Plan a Home & Garden Party
August/September 2001
By Lucinda Hutson
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photographs by Lucinda Hutson
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Herb Garden Party Menu
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• Scrumptious Salmon and Dilly Cheese Torta
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Each year, I throw a festive celebration in my Austin, Texas, garden. A garden party is a lighthearted, casual way to show off my garden and regale my guests with its seasonal delights—the fresh herbs and flowers that flavor and garnish every dish.
Rather than a sit-down, al fresco dinner, I like to celebrate summer occasions with a garden full of friends, allowing them to serve themselves in a buffet-style setting. That lets me enjoy my own party without the stress of serving. Instead of one buffet table, I like to set up serving areas scattered around the garden. This encourages guests to mingle more. Sometimes a serving area can highlight a single dish. For example, I serve the Scrumptious Salmon and Dilly Cheese Torta (see recipe on page 29) on a table of its own, with its accompanying condiments displayed appealingly around it. Try turning a standing birdbath into a pedestal for a platter, or your garden bench into a serving table.
When setting the serving tables, choose cloths in complementary colors and designs that accentuate the colors that dominate the garden. To add interest, layer several patterns or colors of tablecloths or arrange some on the diagonal. To show off a special dish, create a raised platform for it by covering a small, sturdy crate or box with cloth.