hostess with the mostess

la Dolce vita dinner party

by Jamee Gregory

Adrienne Vittadini and I pose beside her pink hibiscus.

"Come over for a little spaghetti!" encouraged my pal Adrienne Vittadini. "It's our last chance to see everyone before we leave for Italy."

Known for her sense of style, whether designing dresses, homes, or herself, Adrienne never disappoints. Formally trained as an artist, her love of color always promises bright, unique, and engaging creations. Her beautifully arranged evening was no exception. The Vittadini table was perfectly orchestrated and balanced: elegant linens from E. Braun & Co. punctuated with charming Italian obelisks created a unique table-scape, dotted with Richard Ginori's flower-covered Faience plates and whimsical, vegetable-shaped salt and pepper shakers.

Dressed in turquoise and paisley, Adrienne radiates warmth just as sunny as her garden! Full of smiles, she leads us inside to a calm, cozy living room, filled with deep, comfortable couches, chairs, and a huge coffee table covered with books and lilies from Lynch's. Scallop skewers and tartines of tuna, all passed on lime-green Celadon trays, whet the appetite. Crudites are gobbled up after a day of tennis, golf, and aerobic-workout walks.

Before we know it, half an hour has passed. We're called to the table on our hostess's glamorous, linen-curtained terrace overlooking the water and covered with baskets of lilac petunias and pale-pink hibiscus. Pink hydrangeas plucked from the garden play off the cold, pea-green soup. Two pastas arrive: who could chose between penne pomodoro e basilica and farfalle with saffron and pancetta? We need both! Sea bass with julienne carrots and pea pods is followed by a rich chocolate-mousse cake from Sant Ambroeus. After espresso on the terrace and fond farewells, we head home. Guess we'll need to hit the tennis courts again tomorrow!

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