As the temperature rises, summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and family for outdoor festivities. Whether you’re hosting a smokey backyard barbecue or pool party, one of the best elements of a memorable gathering is without a doubt the food. From colourful salads packed with flavour and texture to in-house smoked meats, here’s a guide to help you plan the ultimate summer party menu that will leave your guests raving all season long.
Top Catering Ideas for Your Summer Party
BBQ favourites
Whilst there are some absolute staples of a classic BBQ that we adore at ETS, namely the burger, why not try something a little different this summer than just an average hot dog… Minute steak and fries with chimichurri and pickled red onions is an absolute hit, as well as a whole leg of garlic and rosemary marinated leg of lamb with crispy anchovies.
Lemon & herb spatchcock chicken with a salsa verde or a whole house smoked salmon with rosemary roasted potatoes, paired with some vibrant summer salads is an absolute winner. There’s so much more to a BBQ than a soggy sausage – check out our BBQ menu for some ideas on how to elevate your summer gathering.
Stunning salads and sides
Salads, in our opinion, can quite often be the stars of the show at a BBQ event. Taking flavours from around the world, salads can be both fresh, light and bright as well as being more substantial and wholesome. Adding grains like buckwheat or quinoa is a great way to bulk salads without heavy gluten elements, and we adore dressing salads in super colourful ingredients like pomegranate seeds, shaved heritage radishes and nuts and seeds to add texture.
Check out our salad list as part of our BBQ menu above.
Sweet treats to beat the heat
No summer party is complete without a selection of sweet treats to satisfy guests’ cravings for something indulgent and refreshing. Consider adding these crowd-pleasing desserts to your menu:
Ice Cream Sundae Bar: Set up an ice cream sundae bar with a variety of flavours, toppings, and sauces for guests to create their own custom sundaes.
Fruit Popsicles: Homemade fruit popsicles made with pureed fruit and fruit juice for a healthy and refreshing dessert option that’s sure to be a hit with guests of all ages and a low-cost refresher. Adding booze is optional!
Hydration station
Keep guests cool and hydrated with a selection of refreshing beverages that celebrate the flavours of summer:
Lemonade Stand: Set up a lemonade stand with a variety of flavoured lemonades, including classic lemonade, orange lemonade, and mint lemonade, for guests to enjoy the sweet flavours of summer..
Fruit-Infused Water: Provide Kilner’s of fruit-infused water with combinations like cucumber and mint, lemon and berry, or watermelon and basil for a hydrating tasteful option.
Choose Our Expert Wedding Catering Services
When it comes to choosing a caterer for your party, we know that our clients are looking for nothing short of perfection. At Eat The Street, we’re more than just exceptional caterers, we provide full event planning services, designed to help coordinate the finer details.
We create all our dishes using local ingredients, award-winning meats, fresh fish and vegetables from our local suppliers.
Learn more about our professional, trusted street food catering services.