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Fresh fruits, ripe vegetables, endless rows of delicious treats from the local farmers’ market, and a cool breeze flowing through your apartment’s windows – these are the makings of an unforgettable summer soiree. It may seem like a lot of effort, but once you break down the elements of your party and tackle the tasks over a period of days rather than the night before (or day of!), you’ll be able to actually enjoy your role as host without stress or anxiety. A little bit of planning can go a long way, so in this guide we’ll lay out the most important aspects of your summer get-together: a guest list, menu, drinks, and décor.
Let’s start with a guest list. First, determine how many people you can comfortably fit inside your apartment home. You don’t want to create a chaotic atmosphere with people bumping into each other at every turn. Once you’ve decided upon a number, it’s time to send out some invites! You can send e-cards, emails, or timeless and tasteful snail mail to inform your guests-to-be of your upcoming summer-inspired dinner party. You should make sure your guests have ample time to RSVP, so try not to send the invitations without at least two weeks’ notice. The earlier you set your guest list, the sooner you can move on to crafting a signature menu.
This brings us to step two of our essential guide: the menu. Before you start planning, check with your guests for any dietary restrictions they may have; don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions of what they would enjoy as an alternate dish. Once that’s out of the way, the fun begins. Keep your menu rooted to in-season, local summer fare for a true farm-to-table experience. Summer is the season of berries, peaches, watermelons, and cherries. With a few simple recipes, these four categories alone can create an impressive feast. For example, this easy but elegant recipe for a strawberry-mint bramble daiquiri can be mixed and served from your favorite punch bowl – a perfect drink for a hot summer’s eve. A summer salad is a great option for an appetizer, and with this watermelon-centric recipe, your salad will be both healthy and delicious.
As for the main course, nothing says summer better than a perfectly grilled steak or pan-seared salmon. For a vegetarian and vegan option, you can still grill steak…a delicious chipotle lime grilled cauliflower steak, that is. Even the most carnivorous of your guests will want a bite after seeing (and smelling) this tasty dish.
Finally, it’s time for dessert. You can really let your creativity loose with this one; offer up an assortment of peach cobbler, mango-strawberry crumble, or a savory and unique grilled pineapple topped with Nutella and mascarpone. It’s hard to go wrong with summertime desserts, especially if you make good use of perfectly ripened fruit for your pies, tarts, or cobblers.
The last thing to focus on for your dinner party is the décor of your apartment. You don’t have to go wild rearranging everything, but placing festive tea lights and candles throughout your apartment and on your table will add to that magical feeling of summer. Another quick addition you can make is stringing up a few lines of decorative lights. There are near endless options when it comes to picking out string lights – from LEDs to Edison bulbs – you’ll want to make sure the lights you choose provide a gentle, warm glow. That means stay away from overhead fluorescents as much as possible in order to create an intimate, festive summer dinner party.
Once your party is winding down, you might enjoy bringing your guests to our cozy outdoor fire pit for the perfect ending to a perfect evening. See why VerraWest Apartments is the best place for your summer dinner parties and more by contacting us today!