Summer entertaining is at its best when it feels effortless. For Isabelle Heikens, content creator and host of Dinner at Isabelle’s, she shares that the perfect gathering is less about chasing perfection and more about crafting the kind of atmosphere where guests can kick back, mingle, and just enjoy the moment, without overthinking it. We caught up with Isabelle to learn about her approach to summer hosting, the KitchenAid® features she leans on while entertaining, and those small details that complete a dinner party.
Your dinner parties are iconic. How has your idea of the “perfect gathering” changed over the years?
I think the more I host, the more my priorities change. Starting, I always put so much pressure on the tablescape, dress code, having an interesting menu with many, many components, and to a large extent, I still do. But the more I host, the more I realize that while those things are nice to have, what is more important is the guest experience. Looking back, my favourite parties are not the ones where I served the best food, but the ones where the vibes were high, the room was relaxed, and there was great music playing.
With summer entertaining in full swing, what features from KitchenAid’s new collection are you loving this season?
Photo credit: Paige Thompson
For summer entertaining especially, I am always trying to make the most out of my farmers market finds: delicate squash blossoms, huge bunches of herbs, fragile berries. All delicious, but if not stored correctly, they can go bad before you get the chance to use them, which is why I love my spacious and well-designed KitchenAid® Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator. My favourite feature is the FreshChill™ Temperature-Controlled Full-Width Pantry Drawer with its customizable temperature presets, which help me keep all my delicate prep ingredients fresh.
If your guests arrived extra early, the invite is for 7, but they arrive at 5 to beat traffic, what are three things you’d do or suggest to pull everything together?
The two hours before the party begins are notoriously the most stressful because it is when you pull together all the last-minute things: setting up the drink bar, freshly squeezing citrus for cocktails, doing the last of the cooking, etc. So if anyone shows up that early, I say put them to work! Giving people small, simple tasks like filling ice buckets, juicing citrus, or setting out the cheese board is a win, win, win. They feel good about helping; you have a task taken care of, and it helps establish a more casual, laid-back vibe that makes the evening feel like there is less pressure on it.
When it comes to outdoor dining, what’s one detail that makes the biggest difference but often gets overlooked?
Volume. When you are inside a smaller room with some music playing and lots of different conversations between guests, the room can quickly get loud, which is a good thing. A buzzy room is a lively room, and I like my dinner parties with the energy up and lots of laughing. But when you are outside, there is much more space, and it can feel much quieter because the sound is not confined. So keep an eye on the music, make sure it is loud enough that it can be heard throughout the space, and encourage people to speak a little louder. It is key to the vibe of the night.
Also, bug nets. Essential for covering food while you are waiting for the grill to heat up or while it is sitting at the table.
Photo credit: Paige Thompson
If you could host a dinner anywhere in the world, what KitchenAid appliances would you take with you, where would it be, and what would you serve?
I recently got engaged in Italy, and I am dying to go back for a longer stay somewhere on the coast with a kitchen. The ideal dinner would involve grabbing a whole fish and lots of produce from the market. Maybe starting with white wine-steamed artichokes as an appetizer, then having that whole fish grilled and stuffed with herbs and lemon, with a simple tomato salad on the side. Really taking advantage of the best ingredients and not doing much to them.
And in terms of appliances, easily my KitchenAid® 360° Max Jets™ Third Rack Dishwasher. When you’re cooking or hosting, the last thing you want to think about is cleaning up. Its generous capacity, dedicated third rack, and third rack 360° Wash Jets make it easy to tackle everything from serving platters and prep bowls to coffee mugs and glassware, with no pre-rinsing required. And thanks to the Advanced ProDry™ System, dishes come out dry and ready to put away, so I can spend more time enjoying the evening with my guests and less time cleaning up.
Quick Fire:
Fresh flowers or candles?
Candles always. Lighting is essential in setting a cozy vibe for a gathering.
Linen napkins or colourful tablescapes?
Linen napkins, but not crisp white. Something easy to wash. Let the food be the colour!
Sunset dinner or midsummer brunch?
Dinner starting at 7:30, so it begins winding down when the sun sets around 9:00 p.m., then we go inside for tea and dessert.
Strawberry or raspberry season?
Neither, PEACH. But if I had to pick, it would be strawberry season, only because there is such a small window where you can get strawberries that really taste like strawberries. Raspberries are fairly good year-round.
Every unforgettable summer gathering needs…
Good weather and a playlist that sounds like it was put together by your 60-year-old dad.
