We kicked off the holiday season with an un-bee-lievable Friendsgiving. Our Friendsgiving was inspired by Eataly’s Honey and Harvest at Serra d’Autunno. We partnered with CV Linens to create a stunning gold, yellow and ivory Bee Friendly dinner at home. With our chic tips, you can host a memorable Friendsgiving during Covid-19.
How to Host a Friendsgiving During Covid-19?
Covid-19 has changed the way we will celebrate the holidays. With some Twinspiration, you can still make them stylish and fun. We recommend hosting outdoors and keeping the gathering small. A theme is also a perfect way to spice up the holidays.
We asked guests to dress up in fall colors.
Hudson was born ready for fall. Yes, he is as cute in person!
Select a Friendsgiving Theme
Show me the honey! A few weeks ago, we dined at Eataly’s Honey and Harvest. We started with a honey and cheese pairing and enjoyed honey forward menu. Since we do a traditional Thanksgiving with our family, we like to host Friendsgiving with a twist. We came up with Bee Friendly and wanted to incorporate honey into each course. In the past, we hosted:
- Squash themed Friendsgiving
- Orange Ingredient themed Friendsgiving
- Friendsgiving with Wine Pairings
- Modern Friendsgiving
- Traditional Friendsgiving
How to Create a Festive Tablescape for Friendsgiving during COVID-19?
Our chic Bee Friendly tablescape featured shades of gold, yellow and ivory. We framed the table with a gold and ivory paper fans and friendly gold letter balloons. We dressed the table with a gold petal taffeta tablecloth, ivory mini rosette table runner and canary yellow satin napkins from CV Linens. With this setup, you can host your own beautiful fall party tablescape. Best of all, you can use the code TWINS10 to save 10% at CV Linens (excluding polyester chair covers).
Our vibrant floral arrangements included deep red and soft pink carnations, orange lilies, yellow mums and green chrysanthemums. We also placed two gold Luxe Crystal Candle Holders on each side of the flowers. This simple centerpiece was luxurious and bee-tiful.
Each place setting included a gold charger plate, a green plate, canary yellow satin napkins tucked inside a napkin ring, gold silverware and a wine glass.
First Course: Cheese and Honey Pairing
Sweet dreams are made of cheese. Our first course was a honey and cheese pairing. This might sound like an unusal pairing, it’s actually quite delicious. The charcuterie board featured Brie with fig jam, Gorgonzola with a dark honey, Gouda and Manchego with a light honey. We also added crackers, dark chocolate and cheese knives. Don’t worry, bee happy.
Second Course: Spinach Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
Make a beeline for this salad. Next we served a butternut squash, goat cheese and spinach salad with a honey balsamic salad. Honey added a touch of sweetness to our fall salad.
Third Course: Turkey Meatballs with Honey Pumpkin Sauce
I’m all about the baste. Since this Friendsgiving took place in October, none of our Thanksgiving favorites were available at Whole Foods. We decided to make Turkey Meatballs with a Tuscany Honey Pumpkin Sauce. We prefer to make sauce from sauce, but there are a few tricks when working with a canned sauce. Start by sautéing some onions and garlic and then add the sauce. You can also add chicken broth and fresh broth and really transform a canned sauce into something quite tasty. We also served honey roasted root vegetables.
Fourth Course: Apple Cheesecake Cupcakes with Honey Caramel
As sweet as can bee. Our final course was an apple cheesecake cupcake with homemade whipped cream and honey caramel sauce. We used a graham cracker crust, cheesecake recipe, apple crumble topping, fresh whipped cream and honey caramel drizzle. We served the cheesecakes on a stunning Gold Cake Stand. Make sure to place the cupcakes in a water bath to prevent cracking.
To bee or not to bee, that is the question! This easy, small Bee Friendly theme with CV Linens is an easy theme to DIY. If the weather is too cold in November, you can always host with your roommate or holiday. We want you all to stay safe this year and this holiday season.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Muhammad Ali
Looks good to me! We’re just having my brother and nephew over, it should be a good day.
I had never heard of friends giving but it sounds like fun and the food looks amazing 🙂
I hosted a Friendsgiving for Canadian Thanksgiving last year and it was so much fun! I would totally do it again, post-COVID, when things are safe to gather together. 🙂
This looks really nice! Not a thing people celebrate in England, but maybe we should make it a thing 🙂
This idea looks so fun and amazing. Never had friendship giving here. But I like the gift idea.
It might be an interesting way to celebrate it. Never celebrate it, maybe the next year when things back to normal. – Paolo
This is such great tips and we all should be more careful and mindful!
Some great tips right here. With Covid being so bad right now, I’m actually scared of getting together with everyone, even outdoors and even doing all that’s required. If I can’t get myself to have a gettogether this year, maybe I’ll have two Thanksgiving parties next year.