Easter Hosting with Genevieve Harris

 Over warm and well-buttered hot cross buns, a steaming pot of tea and freshly cut stems from the garden, we spent a happy few hours talking with content creator and fashion, food and interiors stylist Genevieve Harris, aka @mrs_trufflepig, in her beautiful country kitchen about all things Easter - in particular, hosting. 

It's fair to say Genevieve is well versed in hosting and it’s not only a joy but a passion of hers… ‘Nothing brings people together like food, and when you welcome people into your home and cook for them it’s the ultimate expression of love and appreciation. Some of my favourite memories have involved lots of friends squeezed around a dining room table that’s laden with food and drink, fire roaring in the background.’ 

‘I love reflecting the season in my tablescapes. I always start by having a little walk around the garden to see what’s in bloom or bud and pick sprigs of greenery and flowers to fill little glass jars to dot around the table.  This will be my starting point when choosing how I’m going to dress the table.  

'In mid-August the brightly hued Dahlias are in full swing, so I’ll match their vibrancy with a bold striped tablecloth, coloured plates and chunky glassware.  In springtime in the garden is a much softer palette. Delicate green emerging shoots on the hedgerows and frothy pink cherry blossom sit well with pure white linens, silver cutlery and delicate champagne flutes.’ 

Notebook Tip: ‘Flowers bring a table to life but keep them small and light. Lots of small bud vases dotted along the centre of the table are not only more impactful than one large arrangement, but they also allow you to see the person sitting across from you! Stick to three colours, any more will look overwhelming and chaotic. I sometimes like to pick one main colour and work in various shades. For example, red- ranging from deep burgundy to the palest pink.’ 

‘I think serving the food is JUST as important as eating it! No one wants to be stressed that the side is going to get cold, the main is taking too long in the oven, and the guests are starving! I much prefer a relaxed approach and tend to cook things that can be prepped well in advance and can be self-served. I love loading the table with sharing platters so everyone can help themselves to seconds... or thirds!’ 

Genevieve's Fortnum's Easter Table

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‘I loved creating this Easter table! Right now, the Daffodils are blooming in my garden so they’re the main floral focus. I’ve complimented their buttery yellow blooms with hints of green in the plates and glassware and linen. I just love Bordallo - it brings me (and my table) pure joy, and the serving and charger plates feel so spring like, they were just perfect. 

And whilst they deliver a bold hit of green, the Halcyon Days plates and HMA DÉCOR Daisy Napkins echo the green offering but in a more subtle, delicate way. And let’s not forget the delightful Club Matters Forest Ferns Table Mats – aside from their practical use, they are a beautiful way to keep the table feeling decorated when the plates are gone. It’s the little details that make all the difference!’ 

‘And of course, an Easter feast isn’t complete without a cheeseboard, particularly one served on the Bordallo Cheese Plate with the mice! It’s hard to choose a favourite but Fortnum’s Waxed Cheddar Truckle is deliciously tangy and moist, but also vying for my attention is the velvety soft, extremely indulgent Dorset Brie.'

My favourite tipple is a gin and tonic. I’ve never been a fan of pink or flavoured gins, I like mine very dry and aromatic, but this one changed my mind. It’s not at all sweet like other pink varieties I’ve tried and has a gorgeous complex flavour. Crafted in Fortnum’s copper stills in their Picadilly Food &Drink Studio, the rosy pink gin is distilled with British apples and Fortnum’s Earl Grey Tea among an array of traditional ingredients. 

In my book, candles aren’t just for evening. I love indulging in the little luxuries in life, and if I’m having a bad day or it’s gloomy outside, I love to light a candle in the daytime while I’m working at my desk. A beautifully scented one like this citrus scent makes all the difference to my focus and state of mind.