There’s something about late summer in Connecticut, when the farm stands are overflowing with the most incredible tomatoes: heirloom, sungold, cherry, green zebra, and brandywine, just to name a few. It’s truly like Mother Nature saved the best for last. That sun-ripened flavor, the colors, and the juicy perfection have my mouth watering. What better way to celebrate the end of summer than by gathering your favorite people, setting a table bursting with peak season produce, and serving a menu that feels both effortless and totally unforgettable?
This party is all about channeling the charm of an Italian summer, which is relaxed, vibrant, and built around beautiful food that doesn’t require you to be stuck in the kitchen. It starts with tomatoes and then layers in flavor, personality, and a few clever, make-ahead ideas so that you can actually be a guest at your own party!
Let’s start with a DIY Crostini Station to get the party started. Set out toasted slices of baguette, which are brushed with olive oil and either grilled or baked. Let the toppings do the heavy lifting as the crostini are just a vehicle to get the topping goodness into your mouth. Herbed ricotta; assorted tapenades like olive, sundried tomato, or artichoke; whipped feta; tomato bruschetta; roasted sweet peppers; sliced tomato and fresh mozzarella caprese…the list is endless and can be tailored to suit your style. It’s interactive, casual, and people love building their own bites. You can make every element ahead of time, which means no stress, no plating, no problem. Arrange everything on a big wooden board and it becomes edible décor. We even went as far as to create tomato topiaries, which we later used to make our tomato gazpacho as not to let the décor go to waste. Gazpacho is a perfect and super-easy soup to have on hand for an easy lunch or great first course for a dinner party. To cool things down, tomato gazpacho is your secret weapon. It’s refreshing, vibrant, and couldn’t be easier. Just blend up ripe tomatoes, garlic, cucumber, red pepper, a little garlic, olive oil, fresh herbs, and sherry vinegar. Season it up, let it chill, and serve. Can be served in small bowls or shot glasses for a fancy little taste, or in the goblets like we show here for an elevated first course moment. It’s light, totally make-ahead, and brings that fresh-off-the-vine flavor straight to the table.
Our heirloom tomato galette, a rustic, gorgeous, and shockingly easy to pull off dish, will have your guests begging for more. A buttery pastry crust gets layered with garlicky herbed ricotta and slices of every color tomato you can get your hands on. Fold up the edges, bake until golden, and watch your guests’ eyes light up when they see it. It looks impressive, but the secret is how simple it is to make. And the best part? It’s just as delicious at room temperature, so you can bake it earlier in the day, pour yourself a spritz, and relax.
Speaking of spritz, let’s talk about aperitivo hour. A build-your-own Spritz bar is not only festive and fun, but also a total crowd-pleaser. Set out bottles of Aperol, St. Germain, Campari, Prosecco, sparkling water, and club soda. Add slices of assorted citrus like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit along with fresh herbs. If you really want to go the extra mile, freeze herbs or edible flowers into ice cubes for a little sparkle in every glass. Guests can mix, match, and sip their perfect bubbly cocktail while nibbling on crostini and watching the sun go down.
For dessert, our limoncello tart is so light and delicious, it’s the perfect sweet conclusion to your tomato takeover party! A buttery crust holds a bright lemony limoncello curd that’s creamy, citrusy, and impossible to stop eating. Top it with whipped cream or meringue, candied lemon, or some edible flowers if you’re feeling fancy. The beauty of this tart is that it sets up in the fridge, so it’s one more thing you can prep ahead and cross off your list. Trust me, people will ask for the recipe and possibly a second serving because these tarts are like potato chips—you just cannot eat one!
The best part of all with this menu is that it’s meant to be prepared ahead of time so that when guests arrive, you’re not running around: you’re sipping a spritz, grazing at the crostini board, and laughing with your friends. That’s what this is about, celebrating the bounty of the season with a table full of food that looks as good as it tastes, and making it all feel fun, yummy, and full of love. It’s truly like eye candy and tastes as good as it looks! After all, these tomatoes waited all year for their moment, and so did you.
Enjoy, and bon appétit!
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