Hosted by Nicci George: The November Edit
- XO Nicci
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Welcome to the very first dinner in my new series, Hosted by Nicci George! This is a monthly gathering where I open my home, set the table, and share all the details in between. Each month, I’ll be creating a new dinner with its own theme, menu, and mood — all designed to inspire you to host beautifully!
The November Edit captures everything I love about this season: warm light, good wine, cozy vibes. Think Friendsgiving vibes, but reimagined: smaller, slower, and more intentional.
The Menu
We kicked things off with our signature cocktail — a pomegranate martini, perfectly tart and festive. It set the tone right away and paired perfectly with a warm baked brie appetizer and a cozy little cheese plate. Those first bites (and sips) were exactly what I wanted the night to feel like - easy and relaxed.
Dinner was an untraditional take on Thanksgiving. My oven decided to quit (of course it did!), but it actually worked in my favor. I ended up using my slow cooker for two of the dishes, which meant prep was done early in the day and I could just enjoy the evening once guests arrived. I always prep what I can before, but a lot of times that's not possible with the meal, so I actually really enjoyed that part of it - I'm going to try and incorporate more of this into future gatherings!
Jeff helped with the main course, stuffing-stuffed chicken breasts, which I also prepped ahead of time. They turned out delicious! We served them with garlic and herb potatoes, fresh green beans, and a soft dinner roll. It was simple, flavorful, and just enough food to leave everyone feeling satisfied, not overstuffed.
The Table
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know this part always has my heart. I wanted the table to feel cozy and moody, so I played with autumnal colors and rich textures. Don't get me wrong, the meal is important but I think guests feel most appreciated when they see the details at the table.
The base was a pumpkin toile-inspired tablecloth (a Home Goods find) layered with my favorite woven chargers, matte gold flatware, and warm amber water glasses & wine glasses. For the plates, I found the cutest “thankful for you” salad plates, which were the first things I picked up when envisioning this table.
I love using plaids for Christmas, but this was my first time using these warmer autumn colors in a plaid pattern for the napkins and I loved it! For the centerpiece, I kept it simple but striking — a mix of neutral pumpkins, a few gourds, olive branches, and fresh orange dahlias. This was my first time using floral support stands, and I loved how they made the flowers look like they were growing right out of the table. They were so easy to use and gave exactly the whimsical look I wanted and have always had such a hard time executing!
I also incorporated my bar cart into the design, it was such a cute area that made the whole space feel cohesive. It was also nice to have the bar so close! Once we finished with the signature drinks and switched to wine, I moved the dessert stand over to the bar card and it was just as pretty and useful.
The Sweet Finish
For dessert, I kept things bite-sized — coconut macaroons, classic macarons, brownie bites, and pumpkin spice loaf bites — all beautifully displayed on my new and favorite tiered serving stand. It was the perfect sweet ending to a night filled with good food, red wine, and lots of gratitude.
As the evening wound down, we lingered at the table with our glasses refilled, sharing stories and laughter, and taking a moment to pause and be thankful for this season, for friendship, and for the joy of gathering.
Shop the Look
Each dinner in this series will have its own story - a new season, a new table, a new reason to gather! I can’t wait to keep sharing them with you. Here’s to hosting beautifully and intentionally— one gathering at a time!
Comments