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Mastering The Art Of A Springtime Soirée
There’s a special kind of magic in that first breath of Spring – a fresh promise of long lunches in the sun, tables laden with seafood, and the cheerful pop of champagne corks making their way into the neighbour’s garden.
Spring’s effortless charm and vibrant flavours set the perfect stage for relaxed and lively gatherings. As Jono Fleming – co-host of the House of Style podcast and an interior designer with a background in styling and food – puts it, “Who doesn’t love the change of seasons? The warmth, the longer days, and the scent of jasmine in the air instantly lift our spirits, signalling the start of those precious outdoor moments.
Jono is a seasoned host, so we tapped into his expertise for tips on throwing a stress-free spring soirée. His key advice? “Keep things easy for yourself.” He emphasises the importance of small details: “Simple things like linen napkins and putting the dips from the plastic tub into a bowl are little touches but help level up your table. And don’t forget the mood — a good playlist can get people relaxed and comfortable when they arrive. This is one of my go-tos!”
On the hunt for more killer hosting tips? We got the scoop from Jono on how to throw the ultimate seasonally-inspired spring soirée. Here’s his expert advice – and his must-have recipe for a Tomato Spritz (yes, you read that right).
I love when the theme of a table ties together the environment, season and setting.
When you’re putting together a decorative arrangement, be led by what’s in season. If in doubt, stick to a singular colour palette and work in tones. You can’t go wrong!
And make sure you let that theme creep into your space, with little elements popping up all over your home. If florals are the focus of the table, add little sprigs here and there, on a coffee table, in the bathroom, get a floral scented candle to set that tone. It means when it’s all done and dusted, you have a unique tablescape that has permeated through the house without changing all your decor for one event.
My secret for nailing seasonality is to get to the local farmers market where fresh, local produce is available. It’s not an all the time thing but when you’re entertaining it’s nice to do these extra steps to make sure what you’re using is fresh.
When it comes to food, nduja is really having a moment. It’s an Italian spicy spreadable salami and is amazing as a little bite with some cheese or mixed into a dish.
And for drinks I’m loving using more savoury elements in cocktails. A dirty martini with a bit of blue cheese stuffed in an olive, or this fresh tomato spritz I’ve been making lately (recipe below!). I’m also loving bringing the elements in as garnishes, like tomatoes on a toothpick or freezing pickles or chillies in ice cubes.
Cocktail Recipes
Garden Gin and Tonic
This herby, floral gin and tonic is a great way to add a bit of extra flair and colour to a classic. It’s light, refreshing and beautifully fragrant, spring in a glass!
Ingredients (serves 1)
30mL shot of Mayfair Rhubarb & Ginger Gin (for colour and a bit of flavour)
90mL tonic water
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
1 sprig of thyme
1 sprig of mint
Extra herbs for garnish
Method
1. In a cocktail shaker add gin and sprigs of herbs. Muddle and break down the herbs releasing all the fragrance. Add ice and shake to combine.
2. Strain into a short glass over ice and top up with tonic water.
3. For extra flourish, freeze some edible flowers into ice cubes in advance to add a bit of colour and spring to your drink.
Cherry Tomato Spritz
A new addition to the ever popular spritz drinks, this cherry tomato variation brings a hint of savoury to your menu that will be a favourite as the warm weather sets in.
Ingredients (serves 2)
60mL Cinzano Dry Vermouth
30mL St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
30mL Ruby Red grapefruit juice
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 basil leaves
Top up with Croser NV
Cherry tomato and basil for garnish
Method
1. In a cocktail shaker, add cherry tomatoes and basil leaves and muddle, breaking down the tomatoes and releasing all their juices and flavour.
2. Add vermouth, grapefruit juice and elderflower liqueur, add some ice and give it a good shake.
3. In glasses filled with ice, strain the liquid evenly and top up with sparkling wine.
4. Garnish with a basil leaf and cherry tomato on a toothpick.
Pear and Rosemary White Wine Sangria
One of the best memories I have is sitting by the Hudson River in New York, drinking a fresh white wine sangria with friends.This variation on that drink adds a spring twist, bringing those memories right back home.
Ingredients (serves 6)
750mL Petaluma White Label Sauvignon Blanc
90mL 100 SOULS White Rum
355mL pear juice
60mL lime juice
Top up with soda water
Sliced pears and a sprig of rosemary for garnish
Method
1. In a large jug filled with ice, add the bottle of wine, rum, pear juice, lime juice and top up with soda water.
2. Stir well (with an extra long spring of rosemary if you have it!) and pour into glasses with slices of pear and rosemary for garnish. Fresh, crisp and great for long spring afternoons.
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