Nothing Fancy Dinner Party with LACaKe

Everyone loves double helpings, right? We asked Kelly Lynch and Carlota Espinosa from LACaKe for their personal dinner party go-tos for our #NothingFancyDinnerParty series. 

LACaKe’s #NothingFancyDinnerParty

Must-have cheese for the charcuterie board 

Kelly’s pick: My faves are from organic Cowgirl Creamery. This selection is fantastic and donates $10 to Conscious Kitchen, a non-profit organization.

Carlota’s pick: My absolute favorite is Mt. Tam Organic Triple cream with a heart cheese from Cowgirl Creamery. It will be yours too after you have tried it.

Home-cooked specialty

Kelly’s pick: Thomas Keller’s Famous Roasted Chicken is hands down the best chicken recipe ever and SO easy! The trick? Buy the best bird you can find.

Carlota’s pick: My signature dish is a rotisserie chicken (my secret is to season the chicken with Jennifer Fisher’s Universal Salt.

Order-in

Kelly’s pick: All Time. My favorite LA restaurant. The last time I was there, I sat next to Alice Waters! Also HomeState for legit Mexican food made with love.

Carlota’s pick: Two of my go-tos are Katsu-Ya in Studio City—order the sushi sampler plate. Zinque in West Hollywood—they have the most delish salmon entree.

Beloved beverage

Kelly’s pick: I’m loving CANN, a low THC and CBD-infused sparkling beverage for a relaxing no alcohol, no hangover and 1/3 the calorie buzz. My fave is the Rosemary Grapefruit, but all the flavors are delicious! If I’m having a "real" drink lately, it's LOLA Mezcal.

Carlota’s pick: I love to serve Chablis, a delish French white wine.

Must-have hosting item from Amazon

Kelly’s pick: A set of 12 white hemstitched linen cocktail napkins from Bumblebee Linens & a LUX oak wood 19” round cheese board.

Carlota’s pick: These bath salts from LA SALT CO for after all the guests have left.

Top pick for flowers

Kelly’s pick: The one and only Joseph Free (@josephfree).

Carlota’s pick: Peonies or dahlias from Lily Lodge (@lilylodge), especially in their signature box. And the equally wonderful Joseph Free.

Listening to

Kelly’s pick: Curated playlists from our friend the DJ extraordinaire Mathieu Schreyer (mathieuschreyer@gmail.com). 

Carlota’s pick: Miles Davis and the Studio 54 playlist on Amazon Music.

Go-to gift for the host/hostess with everything

Kelly’s pick: HIGHERDOSE Red Light Facial Mask or their fabulous PEMF Infrared On The Go Mat.

Carlota’s pick: The Style Union Home Carlota Platter.

Dessert of choice

Kelly’s pick: Hands down, The Lemon Chiffon pie from San Vicente Bungalows! I’m a founding member, but they still won’t share their secret recipe! Here’s my go-to recipe to make at home.

Carlota’s pick: Churros with melted chocolate from Esperanza in Manhattan Beach. 

Vegan or GF snack option

Kelly’s pick: Arctic Zero frozen dessert is plant-based, vegan, non-dairy, keto-friendly, low glycemic, low calorie, gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher AND delicious! My fave is Salted Caramel.

Carlota’s pick: Zucchini carpaccio

Go-to conversation starter

Kelly’s pick: What did you want to be when you grew up?

Carlota’s pick: What’s on your travel bucket list?