On a balmy September Thursday, the TABLE magazine family gathered in a sprawling Sewickley backyard for a farm-fresh feast, plus conversation under the trees and amongst colleagues. Publisher Justin Matisse, also the TABLE’s go-to for concocting complex, delicious cocktails, greeted guests with an off-the-cuff creation to be enjoyed alongside the grazing board and welcome chit-chat. “Justin always mixes up a good cocktail to get the party started!” declares editor-in-chief Keith Recker.
Garden Party Goodness
By the time everyone gathered on the grass around the long dining table, conversation was rolling. “We already had some great ‘up and down the table’ banter and storytelling,” Recker recalls. He had set the table well in advance, while director of operations Star Laliberte helped him with the flowers. Recker believes one key to any good party is the mysterious balance of planning and spontaneity.
The evening’s chef was Joey Hilty, co-owner of The Vandal, one of the staff’s favorite restaurants in town. “Joey really cares about his food and the people who eat it,” Recker shares. “We knew he would serve a meal that was simultaneously comforting, surprising and totally delicious.”
Hilty says that cooking in the summer nearly feels “a little criminal,” and that his choice to pair an extremely high-quality, cured French ham with local, peak season melons almost felt too easy. Yet the crowd devoured this decision. “The best kinds of dishes are the ones that you could ‘theoretically’ make yourself except you don’t,” he says. “Sometimes I feel like I’m less of a chef and more of a matchmaker with the best summer has to offer.”
Hilty finds backyard gatherings special since there’s something about getting a group of people — some family, good friends and (even better) a few acquaintances — to each bring their own magic. “Food plays a huge role in that,” Hilty says, “it’s a universal love language that unites everyone. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be thoughtful.”
Matase recalls Chef Hilty being a “rockstar,” adding, “I still remember that fish!” He also reflects on the importance of evenings like this. “Spending time outside the office with colleagues allows you to see a different side of a person, and really get to know them on a different level,” Matase says. “I think that translates into smoother communication when back in the work environment.”
Laliberte agrees that convening beyond work at occasions like the garden party helps everyone strengthen bonds already shared; she credits Recker and Matase for fostering an incredibly encouraging, positive and supportive workplace environment. “We truly enjoy each other’s company, and are invested in one another’s lives both professionally and personally,” she says.
Gathering with the TABLE family feels natural to Recker. “We like each other!” he says. “We love to laugh at each other’s funny remarks, old stories, foibles and jokes. It’s so much fun to be away from the workday and watch where the conversation goes.” This time they chose to meet in Recker’s garden so a larger group could be invited, including some frequent freelancers in addition to staff.
Director of digital advertising Stephanie Cravotta believes these get-togethers are a great way to unwind and celebrate the team’s accomplishments. She “absolutely” finds them beneficial in encouraging everyone to take a break from the daily grind and connect on a personal level.
Plenty of laughter added to the garden party evening’s good-natured vibe. Cravotta recalls an eye-opening conversation about The Villages and their loofah system. Other memories made a lasting mark, too, like when director of advertising Janet Wizig renamed prosecco “champone” instead of champagne. “New language is what happens when you drink on an empty stomach,” she jokes.
“The more we know about each other, the more relaxed we are,” Recker reflects. “We know that we all come to work and to life with truly good intentions.” He also loves how these settings encourage folks to share real-life anecdotes. “Nothing is stranger or funnier than the truth,” he says. “Some of those stories came out, and the pleasure of dissolving into laughter was a big part of the evening.”
Laliberte sums it up. “It was a lovely day, the weather was beautiful, and we all enjoyed a great meal, laughing and conversing with one another.”
Story by Corinne Whiting
Photography by Laura Petrilla (with an assist by Justin Merriman)
Food by Joey Hilty, The Vandal
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