Soiree How to throw the perfect summer party

 Story by Jessica Patterson | Photos by Don Molyneaux | ON TREND
As Seen in
Condo Living
Magazine
Summer
soiree
How to throw
the perfect
summer party
T
Interior designer
Nicola Payton
he patio was made for parties, enjoy the warm weather with friends and family
and throw the perfect outdoor party of the season. Here’s how.
The first step is sorting out what kind of party you want to have, says Okotoks-based interior designer Nicola Payton, of Payton Places. The interior designer, who has been designing most of her life, suggests deciding on whether your
party is going to be the same sort of shindig you’d throw inside? Is your gathering going to
be a formal event, or a causal get-together on the deck with a barbecue?
“When you’ve got relatively good, stable weather, you can move indoor furniture outside
for an afternoon,” Payton says.
The most important thing to consider with any type of soiree, is seating, the interior designer says. “People will be juggling plates, glasses, and will somewhere to set their food
down, otherwise everyone is eating off their laps.”
So, take your pick of patio furniture, from deep love seats, lounge chairs, deck chairs,
cushioned ottomans and benches to side tables and bistro tables.
The other important thing to consider with any party is lighting, especially if your bash
takes place over an afternoon and stretches into the evening.
“Lighting is crucial at any event,” Payton explains. “People are having fun and you want
to be able to go into evening without having people bump into things.”
Atmospheric lighting could include candles, LED candles, lanterns, lamps and patio heaters.
Perhaps you fancy an always-popular Chimney or strings of white lights? Or, maybe your
tastes lie with hanging lanterns strung across your outdoor space. Try out Fusion’s Solar Jar
with lightning bugs, or the Mosaic Jar, both solar table top lamp options available at Home
Hardware. The store also sells solar wicker and tiki torches and hanging lanterns.
And then dive into the fun part of party planning: the decor, atmosphere and food.
Decor will lend itself to the atmosphere, Payton says. “If you want to hold a
relaxed party on the patio or a summer barbecue, put pillows and chairs
all over the place.”
Decor in fashion for those types of events include bunting — which
are garlands festooned with pennants and flags. These are easy,
DIY projects, which brighten up any area, especially if the
garden hasn’t come up yet, Payton says.
“What people are doing these days are recycling
old fabrics, cutting it into triangles or pennants
for bunting,” she says.
Bunting really works well on balconies
in condos, or on backyard decks.
»
Shot on location at Barbecues Galore
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on trend | As Seen in
Condo Living
Magazine
Chef Beat
Schmassmann
In condos, where space is often at a premium, you have to
bring the outside in. Open windows and patio doors, let fresh
air and sunshine in. Or, just clear a pathway to your barbecue.
For those who fancy themselves grill master, or who just
want to show off their barbecuing, baking or booze-mixing
skills, bon vivants should always plan out menus to include
good food.
For parties where kids are included among the guests, party
hosts would do well to have two parties, says Beat Schmassmann, CCC of A Splendid Affair / Affinity Catering. “One
for the adults and one for
the kids.”
Take little ones into consideration when planning
your ultimate backyard or
patio party. For more formal events, a babysitter
or someone needs to be
watching and in charge
of kids, so they stay safe,
clean (“uh oh, two-year-old
Bobby is into the chocolate fountain!”) and entertained.
Kids also like different foods than adults,
Schmassmann explains. “Food has to be colourful, fresh and
cut into shapes kids like,” he says. “If the shape is funny, kids
will eat it because it’s fun and like a game.”
Food for the older crowd should encompass a lot of fresh
food, Schmassmann says. In May, June and July, there is
an abundance of fresh food available at grocery stores and
farmers markets. “Try something new,” the chef says. “Go
into a store without a menu, make your menu at the store,
based on what you see. Don’t be afraid to try something new,
like mango, peppers, purple onions and something green
in a salad.”
Another tip for summer parties is food safety. Schmassmann
says to make sure salads stay cold. “There’s nothing worse
than having salads sit out in the summertime.”
Especially potato salad. Unless it’s being eaten, potato salad
should always stay in the fridge. “Potato salad is the worst for
salmonella food poisoning,” the chef says. “You have it in the
sun, 20 minutes later you get sick if there’s any salmonella
in the mayonnaise or eggs.”
In carnivorous Calgary, meat is a main ingredient to any
backyard, patio or balcony barbecue. Whether it’s exotic —
like camel, kangaroo, alligator — or domestic — beef, pork
or fowl — meat is always on the menu.
In May, June and
July, there is an
abundance of fresh
food available at
grocery stores and
farmers markets.
“Try something new.”
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Whether you’re barbecuing and shredding for
pulled pork sandwiches, or barbecuing a loin
from a grain-fed porker,
the other white meat
(grain-fed) has less
fat than boneless, skinless chicken breasts,
Schmassmann says.
He also adds Calgarians might like to try
out different fowl on the
barbecue, including turkey, silk chicken from China, pheasant, partridge, or quail. Or, perhaps you favour fish for your sunny afternoon
get-together? Schmassmann suggests to bake it in the oven first,
and finish it off on the barbecue.
Alberta is beef country. And if you’re one of the thousands whose
summer celebration isn’t complete with a slab of steak, invest in an
uncoated cast-iron grill on your quality barbecue, like those available at Barbecues Galore. “That’s something that will last for years,”
Schmassmann says.
Schmassmann offers up some fabulous summer ideas for dessert,
including grilled fruit including peaches, pineapple, pears and apples.
“You grill them on one side, take a spice shaker and put powdered
sugar on it, or a little honey.”
Or, create a berry bar for kids of all ages, the chef says. Fill ice cream
cones with vanilla custard, whipping cream and lay out a spread of
blueberries, blackberries and strawberries, Schmassmann says. Even
the big kids will be wanting to go back for seconds.
Though, if the thought of taking care of decor, entertainment, kids,
menus, food, drinks, and not burning anything on the barbecue
to a charred crisp makes your head spin, hire a catering company.
There are definite benefits to hiring a catering company like
Schmassmann’s A Splendid Affair / Affinity Catering.
“We do everything for you,” Schmassmann says with a smile. “We
can even bring a barbecue if you don’t have one.”
Companies will also bring waitresses, bartenders, and equipment
to keep all of the food cold. “Not every caterer does that, make sure
you ask the right questions,” Schmassmann adds.
There are no headaches or burnt offerings,
when you hire a catering company to help out.
“We know what to buy, where to buy,”
Schmassmann says. “We know
what flavours go together and
can recommend different cuts
and qualities. You just enjoy.”
So, give up the headache to spend
time with family and friends. CL