Roe uses sheet trays so often, in fact, that she has them on auto-ship: “I get two quarter sheets, two eighth sheets, and two half sheets every six weeks because I just go through them.” While this may be overkill for those who aren’t full-time chefs running their own culinary studio, it is true that the average home cook could stand to add a few more sheet pans to their collection. “It’s the same with deli containers. You can’t have enough quart containers, you can’t have enough pint containers,” adds Roe.
More hosting tips
All set on sheet pans? Roe’s tips for holiday hosting don’t end there. Read on to learn about her kindest when it comes to planning and prep, along with a few hacks for ensuring stress stays low and vibes are high.
Pick a theme
One of Roe’s biggest tips for streamlining party planning is to pick a specific direction and stick with it: “Maybe it’s a word, maybe it’s a theme, maybe it’s a color, but kind of picking a North Star and having everything work around it is very much how I like to go about things. It can get really, really muddled if you try to do it any other way,” she says.
Have a mood board
Once you’ve got your theme, use it as a guiding light while mapping out the overall vibe for your space. “Honey, I don’t think there’s any shame in having a Pinterest board for your party. I make an inspo board for just about everything. So having one for your party? Wonderful,” says Roe. If you’re tight on space or budget and don’t want to invest in themed dishes and decor you may only use once, Roe likes the idea of renting a tablescape from a company like Hestia Harlow.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match
“In my studio famously, I don’t think I’ve got one set of cutlery that matches. I really don’t. I must have 1,000 spoons that have not a fork to go with them, but I also think that can make sense and look really nice—as long as you’ve got that baseline theme, whether it’s a color, whether it’s a potluck,” says Roe. Another go-to move? Plopping a Le Creuset Dutch oven down right in the middle of the tablescape—especially “if it’s a potluck vibe and you’ve got people bringing things over,” says Roe. “I think a bed and breakfast kind of mishmash vibe is beautiful,” she adds.
When I asked Roe where she sources her vintage flatware, she paused and admitted, “I’m going to be a little gatekeep-y.” While she wouldn’t reveal the exact online sellers she uses, she did give some tips as to what to search for: “If you want really, really beautiful, special antique vintage trays, cutlery, plateware—I’m talking vintage, not new things—then you need to get yourself nice and cozy, get yourself in bed, get your reading glasses on if you’re my age, and get yourself on Etsy. Keywords are “antique,” “vintage,” “trays,” “sterling silver.” Looking up those things and just going down the rabbit hole, I have found unbelievable pieces. They might take about 6 weeks to get to my house, but it doesn’t really matter because they’re unique and special.”
