Natasha Pickowicz's Backyard Dinner Party: A Guide to Effortless Summer Entertaining

In a feature for Vogue's Aperitivo Hour series, pastry chef and cookbook author Natasha Pickowicz shares her philosophy and practical tips for hosting relaxed, improvisational summer dinner parties in her New York City backyard. Pickowicz, a four-time James Beard finalist and former head pastry chef at Altro Paradiso and Flora Bar, emphasizes the appeal of unstructured gatherings where guests come and go, and menus are dictated by whatever looks best at the greenmarket. For a recent party, she grilled a butterflied leg of lamb with lemon and oregano, served with lettuce wraps, vegetable sides, and a summer berry tart with strawberry and yuzu jam. Her tablescape mixes vintage and modern pieces, including a linen tablecloth from Quince, her mother's vintage blue Chinese tablecloth, and ceramics from Carolina Irving & Daughters, Fishs Eddy, and Heller. She decorates with garden finds like pea vines, fig leaves, and chamomile from the Union Square greenmarket, and plays cassette tapes on a small tape player. Pickowicz also shares her dos and don'ts, including delegating tasks to guests, avoiding matchy-matchy decor, and ensuring there's always enough wine. She notes that even imperfect dinners are enjoyable because friends are happy to gather, and late-night pizza delivery is always an option in NYC.