We love to host. It’s in our blood, really. We grew up with parents – and grandparents – who were in their element when throwing parties. There were always people around at home, so hosting a dinner is a tradition for us, in a way. It’s also why we founded our business with our mum – Carolina Irving & Daughters was born out of our family’s love of hosting and filling the table with beautiful things.
When it comes to dinners, the most important thing is that your guests feel comfortable. We care about that just as much as what we’re going to cook. And coming up with a good guest list is vital in that regard. It doesn’t matter if people don’t know each other – that’s not a barrier to having a good time – but what is crucial is having a few good ‘staple’ friends, the ones you know can talk to anyone. That being said, the best way to ensure people feel at ease when they come to your house is by being at ease yourself.
On that note, as sisters who live together, we have the advantage of having twice as many hands, which makes prepping in advance much easier. We’re lucky, too, that we have complementary skill sets as hosts. If we both were trying to do the same thing – and better than the other! – it would be a total disaster. Ariadne is the stylist, making sure everything looks perfect. The table is her domain – and she does it beautifully, making sure it’s laid before she does anything else. Not only does it mean that’s one thing ticked off your list, but it makes you excited every time you walk past. Preparation is everything – especially when it comes to cooking, which is Olympia’s territory. Lists, lists, lists! We couldn’t do anything without a list.
