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Summer Cocktail Party Menu

Saptakee Sengupta
The menu for a cocktail party must complement the theme, and so the importance of drinks is more pronounced. This post provides some menu ideas for a summer cocktail party.
Summer time cocktail parties involve enjoying light dishes and sipping chilled drinks. However, deciding the menu for such a party often becomes quite confusing. Summer is the season to relish light cuisines, and so, a summer cocktail party menu has to be simple.
Instead of choosing heavily spiced and oily gravies, you can arrange for a menu that is easily digested and delicious at the same time. The drinks section has to be focused on more than the food.

Menu Ideas
Cocktail party ideas for the summer season include serving light and easily digestible foods for the meal. In this way, you give your guests an opportunity to mingle at the dining table while enjoying the food.
The cocktails served in exotic glasses, along with side dishes and appetizers create a perfect atmosphere at the cocktail party. Given here are some summer cocktail party menu ideas.

Drinks & Beverages

Put up a mini bar in one corner of the room and deck it up with exotic bottles of chilled drinks. A few bottles of Russian vodka, Italian wine, and Scotch whiskey can make up the bar. Cocktails and mocktails should also be present. Apart from alcohol, you can also set up a stall for serving cold beverages, lemonade, and fresh fruit juices.
Some ideas are given here.
  • Spiked Pink Lemonade
  • Cosmopolitan Martini
  • Dan Fay Martini
  • Campari Smash
  • Ginger Margaritas
  • Cucumber Mojito Crush
  • The Zuidam Crush
  • English Harbor Rum and Soda
  • The Bikini Martini
  • Pineapple Orange Sorbet
  • Frozen Summer Slush
  • Thai Iced Tea
  • Freezy-Fresa Strawberry Margarita
  • Key Lime Martini
  • Iced Caramel Mocha
  • The Ritz Cocktail
  • Sparkling Jasmine Iced Tea
  • Cement Mixer Shot

Desserts

Desserts occupy a prominent position in a summer cocktail party. Dollops of ice cream served in cups, and fresh fruits chilled with ice creams and ice are ideal menu items. This includes mangoes, strawberries, pineapples, water melons, cantaloupes, and many more fruits.
Other than chilled desserts, you can also have a section where sweet dishes like cakes, rum balls, and pastries are served. Given here are some dessert ideas.
  • Minty Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
  • Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
  • Raspberry Fluff Dessert
  • Frozen Butter Pecan Crunch
  • Chocolate Fondue Fountain
  • Bananas with Vanilla Rum Sauce
  • Sautéed Grape Napoleons
  • Ambrosia Angel Food Cake
  • Cantaloupe Popsicles
  • Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
  • Pineapple Orange Popsicles
  • Custard Bread Pudding
  • Coconut Cream Pie
  • Grilled Fruit Kebabs
  • Lemon Meringue Pudding
  • Peanut-Chocolate Brownies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
  • Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache
  • Butterscotch and Banana Sundaes

Main Course

Keep the main course simple and light. You can also choose a theme for the summer party food. Serve some rare cuisines or continental food. Italian, French, Mexican, and Thai food is a good option. Decide a menu that will complement the cocktails. Do not make recipes that need a lot of preparation time. Given here is list of options for the main course.
  • Ham and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches
  • Mandarin Chicken Salad
  • Shrimp and Scallion Kebabs
  • California Sushi Rolls
  • Artichoke Prosciutto Pasta Salad
  • Baked Chicken Wings
  • Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
  • Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
  • Rosemary Infused Coconut Shrimp Skewers
  • Crispy Oyster Beignet
  • Bolognese Bread Pizza
  • Russian Dark Breads with Pommery Mustard
  • Grilled Pizzas Provençale
  • Portobello Mushroom and Sausage Pizzas
  • Roasted Woodland Mushroom Fricassee
  • Apple Wood Smoked Trout on Potato Latke
  • Tarragon Chicken Salad
Make all the food and other arrangements before your guests arrive. Make sure that the ambiance complements the theme of your party.