Whether I’m in California or on Long Island, there’s almost nothing I love more than gathering family and friends around a table outdoors. The best lunches have a kind of ease to them—beautiful without feeling precious, generous without being overcomplicated. I always think people can feel when a host is relaxed, and that sets the tone for everything else.
Of course, the secret to making it all feel effortless is a little forethought. So, we asked Olivia Muniak, who has been designing and catering goop events for years, to share her formula for a “lazy-fancy” outdoor lunch. It’s full of thoughtful, unfussy ideas that make entertaining genuinely enjoyable—from a mostly make-ahead menu to simple styling tricks that make a table feel abundant without requiring a production. It’s exactly the sort of approach I come back to all summer long. Love, Gwyneth
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