A Fall Dinner Party in Laurel Canyon With Betsy Sadler

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It feels like some people are born with great style, and that’s certainly the case for Betsy Sadler. From her well-edited wardrobe to her collection of handmade dishes and serving pieces, she’s that friend who inspires you to left up your aesthetic—while somehow making it feel completely effortless.

Betsy and her husband Greg live high in the hills above West Hollywood. Just a stone’s throw away from Sunset Boulevard’s nightlife, their charming home feels like a rural escape from the city. On the day of our shoot, we slowly drove up the winding road to their home and were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the canyons.

The couple shares the inherent thoughtfulness and attunement to the needs of others that (in my opinion) is the trademark of a great host. Betsy is a brand strategist and co-founder of MARCHÉ, a holiday marketplace created to uplift women-owned small businesses. Greg is a musician, and together they’ve created a life that feels incredibly heartfelt and aligned with their values. We bonded over our love of handmade ceramics and good olive oil. She gushed over the Casa Zuma salad bowl that I brought along to our shoot, and our team swooned over the leopard print coat she gamely donned despite the 100 degree heat. “We’re channeling fall!”

During the pandemic, Betsy began hosting outdoor dinner parties that tapped into a collective craving for in-person experiences. Her canyon home was the perfect setting for these gatherings, and we couldn’t wait to get an inside look at how Betsy entertains—and she fully delivered. 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 spot?

My husband and I were torn between the desire to be in nature and the need to be close to the city. A friend moved out of this cozy canyon home, and voilà! Now we wake up every morning to a view of the mountains. My favorite time of day is the beginning of the sunrise when the birds just start chirping and pockets of light start to peek through the trees and valleys—it’s pure magic.

How did Marshell come to be?

About a decade ago, I took a step back to notice what truly makes me happy. Turns out, it’s working with companies that resonate with me personally—they value community, make wellbeing and the planet a priority, and are primarily women-owned. I followed my gut (again!) and now I’m surrounded by brands, ladies, and people I absolutely adore.

Walk us through a typical day for you:

I wake up with the sun around 5:00 or 6:00am, brush my teeth, grab a fresh water, cuddle into my very sleepy husband, and…. grab my phone. I know I know—it’s so horrible. I look at emails and slack first thing. 

My husband is an absolute dream and hand grinds beans for a perfect almond milk cortado (that he also makes) every day. I start the day with a walk or pilates — a dream day would be both.

On weekdays, I either work from home or head over to my “office” aka Neuehouse. And am on zoom/ in front of my computer most of the day. I break up the day with little walks. My weekdays are full, but I rarely work on weekends. I don’t even want to touch my computer. I want to see my friends and husband, be a bit lazy, self-care, spend time in nature, and reset. 

I definitely have a uniform of sorts. Most days you’ll find me in a Frank & Eileen Shirley button up or Sister Katie top/sweater with comfy pants—either slouchy OZMA field pants, AGOLDE 90s pinch waist high rise, or “cute” sweatpants— and a Sezane coat or trench.

Shoes are either FREDA SALVADOR Jada, LoQ Daria, or Jamie Haller Loafers. Jewelry—almost entirely Starling. And, of course, a slouchy Parker Thatch purse. I’ll break the uniform with an Ulla Johnson dress for date night.

In the kitchen

What informs your approach to food? 

My gut (literally)—primarily my allium intolerance aka no garlic, shallots, onions for me. So, we use a lot of fresh herbs and spices. And we buy really nice meat and fish, which doesn’t need much to shine.

What’s your must-have cooking tool?

Chef’s knife — I don’t think there’s a single thing we eat that doesn’t require it. 

What are your favorite cookbooks and why?

Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California.

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

Foodwise: A Fresh Approach to Nutrition by Mia Rigden

Part nutrition education and part recipes, this is one of my favorite all around books for wellness. Our weekly staple recipes come from this cookbook and from Mia’s substack (which is amazing and has weekly recipes and grocery lists).

The Four Horsemen: Food and Wine for Good Times from the Brooklyn Restaurant

My absolutely favorite restaurant in the US is launching a cookbook on October 22nd and I know it will be a future favorite cookbook. I dream about their burrata with grilled peaches and speck (from Alto Adige in northern Italy where my husband and I were married).

Tell us a few things we’ll always find in your refrigerator:

Eggs, greens (arugula, kale, spinach, little gems), zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, avocados, limes, almond milk, chicken, salmon, and almond flour tortillas. This is basically our weekly shopping list (plus a bar of chocolate and some sourdough).

Your go-to weeknight meal to eat at home? 

Greg makes an amazing chicken and I make a good salmon— we always have some concoction of either. I prefer warm/cooked meals, so we’ll add the protein to a mix sautéd veggies with basmati rice, seasoned one of three ways: herbs, tamari, or hot honey.

How Betsy hosts a party

What does a great gathering look like for you?

A great gathering is one filled with laughter. So often we think the prettier and more “instagrammable” a gathering the more successful, but I think the ones where people are laughing, connecting, and truly enjoying themselves – seeing old friends and meeting new – those are the best. I’ll take a good time over a pretty tablescape any day.

Your signature dishes for gatherings?

Always a leafy, herby green salad and a loaf of Bub and Grandma’s bread—breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for Betsy’s recipe for her Little Gem Salad with Apple and Dates.

The perfect dinner party playlist includes:

My husband will be in charge of records or well through on Spotify playlists — Wonder Valley has some of the best playlists (Spotify). So does my friend Berry’s company, Art Life Practice (Spotify).

What is your no-stress party rule to live by? 

For a casual get together there should be no stress. Anything that starts to stress you out — don’t do it. You don’t have to do anything fancy to host. Order food. Eat on the couch. It’s about the people. 

Dream dinner guests?

Just my friends! That’s who I want to spend my time with. Well, and my husband—my best friend 🙂

What’s a tip for someone who wants to host a gathering on a budget?

It’s all about the people, so get a good group and no one will care about the rest! 

A bagel brunch is a really easy (and affordable) — bagels, a few toppings, some fruit, and sparkling wine with orange juice. A carafe of cold brew or a french press (we love the YIELD French Press) with hot coffee is always nice in the morning too. 

You also can host without serving a full meal. Drinks and snacks!

What are 3 products you love for the table?

Gjusta Goods linen napkins wash so well, we’ve literally have had the same for 5-6 years and we use them on a daily basis (but we only iron them for guests lol). 

The Casa Zuma Reclaimed Wood Pedestal Tray is a new favorite. We use it in the kitchen as an elevated little home for random accessories like the hand coffee grinder and tissues. It’s also the perfect serving tray to bring together little bowls and bites. 

Year & Day ceramic dishes are the best. They are dishwasher safe and haven’t cracked in the many years we’ve had them. And they’re a great price point.

What scares you about entertaining and why?

People staying past my bedtime — kidding (kind of). I love waking up to a clean house, so I clean everything at night — put on music or an audiobook and knock out all the dishes. And I wake up early, so.. if you’re staying chances are you are sitting at the counter and I’ll make you a martini or an amaro to sip and chat while I tackle the dishes.

Sentence finishers:

A perfect meal should …

…have something everyone can eat — and drink. We always make sure all our guests have something to enjoy (besides water) whether they drink alcohol or not. Oddbird and De Soi are great non-alcoholic options to have on hand. 

It’s not a dinner party without …

…laughter, olives, and a great loaf of sourdough. 

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