We hosted the most magical dinner party. Friends/coworkers were up visiting from Lisbon and our Porto Airbnb had a lovely deck so we decided to make the most of it and go all out.

It’s not easy cooking and entertaining in someone else’s home, especially with a small kitchen, but we planned it meticulously so that we would have enough dishes.

We pulled it off with:

• Private Fado musicians

• Heat lamps we rented

• Lots of candles from Ikea

The weekend before I made an Ikea run to puck up some extra wine glasses, water glasses, espresso cups, and candle holders. It was a bit of a splurge to spend €100 on things we won’t be keeping long term, but decided we’d bring them to our next Airbnb (where we also be hosting a party) and then see if our local friends want to take them off our hands.

Private Fado musicians — a singer, a melody guitarist, and a rhythmic guitarist arrived at our place. We poured them wine and after a bit they played for us. Our neighbors opened their windows and stepped out onto their patios to listen in. Sadly they had another gig at a restaurant so they couldn’t stay to eat with us.

The Menu

Snacks

• Bread

• olive oil

• roasted garlic

• olives

Charcuterie:

• cheeses

• meats

• nuts and dried fruit.

Warm plates:

• Roasted potatoes with garlic and herb aioli

• Cherry tomato and garlic shrimp

• Scrambled eggs with asparagus and parmesan

• Roasted broccolini

• Roasted mushrooms

Dessert:

• Ginja (cherry liquer drunk out of minichocolate cups)

• Strawberries, cherries and grapes

• Nutella

• Dark chocolate