A September evening, planned by Lajendo.
There’s something about September that makes staying in appealing again. The evenings are darker, everyone is slowly returning to their routines, and after a summer of trying to spend every possible hour outside, home suddenly feels quite nice.
So, we’re bringing back dinner at home.
Not the kind that requires a perfectly set table or an entire Saturday spent preparing. Just really good food, something nice to wear, a few people you want around your table — and preferably nowhere anyone needs to be afterwards.
Here’s our plan for the evening.
ON THE MENU
We want something that feels like dinner, without having to disappear into the kitchen once everyone arrives.
So we’re keeping it Italian-ish, simple and made for sharing.
TO START
Burrata, roasted tomatoes & warm bread
Put cherry tomatoes in an oven dish with plenty of olive oil, a few crushed garlic cloves, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Roast until they’re soft, sweet and starting to burst.
Place a burrata in the middle of a large plate, spoon the warm tomatoes and their olive oil around it and finish with flaky salt and fresh basil.
Put it in the middle of the table with warm sourdough and let everyone help themselves.
FOR DINNER
Creamy lemon pasta
Simple enough to make while talking, but still good enough to serve when you’ve invited people over.
Cook spaghetti or linguine until al dente, saving some of the pasta water before draining.
In a large pan, melt butter with a little olive oil. Add finely grated lemon zest, followed by cream and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Let it come together for a few minutes before adding the pasta, grated parmesan and enough pasta water to make everything glossy.
Finish with more parmesan, lemon zest and black pepper at the table.
Add a simple green salad on the side with lemon, olive oil and salt.
SOMETHING SWEET
Affogato
There is very little preparation involved, which is exactly why we’re choosing it.
One scoop of good vanilla ice cream in each glass or small bowl. Pour a freshly made espresso over it just before serving.
If dinner has already gone in a slightly more indulgent direction, add a splash of amaretto.
IN THE GLASS
With a creamy, lemony pasta, we’d go for something fresh and dry rather than heavy — a crisp Italian white, a mineral Sauvignon Blanc or a dry sparkling wine.
For anyone skipping alcohol: sparkling water with lots of ice, fresh lemon and a few slices of cucumber is simple enough not to feel like you’re trying to recreate a cocktail.
And after dinner: espresso. Always.
WHAT WE’RE WEARING
Dinner at home is one of those occasions where you want to feel dressed without looking like you’ve tried too hard. There might be cooking, a lot of sitting around the table and probably shoes coming off at some point — so comfort is very much part of the dress code.
IF YOU’RE HOSTING
The Matcha to Martini Dress.
It’s made for exactly this kind of evening — dressed enough to make dinner at home feel like an occasion, but relaxed enough for hosting, cooking and eventually curling up on the sofa when everyone decides they’re not going home just yet.
Keep the styling simple with gold jewelry, bare feet or a small heel, and an oversized blazer nearby if the evening moves out onto the balcony.
IF YOU’RE COMING FOR DINNER
The Keep It Simple Set, styled with the Blossom Blazer.
Wear the shirt slightly open, add the blazer and finish with loafers or a heel depending on the mood. A few pieces of jewelry and a good bag are really all it needs.
And once dinner gets going, the blazer can come off and the set is comfortable enough for however late the evening ends up becoming.
AFTER DINNER
Don’t clear the table too quickly.
Make the espresso, bring out another bottle if the evening calls for it and leave the plates where they are for a while.
And instead of everyone eventually ending up on their phones, we’re borrowing a very simple idea for the table.
20 QUESTIONS, BUT BETTER
Write the questions below on separate pieces of paper, fold them and put them in a bowl. Take turns picking one.
No one has to answer anything they don’t want to. The only rule is that the person who picks the question answers first.
- What would you do for a year if money wasn’t part of the equation?
- What’s something you’ve completely changed your mind about?
- What do you want to be better at a year from now?
- Which age would you happily experience again for one week?
- What’s the best decision you’ve ever made on impulse?
- What do you spend money on that you’ll never regret?
- Where could you genuinely imagine living for a year?
- What’s something you used to care about that you no longer do?
- Which person has influenced your life more than they probably know?
- What’s one thing you really want to do before this year is over?
Save the remaining ten for the next dinner.
BEFORE EVERYONE ARRIVES
One final thing: music.
Start it before you start cooking, not five minutes before everyone arrives.
For September we’re thinking something warm and slightly nostalgic in the beginning, a little more energy once everyone is around the table, and the songs everyone knows saved for later in the evening.
The kind of playlist that starts as background music and eventually isn’t background music anymore.
THE SHOPPING LIST
For four people
Burrata
Cherry tomatoes
Sourdough bread
Fresh basil
Garlic
Spaghetti or linguine
2 lemons
Parmesan
Cream
Butter
Green salad
Vanilla ice cream
Good coffee
Amaretto, if you want it
Olive oil
Chili flakes
Flaky salt
Black pepper
Add a bottle of something you like, a few candles and four people you haven’t had enough time with lately.
Dinner is sorted.
Now send the text:
Girls dinner at mine next Friday? 🍝🍷 I’m cooking, you bring the wine. Come hungry and don’t make plans for afterwards. 19.00 🖤