party time
‘The Bear’ Culinary Producer on Hosting a Great Dinner Party: ‘Less Is More’
Courtney Storer — the mind behind series' restaurant realism — teams up with Miraval to share tips for a well-done dinner party
Oscar Hartzog
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September 5, 2024
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Mik Milman/Miraval
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Between last-minute summer soirees and fast-approaching holiday gatherings, there are plenty of reasons to host a dinner party right now. But, sometimes, there’s not plenty of inspiration (or know-how) when it comes to outfitting that dinner party.
Here to help is Courtney Storer, the culinary producer on FX’s smash hit The Bear, which recently scored 23 Emmy nominations — a new record for a comedy series. After working in prominent restaurants like Verjus in Paris and Jon & Vinny’s in L.A., Storer teamed up with her brother Chris (The Bear‘s creator) to help his series accurately depict a real, working kitchen. She also brought personal experiences that would inform some of the show’s storylines and character arcs.
On the heels of The Bear’s third season, Storer has partnered with Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé (co-owned by Brad Pitt) to share her and the brand’s love for marrying “place, people, surrounding nature and culture.” Together with the wine label, Storer put together a Provence-inspired gathering in L.A. We stopped by to see what the duo cooked up, and got some tips from Storer on how we non-experts can create a killer dinner party of our own.
mik milman
Miraval Côtes de Provence Rose
$19.99
$24.99 $28 11% off
Seasonal Serving
After the guest list comes the most crucial step of any dinner party: Deciding what to eat. For Storer, one of the most important objectives should be seasonality. “Miraval showcases the true essence of its terroir and lifestyle of the region. Similarly, my approach to cooking focuses on using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients,” says Storer.
The specifics will change depending on where you’re located, but Storer says the advice stays the same. “[Seasonal cooking] works really well year-round in Los Angeles. During the spring and summer, produce is aplenty but you can easily follow this advice from anywhere in the US to prepare simple yet flavorful dishes that highlight the natural tastes and textures in the ingredients.”
Of course, shopping for local food isn’t always the easiest. One easy way to streamline the process is to use a good food delivery service that sources local produce, such as Fresh Direct. The service offers grocery store staples as well as fresh, local produce to supply the whole party.
John J Kelly III – Photographer
Local Produce at Fresh Direct
The Wine
The next step in dinner party planning is the wine. Storer says the best dinner party wines should be two things: approachable and versatile.
“My front-of-house experience made me a firm believer that wine is a major part of curating culinary experiences,” she says. “I’ve always been more drawn to wines that help break the ice, bottles that tell a story and make people feel comfortable while still offering a sense of finesse.”
One of Storer’s picks? Miraval, of course. Pick up a bottle (or a few) on Total Wine here.
Miraval Côtes de Provence Rose
$19.99
$24.99 $28 11% off
You’ll also want some good glassware to compliment that wine. We suggest this four-pack of purpose-built rose glasses from Riedel, currently available on Amazon here.
Riedel Rose/Champagne Wine Glass (4)
$82.50
The Presentation
Once you’ve secured the seasonal bites and great wine, it’s time to set everything up. “Less is more. It’s a common French approach in cooking and in life,” Storer says on food presentation. “Instead of a formal dinner, make a grazing-style table with your favorite dishes. Create a laid-back tablescape that is elegant by not overthinking it.”
Instead of elaborate knickknacks, try using real items from your meal to decorate: extra fruit, loaves of bread, and aesthetic bottles of wine are all great examples, says Storer. To pull off this French-inspired look, you will want to have some vessels like baskets for bread and fruit or nice platters for some charcuterie.
Viking Prep/Serving Board
$99.99
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