, appetizers, wine glasses, and more. Speaking of drinks, a glass drink dispenser is an attractive way to serve a larger group, especially for water, lemonade, iced tea and such.
Outdoor Entertaining Essentials Checklist
Sturdy table and chairs to seat at least 6-8
Umbrella or another form of shade
A variety of linen and cotton tablecloths and napkins
Plate sets for at least 6-8 people
Utensils
Utensil holder
An assortment of platters, serving bowls, and trays
Wine glasses, mason jars, water glasses, serving pitcher
Bottle and wine openers
Picnic knife
Galvanized bucket
Tea lights, votives, sturdy candles, citronella candles
Sturdy floral vases and bud vases
Torches
Strings of globe bistro lights
Mesh food covers
Wine glass tags
Lawn games
Wireless waterproof speaker
THE OUTDOOR TABLE | AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW
