Easy Summer Dinner Party

Recently we hosted a fun birthday dinner party for my mom. Our apartment isn’t huge, but we do have a long table that seats eight, so we invited some of her closest friends. We cooked a simple but delicious menu, and I want to share it here, just in case you’re looking for some end-of-summer dinner party inspiration.

The centerpiece of the meal was an all-day roasted pork shoulder. You can find the recipe in The Newlywed Table and I very much recommend buying high-quality meat. (We love Rancho Llano Seco.) To go with the pork, we made a big pot of steamed rice and served easy accompaniments: a platter overflowing with fresh herbs (cilantro and mint) and lettuce cups, mellow ginger-scallion sauce, and spicy gochujang sauce.

We kept appetizers very simple—rice crackers, wasabi peas, and store-bought kimchi. And the rest of the meal came together thanks to the other guests. Pam brought the wine and Polly picked up a cake from her favorite bakery.

It was lovely evening and I’m already looking forward to doing it again soon.