Fandango Catering Offers 4 Ideas for Summer Entertaining

Continuing with our annual summer blog series, "Summer Entertaining," today we offer 4 ideas for easy outdoor or indoor/outdoor summer events.

Now that summer entertaining season has officially begun (in the U.S.) with Memorial Day yesterday, summer is a great time to entertain as people are more relaxed (as opposed to the Christmas holidays, when people are more rushed and stressed out).  Take advantage of this easy living mode to host (or co-host, ever more popular) a wonderful summer gathering.  And to do so, easy food ideas; read on.

Pare down the menu, but make each component of best quality--First you must decide: Will you cook or will you buy or have catered? Or a combination (also increasingly popular as people seek ways to entertain but not blow oodles of money)?

If you decide to cook (and even if you decide to buy or have everything made), pare down the menu along these lines: a fabulous cold soup or interesting salad first course, gourmet sandwiches or grilled meat or burgers and grilled vegetables (or a grilled meat salad, great ideas in Patricia Wells's Salad as a Meal; the French are masters at these cold meat salads!), and a bought dessert.  This can (and probably should be) done as a buffet--unless your gathering is more formal, serving food in courses is always more work.

If you decide to have a summer cocktail party, keep in mind that the expectations tend to be higher for finger foods than for the type of easy summer menu we suggest above.  The thing to keep in mind as you begin planning is: What kind of mood do you want to create, easy and fun or elegant and sophisticated? Then decide the menu.

Another easy idea is to cook a beef or pork tenderloin or grill it, and while you're at it grill vegetables, a couple of days ahead, then on the day of your party let it all come to room temperature and serve these with maybe a bought starter and dessert.  Here the key is to season the meat well, not just grill it--again, many French cookbooks have great recipes for cold meat salads. And then serve on nice trays and/or plates--so many cool serving options for outdoor events!

Hearty eaters? Then put together a humongous Insalata caprese with the best tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and chopped fresh basil, and complement this with grilled burgers or steaks and grilled corn or grilled foil packets of sausage, corn, potatoes, veggies, etc.  Dessert? Ice cream galore--easy and you can dress it up with toppings as well as buy in large quantities to feed your hungry bunch.

The key is to plan your summer entertaining with mostly easy food so that neither you nor your guests stress and you can enjoy the beautiful weather and your guests.

Warmly,

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com