The Acre Substack Dinner Party | June
It's berry season – let's eat cake
I am loving settling into this community on Substack. There are so many brilliant creators, and I am being inspired everyday to create, cook or learn something new.
Each month I will pull together my curation of what I am loving into a themed dinner party, with tableware and additional ideas to round it out. This is going to be so fun to see how these evolve over the year. Pour yourself a glass of wine and join me at The Acre Substack Dinner Party June.
Setting the Table
Hello June, how we have missed you. The harvests begin to churn out of the garden, one ripe red berry at a time. With strawberry season well underway and other fruits beginning to make their appearance, I find myself drawn to cakes mounded high with garden’s bounty. From simple loaf cakes to more elegant stacks of layers, I began liking and bookmarking every cake that crossed my Substack feed. So, at this dinner party, we will eat cake.
This gathering is a post dinner affair, guests come over at eight or so, cakes set out inviting friends to cut their own slice. Small cups of espresso balance the sweetness, as well as bowls of fresh fruit to mound on your chosen slice. This evening is for reclining, enjoying slow bites of decadent cake, laughing until your sides ache as you catch up on life and soak in the joy of sugar, flour, cream and berries.
Photo from Alex DiCapo Patel.
The Aesthetic
Urban, Vibrant, Eclectic
This evening is about abundance and indulgence, and the aesthetic of the evening will echo this. When I saw
idilic garden lounge, I knew this small oasis would be the perfect place to recline and enjoy dessert together. I love the tucked into a city neighborhood feeling, surrounded by foliage, friends are nestled into a striped sectional of everyone’s outdoor entertaining dreams.I stumbled across
’s “June in texture” and was captivated by each image, drawn especially to the gingham and plums. This is where the inspiration for a fruit forward menu started, the plums were a must add–cake naturally followed.The Tableware
I chose dishes that would contrast strongly with the reds, blushes and burgundy of June fruits, bringing in olive and cobalt blue with the Cobalt espresso cups, Matisse Collection Plates, and Moraccan glassware . The mix of patterns and textures brings a joyful chaos to the spread, inviting playfulness and a carefree nature to the evening. my favorite items from above add to this sense of play–Squiggle spoons, Strawberry Glasses, Ribbon Dessert Plates, Striped Pitcher and Blue Splatter Enamel Platter.
The tablecloth is a quiet terracotta, a resting place for all the berry tones, intense blues and deep greens. The table will also be balanced by a simple white berry bowl–an essential dish for this affair–and the perfect ruffled cake stand.
The Cakes
Buttery, Creamy & Fresh
I chose a mix of cakes that could easily be made ahead–no need to add GBBO-like pressure to a dessert evening with friends. I would choose three of the following cakes for a group of 8-10, knowing everyone will want to probably try a sliver or two, if not all three.
Strawberry Icebox Cake
I chose
’s stunning Strawberry Icebox Cake as a showstopper that requires no baking. Cookies are soaked in custard to create a cake-like texture, a crispy-gone-soggy dream of a cake. This cake feels soft and light, a perfect first or last slice of cake to be enjoyed during the course of an evening.
Verry berry yogurt cake
A loaf cake with a ruby-glazed top is a real stunner. Love this fruit-flecked beauty that is so simple to bake up a day or so ahead.
beautiful plating showcases her cake decked out in June’s very best berries. A loaf slice is also perfect for the “I’ll take half a slice” requests as you serve up multiple desserts to guests. I also chose a range of oval platters to elevate a simple loaf cake, like this beautiful Black & White Platter.
Citrus Pistachio and Honey Drizzle Loaf
This is the second recipe I have featured by
, her bakes are stunning and the flavor combos are incredible. This sugar-lacquered loaf is loaded with flavor, and perfect for piling fresh strawberries on top. Citrus, pistachios and strawberries sounds like such a fresh and fun flavor combo.
Almond Cake
This simple cake make we stop scrolling. The perfect dollop of cream cries out for a cascade of tart sour cherries. Almonds and cherries are a perfect match, and I would love to include
cake in my dessert dinner party spread.
This was such a fun evening to dream up. I hope it inspires you to make a cake or two, invite some friends over, and belly laugh for hours. I believe a good, deep laugh–ones that make your eyes water–make a slice of cake taste even better.
Ah, in the shortest, darkest days of the year you have me dreaming of Summer again!
Ok once again this looks and sounds idyllic 😍 & thank you for the love!! I must also note my source, Pinterest 😂❣️