Summer Entertaining: Great Tips, Tablesettings and Recipes

The sun is out, it’s a gorgeous time to entertain outdoors. Need some tips to make it super easy? Here are a few of my favorite tips, tables and recipes for summertime.

Set up an easy, no fuss self serve summer bar on a tray. This Mimosa Bar {courtesy of Colin Cowie} is easy, guests can serve themselves. The summer fruit adds a pretty, colorful touch to each glass.

Serve an appetizer that can double as part of your meal. Beautiful, this fresh summer platter combines all the best flavors, make it ahead and let guests serve themselves on salad plates. Stacked on a cake pedestal, these add interest to your buffet or table set up, too.

Super Easy Heirloom Tomato Salad

Gather:

Ripe Heirloom Tomatoes {at farmer’s market if possible, or grow your own!}
Assorted Cheese
Balsamic Vinegar {more than one for extra fun!}
Olive Oils
Fresh Basil, Oregano & Thyme
Crusty Baguettes or Rustic Fresh Baked Bread
Salt and Pepper

Slice the tomatoes and arrange them on a platter with the cheese and herbs.
Serve with the olive oil, vinegar, and bread on the side. Sprinkle salt and pepper as desired.

Make one great summer salad and serve in our French Checked Bowls. For salad recipes, check out our SALAD Pinterest Boards.

Still a favorite at our house, our Pesto Chicken on the grill gets rave reviews each and every time! Try it, it’s easy, and oh so good. With a super easy meal like this, go ahead and go all out for dessert. Serve up an ice cream bar {several flavors ice cream and toppings including fresh fruit, sprinkles and nuts etc.} or just buy a wonderful fruit pie from your favorite bakery to end the meal with summer’s deliciousness.

Inspirational Summer Tables:

Go Natural: Set a casual, French style table outdoors with our Linen Tablecloth in natural. For two, or 8, a “real” cloth brings a touch of elegance and luxury to any outdoor setting.

Add a string tie and a little snip of rosemary from the garden to our Linen Napkins, and the table is set and good to go! How easy is that?

Here are a few more inspiring tables outdoors I love:

All Tablescapes from Our FrenchGardenHouse Pinterest Board HERE please follow us for beautiful pins! Summer is here, it’s the perfect time to gather those you love outside to share a delicious meal and plenty of laughter!

Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours.Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.