As we fly into the warmer weather — thank goodness for that! — we can’t help but dream about the long summer lunches we’re going to put on for our friends. You know, those warm afternoons where you pour out some rosé with ice and settle into a long table of delicious fresh food, under the beautiful blue skies and Aussie sun (with sunscreen, of course).
These are the kinds of afternoons that embody what life is all about. It’s connecting with friends. It’s catching up on experiences you’ve had, lessons you’ve learnt, moments that have gone past that you might’ve been too busy to reflect on — until now. You can laugh and unpack life together, all while dressed in your favourite summer lunch attire and a drink in hand. It’s what Neale Whitaker, all around tastemaker and the creative mind behind Gro Urban Oasis’s latest collection, calls “living well” and it’s what he’s all about.
But honestly, winter has felt so long this year that we’re afraid we might’ve forgotten how to curate such an afternoon. Like, what is the best way to set the table? To ask people to bring? To make the dress code?
Don’t worry, we’re going to remember together, just in time for the warmer weather. Here are five things to know about hosting the greatest summer lunch of the season in 2024.
Start early, before the warmest part of the day
On some of the warmest moments in Aussie summer, the middle of the afternoon gets HOTTT. By 2 or 3pm, your guests will be ready to go inside (or the pool, if you have one) to cool down. So, we’d recommend starting your lunch a little earlier than usual. 11:30 is a perfect time to welcome guests, before the warmest part of the day. That way, you have time to settle in with a drink and a little bit of prep before you sit down at the table.
Use washable table linen
Not only does this make for an easy-to-clean set-up, using cloth / washable linen on your table minimises waste and honestly looks way more chic than paper.
To keep things sustainable and aesthetic, we’d recommend a linen cotton tablecloth and napkins, such as these from the Neale Whitaker x Gro Urban Oasis collection.
Getting something that matches is always cute, and makes the table setting look cohesive without you having to be a master stylist. There’s something super elevated about using linen napery — it goes the extra mile vibe-wise. And plus, it feels nice to the touch! It adds an element of luxury to the lunch experience.
Keep everything tonal
An easy tip on making the table look beautiful, is to keep everything on it within the same colour palette. If you’re opting for a natural linen tablecloth and napery, go for some natural-looking ceramic bowls and plates, like these. Whitaker designed his collection to feature hot-fired stoneware with an elegant glaze as the finish, to hero the natural materials used.
Natural elements are a fun place to play within aesthetically, as you can venture from stone to wood, and it still looks cohesive. Utilising ceramic stoneware plates, bowls and jugs works really well when paired with wooden bowls and platters as the main event. Get yourself a teak salad bowl with matching serveware as a feature piece to pop your main salad in, matched with a chunky wooden board for the cheese and charcuterie.
Set an easy dress code
Match your guests to the table! Trust us, this will make for good photos. If you’re going down the linen route, ask your guests to wear a touch of something linen. Or, if you’re going down the earthy tonal route, ask them to wear something neutral. You could even ask them to wear a colour palette, like pastel, to contrast the neutral table.
Whichever you choose, make it clear and simple. Choose one thing to focus on, whether it be the material they wear or the colours they choose, and keep it smart casual.
Focus on shareable plates
There is no other way to host a lunch, than with shareable dishes. They’re easy to prepare, they allow you to set the table beforehand and they encourage your guests to mingle, chat and have something in common immediately.
As far as what to make, we’d suggest a few classics:
- A fresh salad with lots of colours: raddichio, orange and fennel is a classic favourite.
- Carpaccio! It sounds hard and fancy but it’s actually really easy. Chop up sashimi grade fish and top with lemon juice, grapefruit and some sliced chilli.
- Cold meats and cheeses. You can’t go wrong with a charcuterie board of meats and cheese — they’re beautiful, easy to prepare and there’s something for everyone. Make sure you add some fresh fruit for extra colour.
- Falafels / meatballs. Depending on your guests’ dietaries, a platter of falafels or meatballs are an easy thing to share. Paired with some small bowls of homemade dips and pita bread — it doesn’t get better. Plus, they’re filling and nutritional, without being too heavy for the summer tum.
For ease, you can shop the products we’ve mentioned in today’s piece online here.
