You’ve seen the red-and-white checkered tablecloth before, but now’d your chance to do something different. This summer, swap the standard cookout vibes for something more curated. With styled-to-a-T tabletops and menus that take their cue from around the world, these combinations prove that outdoor entertaining can be both easygoing and elevated.

From Our Shop

Veranda Outdoor Pitcher & Tumblers $30–$48

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1/2 & 1/2 Melamine Dinnerware $70–$75

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The Floral Society Essential Oil Outdoor Incense & Mosquito Repellent $60

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Scandinavian Simplicity

Lean into easy elegance with a clean, minimalist setup. Think white linens, unfussy wildflowers, and natural wood accents that feel both grounded and elevated. Pair the look with equally refreshing dishes, like lemon-dill gravlax and a Scandinavian summer strawberry tart, that channel the cool, unfussy spirit of a Nordic summer.

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Welcome to Like a Local, our series where travelers share their ideal long weekends. This time, Tessa shows how to do Sonoma—wine, food, and fun—with kids in tow.

Sonoma, affectionately known by locals as "Slow-noma," offers a charming, laid-back pace that’s perfect for a relaxing weekend trip. While Wine Country isn’t typically known as a family destination, after spending time there with two toddlers, I’ve realized that Sonoma is a place people of all ages can (and should) enjoy. It’s one of our home bases when we visit the U.S., and a spot we never tire of exploring. Though Sonoma is a small town of roughly 11,000, it offers renowned food and wine while remaining down-to-earth and unpretentious.

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Welcome to Forkcast—our weekly meal plan with five recipes, a grocery list, and tips to keep dinner easy. This week’s lineup comes from Lee Anthony, a pro meal prepper and busy mom who knows how to make weeknight meals work for the whole family.

After a long day, my daughters often ask, “What’s for dinner, Mom? We want something tasty but that won’t take too long because we are hungry!”

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Welcome to Sunday Reset, where we share how we’re unwinding and what we have planned for the week ahead. This time, New Jersey–based cook and creator Peter Beckwermert (@petey_cooks) makes the case for a taco-filled Fourth of July.

Tradition says the Fourth of July is to be spent grilling and enjoying one (or five) adult beverages near a large body of water. For the most part, my celebration is no different, except for what comes off the grill. Please don’t take this as slander against the classic burgers-and-dogs menu (I assure you, I love both). But can we agree that, as far as Fourth of July fare goes, that duo has been done? If you ask me, three flavor-packed tacos is the new “burger and a dog.”

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Welcome to Come On Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where we share our personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to making extra seating out of every surface of an apartment. This week, Kelly’s breaking the ice.

There’s nothing I love more than introducing one group of friends to another, especially when I know they’re going to get along swimmingly. But walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces can be awkward, even in the friendliest setting. And when you’re the one bringing everyone together, it’s on you to smooth that tension. So I gathered a few go-to tricks from the Food52 team.

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Trays of crispy chicken cutlets. Bowls of beet salad. Rows of freshly baked pies. Trader Joe’s candles flickering next to elegant taper holders, soft jazz in the background, and 40 strangers who all brought something to the table—literally. These are the scenes you’ll find at a supper or cookbook club hosted by Food Baby Brooklyn, a project dreamed up by our newest test kitchen resident, Isabelle Jardin.

A Brooklyn-based content creator and avid host, Isabelle is known for throwing cozy pop-up dinners in unexpected places—from backyards to warehouses—where strangers become friends over shared plates and good wine. Ambient lighting? Always. Homemade food? Absolutely. Cookbook recs? You know it.

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All Fired Up is our Shop’s monthly handmade ceramics drop, curated by Food52 and sourced from small and local makers. This month, we’re highlighting the work of Oregon-based artist Petra Kaiser.

For most people, stumbling across a pottery wheel on Craigslist might warrant a click—maybe even a little daydream. But $300? That’s probably a scam, right? For ceramicists, though, that’s an insane deal. You’ve got about ten minutes to decide.

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Welcome to Sunday Reset, where we share how we’re unwinding and what we have planned for the week ahead. This time, Isabelle tells us about her search for the perfect sandwich.

Good morning! What’s your sandwich sun, moon, and rising?

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When you’re a busy parent trying to feed a family with different tastes, grocery shopping can quickly turn into a chaotic—and expensive—chore. Between inflation, food waste, and the endless “What’s for dinner?” dilemma, many of us are hungry for solutions that help us do more with less. Enter Chef Will Coleman’s 6-to-1 Grocery Shopping Method: a smart, flexible strategy that makes planning, shopping, and cooking simpler and more sustainable.

What is the 6-to-1 Grocery Shopping Method?

Designed to help shoppers focus on ingredients that can be used across multiple meals, Coleman’s method is straightforward: shop for six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces, and one fun item. The result? A cart full of cost-effective, versatile ingredients that can stretch into a week’s worth of meals without waste or overwhelm.

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Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year—and the unofficial kickoff to slow evenings, spontaneous backyard hangs, and meals that feel like mini celebrations. Whether you’re planning a proper dinner party or just want an excuse to slice a few extra peaches and light the grill, this is your sign to cook something that tastes like sunshine.

We rounded up 25 of our favorite summer-ready recipes that are perfect for the solstice and every sun-drenched day that follows. There’s a juicy peach and tomato panzanella that’s equal parts salad and main course, a grilled Caesar that’s smoky and crisp in all the right ways, and a cacio e pepe corn salad we honestly can’t stop thinking about. If you’re team pasta salad, don’t worry—we’ve got options. And if you’re looking for a low-lift main to serve with all that veg, let us point you to some extra-flavorful chicken thighs, a lemony Greek-inspired platter, or grilled flatbreads you can top with whatever’s in the fridge.

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Summer inevitably brings around the best cocktail moments—there’s fresh fruit, cold prosecco, and honestly, a little more freedom to play. Don’t get me wrong, I love a cozy fall or winter drink (and I’ll definitely make the case for them come September), but in the warmer months, it’s time to swap the apple, ginger, and whiskey for strawberry, rose, and Aperol.

If you’ve read my previous deep dives into flips or tea-infused syrups, you already know I love writing (and thinking) about cocktails. I’m always on the lookout for ways to zhuzh up the classics—whether it’s a spritz or a gin and tonic. Is it in the syrup? The liqueur? A splash of something floral or fizzy? Yes to all of the above.

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Welcome to Schoolhouse Switchboard, where our team answers your most pressing design questions—one topic at a time. This week, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about cabinet hardware.

When it comes to everyday design choices, cabinet hardware doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. But here’s the thing: you interact with it every single day—opening drawers, closing doors, maybe even admiring that little gleam of brass while you wait for your coffee to brew.

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Welcome to Schoolhouse Switchboard, where our team answers your most pressing design questions—one topic at a time. This week, we’re breaking down how to hang art and mirrors like a pro.

Hanging a heavy mirror or piece of art can feel like one of those deceptively simple tasks—until you’re standing there with a drill in one hand and a level in the other, trying to make sure everything lines up just right. It’s one of the most common questions we get at the Switchboard: What’s the safest, most reliable way to hang something heavy on the wall?

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Welcome to Forkcast—a weekly meal-planning newsletter with five recipes for the week ahead, plus a handy grocery list and helpful tips. This week’s is curated by Nancy Zapata, who’s all about quick, family-friendly meals packed with hidden veg.

I buy on Saturday and prep on Sunday. My kiddos pick out their favorite veggies—and sometimes new ones—when we grocery shop. It’s a fantastic way to give my kids agency and who knows? That vegetable could be their new favorite. These secretly veggie packed dishes are great for incorporating more nutritionally dense meals into my family's routine. They’re great for my picky eaters too. I find that if I can get two out of three items eaten off the plate (one out of three on a rough week), then dinner was a success.

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Few people understand the power of a four-hour dinner. For most Americans, that probably sounds like a nightmare. But in Italy, it’s normal. Expected, even. You settle in. You open a bottle of wine. You talk, and eat, and talk some more. There’s no rush to clear the plates or get to dessert.

Growing up, I was lucky to be part of a family that liked to linger. We’d close restaurants, migrate from the dining room to the patio, and stay out so late the neighbors would gently remind us they had work in the morning. That way of eating—of being, really—has always felt more natural to me. And it’s exactly the kind of spirit cookbook author John Bersani captures in his new book, 20 Amici – 40 Ricette: Friends and Food from the Heart of Chianti.

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When you want good Italian food around New York City—or really anywhere—there are a few things I always look for. A real Italian accent helps, or at least a whisper of one. Fresh bread and olive oil (with bonus points for roasted garlic swimming in it and slowly infusing it). And fresh parmesan—lots of it. You know it’s the real deal when there’s a full wheel in the dining room and a microplane grater always on standby.

At Arthur & Sons, a red-sauce joint with old-school flair and serious comfort vibes, you’ll find all that and more. Founded by third-generation Italian American chef Joe Isidori, the restaurant is a love letter to the kind of Italian-American cooking that never goes out of style. Think: red booths, checkered tablecloths, stained glass light fixtures, and Caesar salads showered in freshly grated cheese. It’s cozy, classic, and always packed. And chances are, you’ll see Joe personally grating parm over your dish.

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Welcome to Sunday Reset, where we share how we’re unwinding and what we’re cooking in the week ahead. This time, Justin is walking us through his best tips for perfectly grilled fish (no sticking, no overcooking).

Memorial Day is traditionally the start of the summer, but to me, grilling season doesn't start in earnest until Father's Day. Every year on that Sunday, Grill Dads everywhere (for better and for worse) spark up their grills and lock in for months of cooking on patios, decks, public parks, and driveways.

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Let’s be honest: Dads are some of the hardest people to shop for. Whether it’s the “I don’t want anything” dad, the “just buy me socks” dad, or the “already ordered it myself” dad (the audacity), finding a thoughtful, budget-friendly gift can feel impossible. One year, my dad asked for a handheld leaf blower and my sisters and I immediately bought it. It’s still his favorite gift ever—and yes, that one made the list.

These picks work great for Father’s Day, but even if you missed it, there’s always a birthday, anniversary, or last-minute celebration around the corner. I see new gifts hit my inbox and our office storeroom basically every day, and some of my favorite recs came straight from Dana Avidan Cohn, Director of Editorial Content at Macy’s. She helps people find the right gift all day long, and told me: “The secret to selecting the perfect gift is to really shop by their interests and personality. What will they actually use, enjoy, travel with? The best gifts always feel personal and practical.”

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Summer is around the corner and that means the grilling season has officially arrived (yes, even if your forecast still says “scattered showers”). And while we’re all for a bourbon on the rocks while the coals heat up, there’s another reason to keep that bottle close: It might just be the secret ingredient your summer cooking’s been missing.

No, this isn’t just a summer fever dream. Bourbon’s sweet, warm, slightly smoky profile pairs beautifully with all kinds of cooking techniques—grilling included. But it’s just as impactful in a stovetop glaze, a hot skillet, or even a rich dessert. From smoky grilled chicken to syrupy French toast with heat, these bourbon-spiked dishes come straight from the chefs who actually cook with it.

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Welcome to Forkcast—a weekly meal-planning newsletter with five recipes for the week ahead, plus a handy grocery list and helpful tips. This week’s is curated by Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN, a nutrition expert with a passion for practical, family-friendly meals. Learn more of her expertise here.

What better time to boost your fruit intake than the start of summer, when sweet, colorful fruit is reaching its peak? If you’re anything like me, you love a good sweet-and-savory combo—and this week’s menu is full of them. We’re highlighting two of the season’s best: juicy peaches and bursting-with-flavor blueberries. You’ll see just how well they shine in the five recipes below.

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