Best of Boston

Turning out memorable meals in private homes—which often means tight quarters and picky palates—is a task that could sap any chef’s muse. No surprise the catering arm of the vaunted L’Espalier/Sel de la Terre group is more than up to the challenge. Planning a small fete, we laid out the hurdles: seafood allergies, vegan diets, decorating don’ts. Au Soleil fired back with scads of ideas, including using petits fours as favors and dressing the table with bouquets of our favorite blooms. From intimate dinners to 600-person galas, this event-maker handles every gathering with aplomb.