For years this friend of Victoria has regaled us with stories about cocktail parties where the guest list features Cybill Shepherd, Dixie Carter, the CEO of FedEx, and as many as 75 other close friends. With the holiday season nearing, we decided to divine Pat's entertaining tips. These days, everyone's going out to fancy restaurants and leading complicated lives.
People love home cooking.
It lets your friends relax and be family. They set the mood even if you're having dinner for two. For occasions at home, I'll set hurricane lamps along the drive and fill the foyer with aromatic candles so the house sparkles immediately. I light the fireplaces and line the window ledges with votives in clear roly-poly bowls. I never use overhead lighting, unless it's a chandelier dimmed to almost nothing.