Who doesn’t love enjoying good company and eating good food on pleasant summer evenings? Summer is the perfect time of year for these types of convivial dinners, a tradition that we hope will long endure. When you’re at the forefront and are hosting a quick summer dinner party at home, we want everything to run like clockwork. Here’s a few suggestions to make sure you never put a foot wrong!
The right company and the ideal ambient
The most important aspect of all is enjoying the company of your guests. Invite only your nearest and dearest and you won’t have to worry about any embarrassing scenarios: of course, you always want your guests to enjoy the occasion and the food, but family and friends aren’t going to kick up a fuss over a broken glass or an imperfectly presented dish. With this in mind, consider decorating the terrace or garden in a simple yet tasteful manner: lights to create the right ambient (and maybe a few citronella candles to ward away the insects), background music and plenty of good cheer will be the essential ingredients for your summer dinner party. For a touch of originality, you can always provide games to play together, jokes or even a small Photo Booth.
Stress-free cooking
The second rule for an unforgettable evening is to....allow yourself to enjoy it. In fact, more often than not, when hosting a dinner at our own home, we tend to concentrate so much on the cooking and making the party as enjoyable as possible for our guests that we spend little time with them and more time slaving away with pots and pans over the stove. We therefore suggest devising a menu of cold dishes or dishes that can nonetheless be prepared the day before or at least a few hours before your guests arrive: in doing so, your courses will simply need a few minutes in the oven or microwave before being served, they will taste great and you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful evening in good company.
Wine and beer as an accompaniment
Getting your food and drink combinations just right is undoubtedly one of the essential components of a successful dinner. There’s never a shortage of wine and beer on these occasions, yet for a real explosion of flavours, you’re required to choose the drink that best accompanies your menu and serve it at the right temperature. This is where Candy comes in as a valuable ally. Thanks to the Candy simply-Fi app and the Smart Drink assistant available with our smart fridges, all you have to do is select your chosen drink, the starting temperature and the type of container (i.e. glass bottle or can) and you will receive a notification directly on your smartphone or tablet once the beer or wine has reached the ideal temperature and is ready to be served. Alternatively, simply set your wine cooler to the right temperature and it will provide you with perfectly chilled wine, whether you're serving a white, red or rosé.
All you have left to do is invite your friends and swiftly prepare a fresh meal, which will in turn allow you to relax worry-free. Enjoy yourself!
