Right now, dinner party dreams are just that: dreams. But Homeworthy is here to make them a reality – at least, without any guests. We’ve asked an eclectic mix of notables to set the table they wish they could invite people to and share all the details for our new series, “Set The Table With…”
Ariel Arce is behind some of the hippest restaurants in Manhattan–her latest one is called Niche Niche. In her words, it’s a “one-night-residency-wine-dinner-party where we invite different members of the wine community to curate a different tasting every night of the week for an engaged group of diners.” She just launched Niche Niche At Home, allowing NYC-based diners to taste and sip her rotating menu and wine pairings (complete with tasting notes via text!) from home.
Left: Menu by Helen Nguyen, Chef & Owner of Saigon Social, and Raj Vaidya, Sommelier of Saigon Social, La Paulée, and La Fête du Champagne
Right: Menu by Billy Durney, Owner/Partner and Pitmaster of Hometown Bar B Que/Red Hook Tavern, and Kenneth Crum, GM and Sommelier of Red Hook Tavern
HOMEWORTHY: Do you have any rules you always follow when designing a table?
ARIEL ARCE: What I’m serving and drinking is based on who’s coming, but I’ll always have a bottle of champagne ready when my guests arrive. (Editor’s Note: Ariel also created the oh-so-chic Air’s Champagne Parlor!)
HOMEWORTHY: The liquids in the small glass bottles that almost look like salt shakers…what are they? They look like so much fun!
AA: This is how we package up the individual wine pairings with each Niche Niche At Home dinner kit! They come from Uline. This allows us to provide the perfect serving to go with each course. We also send out individual tasting notes via text so that you know exactly which dish goes with which wine (and why!).
HOMEWORTHY: We know you have your own pup, your own forever dinner party guest – tell us about him!
AA: His name is Dion… and he is otherwise known as the “maître D’ion” of Niche Niche!
Left: At Home With-themed menu by Melissa Rodriguez, Executive Chef of Del Posto, and Jeff Porter of Sip Trip
Right: Bubs & Pups-themed menu by Sandia Chang of bubbledogs and Kitchen Table
HOMEWORTHY: How does the food menu come about?
AA: The way we design our menus is centered around the wines that our incredible hosts choose each week. We always source local, farm-fresh ingredients based on seasonality and we create family-style dishes to maintain the “dinner party” vibe that we’re known for.
HOMEWORTHY: The china in all the photos is SO cute. Any great backstories about how it was procured?
AA: Our plates are found through a series of shops around the city, thrifting in the TriState area, etc. and we always throw in a fancy plate here and there to tie it all together from ABC Carpet & Home. Our water glasses are CB2 and wine glasses are always Zalto from Austria.
Shop Ariel’s tablescapes below!
China: ABC Carpet & Home
Water Glasses: CB2
Wine Glasses: Zalto (shop at Amazon or goop)
Individual Wine Serving Bottles: Uline
In NYC?
Order in Niche Niche At Home or Air’s Champagne Parlor
Or, make a Niche Niche outdoor reservation
