7 Creative Ideas for Fall Entertaining
With the Fall entertaining season upon us, the Well Dunn family is here to help you spice up your next gathering. From seasonal dishes to locally-sourced ingredients and style ideas, you’ll be ready to impress when your doorbell rings!
Idea 1: Say Cheese
Charcuterie boards are all the rage these days, but don’t sleep on the crowd-pleasing (and vegetarian-friendly) beauty of a smartly arranged cheese, fruit, and bread display. Bonus points for including local honey – and a classic wooden honey dipper – from great folks like our friends at West Wind Farm in Leesburg, VA.
Idea 2: A Perfect Seasonal Salad
When it comes to capturing Fall flavors in a salad, we’re big fans of the combination of massaged kale, roasted sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds, black rice, and rainbow quinoa. Top that off with a tahini dressing and your guests will be Instagramming your dish before the plates are cleared!
Idea 3: Step Up Your Knife Game
Speaking of Instagram, if you’re preparing your food in an open kitchen, don’t miss out on the chance to impress your friends with cutlery that is as beautiful as it is functional. The folks over at District Cutlery have you covered if upping your knife game is a goal. A beauty like this Blue Super Steel chef’s knife with its hammered Kurouchi finish is sure to earn you more than a few compliments as you prep your ingredients!
Idea 4: Not Just for Pie
Few dishes capture the flavors of Fall more than a creamy pumpkin soup. Be sure to put your own spin on this classic dish, whether it be topped with crispy prosciutto and crumbled focaccia croutons for an Italian flair, or presented with the local flavors of Surryano ham and an herb biscuit; you can’t go wrong!
Idea 5: Fall Is In the Air
When it comes to capturing the aromatic bouquets of the season, the soy candles from Richmond-based Sydney Hale can’t be beat. Our Fall favorite is their Bourbon & Brown Sugar, and they earn bonus points for donating 10% of their profits to animal rescue organizations across the country.
Idea 6: Sweet Treats
When it comes to sweets, it’s easy to please everyone (and give them an excuse to go back for seconds!) with a fresh-baked cookie display. We’re fans of the flavors shown in this assortment during the holiday season: Chocolate-Dipped Florentine Cakes, Double Pecan Thumbprint Cookies, Snowball Shortbread Cookies, and Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Cookies with dehydrated raspberry crumbles.
Idea 7: Florals
Of course we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend a stunning floral centerpiece to tie your whole tablescape together. DC florist extraordinaire, Philippa Tarrant, works creative wonders with whatever color palate you desire!