Fandango Offers Cool Hors d'Oeuvres Ideas for Summer Events

Today in our "Summer Entertaining" blog series, we offer some cool ideas for creative hors d'oeuvres for summer events.

To offset summer's heat, choose hors d'oeuvres that are representative of summer's bounty and that won't heat your guests up.  Below are ideas for creative hors d'oeuvres that you can and should serve cold or at room temperature--better for summer's heat! 

As skewers and savory lollipops are wildly popular now we'll concentrate on those--guests just love the whole skewer experience!

And if you want to make yours more elegant and eco-friendly, choose knot bamboo picks for your skewers. 

Vary the skewer-esque look by serving both skewers and savory lollipops--skewers have the pick going all the way through the food (i.e., the food is in the middle of the skewer stick) while lollipops have the food at the end of the skewer or lollipop stick.  Lollipop sticks are widely available online and at craft stores.  Skewer ideas:

• Antipasto brochettes or lollipops--small mozzarella balls (bocconcini) or feta chunks with small round slices or square chunks of coppa, salami, or other Italian-type cold cuts, topped with fresh basil leaves.  You can also brush these with pesto sauce.
• Chicken satay with yellow cherry tomatoes
• Jamón serrano threaded on skewers with chunks of Manchego cheese
• Marinated grilled or sauteed pork or shrimp with mango chunks
• Teriyaki beef or shrimp with pineapple chunks
• Pineapple chunks with whole strawberries or grapes
• Beef or chicken fajitas, threaded on skewers, with grilled pepper chunks
• Fresh fruit and cheese chunks
• Small mushrooms marinated in chimichurri or pesto sauce, grilled or sauteed and skewered
• A variety of mini red and yellow tomatoes, brushed with an interesting vinaigrette or dressing

For presentation ideas, you can:

• Lay skewers spoke fashion around the perimeter of a round or square serving tray or cake stand
• Lay them side by side on a rectangular tray, or cross them in pairs on the tray (we like to lay a few long chives on the base of our rectangular skewers trays for color and to make it cooler (and add a few drops of sauce on the tray if you're really creative) 
• Lay them in rows making an "X" on a serving tray
• Line them up to make a diagonal on a square or round serving tray
• Put those skewers with flat bases in rows on a serving tray with sides for the lollipop effect (trendy now)

Also be sure to have a small glass or dish nearby for guests to put their used skewer sticks in.

Warmly,

Kristina

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