How to Plan a Menu for a Garden Party
A garden party is most a very sophisticated picnic/cookout held in a park or garden. Garden parties today are more often being held in private locations like homes (your own backyard) or at by-invitation-only events at community centers or country clubs. When you're going to host a garden party, one way to make it great is to plan a menu with a theme, or one that just has terrific fare. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Begin by figuring out how many dishes you want to offer on the menu. This means determining how many appetizers, how many entrees and which desserts and finger foods you plan to include. A typical garden party will have two to three entrees, as well as three or four desserts and several appetizers.
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Keep your budget in mind as you plan a menu for a garden party. Your budget, along with the number of guests, will dictate how much food you can buy, or whether the menu will include a luxury like lobster or crab, for example.
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List the foods you're interested in having. Break your list down into columns of the most desired to the least desired. This way, you can plan your budget according to the list and find a good blend between the wants and needs.
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Break the menu down by category. Begin by choosing appetizers, followed by the main entrees and then the desserts.
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Choose foods that complement one another. If you're having steak, then a great obvious side dish could be garlic mashed potatoes, for example. Along these lines, asparagus goes well with a lemon-butter chicken breast.
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Include a selection of wines and other drinks on the menu. Again, choose wines and drinks that complement the meal, and choose a selection of both red and white wines. You can also include hard liquor if you wish.
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Tips & Warnings
Hire a caterer for a garden party. First, a caterer is a terrific person to help you plan a menu painlessly. Second, a caterer can both prepare the menu and serve it at the garden party, which leaves you free to enjoy your guests.
Remember that there may be party guests who are allergic to certain ingredients. Peanuts and soy are noted allergens, as is lactose (found in milk products). Double check any dietary concerns for your guests before you plan a menu so you know you have enough for everyone.
