Betsy Sadler’s Hollywood Hills Dinner

It feels like some people are born with great style, and that was the case with Betsy Sadler. From her thoughtfully designed wardrobe to her collection of handmade dinnerware and dinnerware, she’s that friend who inspires you to ditch aesthetics while making it feel completely effortless.

Betsy and her husband Greg live high in the mountains above West Hollywood. Their charming home is just a stone’s throw from the nightlife of the Sunset Strip and feels like a country retreat away from the city. On the day of the shoot, we slowly drove up to their home along the winding road and took in the stunning canyon views.

This couple has an innate thoughtfulness and attunement to the needs of others, which (in my opinion) are the hallmarks of a good landlord. Betsy is the brand strategist and co-founder of MARCHÉ, a holiday marketplace designed to revitalize women-owned small businesses. Greg is a musician and together they have created a life that is incredibly genuine and aligned with their values. We bonded over our love of handmade ceramics and fine olive oil. She gushed about the Casa Zuma salad bowl I brought to the shoot, and our team was obsessed with the leopard print coat she bravely donned in the 100-degree heat. “We’re channeling fall!”

During the pandemic, Betsy began hosting outdoor dinner parties to satisfy people’s collective thirst for in-person experiences. Her home in the Canyon is the perfect setting for these get-togethers, and we can’t wait to see how Betsy entertains — and she totally nails it. Read on for Betsy and Greg’s cozy fall dinner in the Canyon.

at home in los angeles

Betsy, tell us about your home – what’s the story behind this magical place?

My husband and I are torn between our desire to be close to nature and our need to be close to the city. Friends moved out of this cozy canyon home and voila! Now we wake up to a mountain view every morning. My favorite time of day is when the sunrise begins and the birds only It started to chirp and little bits of light started to filter through the trees and valleys – it was pure magic.

Where did Marshall come from?

About ten years ago, I took a step back to focus on what truly made me happy. It turns out it’s working with companies that resonate with me personally – they value community, prioritize well-being and the planet, and are primarily owned by women. I followed my gut (again!) and now I’m surrounded by brands, women, and people I absolutely adore.

Take us through your typical day:

I wake up with the sun around 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning, brush my teeth, drink some fresh water, hug my sleepy husband, and… grab my phone. I know, I know – it’s horrible. The first thing I do is check my email and relax.

My husband is an absolute dream and grinds beans by hand every day to make the perfect almond milk cortado (which he also makes). I start my day with a walk or Pilates – a dream day is both.

During the workday, I either work from home or head to my “office” (aka Neuehouse). I spend most of the day in front of my computer doing zoom/operations. I end the day with a walk. My weekdays are full but I rarely work on the weekends. I don’t even want to touch my computer. I want to see my friends and husband, get a little lazy, practice some self-care, spend time in nature, and start over.

I definitely have a uniform. Most days you’ll find me wearing a Frank & Eileen Shirley button-down top or a Sister Katie top/sweater with comfy pants – either baggy OZMA Field Pants, AGOLDE 90’s Cinch High Waist Pants, or It’s “cute” sweatpants – plus a Sezane jacket or windbreaker.

Shoes are FREDA SALVADOR Jada, LoQ Daria or Jamie Haller loafers. Jewelry – almost all starlings. Of course, there’s also the slouchy Parker Thatch wallet. I’ll break up the uniform with an Ulla Johnson dress for date night.

in the kitchen

How does it affect your attitude towards food?

My gut feeling (literally) – mainly because I am intolerant to onions, that is, I don’t eat garlic, shallots, or onions. So we use a lot of fresh herbs and spices. We buy very good meat and fish that don’t need much shine.

What are your must-have cooking tools?

Chef’s Knife – I don’t think we need it for anything we eat.

What is your favorite cookbook?

Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California.

Tomato harissa (adapted for my intolerance to scallions) is a staple in our house. It’s also one of our favorite restaurants in LA, but not too close, so we try to recreate the magic at home (impossible, but we try).

Foodwise: Mia Rigden’s new approach to nutrition

Part nutritional education, part recipe, this is one of my favorite all-around health books. Our weekly staple recipes come from this cookbook and Mia’s substack (which is awesome and has weekly recipes and grocery lists).

The Four Horsemen: Food, Wine, and Good Times at Brooklyn Restaurants

My favorite American restaurant is releasing a cookbook on October 22nd that I know will be a future favorite. I dream of their burrata with grilled peaches and speck (from Alto Adige in northern Italy, where my husband and I got married).

Tell us about some of the things we often find in your refrigerator:

Eggs, vegetables (arugula, kale, spinach, baby gems), zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, avocado, lime, almond milk, chicken, salmon, and almond flour tortillas. This is basically our weekly shopping list (plus a bar of chocolate and some yeast).

What’s your go-to dinner at home on the weekends?

Greg’s chicken is great and my salmon is delicious – we always have a mixture of the two. I prefer my meals hot/cooked, so we added protein to sautéed veggies and basmati rice seasoned with one of three ways: herbs, soy sauce, or hot honey.

How Betsy throws a party

What does a great party look like to you?

A great party is a party filled with laughter. We often think that the prettier and more Instagrammable a party is, the more successful it will be, but I think parties are the best when people laugh, mingle, and actually enjoy the party—seeing old friends and making new ones. . I’ll take a good time with a beautiful desktop any day.

Your signature party dish?

For breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, it was always a leafy green salad and a loaf of bread that Barb and Grandma made.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for Betsy’s Apple and Date Gem Salad recipe.

The perfect dinner party playlist includes:

My husband will be in charge of records or Spotify playlists – Wonder Valley has some of the best playlists (Spotify). The same goes for my friend Berry’s company, Art Life Practice (Spotify).

What are your stress-free party rules?

For casual gatherings, it should be stress-free. Anything that stresses you out – don’t do it. You don’t need to do anything fancy to host. Order food. Eat on the couch. It’s about the people.

Dream dinner guests?

Just my friend! This is the person I want to spend time with. Well, and my husband – my best friend 🙂

Any advice for someone who wants to host a party on a budget?

It’s all about the people, so with a great team, no one will care about the rest!

Bagel brunch is super simple (and affordable) – a bagel, a few toppings, some fruit, and orange sparkling wine. It’s always great to have a bottle of cold brew or French press (we love the YIELD French Press ) and hot coffee in the morning.

You can also entertain guests without serving a meal. Drinks and snacks!

What 3 table products do you like?

The linen napkins from Gjusta Goods wash very well, we’ve had the same ones for 5-6 years and we use them every day (but we only iron them for guests, haha).

The Casa Zuma reclaimed wood base tray is the new pet. We use it in the kitchen as a little elevated home for random accessories like a hand-crank coffee grinder and paper towels. It also makes a perfect tray to keep small bowls and snacks together.

Ceramic tableware is the best. They are dishwasher safe and have never cracked in years of use. And their prices are very good.

What scares you about entertainment?

People staying past my bedtime─just kidding (kind of). I love waking up to a clean house, so I clean everything up at night – put on music or audiobooks, and put away all the dishes. I get up early, so…if you stay, you’ll most likely sit at the counter and I’ll give you a martini or amaro to drink and chat while I work on the dishes.

Sentence terminator:

A perfect meal should…

… There’s something for everyone to eat and drink. We always make sure all guests have something to enjoy (besides water) whether they are drinking or not. Oddbird and De Soi are both good non-alcoholic beverage options.

It wouldn’t be a dinner party without …

…laughter, olives and a big loaf of sourdough.

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