Dockside Delights: Seaside dining and entertainment
As seen in Waterfront Living 2025.
As salt and laughter drift through the air, thoughtfully layered tablescapes, coastal- inspired dinnerware and relaxed details set the stage for gatherings by the water.
From seaside dinner parties to casual brunches on the dock, coastal dining and entertaining continues to evoke a breezy, effortless sense of connection. Wholesalers across the retail market elevate these moments with polished takes on tabletop and ready-to-serve gourmet offerings that cultivate atmosphere and style at once.
“We are seeing a refreshed interest in outdoor dining with our coastal customers, but not exclusively with indoor/outdoor safe fabrics,” said Colleen Hall, senior vice president of marketing at C&F Enterprises. “Many of our customers are setting full tables for serving and entertaining outdoors during the spring and summer, pending their climate.
COASTAL, BUT REFINED
The modern waterfront consumer is trending away from kitschy themes and toward pieces that feel elegant and sophisticated — and wholesalers are taking notice.
“Drawing from the rhythms of the tide and the colors of the ocean, our new offerings celebrate seaside living with imaginative details and refined craftsmanship as we explored some new techniques,” Hall said.
C&F Enterprises’ latest coastal collections bring a polished whimsy to the table with its tassel fish tails, octopus tentacles, seashell-shaped detailed lace cutwork and appliqués on jute. Its quilted linens have also been refreshed.
“Building on our beloved tradition of quilted table linens, we’ve debuted all-new patterns that reflect the serene palette of the shore,” Hall said. “Classical tidal blues and crisp whites anchor the collection, accented with deep turquoise hues reminiscent of sunlit ocean depths. Our classic quilted collections stand up to repeated use and are easy care machine washable.”
She also cited that while customers still prefer a blue, white and neutral colorway, there’s a shift to softer hues. “We have a dusty dark blue in our latest collections versus a deep navy, for example.”
THE SOUL OF THE COAST
For wholesaler Caskata, the sea isn’t merely a trendy motif, it’s a source of inspiration that hits close to home.
Founder Shawn Laughlin spent her childhood summer days in Nantucket — in particular, in an inlet behind the dunes called Caskata.
“We caught crabs in the tidal pools, picked wild daisies on the way home, dug our toes in wet sand searching for clams and mussels,” she said. “Simple things, really, but those relaxed moments stayed with me.”
The Nantucket spirit remains at the core of Caskata today and can be found throughout its dinnerware and tabletop collections.
“At Caskata, we celebrate that special place by designing pieces that we feel reflect its natural beauty — porcelain dinnerware inspired by island wildflowers, textured linens that remind you of wind-blown sand, glassware that captures the sparkle and color of sunlit waves,” she said. “It’s simple, really: We love good design, we love good meals and we love the easy connection that happens when both come together around the table.”
Sea creatures and crustacean motifs offer a dose of playfulness to the brand’s elegant offerings.
“From Lucy the Octopus to lobsters, crabs and starfish, our favorites dance around our dinnerware and find themselves carefully etched in our glassware,” Laughlin said. “Tall ships and collections of favorite shells, schools of fish, all figure prominently on our pieces and on our tables.”
SELLING WELL & STANDING OUT
Among both C&F Enterprises and Caskata, there are clear fan favorites.
“Lucy the Octopus wins ‘Miss Popularity’ on everything she finds herself on,” Laughlin said, referring to Caskata’s signature swirling tentacled icon that graces dinnerware, glassware, cookware and even pet food bowls.
The brand has also introduced new Birchwood Trays from Finland and Hydration Tumblers. “We’ve also got some playful pieces with some more tropical sea creatures coming in early 2026,” she said.
Meanwhile, C&F’s bestsellers in summer 2025 include the quilted Seahorse Sands table linen collections and the Calming Seas Starfish collection, an extension of its winter 2025 Calming Seas collection. Hall’s personal favorite is the White Chindi collection, designed to seamlessly blend with a variety of settings — with the ability to transition from coastal to everyday to holiday.
“It stands out for its beauty, versatility and sustainability,” Hall said. “Chindi is a traditional Indian weaving technique that repurposes leftover fabric scrap, typically cotton, by handweaving them into new textiles. This process not only reduces waste but creates richly textured pieces with a one-of-a-kind feel.”
Mallards are also trending across the retail space. C&F’s brand Rightside Design introduced a collection dedicated to the dabbling duck motif.
“I have a mallard couple that visits me daily, and this collection captures their beauty in stunning detail,” she continued. “The embroidery showcases the soft sheen and rich tones of natural duck feathers, offering a lifelike tribute to these graceful birds. It’s a perfect blend of artistry and nature, and brings a quiet sophistication to any nature-inspired table setting.”
DIP, SIP & SAVOR
A well-curated tablescape sets the stage, but it’s the flavors atop that nourish.
Country Home Creations was founded in 1980 by Shirley Kautman Jones in her kitchen situated in the Michigan countryside with a mission that resonates 45 years later, “to create a delicious product, source the finest quality ingredients available, and ensure that it’s simple to prepare,” said Justin Gailitis, national sales manager.
In 2024, Country Home Creations introduced its Coastal Kitchen line, featuring mixes inspired by beach and lake life, including Guacamole Salsa, Island Cooler, Beach Dip, Boat Dip and Seafood Dip.
“Additionally, our Country Home Creations line offers standout products like lemonade mixes, no-bake cheesecake and dip mixes such as Strawberries & Cream and Truffle Parmesan Garlic, perfect for dockside entertainment,” Gailitis said. “Personally, I can’t get enough of our bestselling No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake; it truly is the best!”
A standout feature of this brand’s products is that they are easy to prepare, making ideal grab-and-go options for the boat, beach or dock. Additionally, the Coastal Kitchen collection was designed to appeal to beach and waterfront consumers through its packaging.
“It showcases a light blue, wood panel aesthetic that exudes a coastal feel,” he said. “Retailers are enamored with this design, making it our bestselling new collection so far.”
Country Home Creations has seen an influx of retailers requesting products that are suitable for a coastal environment.
“We recognized the significant demand for a collection like Coastal Kitchen, making it an obvious choice for us,” Gailitis said. “Honestly, what could be better than gathering with friends and family on a boat or at the beach, eating delicious food and enjoying each other’s company? It really doesn’t get any better than that.”
