Skip to main content

How to Throw the Perfect Late Summer Party


palm beach personal chef




When the summer heat hits, it’s time to break out the barbecues. There’s no better occasion to have a party than on the weekend. Gather friends and family and prepare for a party to really kick off the coming season in style without breaking the bank.


Get the Home Ready


When hosting a party, you want to ensure that the entire house is spotless to start—yes, even the areas you don’t expect anyone to see. With that in mind, set aside a day or two before the big event to do a deep and thorough cleaning. Of course, you may not have the time or energy to put into 48 hours of scrubbing, so consider outsourcing the help by budgeting for a professional cleaning service.


Prep Your Back Garden


As you and the whole gang will be in the backyard, it makes sense to ensure your lawn is in as pristine condition as the inside. This doesn't have to be elaborate, however, as you could spruce up your space with weather-proof furniture and large umbrellas to protect people from the sun. Likewise, you may need to clean off the barbecue to get it fully ready for grilling. Also, dedicate a part of your budget to hiring a gardener to clean up the yard, so you don’t have to spend hours in the sun replanting and trimming to get everything just right for your barbecue.


Plan Out Your Games and Activities


While a good portion of the day will be spent chatting, cooking, and eating, plan out some games or outdoor activities to fill any lulls in the conversation. As a start, plan for a themed scavenger hunt with a fun prize like a homemade sash or a bottle of alcohol the winner can take home with them. You could even make an obstacle course for a bit of afternoon entertainment before the sun sets. 


For more relaxing options, have decks of cards on hand to play a few rounds in the evening, perhaps after dinner. Similarly, you can invite guests to bring their favorite board games and then break everyone into groups, depending on how many turn up, to have some low-key fun.


Invite Your Guests


You may have a few families in mind to invite to your party, but if you plan to have a big turnout why not invite some old friends as well? It’s easy to find old classmates from high school online. Just enter their name, graduation year, and school into an online search engine and you can get started on reconnecting. You’ll have a blast reliving old memories with old friends.


Best Drinks for All Ages


While there are classics everyone will appreciate, like staple sodas and ice-cold beers, it can be enjoyable to spend time making unique beverages that could turn you into an unforgettable host. To get everyone buzzing, use fresh ingredients perfect for the summer, such as light options like sparkling lime water or deliciously sweet choices like a tropical fruit punch. For the older partygoers, have a blender and plenty of ice to make impromptu margaritas and daiquiris, so even the warmest night is cool. This can also become a potluck by inviting guests to bring a favorite drink or spirit, allowing you to keep costs down, and focus on providing a delicious spread for the whole party to enjoy.


Get Ready to Cook Outdoors


As with the beverages, you want things that are fresh and ripe for summer to throw onto the grill. While burgers are a staple, they can be a little heavy. Instead of using a bread bun, try grilling a slice of pineapple to replace it. This might seem like a strange choice, but it adds sweetness, and the acid from the pineapple can make the meat nice and tender. Choose chicken breasts for barbecue chicken, and avoid the fat that darker meats have. A lime-marinated salmon is a healthy and delicious option anyone will love, especially when paired with a roasted strawberry and mint salad.


Lastly, head to your local store to see what vegetables and fruit are seasonal and inexpensive. As long as it’s relatively firm, it can most likely go on the grill with a little oil and some light seasoning. Finally, don’t forget the guacamole, which you can put together cheaply by finding recipes online.


There is nothing as sweet and delicious, yet healthy, for dessert as some grilled fruit. Like with vegetables, look for fruit that is firm and will hold up to the heat of an open flame. For instance, pineapple, peaches, nectarines, watermelon, and bananas will caramelize nicely. Pair them with whipped cream or frozen yogurt to keep the night from being too hot, or toss them all together for a grilled fruit salad to please even the pickiest eater. When choosing fruit, think of what you can pair together with your main dishes. After all, well-chosen fruit can be used as a nice palate cleanser after the stronger flavors of the main course.


If instead you’d rather leave the cooking to a professional, reach out to YaDa Chef about hiring a personal chef for you and your guests. You can focus on enjoying your company while having delicious food prepared for you!


A blowout party at home is a great way to celebrate everyone’s favorite season drawing to a close. Make it unforgettable and meaningful by planning out a fun and healthy occasion for you and your loved ones. With the right help and preparation, this can be the party everyone talks about for the rest of the year.


private chefs and event catering

Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach
info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232)
561-285-7466

south florida catering and personal chefs

Popular posts from this blog

9 Wonderful Benefits Of Pistachios

The health benefits of pistachios include a  healthy heart , weight management, protection against  diabetes  and hypertension, and improved  digestion . The  vitamins ,  minerals , fats, and protein found in pistachio are all good for health. What Are Pistachios? Pistachios are one of the oldest edible  nuts  and are commonly used all over the world. They are native to Asia, particularly Iran and Iraq. Archaeological evidence  dates  the association of pistachios and man as early as 6,000 BC. They were cultivated in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and were introduced to the Romans only in 100 AD. Today, apart from Iran, Iraq, and Syria, pistachios are being produced in many countries such as the United States, Australia, Turkey, and China, among others. Pistachio nuts belong to the  Anacardiaceae  family from the genus  Pistacia . A pistachio tree takes about 10 to 12 years to produce the first crop. They are d...

Do you Remember Herman? Sourdough Starter and Recipe

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amish friendship bread, as well as an interchangeable starter referred to as Herman (the name varies), became a popular exchange among friends who shared the starter as well as recipes. Herman Starter Preparation time: 10 minutes Standing time: 5 days Yield: 4 cups 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup warm water 2 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons each) active dry yeast 2 cups each: milk, flour 1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over mixture; set aside until doubled in volume, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine milk, flour, remaining sugar and yeast mixture in a plastic or glass container. (Do not use metal.) Stir with a wooden spoon; cover loosely. Set aside at room temperature, at least 8 hours. 3. Stir mixture once a day for three days. On the fourth day, measure out 1 cup of Herman for baking; measure 1 additional cup to give to a friend as a gift. To replenish starter: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1...

Kids Cooking Class - Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami

YaDa Chef's cooking school JUST for kids! Teaching children of all ages that cooking can be creative, full of discovery, and a lot of fun!  YaDa Chef provides hands-on cooking classes allowing kid's imaginations to run wild and free while discovering new science, math, reading, health and social skills. YaDa Chef offers a unique culinary experience offering cooking classes to children in an environment that encourages discover and creativity.  Each class is a new experience.  Themes chosen, either our one of YaDa Chef's chefs, by the child or parent assist in sharpening skills and taking the mystery out of the kitchen.  Removing the fear of the unknown while incorporating subject matter which ties into each theme. Our highly qualified chefs, in coordination of nutritional experts carry out a mission to provide an interactive learning experience giving children the opportunity to develop a life-long love of the culinary arts. Each class is designed to fa...

Baked Apple Streusel Pancake Bars Recipe

Have you ever mixed up a batch of pancake batter, (because they sounded so amazing 15 minutes earlier when you were in bed), o nly to find yourself in front of the stove, spatula in hand, thinking "I really don't have the patience for this?" Yields: 20 Bars Adapted from: Martha Stewart's Buttermilk Pancakes 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or slightly less table salt 3 tablespoons sugar 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 3/4 cups buttermilk (whole milk can be substituted without any problems) 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 small apple, diced into 1/2" pieces 2 cups Granola (we used an apple cinnamon granola from Bear Naked) For Topping: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Grease and Parchment your choice of baking dish. We used 2 8"x8" pans (for the straight s...

Colors, Flavors, Sizes & Seasons of Onions

Onions vary in color, size, the time of year harvested, and flavor. These differences make onions very versatile. The  Color of Onions Bulb onions can be yellow, red, or white. Approximately 87 percent of the crop is devoted to yellow onion production, with about eight percent red onions, and five percent white onions. Yellow Onions Yellow Onions are full-flavored and are a reliable standby for cooking almost anything. Yellow onions turn a rich, dark brown when cooked and give French Onion Soup its tangy sweet flavor. Red Onions Red Onions, with their wonderful color, are a good choice for lots of fresh uses or for grilling, charbroiling, and roasting. White Onions White Onions are often used in prepared salads, white sauces, and is the traditional onion for classic Mexican cuisine. They have a golden color and sweet flavor when sautéed. personal chefs and event catering Miami + Miami Beach + Fort Lauderdale + Palm Beach www.yadachef.com info@yadachef.c...

Gluten Free Split Pea Soup Recipe

She loves to make soup--especially cream of yesterday. -  Milton Berle Split Pea Soup Recipe  Ingredients 1 medium yellow onion/1 cup/150g, chopped  2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons/30ml good olive oil 1/2 teaspoon/2ml dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons/7ml/9g Sea Salt 1 teaspoon/5ml/3g freshly ground black pepper 2 cups dic/128g diced carrots (3 to 4 carrots) 1 cup/122g diced red boiling potatoes, unpeeled (3 small) 1 pound/450g dried split green peas 2 quarts/2 liters chicken stock or water In a 4-quart/4 liter stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with the olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper until the onions are translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, 1/2 pound of split peas, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Skim off the foam while cooking. Add the remaining split peas and continue to simmer for another 40 minutes, or until all the peas are soft. Stir frequently to keep the solids ...

Braised Lettuce (Laitues Braises): A Take On Julia Child’s Recipe

You can use almost any lettuce, such as chicory, or frisee, or Boston Bib if you are busing large heads, cut them in half. We made these pescartarian because of the shrimp stock, but vegan is easy with vegetable stock, or if serving with beef, a  beef stock and bacon. Braised lettuce is a delicious garnish for poultry, white meats such as veal or pork, or steamed white fish. It can be the main accompanied by a warm sweet potato salad. Serves 4 4 heads Romaine lettuce hearts  4 thick slices of bacon (if making not vegetarian or vegan), cut into lardon strips 1 small onion , diced 2 carrots, diced 1 tablespoon/15g plus 1/2 tablespoon/7 butter divided  1 teaspoon/5ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125ml shrimp or seafood stock (see notes above) 1/2 cup/125ml cup white wine or dry white vermouth bouquet garni: 1 parsley branch, 1 branch of thyme,1  bay leaf tied to a cheesecloth ½ tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon parsley Trim stems of lettuce and ...

New England Iced Tea Recipe

While growing up in Massachusetts, my family spent summers at our cottage. These cocktails for the adults were a regional variation on Long Island iced tea, and they always showed up at clambakes on the beach. —Ann Liebergen, Brookfield, Wisconsin Ingredients 2 tablespoons sugar 1 ounce vodka 1 ounce light rum 1 ounce gin 1 ounce Triple Sec 1 ounce lime juice 1 ounce tequila 1 to 1-1/2 cups ice cubes 2 ounces cranberry juice Lemon slice, optional Directions In a mixing glass or tumbler, combine the sugar, vodka, rum, gin, Triple Sec, lime juice and tequila; stir until sugar is dissolved. Place ice in a highball glass; pour in the sugar mixture. Top with cranberry juice. Garnish with lemon if desired.  private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232) 561-285-7466 www.yadachef.com south florida catering and personal chefs

Health Benefits of Ginger

What are the therapeutic benefits of ginger? Below are examples of some scientific studies on ginger and its current or potential uses in medical treatment. Inf lammation of the colon A study carried out at the University of Michigan Medical School found that Ginger Root Supplement administered to volunteer participants reduced inflammation markers in the colon within a month. The study was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Experts say that inflammation of the colon is a precursor to colon cancer. Co-researcher Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., explained that by reducing inflammation in the colon a person reduces their risk of developing colon cancer. Zick said "We need to apply the same rigor to the sorts of questions about the effect of ginger root that we apply to other clinical trial research. Interest in this is only going to increase as people look for ways to prevent cancer that are nontoxic, and improve their quality of life in a cost-effect...

Strawberry Breasts (Fragomammella) Recipe

This 'Two Fat Ladies' recipe is delicious. We did find before pushing the ricotta through the sieve to drain as much as the liquid out of it first. Made for a less runny consistency.  Ingredients 1 pound/450g strawberries 1 tablespoon/15ml lemon juice 1 tablespoon/15ml caster sugar (superfine) 1 1/4/510g pounds fresh ricotta 1/4 pint (1/2 cup/120ml/120g) double cream 3 tablespoons/45ml Campari 4 to 5 tablespoons/8g icing sugar (confectioners') Directions Set aside 16 of the smallest strawberries and cut the rest into small pieces. Put in a bowl with the lemon juice and caster sugar and leave to soak for 1 hour. Push the ricotta through the smallest sieve of a mouli, add cream and Campari, mix well. Sieve the icing sugar into the mixture to your own taste, put a third of the mixture aside and mix the strawberries into the remaining ricotta. Prepare pink dessert plates and divide the mixture into 16 breast-shaped molds, 2 for each plate. With a moistened...