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A Perfect Springtime Spread

This garden-inspired menu from Marcia Selden Catering is sure to impress.

Article by Robin Selden

Photography by Nico Leon Photography

Originally published in Westport Lifestyle

Spring is the season of renewal, color, and fresh flavors. As the sun lingers longer and flowers start to bloom, it’s the perfect time to gather friends and family for a garden-inspired get together. The ideal springtime spread should not only taste delicious, but look beautiful too. Let’s dive into a combination of fresh mini crudité pots, garden focaccia, and a refreshing Aperol Spritz (my absolute fave) to tie all that sunshine-y goodness together.

Blooming Crudité Pots 

Nothing captures springtime like fresh veggies, and serving them in mini melamine flowerpots is a fun and eye-catching way to elevate your presentation. These "potted snacks" are as practical as they are pretty, combining fresh, crisp veggies with flavorful dips hidden at the base of each pot. Be creative and use tzatziki, or a variety of hummus flavors, or your favorite dip. (I love our Lemon Tarragon dip.) These little edible gardens are not only beautiful, but also easy for guests to grab and enjoy as they mingle.

Garden Focaccia

Nothing fills your home with warmth and comfort quite like freshly baked bread. A homemade focaccia is a perfect canvas for creative expression and spring’s colorful produce makes it truly shine.

Focaccia Dough

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons (one packet) active dry yeast

1 3/4 cups warm water

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for brushing)

Toppings to Create Your "Garden"

Red onion slices for petals

Colorful mini bell peppers, thinly sliced

Kalamata and green olives for accents

Red and yellow grape tomatoes, halved

Fresh rosemary, thyme, or parsley 

Instructions

Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. Stir in flour, salt, and olive oil to form a sticky dough. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours, until doubled in size.

Shape the Dough: Transfer the dough to a well-oiled baking sheet. Stretch it out with your fingers, dimpling the surface with your fingers as you go.

Create Your Garden: Now the fun begins! Use your prepared vegetables to design a "garden" scene. Red onion slices become flowers, pepper slices can form petals, and olives or grape tomatoes make perfect flower centers. Herbs double as delicate greenery.

Bake to Perfection: Brush the entire surface generously with olive oil, sprinkle with Maldon sea salt, and bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

This beautiful bread is almost too pretty to eat, it's truly food art. The combination of fluffy focaccia with the savory punch of roasted veggies and herbs is simply irresistible, especially when eaten warm right out of the oven.

Aperol Spritz: The Ultimate Springtime Sip

What’s a spring gathering without a refreshing cocktail? An Aperol Spritz is a bright and bubbly drink to complement your spread. Its signature orange hue mirrors the vibrant and colorful palette of your crudité & focaccia garden. They are so incredibly refreshing and really make me think of sunshine; So, what better drink could you possibly enjoy for a springtime get together than sunshine in a glass?

Ingredients

Ice cubes

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts Aperol

1 part soda water

Orange slices for garnish

Instructions

Fill a glass with ice. Pour in 3 parts Prosecco, followed by 2 parts Aperol. Top with a splash of soda water and stir. Garnish with a fresh orange slice.

The result is a bright cocktail that embodies spring’s sunny energy

Bringing It All Together

Creating a perfect springtime spread is about more than just food; it’s an experience. The process of designing your focaccia garden can be super fun and rewarding. As you carefully arrange those veggie blossoms, you’re engaging in a creative moment that turns your table into a spring garden masterpiece in full bloom. When your guests arrive, they’ll be greeted by the yummy scent of freshly baked bread—subliminally telling them that they need to eat a piece! Another super fun idea would be to make it an interactive experience where your guests help to decorate the focaccia, and then bake to enjoy together just 25 minutes later. Picture the fun: your guests arrive, grab a Spritz, gather their ingredients, roll up their sleeves, and embrace the joy of creating something beautiful together. 

Cheers to delicious memories made around the table! We affectionately call it “playing with your food”. 

Flowers by: Stems & Co. – Lauren Soden

Calligraphy/Illustration-Menu by: Erica Jean Calligraphy

Robin Selden and Jeffrey Selden are the Managing Partners of Marcia Selden Catering, along with their mother and founder of the company, Marcia Selden. For more, visit marciaselden.com