The summer season offers many good ‘excuses’ to have a garden get-together, and indeed on the fourth of July alone, around 87% of Americans turn on their outdoor grill and get the party started. If you are vegan, then you know that beautiful seasonal veggies and vegan patties taste beautiful when popped on a grill. Afterwards, few things beat homemade vegan ice-cream. However, in addition to food, there are many elements that can lend your party the ambience and comfort that will leave guests begging for the next occasion. Follow these tips and be voted the host with the most at your next outdoor party.
Comfort Comes First
If you will be hosting a lunch party, you need to ensure that the most important comforts are provided to your guests. These include a comfortable temperature and shade from the sun. For the latter, a good idea is to position your dining table on an outdoor terrace or in the garden space immediately adjacent to your living room. Retractable awnings can be extended or collected depending on how much or how little sun your guests desire. On very humid days, a high pressure mist cooling fan will have your guests ‘oohing and aahing’ in appreciation. Of course, you should also ensure you have enough ice and cold drinks to keep guests hydrated throughout the party. If you don’t have enough freezer space, an icemaker will ensure all drinks are topped up with brand new ice cubes.
Bring On The Light
Many vegans are keen to look after the environment and save resources, so show your love for nature and your commitment to renewable energy by opting for solar lighting. Garden parties look stunning with fairy lights gracing high tree branches and shrubs alike, while large statement solar lights in shapes such as spheres and cubes can be placed next to your most outstanding plants. Consider using no electricity at all for your party, relying on romantic candlelight, lanterns hanging from trees, and solar pendant lights hanging at different lengths from the ceiling.
Grilled Or Fresh Veggies?
Pop classic veggies on the grill - think dishes like Japanese eggplant glazed with miso, grille carrots drizzled with a lemon-butter sauce, and sweet potato brushed over lightly with maple syrup. Fruits that work wonderfully on the grill (like the ones here: tec grills reviews), meanwhile, include pineapples, watermelon, and peaches. Try to offer fresh, cool treats as well. For dessert, surprise guests with a raw apple pie or raw chocolate mousse, topped with grated, homemade raw chocolate (the latter takes just 10 minutes to make!)
The Sound Of Vegan Music
To really celebrate the season’s bounties and the joy of being vegan, delight your guests with a playlist comprising 100% vegan musicians. You certainly have a wide array of artists to choose from - everyone from Stevie Wonder to Erykah Badu, or even Miley Cyrus. Speaking of Mrs. Cyrus-Hemsworth, you can find inspiration for your dishes in her wedding buffet. She pleased guests with delights like vegan truffle mac and cheese, homemade corn muffins, biscuits with apple butter, and vegan banana pudding.
Summer is a great time to pull out your vegan recipe book and surprise guests with original foods - both raw and grilled. Because many fruits have more antioxidant goodness when consumed raw, feeding guests a blend of foods will certainly hit the spot. Ambience is every bit as important as food, so make sure you use gorgeous solar lights, candles, and other non-electrical light sources. In the daytime, keep guests cool as a cucumber, ensuring they have many shady spots in which to enjoy their meal, chat, and maybe even enjoy an outdoor yoga session as the sun sets over the horizon.