Come On Over | Food52's guide to gathering.

Welcome to Come On Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life's big and little moments. This week, our guest editor Lidey Heuck is sharing what she learned from renovating her kitchen—and the upgrades that are already making her a

better host.

As I designed my new kitchen, it was important to me that it was functional for both cooking and hosting. After all, the kitchen is where everyone naturally gathers.

I’m not the kind of cook who has everything finished and ready to go when my friends arrive, and that’s okay. I like having snacks out on the table so everyone can help themselves and hang with me as I cook. I also love getting my friends involved, whether it’s chopping vegetables or simply grabbing something from the fridge or pantry. The vibe is comfortable, casual, and always inviting—it’s party over perfection.

This weekend we had a full house, and it was the first time the new kitchen had really been buzzing. The windows were open, the music was turned up, and it felt so good to see the space being used exactly as I’d dreamed.

Here are a few of the things that help make the kitchen feel warm and welcoming.

Dinner Party Favorite

One of my favorite spring dinners to make for guests is schnitzel with a big green salad. Everyone loves a crispy chicken or pork cutlet, and a salad with in-season asparagus and fresh herbs provides the perfect contrast. I bread the cutlets in advance so they’re ready to go when it’s time to cook dinner.

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Open Shelving

I want people to feel at home when they come over. Having open shelving in the kitchen makes dishes and glasses feel accessible so everyone can help themselves. It also makes unloading the dishwasher a breeze!

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Cooking Shortcut

When hosting, I like to follow the rule of “make, make, buy.” If I’m serving appetizers, dinner, and dessert, I’ll make two and buy the third. It takes some of the pressure off and allows me to focus on making dinner delicious. More often than not, I’ll skip making dessert and serve pints of really good ice cream passed around the table.

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Multipurpose Seating

My butcher block island is truly multipurpose: It has open shelving underneath for sheet-pan storage on one side and stools on the other, so friends can hang in the kitchen while I cook.

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Layered Lighting

Having layered lighting lets me completely change the mood with the flick of a switch—light and bright when I’m cooking or cleaning, then soft and glowy once guests arrive.

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Grazing Boards

I never want dinner to feel rushed, so I’m usually putting out snacks and drinks in the kitchen before everyone sits down. I've been using a mix of Teakhaus boards lately because they work just as well for prep as they do for serving. The different grains add warmth and dimension that naturally draws people into the kitchen.

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