Kit Kemp’s Holiday Dinner is a Whimsical Affair That You're Going to Love
Interior designer and ever-so-chic hotelier Kit Kemp—she and her husband, Tim, own the much-loved Firmdale Hotels—is known for her beautiful interiors as well as her fragrances, textiles, and homewares. Her spaces stand out with her creative use of color and pattern, and her dream dinner party, which Kemp shared with ELLE Decor for our entertaining package, is a standout as well. From the plates to the playlist, this dinner is full of verve and personality.
GUEST LIST “I love to invite a diverse array of characters. It can be surprising to see who gets on. Opposites often attract—I’d invite Salvador Dalí, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jeff Koons, Eileen Cooper, Quentin Tarantino, J.K. Rowling, Alexander McCall Smith, and Virginia Woolf.”
MENU “To start, tricolore salad followed by turbot hollandaise with mixed vegetables.”
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL “The Whitby Paloma, which we serve at the Whitby Hotel. It’s made with Ocho Blanco tequila, house-made orange-and-grapefruit marmalade, fresh pink grapefruit, lime, and Fever-Tree club soda. It’s light and refreshing, and tequila makes you happy!”
DESSERT “Chocolate liégeois or lemon tart.”
GO-TO WINE “Something white, dry, and crisp. A Sancerre or a Chablis.”
PLAYLIST “Erik Satie, Ella Fitzgerald, the Doobie Brothers, and Birdie.”
SEASONAL BOUQUET “It depends on the time of year. Right now anemones in bright colors because it’s winter, or primroses and wild violets and bluebells in spring. In summer, peonies and delphiniums, and in autumn, dahlias and autumn berries.”
HOSTING DO’S AND DON’TS “Tell your guests to arrive 15 minutes later than the time you’ll actually be ready. No one wants dinner guests to arrive early.”
BEST DINNER PARTY EVER? “In Barbados, under the stars, on New Year’s Eve.”
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