The season of get-togethers is in full swing. And whether you’ve already sent out invites for your umpteenth dinner party of the season, or you’re still trying to figure out where to even start with hosting one, we’ve got a little something up our sleeves that’ll make your next soirèe seamless and spectacular.
This December, Co-host of the Table Manners podcast Jessie Ware has partnered with Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru to put together the ultimate Hosting Kit.
From place settings and cocktail cards, right down to the calligraphy pen – the Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru x Table Manners Hosting Kit contains everything you need to elevate your at-home celebrations during the festive season. And of course, you’ll get a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru so you can create the perfect drinks menu for your guests.
To celebrate the launch of the kits, Jessie even hosted a fabulous Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru x Table Manners Supper Club. And we were lucky enough to make the guest list!
So last week we went to Bar Citral at Ester for some exquisite Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates and Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru cocktails. We even got to chat with Jessie after the meal, to find out more about how she always pulls together the perfect Supper Club. Here are some of her top tips:
- “Sharing, that’s my way that I like to do it”
Jessie started by expressing her love of dishes designed for sharing and letting the guests help themselves. It creates a lovely relaxed atmosphere, and gives the host time to relax and enjoy mingling. And we have to say, she did a pretty good job of hosting us! - “Too much organised fun is not my bag”
We moved onto the topic of games, and Jessie confessed she’s more one for letting the conversation flow. But that’s not to say she doesn’t enjoy a game of Uno every now and then. - “We definitely appreciate a gift”
This one’s a tip for the guests. And although they are by no means mandatory, Jessie and her mum love it when people bring a gift. Wine or chocolates are the obvious ones, but you could pull out all the stops and bring a Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru x Table Manners hosting kit to your next dinner party. That’s sure to guarantee you a second invite! - “When you execute simplicity, it’s so much better”
Reminiscing about last New Year’s Eve dinner, Jessie told us about her chilli beef brisket. All prepared the day before and served with a couple of simple, delicious cocktails, it was the perfect party menu. - “Always have your candles at different heights”
According to Jessie, the key to a gorgeous table setting is creating a landscape. And by that we mean arranging an assortment of candles and flowers at different heights. It’s super simple and looks really dramatic. - “Even if the food isn’t that fabulous, you say the food is lovely”
Here’s another one for the guests. And we’re hardly surprised by this one, judging by the name of Jessie’s podcast. Showing thanks for the hard work someone’s put into hosting is important – so let them know you appreciate it!
We wrapped things up by getting some inspo for the perfect dinner party soundtrack. Jessie’s top recommendations were the Charlie Brown Quartet Christmas album and Khruangbin, with plenty of disco tracks for later.