For our June dinner party, I knew I wanted to celebrate the queen of summer: la tomate. When I mentioned the idea to my sister, she immediately said we had to co-host—and I couldn’t have agreed faster. I absolutely love doing creative projects together, especially when they involve cooking and hosting. She’s incredibly imaginative and wildly organized, and making magic together is one of my favorite ways to spend time with her.

When I started this monthly dinner party project, my goal was to create community in San Francisco. As the year has progressed, it’s brought me so much joy to meet new people and share this love of cooking and gathering. It’s also become a beautiful way to celebrate eating seasonally and nourishing our bodies with whole, fresh ingredients.

I love summer—when tomatoes are abundant and the days stretch long and golden. It felt like the perfect excuse to throw a dinner party that celebrates the season’s best. This month’s theme: Tomato Girl Summer Soirée. Think: sun-kissed recipes, vibrant reds and golds, and food that tastes like a long, lazy sunset.

We gathered outside in my sister’s magical garden, surrounded by the fruits and vegetables she’s lovingly grown. Cocktails were poured, crostini vanished before I could plate the next round, and the air smelled of blistered cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.

Read on for the full recipe collection from our soirée—each one easy enough to recreate and special enough to make someone feel truly celebrated.

🍽️ The Full Menu

⭐ Tomato-Water Martinis with Basil Oil Swirl – Clear, savory tomato water meets gin or vodka, topped with basil oil for a dramatic green swirl. Chic and refreshing.
⭐ Cherry Tomato Confit Crostini with Whipped Feta – Warm, slow-roasted tomatoes on creamy whipped feta, piled onto crisp baguette slices. Gone in seconds.
⭐ Heirloom Tomato & Caramelized Onion Galette with Herbed Ricotta – A flaky, golden crust filled with herbed ricotta, jammy onions, and juicy tomato slices roasted to perfection.
⭐ Heirloom Tomatoes on Herbed Labneh & Za'atar – Thick heirloom slices layered with tangy labneh, topped with za’atar and a drizzle of pomegranate molasses. A true showstopper.
⭐ Fresh Pasta with Burst Tomato Sauce & Burrata – Sweet, blistered tomatoes swirled with pasta and creamy dollops of burrata. Light but luscious.
⭐ Sun-Dried Tomato Farro with Lemon & Herbs – Nutty farro tossed with fresh herbs, lemon, feta, and chewy sun-dried tomatoes. A great make-ahead side.
⭐ Tomato & Strawberry Sorbet with Basil Sugar – A savory-sweet surprise to end the night. Fruity, cold, and topped with fragrant basil sugar.

🌿 Hosting Tips: Summer Soirée Edition

Planning your own seasonal dinner party? Here’s what worked beautifully for us:

Pick one star ingredient and let it lead your menu. For us, tomato was the muse—from cocktails to dessert.
Mix textures. Crisp crostini, silky pasta, frozen sorbet—it kept things dynamic.
Garnish with intention. A drizzle of basil oil or lemon zest added elegance and brightness.
Prep ahead where you can. Tomato water, basil oil, and tomato confit can all be made the day before. Your future self will thank you.

📸 A Few Favorite Moments

There was that first sip of tomato martini that made everyone pause with delight. The way the galette was cut—slowly and reverently, like a pie you didn’t want to end. And the tomato-strawberry sorbet that converted even the skeptics.

It was exactly the kind of evening I dream of when I open my doors: delicious, joyful, and brimming with summer spirit.