Entertaining Cali Style

I moved to California from Connecticut 6 years ago. To say it was a bit of a culture shock would be an understatement. There are far too many differences to go into in one blog post so I will focus on one of my favorites….entertaining.

Now don’t get me wrong, we did entertain in New England,  but more often than not it consisted of a barbecue or two in the summer and dining out at our club or restaurants the remainder of the year.

Californians love to entertain…at their homes or on the beach.  With our temperate climate, we are able to entertain outdoors all year round. Our homes are geared to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle so it becomes a casual laid back affair.

Let’s start with sunset cocktails on the beach.  Everyone brings low tables (with tablecloths and even flowers! ), chairs, their favorite wine and an assortment of cheeses, fruit, and crackers. The conversation flows as easily as the wine and then of course the cherry on top is watching a glorious Santa Barbara sunset bundled up in sweaters and blankets. It doesn’t get much better!

Entertaining at The Little Glass House is equally as enjoyable. The evening usually begins with a specialty cocktail such as a Strawberry Basil Margarita or Clerico which is a white wine sangria.

Dinner is either a bring-your-own-dish affair (which makes life so easy for me!)  or my hubby will grill some corn and meat accompanied by some of my homemade potato salad. Whenever possible, we like to eat out on the patio under the string lights and stars.

We then retire to the back yard to enjoy our dessert (and maybe some wine) by the warmth of the fire pit. This is one of our favorite things to do. There is something about sitting around an outdoor fire that is relaxing and convivial at the same time. It’s like being a kid again sitting around a campfire telling stories. We still love to tell tales, and yes, occasionally accompanied by s’mores!

There is an ease and beauty to entertaining in California that I actually find myself looking forward to planning the next dinner party!