Fandango Catering and Events Offers 6 Ideas for Easy Warm-Weather Buffets

Warm weather has finally arrived and as our thoughts turn to getting together with friends and family during the warm months, many begin thinking of hosting some type of gathering, either outdoors or indoors/outdoors.       

Today we offer several ideas for easy warm-weather buffets that you can do either alone or with a little help. Your event and guests will determine what type of food will work best. Each is an idea for a stand-alone buffet.

The important thing about entertaining during warm weather is to also put a little effort into your serveware so that even if what you serve is fairly simple, your reputation as a great host/ess is assured (see our blog post of April 28, 2011 on creating dazzling parties with paper serveware, especially from our favorite supplier, Caspari).

Buffet Ideas

• Sandwiches and fruit or desserts--These must be gourmet sandwiches so if you're not able in the kitchen buy them, and the desserts, from a reputable gourmet supermarket, caterer, or restaurant.  If you have no time or desire to slice fruit, buy that cut up already too.
• 2-3 interesting "green" salads and 3 good cheeses
• Flight of salads--3-4 main-course salads.  If you like the old-fashioned trio of chicken, tuna, and fruit salad, why not serve that? And other less traditional choices abound, from grilled meat salads to simple cold spice-boiled shrimp with vanilla bean mayo or an interesting remoulade. The salads don't have to be complicated to be good or interesting, and during warm weather so much produce and seafood is in season.
• Flight of soups--If you love your hand or other blender or processor (I once read that the French actor Leslie Caron entertained groups of up to 100 at her Paris flat with nothing more than a food processor and a set of knives), consider serving a flight of cold soups (3 soups).  So many cold soups are easier than you think! Plus they can be made ahead of time.  Or buy them from a reputable source.  Offer a good bread and a nice cheese or two and a gelato to round out the menu.
• "Torte" and dessert--So easy: just make ONE torte-type dish (frittata, quiche, torta rustica, savory cheesecake) and serve with a dessert (bought, if you have no time, or even eaiser, a gelato or two).  Add a salad if you have time and are so inclined (or if your guests are a hungry bunch). Easier than a salad: a big tray of mixed heirloom tomatoes with a drizzle of great fruity olive oil and whole or chopped fresh basil.
• Stellar one-dish with a fruit and greens salad and dessert--Along the same line, if you're inclined to cook a dish, choose just one stellar one, such as your specialty grilled meat (chicken or whatever), a shrimp scampi or shrimp in red pepper sauce, or another hot dish (but just one).  But this is more work and heats up the house so it's not as easy to do.

BTW, please check out the great composée salads with greens, fruit, and cheese in Janet Fletcher's marvelous book, The Cheese Course.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Fandango Catering and Events
http://www.fandango-catering.com/