Ina Garten Shares Dinner Party Etiquette Tips for Guests

East Hampton, New York — Celebrated chef and author Ina Garten, known as The Barefoot Contessa, shared her insights on being the perfect dinner guest during a recent interview on the Today show with Willie Geist on May 19.

In the chat, Garten emphasized the importance of etiquette at dinner parties. She revealed that guests should avoid bringing items that disrupt the flow of the evening. ‘There are two things that I don’t think you should ever bring to a dinner party, and they’re so common,’ Garten noted. ‘Starting with Jell-O salad.’ She added, ‘And don’t ever bring flowers that aren’t in a vase. Everyone’s arriving and then all of a sudden, you’ve got these flowers and you have to figure out what to do.’

Instead of loose flowers, Garten suggested that guests might consider gifting a vase along with a beautiful arrangement. She believes that this approach allows hosts to display flowers without any added stress.

Garten’s recommendations include various vases, such as the Gala Round Vase, inspired by artist Gala Dali, and the Bubble Gold-Plated Painted Porcelain Vase, which adds a vibrant touch to any floral display. She also mentioned simple and elegant options like a large Clear Vase or the Fall Leaf Yellow Bubble Glass Vase.

In addition to gift ideas, Garten also shared her tips for creating stunning centerpieces. She recommends using a single type of flower for a cohesive look. ‘Choose one flower type—and use lots of them! Instead of finding lots of matching vases, I just use water glasses! Simple and elegant – my favorite combination,’ she stated.

By following these tips, guests can ensure they adhere to Garten’s standards while helping to create a memorable dining experience for both hosts and friends.