There are 15 summer weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. And right now we’re ready to enjoy a dinner outdoors for each and every one of them (ask us about that again in the heat of August). So we’ve gathered together some of our favorite outdoor menus–think cookouts, lakeside picnics, and roll-your-own-taco parties, drawing their inspiration from the south of France, India, Japan, and the New England coast. Why settle for ho-hum burgers on the grill when you can choose one of these menus?
-
MenuA Memorial Day Backyard BBQ
Toast the start of summer with a pitcher of alcohol-optional Hibiscus Sangria Punch (or make two pitchers, one with alcohol and one without) and set out fresh crudites with creamy buttermilk dip and chipotle black bean dip when guests arrive. Two simple mains from the grill, Buttermilk Marinated Chicken and Bourbon Brown Sugar Marinated Flank Steak, are complemented by an irresistible Broccoli Slaw and Corn Chowder Salad on the side. -
MenuA Francophile Picnic
This French-inspired picnic menu stars pan bagnat, a pressed sandwich from the south of France that is basically Niçoise salad on bread. It's paired with fingerling potato salad in a tarragon vinaigrette, and a mixed berry-puff pastry slab pie. -
MenuBBQ Cuban Style
This family-style menu features lechon asado (grill-roasted pork shoulder) and platters of black beans and rice, crunchy sweet plantains, and yuca with mojo. Hemingway's favorite daiquiri is the must-do cocktail. -
MenuA New England Style Clambake
Skip the traditional fire-pit-on-the-beach clambake for this less laborious version in a kettle grill, full of shellfish, lobster, corn, and potatoes. Blueberry pie is the classic dessert. -
MenuA Summer Taco Party
This menu pairs homemade tortillas and salsas with a few inventive fillings for a great DIY-style party: encourage guests to roll up their sleeves, shape and cook the tortillas, and choose their own fillings. All you need to do in advance is make the salsas and the margaritas. -
MenuA Texas Steak Cookout
Punch up your Memorial Day cookout with a little Tex-Mex flavor: the grilled skirt steak is marinated in lime and tequila, topped with a tomatillo salsa, and wrapped in warm corn tortillas. The menu is rounded out by two bright, fresh veggie salads sparkling with cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeño. -
MenuA Chesapeake Dinner on the Water
Celebrate summer Delmarva-style (that’s DELaware-MARyland-VirginiA). This dinner starts off with grilled-in-the-shell shrimp with an Old Bay-spiked cocktail sauce, then pairs the definitive Chesapeake crabcakes with two salads bursting with fresh-from-the-farm corn, beans, and tomatoes. -
MenuAn Indian-Inspired Barbecue
This flavorful menu gives a twist to familiar summer favorites like barbecued ribs, green beans and potatoes with fragrant Indian spices. -
MenuA Greek Summer Dinner
True to the nature of Greek cuisine, this menu shows off summer produce at the height of its glory: eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, apricots. To start off are little one-bite hors d’oeuvres of creamy feta rolled up in a slice of grilled eggplant. The main event is a dinner salad of sliced grilled chicken breast over cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions. -
MenuA Late-Summer Japanese-Style BBQ
Japanese-style barbecued baby back ribs, cabbage tossed in carrot-ginger dressing, and tempura veggies make this menu a perfect way to escape the heat. Shochu-spiked watermelon lemonade makes it even cooler. -
MenuAn Alfresco Dinner, Italian-Style
我是一个土生土长的意大利,没有让我happier than cooking Italian food for family and friends. While I love experimenting and enjoying cuisines from all over the world, preparing Italian food makes me feel at home. When hosting guests in the summer months, I also embrace the Italian tradition of eating alfresco. For this menu, I encourage you to spruce up an exterior dining area, fire up the grill, and take your party outside. -
MenuAn Alfresco Summer Dinner
This elegant meal hits all the high points of summer dining—a tender grilled beef filet, produce at its peak, and rich lobster—all to enjoy alfresco on a warm summer night. Since the recipes are a snap to prepare, you’ll have plenty of time to spend with friends and family over dinner. -
MenuA Vegetarian Summer Dinner
With the garden’s beautiful bounty, no one even notices that there’s no meat. If your menu o ffers interesting textures and vibrant flavors, and you create a lovely presentation of several different kinds of dishes, then everyone is satisfied. Add a crisp summer cocktail, such as an Aperol spritz, and jugs of minted lemon water, and the evening will be set.
