I Had Lunch at Martha Stewart’s Bedford Farm – These Are the 5 Outdoor Entertaining Essentials She Told Me She Won't Host Without
Here’s what it was like entering the inner (and outer) world of an icon, plus the five hosting details that made the afternoon feel effortless
Hosting alfresco is hard – because of the weather, because of unwanted flying friends, because of the drink orders that have you schlepping indoors and out. So when Martha Stewart tells you the five things she’d never have a garden party without to make these occasions feel effortless, you listen.
I recently did just that. A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting her personal farm in Bedford, where she invited me to celebrate the launch of Hint, Martha's new AI-powered home management platform informed by her decades of homemaking expertise. The estate spans roughly 150 acres, complete with a summer house, winter house, and immaculate horse stables where Martha keeps her Friesians.
A summer lunch was held beneath the pavilion beside her pool, every bit as charming and flawlessly orchestrated as you’d imagine. We sat around an extra-long table crafted from a yew tree from her former East Hampton home, layered with seashell placemats and money trees. On the menu (I know you want to know) was a tomato tart with a crust so flaky it shattered, fennel and arugula salads, wild-caught salmon, a delicately dressed pasta (unspoiled by Martha's pet peeve: too much sauce), and panna cotta pooled in grapefruit granita, much of it sourced straight from the farm.
Martha mastered every detail: seating was assigned, salt and pepper pinches were on standby, and tins of tomato tarts never stayed empty for long.
I left with one of the money trees – Martha reports she's had many over the years, a millionaire superstition I’m more than willing to test – but more than anything, I left itching to recreate some version of the afternoon myself.
Ahead, the five outdoor entertaining essentials Martha swears she'd never host without.
1. Comfortable Seating
A dinner chair gets guests though dinner, but a lounge chair keeps them talking afterwards.
Even if what you’re hosting is, ostensibly, only a meal, Martha says it’s never only a meal. Think beyond the dining table and consider the broader experience. ‘Guests need somewhere to set down a drink, to be able to move comfortably throughout a space, and relax before and after a meal.’ Because guests will trickle in at different times, she always creates separate areas for dining and lounging.
‘If guests are comfortable, they’ll stay longer,’ she adds. ‘I like outdoor furniture that’s inviting enough to encourage conversation, like my outdoor furniture collection with Polywood.’
Martha's Chinoiserie seating set is about as close as outdoor furniture gets to indoor comfort, with glacier-blue cushions tucked inside a delicate latticework frame.
2. Good Lighting
You can always go analogue: candles count as lighting, too.
Unlike indoor hosting, where lighting – even if it is the abomination that is the big light – is a given, Martha says she always plans her outdoor lightscape ahead of time. Not just so friends and family aren’t dining in the dark, but to gently guide their way should they need to get up for another drink, dessert, or the restroom.
‘Soft lighting creates atmosphere,’ she says, ‘but it should also safely illuminate paths and steps.’ Pathway lights may not be the sexiest purchase you’ll make all summer, but they’re one of the smartest. Elegant solar LED versions require no wiring, disappear neatly into the soil, and cost around $50 for a pack of eight. Save the portable lamps and lanterns for the tablescape, where they’ll do the heavy lifting aesthetically.
This clever two-shade lamp lets you toggle between charming woven 'wicker' for day, and shiny brass for night.
3. A Self-Serve Beverage Station
Them never having to ask is the ultimate party trick.
It isn't easy playing the part of an effortless host when you’re panting, running back and forth with drink orders. Martha’s solution? Make life easier with a self-serve beverage station.
Water, of course, is non-negotiable (at this particular lunch, it was infused with fresh fruit), but don’t stop there. Lemonade, iced tea, sangria – perhaps even a Sarti Spritz – anything of your favorites can be enjoyed on tap. And don't forget to stock some cocktail napkins and outdoor-friendly glassware nearby. ‘It keeps guests from constantly going in and out of the kitchen and lets everyone help themselves.'
Kingstone's crystal glass beverage dispenser doubles as decor.
4. Shade
No menu can compete with 90-degree sun.
The weather was, being late July on the East Coast: sweltering. But beneath the sun-free bliss of a pergola, Martha's outdoor dining space was actually quite pleasant as she knew how to keep an outdoor space cool. She told me that some form of shade is something she’d never dream of hosting alfresco without – after all, that menu you spent so much time curating and cooking won’t be fully appreciated if guests are wiping beads of sweat from their top lip between courses.
‘An umbrella or pergola makes outdoor spaces usable throughout the day and keeps everyone comfortable,’ Martha explains.
This particular pagoda-style feels very Martha. Its Italian inspo echoes the Le DoubleJ button-down she wore that day.
5. A Basket of Lightweight Throws
By sunset, you'll be glad you planned ahead.
Even during ghastly heatwaves, once the sun sets, it can get chilly – and if you were expecting guests to arrive carrying a lightweight sweater after spending the day in 90-degree heat, get real. Underestimating the evening temperature drop is one of the outdoor entertaining mistakes Martha sees every summer, and it’s surprisingly easy to avoid.
‘I also see people forgetting how quickly temperatures can change in the evening,’ she observes. ‘A basket of lightweight throws is one of those small touches that makes guests feel cared for.’
If you’ll be hosting often, look for a basket with a removable lid. It can live outside between gatherings, keeping throws dry, close at hand, and is one less thing to remember before guests arrive.
My biggest takeaway from the afternoon was that, even if you’re Martha Stewart, effortless alfresco entertaining rarely happens by accident. ‘Don't wait until guests arrive to think about the practical details,’ Martha reminds me.
'Make sure the grill is clean, food is covered, and there's no standing water attracting insects. Good entertaining always begins with good preparation. When you've planned ahead, everything feels effortless.’
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