Table Talk: Styling, Serving & Effortless Entertaining for Labor Day
Labor Day weekend is basically the unofficial last hurrah of summer, which means one thing: fire up the grill and gather the people you love. In Colorado, though, there’s a little curveball: you can plan the perfect backyard cookout and then—cue dramatic music—here come the F&$k!n% afternoon thunderstorms.
That’s why I’ve become a big fan of the brunch cookout on the flat top. The weather is calmer, the light is golden, and bonus: you’re done cooking before the skies AND CHILDREN decide to throw a tantrum.
Let’s talk how to style your table, serve with ease, and keep entertaining fun instead of fussy.
Style Your Table Without Overthinking
A good table is all about layers—not stress.
Start with texture: A linen tablecloth or runner instantly makes it feel pulled together without trying too hard.
Mix your dishes: Don’t panic if you don’t have 12 matching plates. Mix-and-match makes it feel lived-in and approachable (and honestly, more fun).
Flowers, but keep it casual: Trader Joe’s tulips plunked in a pitcher? Perfect. Or snip a few stems from your garden. Wild and undone is the vibe.
Add something quirky: I’m a fan of a bowl of lemons, colorful napkins, or even vintage glassware. It’s Labor Day—channel “relaxed chic,” not “wedding planner.”
Serve With Ease (aka Don’t Chain Yourself to the Kitchen)
You’re not auditioning for Top Chef; you’re feeding friends. Keep it simple:
Set out self-serve drinks: A big pitcher of iced tea, lemonade, or sangria means guests can refill without hunting you down.
Family-style platters: Lay it all out and let people build their own plates. Bonus: fewer interruptions of, “Wait, what’s in this?”
Keep cleanup in mind: Use those cute melamine plates or enamelware—you’ll look put together and skip the mountain of paper trash.
Entertain Effortlessly
Here’s my rule: if you’re sweating more about the food than enjoying your guests, scale it back. Everyone would rather see you laughing at the table than hovering nervously over the grill. Put someone else in charge of the grill if you can. Ply them with mimosas or beer or beer-mosas. Gratitude will actually come back to you from the one dude who wants a break from the chitchat. And remember, children will scream. Adults will start and not finish 4857203 conversations. And everyone will still have a good time.
OH and music is non-negotiable. Make a playlist that works for both brunch mimosas and burger flipping. (Pro tip: early 2000s throwbacks hit just right for all ages.)
Simple Flat Top Brunch Cookout Recipes
Here are a few easy winners for a Labor Day brunch cookout:
🥓 Flat Top Breakfast Tacos
Set up a taco bar and let people build their own—it’s interactive and it's tacos. Because we have a very hard eater, I can't recommend enough throwing some cheese quesadillas on the grill. Adults will snack on them, and it will probably be all that the kids-- well my kid-- will eat.
Warm flour tortillas on the grill.
Scramble eggs with cheese + sautéed peppers.
Add crispy bacon or chorizo.
Serve with salsa + avocado.
🥞 Grilled Pancake Stacks
Yes, pancakes on the flat top. Just pour the batter like usual and flip.
Serve with fruit, whipped cream, and maple syrup.
Bonus points: cook bacon alongside for that sweet-and-savory vibe.
🍑 Grilled Peaches with Honey & Yogurt
Halve peaches, grill face-down until caramelized.
Drizzle with honey.
Add a dollop of Greek yogurt or vanilla ice cream.
It tastes way fancier than the 5 minutes it takes.
☕ Cold Brew Spritz
Mix cold brew with a splash of orange sparkling water, pour over ice, garnish with an orange slice. (Yes, coffee can be a cocktail.)
Final Thoughts
Labor Day cookouts don’t have to mean sticky afternoons, panic over plating, or a grill master chained to the coals. With a few thoughtful touches and some easy brunch recipes, you can host a cookout that feels stylish but still relaxed—and actually enjoy yourself.
Because really, isn’t that the whole point?