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Hosting family and friends—ideally, al fresco, with a meal inspired by her garden—is one of our founder's favorite things.
"I’m so drawn to bringing people together, to creating a place of concord. And nothing conjures this more naturally than a meal—made extra special by a sense of occasion," Gwyneth says. Even informal, barefoot-in-the-backyard dinners deserve an intentionally set table: "It makes guests feel honored to come and sit down at a beautiful table with a lot of thought put into it."
This personal approach to entertaining inspired goop's new table linen collection with Italian lifestyle brand Cabana. "I was so excited to collaborate with my friend Martina [Cabana founder and editor-in-chief], the absolute bastion of home curation and taste," Gwyneth says. The limited-edition table linens—whose delicate olive-leaf motif was inspired by the olive trees found both in Montecito and the countryside of Umbria—are the perfect backdrop for setting an elevated yet inviting tablescape.
Ahead, we tapped GP for her formula for hosting the ultimate dinner party.
THE OUTFIT
“I like to wear a long, easy dress that’s chic but comfortable—something I can serve and clear in without having to think about it too much," Gwyneth says.
THE SCENE-SETTERS
The Buster Paltrow Cocktail
“My go-to is a cocktail I made up called the Buster Paltrow. I eyeball it, but it’s usually about two shots of whiskey, one and a half of maple syrup, and one and a half of lemon juice. It’s delicious.”
The Grazing Board
“I love doing a really big grazing board with different kinds of cheeses, plus pecans and dried fruit.”
THE TABLESCAPE
Richard Rosario PhotographY
"I'm getting very, almost worryingly, into table settings as I get older," Gwyneth says. "At our home in Italy, because we're so deeply in the country, my table settings are more casual and relaxed, but we still like to collect beautiful pieces.”
Her preferred centerpieces are bowls of fruit and un-fussy florals. "I think a table can look a bit tacky when the flowers are perfectly arranged; it makes people feel stiff," Gwyneth says. “I like arrangements that are simple and beautiful, as if you went into the garden and picked them yourself, never too studied or overdone."
THE MENU
"I usually make something easy I can prep ahead—a simple, well-seasoned roast chicken with seasonal veggies from the farmer’s market or halibut drenched in salt and olive oil baked in the oven, with a sauce of chopped fresh herbs, mashed garlic and olive oil," Gwyneth says.
"I like serving family style with a more casual vibe so that everybody feels relaxed and the conversation is thoughtful and not small talk-y."
THE DINNER CONVERSATION
"I like to use a card game from Skin Deep to get the conversation going. There's one for long-term couples, families, strangers. They're really thoughtful questions. But oftentimes, Brad will also just come up with a great question. The other day he asked, 'What are three values of your family?' We went around the table, and our guests said things like 'irreverence,' and 'deliciousness.' We got such interesting answers..."