You may not know this about me, but I’m happiest when entertaining at home. Whether I’m cooking with my husband on a weeknight or pulling together a spread for a crowd, I love finding new dishes to try and ways to decorate for the occasion. One of my closest friends is an interior designer, and I think I can accredit this to letting her attention to detail rub off on me.

To welcome the new season, we invited a couple of friends over for a healthy and delicious meal on our rooftop in Brooklyn. I wanted to focus on creating a rustic, fall forward spread while squeezing the most out of the late summer produce while it’s still on the shelves. We spend so much time thinking about transitional dressing, but what about transitional eating? Here are my 5 tips for whipping together one last al fresco dinner party.

1 – Choose easy recipes that center around seasonal produce.

I made a simple roasted salmon with a soy glaze, roasted fairy tale eggplant (yes, mini eggplants!), and an orzo salad with heirloom tomatoes, feta and fresh oregano. I pre-cut all of the veggies, except for the tomatoes, in the morning before work, and then just tossed everything together in the evening.

2 – Outsource to make your life easier.

Ask friends bring the wine or have a large salad or appetizer delivered from your favorite local spot. I’m all about a great homemade meal, but I also want to be able to enjoy my guests and be a relaxed host. Don’t break your back and miss all the fun!

3 – Unearth the fancy china.

We haven’t used the dinnerware pictured here nearly enough since receiving it for our wedding last year. It feels nice to break out the pieces in your home that are typically saved for grandiose occasions for an intimate gathering.

4 – Get outside.

Capitalize on the early fall temperatures and dine al fresco. We are so lucky to have a great rooftop space on top of our apartment, so we use this chic tray to carry everything upstairs and eat with a sunset view.

5 – Just add champagne.

A touch of Veuve Cliquot ties a bow on any dinner set up—even if it’s just takeout on the couch. This particular bottle was a gift from a friend for my 30th birthday, so it felt like the perfect exclamation point to this meal.