picnicking, mirth style.

erin has many, sometimes secret, talents and throwing a good party is high on that list. others: she's a really, really, really good driver, dances like a 70's disco star, makes a mean chocolate mint brownie, and can recite every word from "girls just want to have fun." when we connected with camille styles recently, we hoped we could provide some worthy content for her "entertaining with" series. camille's blog is described as "a healthy life, well styled," so fitting for erin.

along those lines, we thought a modern indian picnic in erin's atrium, with an ayurvedic-ish focus, would be fun and a bit different. we've learned so much about the indian food and culture during our many trips there (though we have so much more to learn), and we haven't really gotten to share much of this beautiful way of life to our friends.

so here are photos from our modern indian caftan party this past may, shot at erin's house by our friend, photographer jenny antill. for the full post complete with recipes (like purple kale salad with wheat berries and squash), check out the story on camille styles, written and edited by chanel dror.

 

 we snacked on cilantro cauliflower curry, spicy watermelon rind curry,

turmeric lady fingers with green chutney yogurt dip and credit with indian spiced hummus

the best helper, bodie dog, setting up for the picnic (photo cred: katie's phone)

caftans are all we want to wear for entertaining. easy, comfy and you're ready in minutes.

erin, right, decided on the sabi sand caftan and katie, left, on the new krabi wrap

 

we should rename this post "where's bodie?" see how many times you can spot him

 

testing out the bar menu: cardamom saffron lemonade & cucumber rose gin cocktails. if you haven't tried rosewater, we now put it in everything-- it is that good.

  

we set up a face oil bar for each guest to mix her own avurvedic face / body oil to take home. we used jojoba and argon oil as bases and a selection of favorite treatment oils to mix in: neroli, carrot seed, geranium, rose hip, lavender and tamanu. a menu explaining the benefits of each is helpful! we also included a "dosha guide" explaining what's best for your skin based on your dosha. we sourced these small bottles/droppers at whole foods.

 

this is a traditional india street food:

chana jor garam, a crunchy masala lime snack served in paper cones

 

sweet julie in the goa caftan

kate in the el tule black caftan, snacking on turmeric roasted "lady fingers" -- okra to us texans. in the corner is a lime wheat berry, roasted squash, purple kale & currant salad

mukhwas is an indian post-meal digestive and breath freshener: our version has candied fennel, roasted fennel, sugar cubes and candied & roasted sesame seeds. we displayed it in this favorite vintage oyster plate, a gift from jenny.

the desert is almond milk and saffron kheer, our take on a traditional indian desert. this is a recipe adapted from nisha, our colleague in india-- her family's tradition.

the blankets are vintage indian kantha quilts-- we buy 'em up by the bagful in jaipur. each one is different and stitched together by hand. also pictured, our mom's homemade cocktail napkins, stitched with leftover fabric. we use these ALL the time.

 

 

 

turmeric golden milk lattes with cashew milk (right)

we declare our new gray jamdani wrap dress THE entertaining outfit

stacey having a moment in the rhodes handwoven caftan

  

the photographer, jenny, who is a hard one to get in front of the lens (wearing the bali oatmeal)

 

guess who got to join at the end, and was thrilled to put on his indian pajamas for the party

we hope to do it every year to kick off caftan season!

 

xx