Cozy Hosting Ideas for When No One Wants to Leave the House

Welcome to Come on Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where I’ll be sharing my personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to how to make extra seating out of every surface of my apartment. In this installment, I’ll show you how to gather your friends even when it’s freezing outside and no one wants to leave the house. Got company? Sign up here for my emails.

On Sunday in Brooklyn, the forecast predicted snow. Also on my personal forecast? A dinner party at our apartment with all of our friends. I was worried the weather would inspire a digital blizzard of “Sorry, can’t make it!” texts, but, minus one friend with a cold, everyone stopped by. Here’s what I served to lure everyone from their warm nests and into mine.

Few people can resist a big batch of chili on a 31 degree day, and I love that it’s a meal you don’t have to plate. Ask friends to bring toppings—from cheese to avocado to Fritos—and decant them to make a build-your-own-bowl station near the stove.

A tower of pretty dishes is my hosting love language. It’s also a signal for guests to help themselves. These ones from Dansk are technically for salad, but I find their tiny size and high edges perfect for trips back and forth from the stove to the table.

Chili + six clumsy (but well-meaning!) friends? You’re gonna need napkins. I stock up on these sunny striped ones that make me feel like it’s almost spring, which means it’s almost summer. Positive thinking!

I may be biased, but there is only one vessel big enough (and joyful enough!) to do the job on chili night, and that’s the big spoon in Mepra’s Fantasia flatware. Save the little ones for dessert.

I light tapers all year round, but something about a winter table with candlelight feels especially cozy. I like how this set of pillars gives you glow and a tablescape all at once, no candle holders needed.

If you’re worried about turnout, I highly recommend you text guests ahead of time that there will be a brown butter cookie cake so good that the smell of it could wake a sleeping grizzly from hibernation.