How to Host Without Turning on the Oven

Welcome to Come On Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where we share our personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to making extra seating out of every surface of an apartment. This week, it’s too hot for Kelly to cook.

It’s hot. Finally. It’s been a weird summer in New York. But my kitchen doesn’t have air conditioning, nor does it have good airflow. So, turning on the oven is akin to stepping into a sauna (in a bad way). Since I’m not about to give up seeing friends just to stay cool, here are a few hosting tips for when sweating is not on the menu.

The Tips

1. Just Chill: the Theme & the Food

Blast the A/C. Instruct everyone to wear their comfiest, coolest clothes—no airs, graces, or stress sweats from fancy outfits this evening. Sit on the floor atop cushions. And our Test Kitchen creator, Justin, just brought us a visual guide to a crisp ice bath veggie salad. I can’t think of anything chiller.

2. Assembly Required

Don’t cook, just gather. Focus on no-heat-necessary boards and platters like charcuterie, smoked fish and bagel boards, fruit platters, or crudités. Maybe even a gazpacho if you’re still feeling creative. Here’s a master list of raw, no-cook recipes for reference.

3. Outsource Shamelessly

If just thinking about a grocery run in this heat makes you break a sweat, there’s no shame in calling in backup. Grocery delivery services like Shipt can help save you the trip (and give you a built-in reason to plan ahead).

4. Get Frozen

Frozen cocktails. Frozen popsicles. Frozen fruits. Gelato. Keep everything on ice until the doorbell rings; it’ll double as a snack and a personal cooling system. I can’t stop thinking about this raspberry lemonade prosecco sorbet.

5. Lights Out (Almost)

Oven’s off—the lights should be too. Harsh overhead lighting only turns up the temperature and the awkwardness. Keep things cool and cozy with soft table lamps, candles, or string lights. Bonus: Low light makes everything (and everyone) look better, even your store-bought hummus.

6. Be Discerning

If you’re working with a small space, keep the guest list just as cozy. More bodies = more heat, so skip the crowd and aim for quality over quantity. Or host multiple hangs on different days to include everyone. Your A/C (or lack thereof) will thank you.