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Relishing the scene with your beloveds: Tips for hosting AND actually being present

Because you’re worth lapping up all the romance, too.

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Create an effortlessly impressive menu of which 80% can be prepared in advance – what’s the point in hosting your faves if you’re missing all the tea being spilled at the table because you’re running back to the kitchen every 20 seconds?!
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A little pre-planning goes a LONG way here: opt for share-style recipes (i.e. no need for individual plating-up) that can be prepared the day before and simply reheated/assembled/zhuzhed up with a drizzle of good olive oil, sprinkles of flaky salt, and fresh herb garnishes when your guests arrive. The less hands-on attention your menu demands once the doorbell rings, the better.

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Everything on this menu was pre-prepared: I made the Moreton Bay bug filling the day before and simply stuffed the shells on the night; the stuffed zucchini flowers were baked (not fried) earlier that morning so they only needed to be reheated before serving and finished with honey and flaky sea salt; and all elements of the burrata dish were pre-made and only needed to be assembled and garnished with basil.
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A killer playlist is absolutely essential – Think sexy-funky-jazzy if you’re really leaning into the Dolce Vita meet-me-at-midnight vibe (this playlist is so good), OR some girly 90s throwback magic . I’d personally start with the former, then progress to the latter as quickly as possible because you (usually) won’t be able to get away with smashing All Saints and Tina Arena on repeat when the guys are around.

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Delegate, delegate, delegate! – Let’s normalise NOT sending the “bring nothing but your sexy selves!” text. Your friends love you, they want to help you, they respect your bank account. So let them. Delegate rosé/Aperol/mocktail duties, flower arrangement, or side salad/dessert queen designation.

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Make sure your guests know what it means when you’re boiling the kettle at 10pm – because we are 32 going on 90 over here and god knows we need our slumber.

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And then, at the end of the night, as your beloveds cuddle under the festoon lights clinking their mismatched wine glasses and mugs of camomile tea, you’ll know that true romance is right here – in the laughter, in the candlelight, in the warm and fuzzy words of affirmation being shared around the table, in the bonds with the women who make your world shine and your singleness feel far from lonely.
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By Ashlyn Lincoln
IG @ashlynlincoln

","slug","tips-for-hosting-and-actually-being-present","status","published","excerpt","Relishing the scene with your beloveds","image",{"_12":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_14":34},"meta_image","meta_title","meta_description","eafa4ec1-1453-4098-a204-1a64b99288aa","width",2139,"height",2553,"Img 6923 Min","6260350a-e170-49e7-9a81-9bbc82db397f","Your Perfect Summer Dinner Party Menu with Casa Domani","

Your Perfect Summer Dinner Party Menu with Casa Domani

Ready to Host the Ultimate Summer Dinner Party?

Impress your guests with this beautifully curated menu designed for a stress-free, enjoyable evening, styled perfectly with the Casa Domani Dolce Vita range of course!

Each dish is simple yet elegant, ensuring you can spend more time entertaining and less time in the kitchen.

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To share: Pearl Couscous Salad with Haloumi

Adapted from AllRecipes.

This vibrant salad is perfect for preparing the night before, making hosting effortless. The addition of haloumi adds a warm, golden texture that takes this dish to the next level.

Ingredients

Couscous:

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5 tablespoons olive oil
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2 cups pearl (Israeli) couscous
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2 ½ cups water
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Salad:

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2 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
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1 small cucumber, seeded and diced
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1/2 cup golden raisins
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1 peach, diced
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1/3 cup diced red onion
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1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh chives
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2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, or more to taste
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225 grams haloumi
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Dressing:

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1/4 cup olive oil
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2 lemons, juiced
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2 tablespoons honey, or more to taste
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Salt and ground black pepper to taste
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Directions

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Prepare the Couscous (Day Before): Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir couscous in hot oil until toasted and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes). Add water, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until tender (about 10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water, then transfer to a large bowl. Stir in remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
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Make the Salad: Add tomatoes, cucumber, raisins, red onion, chives, and parsley to the couscous.
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Make the Dressing: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until well combined. Pour over the salad and mix. Chill overnight.
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Before Serving: Fry the haloumi in a pan until golden on both sides. Let cool slightly, then add to the salad. Enjoy!
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Main Course: Slow Roasted Lamb

No introduction needed, if you’re in Australia, you’ve likely heard of Nagi from RecipeTin Eats. Her recipes are reliable, foolproof, and always delicious. I’ve made her Slow Roasted Rosemary & Garlic Lamb Shoulder countless times, and it never fails to impress. The best part? It’s mostly \"set and forget,\" so you can focus on other aspects of your party while it slowly cooks to perfection.

Find the full recipe here: RecipeTin Eats Slow Roasted Lamb

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Side: The Best Roast Potatoes Ever

Potatoes are a non-negotiable at any dinner party, and after polling my Instagram followers for the best potato recipe, Annabel Crabb’s Glass Potatoes emerged as the clear winner. These crispy, golden bites are pure magic, and the best part? No fancy ingredients like duck fat, just pantry staples.

Find the full recipe here: Annabel Crabb’s Glass Potatoes

Dessert: Italian Baked Peaches

I’m obsessed with peaches in summer, and this Italian Baked Peaches recipe is an effortless yet elegant way to showcase them. Easier than a crumble, it’s a stunning dish when served warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Find the full recipe here: Marcellina in Cucina’s Baked Peaches

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Time to Host!

With this menu and beautiful Dolce Vita and Deanna tableware, you’re all set to host the perfect summer al fresco dinner party. Delicious food, minimal stress, and plenty of time to enjoy the company of your guests, what more could you ask for?

Cheers to great food and even better memories while bringing people together at the table!

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Written By Annie Loey | IG @annie__loey

","Ready to Host the Ultimate Summer Dinner Party?\n",{"_12":40,"_30":41,"_32":42,"_14":43},"d4038e3b-64ae-4dde-8ef9-9f4a61f48c54",4284,3734,"Img 0561 2","61ffe736-4ded-490e-bfe6-1894718172b1","Your ultimate guide to hosting a galentines soiree","

Live, laugh, leave your linen crinkled: your ultimate guide to hosting a swoon-worthy Galentine’s soirée.

Perhaps I’m just jaded by my chronic singledom at this point, but February 14th has become much less synonymous with receiving single-stemmed roses and chocolate hearts that taste like candle wax from male lust interests, and far more about romancing the women who make my life feel like a never-ending love story.

Has Valentine’s Day become a personal excuse to exhibit my #1 love language of cooking and hosting a heartfelt feast for my female beloveds? Indeed. Is it also a convenient opportunity to exercise my obsessive penchant for tablescaping that might be a tad OTT for any other random Friday? Naturally. Is it a potential maneuver to manipulate my faves into spending Lover’s Day with me –even if they’ve got partners– so I’m less likely to scroll and eye-roll my way through the endless “wyd” Hinge messages I’ll never reply to come 9pm? Mayyyyybeeee????

But alas, in the spirit of celebrating true luv, let’s talk about throwing a Galentine’s soirée so steeped in magic and belly laughs and sensual delights that your girlfriends will be texting you all the heart-eyes and declarations of eternal devotion the next morning.

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Setting the Scene: Mediterranean-Femme Tablescaping 101

So what are we going for here? A table that feels like it belongs in a sun-drenched and ivy-adorned villa surrounded by orange groves somewhere in Tuscany, but with personal touches that tell a story and add a gorgeously feminine feel. Because girls love Italy and Italy never gets old.

It all begins with linen: Start with a crisp linen or gauzy cotton tablecloth in a soft, romantic hue — think blush, sage, lilac, or a classic creamy white. The more drape-factor and overhang the better!

A VERY, VERY HOT TIP: who owns endless tablecloth options? Certainly not me. I reallllllly wanted to use lilac for this look but I didn’t own a lilac tablecloth – until I realised I actually did, because I own a lilac top sheet! PSA: CUTE TOP SHEETS MAKE FOR EVEN CUTER TABLECLOTHS! YOU ARE SO WELCOME!

Sorry mum but I’m leaving my linen crinkled. I know it’s technically very lazy but I genuinely prefer the rugged, laissez-faire look of it – think TEXTURE, darlings! (or perhaps it’s because there’s nothing laissez-faire about my personality whatsoever but it makes me appear like I’ve got some chill?). *It must be distinguished here that hard fold lines are far less cute than random crinkles. But I would never judge you.

Whilst deliberating over lilac vs olive linen for this setting, I incidentally discovered how perfect layering the two looked – it kinda reminds me of a fairytale princess’ bed and adds to the whole Tuscan queendom vibe. I recommend layering with the lighter shade on top.

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Pick your mood, pick your palette – When it comes to picking your colour palette, decide on the mood you want to create (e.g. soft pinks, peaches, and warm neutrals feel pretty and timeless; deep reds add a sultry, moody touch; brighter tones and pops of citrus give a more playful air).

I like to put a few hero pieces of printed servingware on the table, and the accent colours in those will inform the rest of the styling – note how I’ve continued the greens and oranges in the Jardino printed pieces (my chosen ‘hero’ elements) with green flower leaves, zucchinis and the Caterina wine glasses, and orange-hued peaches, Moreton Bay bug shells and the ceramic salt dish.

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Mix the old with the new – Layer in modern servingware you feel drawn to (maybe a scalloped plate moment or something with a delicate floral/citrus print) and mix them with vintage glassware, family heirlooms, or thrifted gems that add charm and history. Collecting pieces with longevity and meaning in mind –rather than prioritising super ‘trendy’ purchases– has enabled me to curate a range of timeless pieces that can be loved and passed down forever.

Playing with a mix of patterned and pared-back pieces is always encouraged, as is creating different heights by distributing taller bowls, vases, and candle holders between the flatter plates and dishes to create visual interest.

In this setting, I’ve mixed Casa Domani’s Jardino Dinner Set (I’m completely obsessed with the scalloped rims and sweet orange blossom details) and vintage-looking Caterina Wine Glasses with some of my old thrifted faithfuls – mismatched resin knives & forks, an antique silver dish, and onyx water goblets.

If you’re low on ornaments to fill gaps, use olive branches, eucalyptus or bowls of citrus for an extra Mediterranean touch (I just couldn’t fit one more thing on the table).
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Candles, always candles! – Tall, dripping taper candles in vintage brass, ceramic or glass holders? Essential – also impossibly romantic. The goal is to create a glow so warm and dreamy that your girls feel like they’ve stepped into a Botticelli painting 💅🏼(if you’ve been bestowed with some generational hand-me-down secret as to how to successfully remove candle wax from linen, please HMU because the internet keeps failing me)

Keep flowers simple – Opt for wild, unstructured arrangements with blooms like dahlias or garden roses in soft pinks and peaches. Gold stars if you pluck something from your own garden; even more so if you steal it from a neighbour’s.

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By Ashlyn Lincoln
IG @ashlynlincoln

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