How to host the perfect Friendsgiving

Years before launching their midtown wine bar and bistro, sisters Courtney and Casey Lewandrowski and their friend Dej Lambert hosted people for a different occasion: Friendsgiving.

The trio opened Kid Sister on Seventh Street near Camelback Road in 2024. It’s a modern, cozy spot that’s already garnered acclaim, serving a global wine list, local beers and enticing small plates from chef Isaac Mendoza. These modern tapas and bistro dishes make for a nice nosh or a multi-course meal. 

At the wine bar, the group has kept their Friendsgiving tradition alive with a special weeklong prix fixe meal. For many, the unofficial holiday is an alternative, or bonus, to the traditional Thanksgiving gathering.

“Everybody gets together and hangs out with their family around the holidays, and for some that’s more stressful than others,” Casey Lewandrowski says. “I think it’s a great way to gather with friends.”

She and Mendoza have learned a few things about how to throw an epic dinner party that will keep the group chat buzzing long after it’s done. Here are their tips on how hosts can set themselves up for a memorable, delicious Friendsgiving fete.

Choose a centerpiece dish

First up, pick the main dish or overall theme. Both Lewandrowski and Mendoza agree that with Friendsgiving, you can, and should, opt for a less conventional meal than the traditional turkey and sides you may have with your family. 

Lewandrowski has served an Italian-inspired meal to “switch it up” from traditional Thanksgiving mains and sides. Leg of lamb starred as the main dish, joined by savory antipasti. People brought other dishes and bottles of wine to share. They finished the meal with the pour-over dessert, affogato.

A whole chicken or a Mediterranean spread with kebabs and dips would be tasty options for a group, too, Mendoza says.

“Thanksgiving and Christmas have similar items,” he says. “(Friendsgiving is) such an opportunity to have fun with it.”

Get your friends involved

Once the main dish is locked in, the next decision to make is whether you’ll handle the rest of the meal or ask people to contribute. The Kid Sister team members are split on which approach to take; it depends on your comfort level in the kitchen and your budget. Regardless, find a way to get your guests involved.

Lewandrowski likes to take care of the meal and asks guests to bring snacks and beverages to share or a game to play.

“Clearly, we love to host,” Lewandrowski says. “But also, it’s a lot of pressure to cook a whole meal for everybody.”

Mendoza likes to delegate styles of dishes to bring, asking friends to cover starches, vegetables or desserts. That way, your guests aren’t racking their brains about what to cook. That also avoids the risk of people showing up with the same dish.

“I think a little structure helps people get an idea and feel confident in what they’re doing,” he says. 

Once people start arriving with dishes, Lewandrowski suggests having craft paper or labels on hand to identify each item and note any allergens, such as dairy, wheat or nuts.

Create a drink station

Set up a drink station so you can toast your guests when they arrive. A pre-batched cocktail or large-format bottles of Gamay or Beaujolais are fun and easy options, Mendoza and Lewandrowski say.

Magnums are celebratory, so it’s the right time to go big. And with about 10 glasses of wine in a magnum, you won’t be constantly uncorking bottles. You could even consider getting a porron. This festive Spanish vessel quickly starts a party. Think of it as a classy keg stand. The vessel is cleverly engineered to pour a drink into someone’s mouth without their lips ever touching the spout. Porron pours were “a big hit” at Kid Sister’s Friendsgiving last year, Lewandrowski says.

A pre-batched cocktail likewise saves the host from getting trapped stirring or shaking drinks. Martinis, for example, could be mixed in a pitcher in advance.
At a station with glasses, ice and garnishes, and people can stir their own when they arrive, Lewandrowski says. That format works with a lower-alcohol spirit, like vermouth, too.

Set the vibe

While most hosts focus on the food, “another responsibility is setting that vibe,” Lewandrowski says.

To set the mood, build a playlist and light some candles, but “you don’t have to go out and buy new things in order to do that,” she says. DIY decor is another budget move.

“The Internet is full of fabulous ideas,” Lewandrowski says. “Maybe it’s not something super on the nose, like you’re not making turkey hands or anything like that, but tea lights, all that stuff, can set a mood for a very inexpensive amount.”

Simple is better

It can be tempting to pick out a complicated recipe, splurge on pricey centerpieces or feel like you need to upgrade your dishes. Resist those urges and simplify your plans, the Kid Sister team advises.

“Simple is always better. Even when we come up with dishes here, we try to keep it to three components,” Mendoza says. “Keeping it very minimal, I feel like that’s going to shine more than something that’s overcomplicated.”

Following that advice can prevent Friendsgiving from becoming a chore.

“This is the fun part of Thanksgiving, gathering with your friends and the people you don’t necessarily feel obligated to spend your holidays with,” Lewandrowski says. “So, just doing whatever you can and keeping the pressure off, that’s really what it’s all about.”

Kid Sister

Friendsgiving Prix Fixe, Nov. 20 to 26
4810 N. Seventh St.