Who Alison Roman is

Cook, writer, and author who opened First Bloom Corner Store in Bloomville, New York in 2023 and published dessert book Sweet Enough. She's now opening a Brooklyn Heights location this fall.

The outfit that works

Roman's never-fail hosting uniform is a white buttondown, dark denim, and black clog. She collaborated with Margaux on a shoe line designed for entertaining without sacrificing style.

“My never-fails outfit: White buttondown, dark denim, black clog.”

The magic number

Roman's guest list formula is six people for a dinner party. Anything else becomes a party-party, not a dinner party.

“Six people for a dinner party, otherwise it's just a party-party.”

Table details that matter

Roman uses cloth napkins in linen or cotton-linen blends that improve with washing, sources vintage linens from Etsy, and lets seasonal flowers dictate her arrangements rather than buying specific blooms.

“I'm a cloth napkin person now, something that gets better with age and wash like a linen or cotton-linen blend.”

Food and drink strategy

Roman pre-batches fifty-fifty martinis in the freezer as her welcome drink. She loves serving a giant bowl of chocolate pudding with many spoons for dessert, which feels both fun and elegant.

“I think there is nothing better than a giant bowl of chocolate pudding with many spoons for which to share.”

The hosting mindset

Roman's favorite entertaining tip is to relax and never apologize for the food. She sources inspiration from nature and keeps tablescapes loose, wild, and a little messy.

“Relax and never apologize for the food.”

The success metric

The sign of a successful dinner party is when guests stay so long that you have to gently suggest everyone leave so you can go to bed.

“People stay too long and you have to gently suggest everyone leave so you can go to bed.”