Host Highlight: Sarah Mckee
Sarah was one of my first hosts in America. I can tell you it was a bit nerve-wracking at first. Imagine you’re starting a company but the whole premise of it is for other women, who you’ve never met, to be the face of it in that market. It lives or dies from their tables, their connections, their hosting skills. Although I’ve not doubtingly had my ups and downs in building this, Sarah has been a core part of that stability in Minneapolis. Let’s speak to her a little & see what her tables are like….
Where are you from, where do you live now & where do you host?
I’m a Twin Cities native living in Northeast Minneapolis with my husband and our beloved Italian Greyhound, Demi. We have a pre-1900s home with great historic character and charm that we’ve spent years renovating. Our backyard is one of my favorite areas because we intentionally designed it for hosting with a huge patio, lots of lounge seating, cozy cafe lights, and a privacy fence lined with trees that get big white blossoms in the spring. I love hosting al fresco out there whenever I can!
How do you currently spend your days? Career, passions and life?
Hosting is definitely one of my biggest passions. I get joy and energy from creating a setting for people to romanticize their lives, feel special, and find connections. Book clubs, holiday parties, vacations - I’ll take any excuse to play conductor and connector. Good vibes and good food are prerequisites but I always love a subtle theme that lets me get creative!
I work in residential real estate in Minneapolis and have so much fun guiding clients to achieve their big milestones. Working with transplants is especially fun because I get to help them make Minneapolis their home and recommend all the very best local resources like the perfect place for a celebratory dinner, an excellent independent florist who delivers same day, the most reliable handyman. Besides the warm fuzzies I get by matching clients with their perfect next chapter, I also have the opportunity to make a real impact on their financial security and future, which is incredibly rewarding.
My husband and I are also working on an exciting new venture of designing and opening a small collection of chic & cozy rental cabins in Duluth, MN on the shores of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. The natural beauty in the area is incredible and we’re super excited to launch later this year!
What are the 3 adjectives your guests would use to describe your dinner parties?
Connective, vibrant, delicious
What is your favorite theme to host and how did you come up with that theme?
One of the first dinners I hosted was “Travel Teachings & the Table”, which focused on bringing together women who have been profoundly shaped by travel. Travel is one of the best learning opportunities; it broadens your horizons, helps connect you to others, challenges you to adapt, and inspires creativity. I knew the kind of women who shared those beliefs would be my kind of gals, and I was so right! Everyone who attended was so fabulous and we had the best time - we stayed up chatting for HOURS and talked about everything under the sun! We all still keep in touch.
Do you have a story about a connection that you made at one of your dinner parties that has turned into a core memory?
My favorite connection is between two of the women who met at a dinner last year and ended up recording a podcast series together! It made me so happy to hear that kind of creativity was the result of meeting around my table. I was like “my dinner party had a baby!”
I’ve also been fortunate to work with several of the women I’ve met through & the Table with buying or selling a home, which is a privilege and level of trust that I am incredibly honored by!
What's your favourite dish to prepare for a dinner party? What's the recipe?
I love making a side of salmon slow-roasted in olive oil. It looks beautiful, always comes out perfect, is easy to prepare without fussing in the kitchen during dinner, and can be easily adapted to suit what’s in season.
If someone was just starting to host, what would you tell them is a non-negotiable when planning?
It’s intimidating for people to show up solo and hang out with a bunch of strangers in such an intimate setting, so put special thought and effort into putting guests at ease right away. Welcome each guest with a drink and start with an easy question - “How did you hear about & the Table?” is the most obvious to get the conversation flowing. Put that initial anxiety to rest asap and guests will feel right at home.
What is something you've learned from hosting dinner parties? Either about yourself or about hosting in a whole.
I’ve really come to fully appreciate the wisdom behind the & the Table format. It lets me control all the things that make hosting a fun and creative outlet while intentionally creating space for authentic connections. Six people is the perfect number to make sure everyone is focused on a single, engaging conversation. Having a pre-determined topic to discuss ensures the conversation is more substantial, entertaining, and natural than the usual small talk. I also appreciate that after the dinner, attendees choose how they want to engage with the group in the future without any pressure. They can enjoy one extraordinary evening of conversation or open the door to ongoing connections. It's a beautifully organic approach to bringing people together.
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For any of the women currently in or visiting Minneapolis, Sarah has her next table up and ready for requests!
Want to join us as an & the Table Official Host? Read about it and apply.