The inaugural Pasta & Paint — appetizers, lunch & painting en plein air, served poolside, in early summer.
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I've started hosting a pasta and paint soirée series outside by the pool. We eat, then we paint (weather permitting). It gives me a really great excuse to gather the gals together, and to try my hand at a few new recipes. Plus, I can take the opportunity to design a pretty menu.
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The Menu:
ANTIPASTI
Charcuterie
INSALATA
Aqua Fresca Melon Salad
watermelon, cantaloupe & mozzarella pearls
with hot honey & lime drizzle
PASTA
Creamy Garlic Gnocchi
gnocchi with spinach, pine nuts & sun-dried tomatoes
in cheesy garlic cream sauce
BEVANDE
Lavender Lemonade
with optional limoncello shots
Guests gathered 'round the BYOB & snack buffet of cakes, cookies, and charcuterie for the group to either catch up or create new connections while I finished cooking, before we laid out the table to serve. We dressed our places in white and green linens alongside my favorite citrus candlesticks (I thought them fitting with our theme being a touch Italian, with the gnocchi and limoncello). We rounded out our ambrosial meal, swapping tablecloth for dropcloth, and spending a few more hours painting the perfect portraits of our dogs.

Shop my table:
LINENS
tablecloth, placemats & napkins at Bed Threads
SERVEWARE
beaded rim porcelain plates at Target
edge wine glasses at Crate & Barrel, dupes at Amazon
vintage textured aqua blue drinking glasses at Michaels
travertine napkin rings at Crate & Barrel
wood and marble wine coaster at Crate & Barrel
TABLE DECOR
lemon taper candlesticks at Anthropologie, similar at Sur la Table and Amazon
Are you a foodie?
Read up on my recipes and more
under GATHER
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