The long days of summer are here. What better time to linger over dinner conversation than the endless days of southern summer? If you’re thinking of having a few guests over for a summer dinner fete, browse the ideas below to get your creative juices flowing. Great food, good friends and lively conversation – southern living just doesn’t get any better than this in the summertime.

Keep It Simple

No one wants to slave over a hot stove when the summer sun is at its peak. Keep your menu simple. Choose dishes that you can prepare ahead completely or in part. This way, you can just pop them in the oven to heat or finish them off as your guests arrive. You want to spend time with your guests, not behind the stove.

Cook from Nature’s Garden

From appetizers to desserts, summertime produce presents an almost endless array of possibilities to keep your dinner table bursting with freshness. A juicy fruit salad, crisp vegetables, sweet summer corn – it doesn’t take much to create a scrumptious menu from nature’s bounty.

Don’t forget to fill your market basket with plump summer lemons. Serve up a pitcher of honey-sweetened, mint-laced lemonade for an authentic southern heat quencher.

Dress Up the Table

Set out drinking glasses of varying sizes, types and colors. These add a touch of whimsy and color to your table as well as a note of interest. They also give your guests the freedom to decide how much they wish to drink as the evening wears on.

Don’t forget to gather summer blooms for your dinner table. Sunflowers, hydrangeas, asters, roses – these and other summer flowers are perfect for long evenings of dining and conversation.

If you are looking for an innovative Atlanta catering company, look no further than A Legendary Event. Whether you want to throw a simple yet elegant dinner party or a once-in-a-lifetime event, we can help. We offer a full and wide-ranging Atlanta catering menu that can be customized to suit your taste, theme and occasion.