Summer entertaining: 8 trends

5 Watermelon
Watermelon is a summer favourite, Amanda notes. Urban Souce has been making a salad with watermelon, cucumber, mint and feta and serving it in endive spears but there are a myriad of other uses for this sweet treat. Serve it up as is or cut into spears, blend with lemonade and your choice of alcohol for a tangy summer cocktail. Or, combine with cucumber into a chilled soup for a hot day. Tasty and inexpensive!

6 Brunch
Summer entertaining doesn’t have to be restricted to evening. If you have a nice garden or patio, why not invite friends over for brunch? “Brunches are huge right now,” Amanda says. Think light, summer-inspired fare using fresh, in-season fruit. For something a little richer, UrbanSource makes a crème brulee French toast with caramelized bourbon bananas.  To drink, serve Caesars and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Brunch can be a more affordable outdoor entertaining option since you won’t be spending as much on alcohol, and really, who doesn’t love brunch?

7 Signature drinks
Fancy yourself an amateur mixologist? Now’s your chance to show off how creative you can be with a cocktail shaker. Creating signature drinks is a growing trend, says Amanda. Name your creation after an event, the birthday boy or girl, or even yourself. You can either make it in large batches so it’s easier to serve throughout the evening, or simply offer the signature drink as guests come in the door as a way to welcome them.

8 Pre-parties
Never mind a party -- this summer is all about the pre-party, Amanda says. Have people over before going out to an event later in the evening. “If you can only afford to have a smaller pre-party, do that versus a bigger, full-scale event,” she says.

Read more in Food & Entertaining and Party Planner