I can be persuaded to watch almost anything that promises extravagant set designs and beautiful costumes. If there’s history and a little mischievous social maneuvering involved, even better. My coworkers recently recommended The Gilded Age, and within two weeks, I’d watched all three seasons just in time for season four to drop.
There’s plenty to admire: Bertha Russell’s determination, Peggy Scott’s writing career and rooms furnished with a reassuring disregard for minimalism. I love the history, too, from the railroad fortunes and New York bankers to Lewis Latimer’s work in electric lighting and the woman who helped bring the Brooklyn Bridge to completion. Every episode gave me another reason to keep watching.
My husband is often still at the restaurant in the evenings, so once the kids are asleep, I have a few hours to settle in with a show. While I watched The Gilded Age, I usually poured a glass of wine (some of my favorites are under $25 at Walmart) and enjoyed the fire as Christine Baranski made an art of Agnes’s disapproval. But with the new season arriving on Nov. 1, I’m borrowing a few ideas from the show to make a watch party spread.
Set the Scene
I have a decidedly romantic streak when it comes to my surroundings, so the show’s interiors have my full attention. I’m particularly taken with the glassware and china that can make even a small supper feel indulgent. With a few soft lamps and the fire going, I’m looking forward to borrowing a little of that grandeur for my own evening.
- A favorite plate and a special glass: Bannister may have reservations about Bertha’s colored glasses, but as a collector of vintage glassware, I find it rather inspiring. Thrift stores are wonderful places to look for floral china, small silver-plated trays and individual glasses to mix and match for a pretty tablescape.
- A few flowers on the table: A handful of stems from the grocery store in a little pitcher is plenty. They’re equally charming when arranged in tiny bud vases or in one center arrangement. Finding flowers that mirror the colors in your china is a great way to make everything look put together.
- Something soft beneath the dishes: Because so many watch parties happen in the living room rather than the kitchen, cover your coffee table with a tablecloth. It’ll look pretty, and it’ll catch any crumbs before they end up in the carpet. Add even more Gilded Age elegance with cloth napkins under silverware rather than paper napkins.
- A little note for company: A handwritten card listing dishes like “Ada’s Clam Chowder” would be a nice addition if you have company for your watch party. Cream card stock and a nice pen are enough to give the food a thoughtful connection to the show.
- Music before the show: A little opera while crafting vintage cocktails would be perfect for setting the scene, though I’d leave the battle over opera boxes to Mrs. Astor and Bertha.
A Glass for Agnes—or Ada
Dan Roberts for Taste of Home, Courtesy Barbra Nitke/ Courtesy Hbo
I’m more than happy to borrow the show’s habit of pouring wine into crystal glasses. Mine usually contains Champagne, but Ada’s season-three temperance campaign gives us a reason to put some thought into an alcohol-free option too.
Agnes’s feelings about wine appear to be settled, but there’s room for both sisters.
- Champagne or sparkling wine: I’d choose a bottle I enjoy and pour it into a favorite glass. There’s simply no need to improve on a good Champagne.
- A Champagne cocktail: Brandy and bitters give a Champagne cocktail a little extra ceremony, which is something perfectly befitting of a Gilded Age watch party.
- An alcohol-free spritz: Sparkling water with cranberry juice and an orange twist would be my contribution to Ada’s cause, but any mocktail would make an equally good toast to the evening. I’d use the same glassware and leave the pledge unsigned.
- Tea: Some evenings call for a pot of black tea and a little milk. I like bringing the pot into the living room on a tray.
Small Bites for High Society
Jonathan Melendez for taste of Home, Courtesy Barbra Nitke/ Courtesy Hbo
The Russells may require a meticulously planned succession of courses, but I’d be content with a small selection of savory bites. Oysters, warm crab dip or little sandwiches would make a perfectly elegant dinner by the fire.
- Oysters: Oysters make frequent appearances at the show’s lavish dinners, and a few with lemon would be enough to make the evening feel special. Our Oysters Rockefeller are baked with butter, spinach and Romano. And with John D. Rockefeller reportedly arriving this season, his namesake oysters certainly deserve a place at the table.
- Crab: Marian’s visit to the Scotts is difficult to forget, though I’d rather take inspiration from their crab luncheon than her assumptions. A lovely crab meat au gratin would bring some of that indulgence home, served warm with toasted bread or crackers.
- Asparagus: Few vegetables receive such careful instruction on how to eat them. After Bannister explains the difference between English and American asparagus etiquette, the Russell kitchen decided to avoid the matter altogether. I’d serve our roasted asparagus anyway, with a squeeze of lemon, and trust everyone to choose their own utensils.
- Tea sandwiches: Mamie Fish’s doll-themed tea party is more commitment than I’m looking for, but I can appreciate the sandwiches. Cucumber and cream cheese, butter with thinly sliced radish or chicken salad would all be good on soft bread.
Dinner Across Fifth Avenue
Mark Derse for Taste of Home, Courtesy Alison Cohen Rosa/ Courtesy Hbo
For something more substantial, you can look to the show’s luncheons as much as its elaborate dinner parties. A bowl of soup or a sandwich can feel quite grand when the ingredients are good and someone else is responsible for the evening’s drama.
- Clam chowder: A bowl of New England clam chowder is enough to win over Reverend Forte though it does little to impress Agnes. I’m with Ada on this one. Our New England clam chowder has tender potatoes, clams and a creamy broth that sounds perfect for a November season premiere.
- Lobster rolls: The lobster left behind after Bertha’s disastrous first reception deserves a more appreciative audience. Our lobster rolls put that idea into buttery toasted buns, making them much more convenient for my own seating arrangements.
- Steak: George’s Arizona business trip includes a steak order in a saloon, a considerable change of scenery from the Russell dining room. A steak seared in a hot skillet and finished with butter and fresh herbs would be a fitting way to bring a little of the show’s indulgence home.
- Salmon: The exquisite salmon platters at Bertha’s dinners are hard to overlook, even among all the other beautiful dishes. For an easy at-home version, borrow the fish and simplify the presentation: a grilled fillet with lemon and garlic would be perfect for any cozy viewing party.
Dessert in the Drawing Room
Dan Roberts for taste of Home, Courtesy Karolina Wojtasik/ Courtesy Hbo
A pot of tea and something sweet would be enough for me on an evening when dinner is already behind us. I like having dessert ready before I sit down, whether that means a trifle waiting in the fridge or a few pastries brought home in a paper bag.
- Trifle: Bannister’s assessment of trifle as a nursery food seems unnecessarily limiting. Layers of cake, cream and fruit have plenty to offer the rest of us. Our strawberry trifle would be a good place to start. A splash of sherry over the cake would move it a little further from the nursery.
- French pastries: Aurora Fane’s gathering put me in the mood for a plate of French pastries. Buy a few macarons, perhaps something chocolate, and let the bakery determine how ambitious the evening becomes. Arrange the pastries on a pretty plate, and voila!
- Apple pie: For all the elaborate food in the show, apple pie is an appealing return to something familiar. Armstrong’s visit to her mother casts it in an unhappy light, but I’m prepared to overlook that for a warm slice with a buttery crust.
- Ice cream: Ice cream has Agnes’s approval, which is no small recommendation. Strawberry would be a fitting choice from the period. A scoop in a small glass bowl with a crisp cookie would be all the dessert I’d need.
